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Danny Elfman

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Danny Elfman
Elfman at the premiere forNext Exitat theVillage East by Angelikain 2022
Born
Daniel Robert Elfman

(1953-05-29)May 29, 1953(age 71)
Los Angeles,California,U.S.
Occupations
  • Composer
  • record producer
  • singer
  • songwriter
  • musician
Years active1971–present
Spouse
Geri Eisenmenger
​
(divorced)​
​
(m.2003)​
Children3
MotherBlossom Elfman
RelativesRichard Elfman(brother)
Bodhi Elfman(nephew)
Musical career
Genres
Formerly ofOingo Boingo
Websitedannyelfman.com

Daniel Robert Elfman(born May 29, 1953) is an American film composer, singer, songwriter, and musician. He came to prominence as the lead singer and primary songwriter for thenew wavebandOingo Boingoin the early 1980s.[3]Since scoring his first studio film in 1985, Elfman has garnered international recognition for composing over 100 featurefilm scores,[4]as well as compositions for television, stage productions, and the concert hall.

Elfman has frequently worked with directorsTim Burton,Sam Raimi,andGus Van Sant,contributing music to nearly 20 Burton projects, includingPee-Wee's Big Adventure,Beetlejuice,Batman,Edward Scissorhands,Mars Attacks!andWednesday,[5]as well as scoring Raimi'sDarkman,A Simple Plan,Spider-Man,Spider-Man 2,Oz the Great and Powerful,andDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,[6]and Van Sant'sAcademy Award-winning filmsGood Will HuntingandMilk.[7]He wrote music for all of theMen in BlackandFifty Shades of Greyfranchise films, the songs and score forHenry Selick's animatedmusicalThe Nightmare Before Christmas,and thethemesfor the popular television seriesDesperate HousewivesandThe Simpsons.[8]

Among his honors are fourOscarnominations,[4]threeEmmy Awards,[9]aGrammy,[10]sevenSaturn AwardsforBest Music,the 2002 Richard Kirk Award,[11]the 2015Disney Legend Award,[12]theMax Steiner Film Music Achievement Awardin 2017,[13]and theSociety of Composers & LyricistsLifetime Achievement Award in 2022.[14]

Early life

[edit]

Elfman was born on May 29, 1953, inLos Angeles, California[15]to aJewishfamily ofRussiandescent.[3][16]He is a son ofBlossom Elfman(née Bernstein), a writer and teacher, and Milton Elfman, a teacher, and the brother of actor, musician, and journalistRichard Elfman.[17]Elfman was raised in an affluent, racially-mixed community inBaldwin Hills, California,where he spent much of his time at the local movie theater discovering classicsci-fi,fantasy and horror films and first noticed the music of such film composers asBernard HerrmannandFranz Waxman.[18]Elfman has admitted to fabricating stories about his past out of boredom, including a false birthplace ofAmarillo, Texas,and parents in theUnited States Air Force.[19]

In his early school days, Elfman exhibited an aptitude for science with almost no interest in music, and was even rejected from elementary school orchestra "for having no propensity for music."[20]: 15 This would change when he switched high schools in the late 1960s and fell in with a musical crowd, who introduced him to earlyjazzand the work ofStravinskyand his20th-centurycontemporaries.[20]: 17 

After finishing high school early with plans to travel the world, Elfman followed his brother Richard to France, where he performed violin withJérôme Savary's Le Grand Magic Circus, anavant-gardemusical theater group.[21]He then embarked on a ten-month, self-guided tour through Africa,buskingand collecting a range of West African percussion instruments until a series of illnesses forced him to return home.[22]At this time, Richard was forming a new musical theater group in Los Angeles.[23]

Career

[edit]

Oingo Boingo

[edit]
Main article:Oingo Boingo

After returning to Los Angeles from Africa in the early 1970s, Elfman was asked by his brotherRichardto serve as musical director of hisstreet theatreperformance art troupeThe Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo.[20]: 22 Elfman was tasked with adapting and arranging 1920s and 1930sjazzandbig bandmusic by artists such asCab Calloway,Duke Ellington,Django ReinhardtandJosephine Bakerfor the ensemble, which consisted of up to 15 performers playing upwards of 30 instruments.[24]He also composed original pieces and helped build instruments unique for the group, including an aluminumgamelan,the 'Schlitzceleste' made from tuned beer cans, and a "junkyard orchestra" built from car parts and trash cans.[25]

The Mystic Knights performed on the street and in theaters, and later innightclubsthroughout Los Angeles until Richard left in 1976 to pursue filmmaking.[20]: 15 As a send-off to the group's original concept, Richard produced the filmForbidden Zonebased on the Mystic Knights' stage performances. Elfman composed the songs and his firstscorefor the film, and appeared as the characterSatan,who performs a reworked version of Calloway's "Minnie the Moocher."[26]

Before the release ofForbidden Zone,Elfman took over the Mystic Knights as lead singer-songwriter in 1976. In 1979, he pared the group down to eight players to record and tour as aska-influencednew waveband. That summer, the group's name would change toOingo Boingo.[27][2]Their biggest success among eight studio albums penned by Elfman was 1985'sDead Man's Party,[28]featuring the hit song "Weird Science"from the movie of the same name.[3]The band also appeared performing their single "Dead Man's Party" in the 1986 movieBack to School,[29]for which Elfman also composed the score. Elfman shifted the band to a more guitar-oriented rock sound in the late 1980s,[30]which continued through their last albumBoingoin 1994.

Citing permanent hearing damage from performing live and conflicts with his film-scoring career,[20]: 137 Elfman retired Oingo Boingo in 1995 with a series of five sold-outfinal concertsat theUniversal Amphitheatreending on Halloween night.[31][32]On October 31, 2015, Elfman and Oingo Boingo guitaristSteve Bartekperformed the song "Dead Man's Party" with an orchestra as an encore to a live-to-film concert ofThe Nightmare Before Christmasscore at theHollywood Bowl.Elfman told the audience the performance was "20 years to the day" of Oingo Boingo's retirement.[33]

Film scoring

[edit]

As fans ofOingo Boingo,[34]Tim BurtonandPaul Reubensinvited Elfman to write thescorefor their first feature filmPee-wee's Big Adventurein 1985.[35]Elfman was initially apprehensive because of his lack of formal training and having never scored astudiofeature,but after Burton accepted his initial demo of thetitle music,and withorchestrationassistance fromOingo Boingoguitarist and arrangerSteve Bartek,Elfman completed the score to great effect, paying homage to influential film composersNino RotaandBernard Herrmann.[36][37][38]Elfman described the first time he heard his music played by a full orchestra as one of the most thrilling experiences of his life.[39]

FollowingPee Wee's Big Adventure,Elfman scored a string of comedies in the late 1980s, includingBack to SchoolstarringRodney Dangerfield,Burton'sBeetlejuiceand theBill MurrayfilmScrooged.Non-comedy work included the all-synthscore toEmilio Estevez'scrime dramaWisdomand thebig band,blues-infused music forMartin Brest'sbuddy copaction filmMidnight Run.

In 1989, Elfman's influential,Grammy-winning score for Burton'sBatmanmarked a major stylistic shift to dark, densely orchestrated music in the romantic idiom.[25]This continued in his scores forWarren Beatty'sDick Tracy,Sam Raimi'sDarkmanandClive Barker'sNightbreed,all released in 1990.

WithBatman,Elfman firmly established a career-spanning relationship with Burton,[40]scoring all but three of the director's major studio releases. Highlights includeEdward Scissorhands(1990),Batman Returns(1992),Sleepy Hollow(1999),Big Fish(2003) andAlice in Wonderland(2010). In 1993, Elfman wrote the score and ten songs for the Burton-producedstop motionanimated filmThe Nightmare Before Christmas,directed byHenry Selick,and also provided the singing voice for main characterJack Skellington,as well as the voices for secondary characters Barrel, the Clown with the Tear-Away Face and others.[41]In 2005, he wrote the score and songs for Burton'sCorpse Brideand provided the voice of the character of Bonejangles, and provided the score, songs and Oompa-Loompa vocals for Burton'sCharlie and the Chocolate Factorythat same year.

In addition to frequent collaborations with Burton, Raimi andGus Van Sant,Elfman has worked with directors such asBrian De Palma,Peter Jackson,Joss Whedon,Errol Morris,Ang Lee,Richard Donner,Guillermo del Toro,David O. Russell,Taylor Hackford,Jon Amiel,Joe Johnston,andBarry Sonnenfeld.His scores for Sonnenfeld'sMen in Black,Van Sant'sGood Will HuntingandMilk,and Burton'sBig Fishall receivedAcademy Awardnominations.[4]

Since the mid-1990s, Elfman expanded his craft to a range of genres, includingthrillers(Dolores Claiborne,A Simple Plan,The Kingdom,The Girl on the Train,The Woman in the Window),dramas(Sommersby,A Civil Action,Hitchcock),indies(Freeway,Silver Linings Playbook,Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot,White Noise),family(Flubber,Charlotte's Web,Frankenweenie,Goosebumps,Dolittle), documentary (Standard Operating Procedure,The Unknown Known), and horror (Red Dragon,The Wolfman), as well as entries in his well-established areas ofhorror comedy(The Frighteners,Mars Attacks!,Dark Shadows) and comic book-inspired action films (Hulk,Wanted,Hellboy II: The Golden Army).

Among his franchise work, Elfman composed the scores for fourMen in Blackfilms (1997–2019)[42]and threeFifty Shadesfilms (2015–2018).[43]In 1996, he scored the first film in theMission: Impossibleseries,adapting themes for the original television series byLalo Schifrinas well as composing his own.[44]Elfman scored Raimi'sSpider-Manin 2002 andSpider-Man 2in 2004, themes and selections from which were used for Raimi'sSpider-Man 3,scored byChristopher Young.Elfman'sSpider-Mantheme was incorporated into the MCU filmSpider-Man: No Way Homecomposed byMichael Giacchino.

Elfman entered theMarvel Cinematic Universeby providing additional music an 2015'sAvengers: Age of Ultron,receiving composer credit withBrian Tyler.[45]Elfman also scored MCU'sDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madnessin 2022, utilizing Giacchino's theme to the originalDoctor Strangefilm, as well as themes fromWandaVisionandX-Men: The Animated Series,and music fromBeethoven'sFifth SymphonyandBach'sToccata and Fugue.[46]

For several high-profile sequel andrebootprojects in the 2010s, Elfman incorporated established musical themes with his own original thematic material, including theDC Extended Universe'sJustice League,[47]The Grinch,[48]Dumbo[49]andMen in Black International.

Elfman was featured in the 2016 documentaryScore,in which he appeared among over 50 film composers to discuss the craft of movie music and influential figures in the business.[50][51]

Concert music

[edit]

Elfman's first piece of original concert music,Serenada Schizophrana,was commissioned by theAmerican Composers Orchestra,who premiered the piece on February 23, 2005, atCarnegie Hall.[52]Subsequent concert works include his firstViolin Concerto "Eleven Eleven",co-commissioned by theCzech National Symphony Orchestra,Stanford Live atStanford University,and theRoyal Scottish National Orchestra,which premiered atSmetana Hallin Prague on June 21, 2017, withSandy Cameronon violin andJohn Maucericonducting the Czech National Symphony Orchestra;[53]thePiano Quartet,co-commissioned by theLied Center for Performing ArtsUniversity of Nebraskaand theBerlin PhilharmonicPiano Quartet, which premiered February 6, 2018, inLincoln, Nebraska;[54]and thePercussion Quartet,commissioned byThird Coast Percussionand premiered at thePhilip GlassDays And Nights Festival inBig Suron October 10, 2019.[55]

2022 saw the first performances of three concert works. Elfman'sCello ConcertoforGautier Capuçonwas premiered by theVienna Symphonyon March 18, with subsequent performances by theOrchestre Philharmonique de Radio Francein May and theSan Francisco SymphonyUS premiere in November.[56][57][58]Elfman'sPercussion ConcertoforColin Curriepremiered on March 25 at London'sRoyal Festival HallwithLondon Philharmonic Orchestra,[59]and was later performed atSoka University of Americain California, withPacific Symphony.[60]HisWunderkammer,a commission from theNational Youth Orchestra of Great Britain,toured the UK in summer 2022, culminating in a performance in London'sRoyal Albert Hallas part of theBBC Proms,with national radio and TV broadcasts.[61]

Elfman'sSuite for Chamber Orchestrawas premiered on May 4, 2023 byOrpheus Chamber OrchestraatSt Mark's Episcopal Churchin Washington, D.C.[62]TheSuitewas co-commissioned by theLibrary of Congress,the Royalty Pool ofAndre Kostelanetz,theLos Angeles Chamber Orchestra,and theNational Symphony Orchestra of Ireland.Subsequent performances of theSuiteinclude the New York premiere by the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra in July 2023[63]at92NY's inaugural MidSummer Music Fest, the West Coast premiere by the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra in December 2023[64]at theAlex Theatrein Glendale, California, and a performance by the Reno Chamber Orchestra to take place in October 2024.[65]

Stage music

[edit]

In 2008, Elfman accepted his first commission for the stage, composing the music forTwyla Tharp'sRabbit and Rogueballet, co-commissioned byAmerican Ballet Theatreand Orange County Performing Arts Center and premiering on June 3, 2008, at theMetropolitan Opera House,Lincoln Center.[66]Other works for stage include the music forCirque Du Soleil'sIrisin 2011,[67]and incidental music for theBroadwayproduction ofTaylor Mac'sGary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicusin 2019.[68]

Elfman'sThe Nightmare Before Christmaslive at theHollywood Bowl.

In October 2013, Elfman returned to the stage for the first time since his bandOingo Boingodisbanded to sing a handful ofThe Nightmare Before Christmassongs as part of the concertDanny Elfman's Music from the Films of Tim Burton,featuring suites of music from 15Tim Burtonfilms newly arranged by Elfman.[69][70][71]The concert has since toured internationally and has played in Japan, Australia, Mexico and throughout Europe and the United States. Since 2015, Elfman has appeared regularly in aHollywood BowlHalloweenconcert featuring full orchestra performing theNightmare Before Christmasscore live to the film projection.[72]

Elfman made hisCoachelladebut on April 16, 2022, withDanny Elfman: From Boingo toBatmantoBig Messto Beyond![73]The concert, postponed from Coachella 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, featured Elfman's film and television music arranged for band, orchestra and choir, as well as songs from his solo albumBig Messand new arrangements of songs from hisOingo Boingocatalogue. Conducted bySteve Bartek,and featuring Elfman (vocals, guitar, percussion),Wes Borland(guitar),Stu Brooks(bass),Nili Brosh(guitar), andJosh Freese(drums),[74]the concert was expanded for two shows Halloween weekend 2022 at theHollywood Bowl.[75]

Television and other projects

[edit]

In addition to his music for film, Elfman also penned themes for the television seriesThe Simpsons,[76]Tales from the Crypt,The FlashandDesperate Housewives,which won Elfman his first Emmy.[77]He also adapted his original themes for the animated versions ofBatmanandBeetlejuice.Occasional forays into serial television include episodes ofAlfred Hitchcock Presents,Amazing StoriesandPee-wee's Playhouse,theminiseriesWhen We Riseco-composed withChris Bacon,and themes for theNetflixseriesWednesday.[78][79]

He has composed music for animated shorts, includingSally Cruikshank'sFace Like A Frog[80]and Tim Burton's "Stainboy" internet series.[81]

Elfman provided background music forLuigi Serafini's solo exhibitionil Teatro della Pitturaat the Fondazione Mudima di Milano inMilan, Italyin 1998[82]and for theTim Burtonexhibition atMoMAin 2009.

In the 1990s, Elfman composed music for advertising campaigns forNike,NissanandLincoln-Mercury,and in 2002 wrote the music forHonda's "Power of Dreams" advertising campaign, which was the first cinema commercial to be shot in theIMAXformat.[83]

In 2013 he composed the music and provided the English-language vocals for theHong Kong DisneylandattractionMystic Manor.[84]

On October 31, 2019, theMasterClassonline educational series released "Making Music out of Chaos," presenting 21 compositional and career lessons from Elfman's four decades of experience primarily in thefilm industry.[85]

Elfman scored the 10-minute video "Joe Biden," which introducedJoe Biden's acceptance of the presidential candidacy nomination at the2020 Democratic National Convention.[86]

On November 16, 2021,Disney Branded Televisionannounced that Elfman would compose score and songs of the upcomingDisney Television Animationand20th Television Animationstop-motionanimated comedy seriesRhona Who Lives by the Rivercreated byEmily Kapnek,Elfman also serves as executive producer for the series.[87]

Solo

[edit]

In October 2020, Elfman released the single, "Happy,"onAnti- RecordsandEpitaph Records.[88]From January 2021 on the eleventh day of each month, he released five subsequent singles "Sorry", "Love in the Time of COVID", "Kick Me", "True", and a reworking theOingo Boingosong "Insects" from the albumNothing to Fear.[89]This culminated with the release of the double albumBig Messon June 11.[90]Featuring 18 original songs this was Elfman's first solo studio album since 1984'sSo-Lo.[91]

On August 11, 2021, Elfman released a remix of "True" with lead vocals shared between Elfman andNine Inch NailsfrontmanTrent Reznor.[92]A year later, Elfman releasedBigger Messier,a compilation of 23 remixes of songs on the albumBig Messby artists including Reznor,Iggy Pop,Blixa Bargeld,Squarepusher,Boy Harsherand more.[93]

Influences and style

[edit]

Elfman has said his major influences are composers fromHollywood's Golden Age,such asBernard Herrmann,Dimitri Tiomkin,Max Steiner,David Tamkin,Erich Wolfgang Korngold,andCarl Stalling;20th centuryclassical composersSergei Prokofiev,Igor Stravinsky,Béla Bartók,Dmitri Shostakovich,andCarl Orff;andjazz,experimentalandminimalistcomposersKurt Weill,Duke Ellington,Harry Partch,Philip Glass,Lou Harrison,Terry Riley,andSteve Reich.[94][95][96]

Influences on specific scores includeErik Satie(Forbidden Zone),Nino Rota(Pee-wee's Big Adventure),George Gershwin(Dick Tracy),Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky(Edward Scissorhands), andJimi Hendrix(Dead Presidents).[39][97][8]Though not considered direct influencesper se,Elfman has discussed his respect and admiration for film composersJerry Goldsmith,Ennio Morricone,[35]Thomas Newman,Alexandre DesplatandJohn Williams,as well as classical composerJohn Adams.[98]

Though many believeRichard Wagnerinformed his influential score toBatman,Elfman has said it was more likely from Wagner's influence on classic film composers such as Herrmann, Steiner, Waxman and Korngold, as he was unfamiliar with Wagner's work at the time.[99]

Elfman counts Herrmann as his biggest influence, and has said hearing Herrmann's score toThe Day the Earth Stood Stillwhen he was a child was the first time he recognizedfilm musicas a cinematic art form and realized the powerful contribution a composer makes to the movies.[100]Pasticheof Herrmann's music can be heard in Elfman'sPee-wee's Big Adventure,especially the cues "Stolen Bike" and "Clown Dream", which directly reference Herrmann's music fromPsychoandThe 7th Voyage of Sinbadrespectively.[101][102]His score toBatmanmakes more subtle nods to Herrmann'sJourney to the Center of the EarthandVertigo,[103][104]and more integralhomagecan be heard in later scores forMars Attacks!andHitchcock,as well as the "Blue Strings" movement of his first concert workSerenada Schizophrana.

While Elfman is primarily known for writing large-scale orchestral works in the romantic,20th centuryandHollywood Golden Agefilm scoretraditions, his compositions have used a wide range of idioms, including rock andblues(Midnight Run,Hot to Trot),big bandandjazz(Dick Tracy,Chicago),operetta(The Nightmare Before Christmas,Corpse Bride),funkandhip hop(Dead Presidents,Notorious),folkandindie rock(Taking Woodstock,Silver Linings Playbook),Americana(Article 99,Sommersby,Big Fish),minimalism(Good Will Hunting,Standard Operating Procedure,The Unknown Known), andatonalorexperimental(Freeway,A Simple Plan,The Girl on the Train).

Given his appreciation and study of world music and his vast collection of instruments from non-Western cultures,[22]Elfman will often use traditional instruments in his scores when there is an international setting, such as African percussion forInstinct,theoudforThe Kingdomset inSaudi Arabia,andpan fluteforProof of Lifeset in South America.

When working on films with established musical identifiers, Elfman will often incorporate original themes in addition to his own thematic material. Examples includeLalo Schifrin's main theme and "The Plot" from the originalMission Impossible TV SeriesforMission: Impossible;[44]John Williams' theme forSuperman,theHans Zimmer/Junkie XLtheme forWonder Womanand his own originalBatmantheme forJustice League;[105][106]the "Welcome Christmas" song from the 1966How the Grinch Stole Christmas!forThe Grinch;[48]and "Casey Junior," "Pink Elephants on Parade," and "When I See an Elephant Fly" from Disney's original 1941animated filmforDumbo.[49]

The songs forThe Nightmare Before ChristmasandCorpse Bridewere influenced byKurt Weill,Gilbert and Sullivanand earlyRodgers and Hammerstein.[107]At the request of Tim Burton,Charlie and the Chocolate Factorysongs drew inspiration fromBollywood,the Mamas and the Papas,ABBA,andEarth, Wind & Fireindividually.[108]

Elfman's work in pop music and specifically as songwriter forOingo Boingowas influenced bythe Specials,Madness,the Selecter,Devo,Fun Boy Three,andXTC.[2][109]

Methods

[edit]
Elfman in 2010

Film music

[edit]

For hisfilm scores,Elfman draws musical inspiration almost exclusively from viewing acutof the film,[71]and occasionally from visits to thesetwhile the film is in production (he wrote and orchestrated his theme forBatmanon an airplane to Los Angeles after visiting the set in London).[3]While he prefers not to work from script, story or concept, exceptions includeThe Nightmare Before Christmas,for which ten songs needed to be written in advance of filmmaking, andDumbo,for which he composed the main theme before filming began.[49]

Once arough cutof the film is ready, Elfman and the director have aspotting sessionto decide where to place music in the film, the emotional undercurrents of each scene, and overall tone.[110]Elfman then spends a few weeks of free composition and experimentation to begin working out thematic material and to develop sounds and the harmonic palette.[111]

When he has received approval on initial material from the filmmakers, Elfman begins to compose anywhere from 60 to 120 minutes of music cue-by-cue. He says two of the most important things to capture at this point are the tone of each scene and editorial rhythm. Next to thematic development, actionset piecestend to take Elfman the most time given the complexity of timing music to action.

Early in his career, he wrote out his scores using pencil, but has composed largely digitally since the mid-1990s.[112]

Before recording the score, he demos each cue by mocking orchestral and choral parts on synthesizer to get approval from the director.[113]Once approved, he provides a detailed, multi-line sketch of his composition to his lead orchestratorSteve Bartek,who ensures the sketches are appropriately broken down for sections of the orchestra (i.e.string,brasswoodwind,somepercussion), choir (SATB) and individual players.

Elfman also typically samples or records his own percussion and guitar playing to overlay with live orchestra. More than half of some scores feature Elfman's performance,[114]includingDead Presidents,Mission: Impossible,Planet of the Apes,The Kingdom,The Girl on the TrainandThe Circle.[115]

To produce the score, Elfman rents a recording studio and hires a conductor and orchestra/choir. He oversees the recording from thecontrol boothso that he can troubleshoot with the film's director andrecording engineers.[116]The final recording is given to the film's sound department to mix with dialogue and sound effects for the film's complete soundtrack. Elfman will usually do a separate mix of select cues for an album presentation of the score, and has produced nearly 100 to date.[15]

On the occasion that there are compressed deadlines or in the event he is not available to rescore or adapt his music if there are major edits to the film after the score's completion, Elfman will hire additional composers to work on small cues or sections of cues, adapting his existing material or themes. Examples includeJonathan ShefferonDarkman,David Buckleyon theFifty Shadesfilms, andPinar ToprakonJustice League.[117][118][119]Since the 1990s, Elfman has occasionally co-composed music or shared music writing credit (e.g.When We Rise,Spy Kids,Avengers: Age of Ultron,Men in Black International), or written themes that are then used or adapted by other composers, includingJonathan Sheffer(Pure Luck),Steve Bartek(Novacaine),John Debney(Heartbreakers),Deborah Lurie(9), andthe Newton Brothers(Before I Wake).[120][121][122]

During all his career, Elfman only once collaborated with another artist – meaning writing music together: it was withSiouxsie and the Bansheeson the song "Face to Face"forBatman Returnsin 1992.[123]She created the foundation of the song, "and then I would take it and I would add stuff. And send it back to her". It was a long-distance collaboration as the studio needed the song very quickly.[124]Elfman literally saw himself as a non-collaborator. "I'm not used to collaborating at all with anybody. I did one track with Siouxsie and the Banshees but that's it. I've always been in my own bubble, and that bubble has been very fertile".[125]

Concert music

[edit]

In the liner notes for the 2006 CD recording of his first concert workSerenada Schizophrana,Elfman wrote: "I began composing several dozen short improvisational compositions, maybe a minute each. Slowly, some of them began to develop themselves until finally I had six separate movements that, in some abstract, absurd way, felt connected."[94]

To create thecadenzasfor his violin concertoEleven Eleven,Elfman collaborated with soloist Sandy Cameron, for whom the piece was written.[126]

Vocals

[edit]

Elfman often incorporates choral or vocal arrangements into his film scores,[8]notably the use of women's and children'schoirs(Scrooged,Nightbreed,Edward Scissorhands,Batman Returns,Sleepy Hollow,Alice in Wonderland,The Grinch), and solo voice or vocal effects (Beetlejuice,Mars Attacks!,Men in Black II,Flubber,Nacho Libre,Iris,Dark Shadows,The Girl on the Train). Evoking the "O Fortuna" fromCarl Orff'sCarmina Burana,he set made-up, Latin-sounding text forSATBchoir in standout cue "Descent into Mystery" fromBatman.[25]: 131 

Elfman also adds his own vocals into compositions in much the same way he mixes his percussion and guitar performances into orchestral arrangements. Prominent use can be heard in the scores forTo Die For(sung with directorGus Van Sant,credited to "Little Gus and the Suzettes" ),[127]Silver Linings Playbook,[128]and his music for theHong Kong DisneylandrideMystic Manor.[84]He provided the singing voice for characters inThe Nightmare Before ChristmasandCorpse Bridein addition to composing the scores and songs, and can be heard singing the "Day-O" call in the style ofHarry Belafonte's "Banana Boat Song"in the first bars of theBeetlejuicemain title.[20]: 63 

For Tim Burton'sCharlie and the Chocolate Factory,ElfmansetRoald Dahl's text for theOompa-Loompacharacters as four stylistically distinct songs: theBollywood-influenced "Augustus Gloop", thefunk-infused "Violet Beauregarde", thepsychedelic popstylings of "Veruca Salt" and thebaroque rockof "Mike Teavee".[129]For all songs in the film, Elfman sang, manipulated and mixed several layers of his vocals to create the singing voices and harmonies of the Oompa Loompas, and incorporated his vocals into non-song score tracks that featured the characters, including "Loompa Land", "Chocolate River", "The Boat Arrives" and "The River Cruise".[130]

Lyrics

[edit]

Elfman typically writes thelyricsto songs he has composed for movies. He employssong structuresfromTin Pan Alleyand early musical theatre composers (32-bar form), and pop and rock of the 1950s and 1960s (verse-chorus). As his songs serve to advance the plot and develop characters, lyrics reflect storylines and imagery specific to the film and express the inner life of characters.

He wrote the lyrics and music for ten songs featured in thestop-motionmusicalThe Nightmare Before Christmas.Drawing from Tim Burton's parody poem ofA Visit from St. Nicholasand concept drawings, Elfman wrote each song in consultation with Burton before the film even had a script.[131]These include the full-cast songs "This Is Halloween", "Town Meeting Song" and "Making Christmas"; four songs for the main character Jack Skellington, "Jack's Lament", "What's This?", "Jack's Obsession" and "Poor Jack", all sung by Elfman; and the other character songs "Kidnap the Sandy Claws", "Oogie Boogie's Song" and "Sally's Song". An eleventh song, "Finale/Reprise", reworks lyrics from the songs "This Is Halloween", "What's This?" and "Sally's Song" for the film's ending. Though uncredited, Burton contributed some lyrics toNightmare,including the line "Perhaps it's the head that I found in the lake" in "Town Meeting Song".[132]

Elfman composed five songs for Burton'sCorpse Bride:[133]"According to Plan", with lyrics co-written by screenwriter John August; "Remains of the Day" (which he sung as the character Bonejangles) and "Tears to Shed", both with additional lyrics by August; and "The Wedding Song", credited solely to Elfman. The song "Erased" was not used in the final film.

He wrote the lyrics to "Lullaby" fromCharlotte's Web,the rock track "The Little Things" fromWantedwhich he also sang in English and Russian,[134]and "Alice's Theme" fromAlice in Wonderland.[135]Elfman co-wrote the lyrics to "Twice the Love" fromBig Fishand the "Wonka's Welcome Song" forCharlie and the Chocolate Factorywith John August.

Elfman wrote the lyrics to all ofOingo Boingo's original songs 1979–1994[136]and has maderesidualson the titular two-word opening phrase sung in hisThe Simpsonsthemesince the series first aired in 1989.[137]

Personal life

[edit]

As a teenager, Elfman dated his classmateKim Gordon,who would later become one of the members of the rock bandSonic Youth.[138]He has two daughters, Lola and Mali, from his marriage to Geri Eisenmenger.[139]Mali is a film producer and actress.[140]Elfman and Mali collaborated on her 2011 filmDo Not Disturb.[141]

On November 29, 2003, Elfman married actressBridget Fonda.[142]They have a son, Oliver.[143]In 1998, Elfman scoredA Simple Plan,starring Fonda.[144]He is the uncle of actorBodhi Elfman,who is married to actressJenna Elfman.[145]

Elfman has been anatheistsince the age of 11 or 12. In an interview with the New York Post, he referred to himself as a"cynic-ologist".[145]

Describing his politics during the 1980s, Elfman said, "I'm not a doomist. My attitude is always to be critical of what's around you, but not ever to forget how lucky we are. I've traveled around the world. I left thinking I was a revolutionary. I came back real right-wing patriotic. Since then, I've kind of mellowed in between."[146]Several of his songs written for Oingo Boingo during this period satirized social politics, although Elfman stated his message was to "question, resist, challenge" and that his songs were not aligned to any one political agenda.[147]

In 2008, Elfman expressed support forBarack Obama.[148]For the2020 Democratic National Convention,he scored the biographical video played ahead ofJoe Biden's acceptance of the presidential nomination in the2020 United States elections.[149]In a series of posts on his Instagram page discussing the video, Elfman criticizedDonald Trump,Richard Nixon, and theelectoral college,and linked to several voter resources.[150]

During his 18 years with Oingo Boingo, Elfman developed significanthearing damageas a result of the continuous exposure to the high noise levels involved in performing in a rock band. Afraid of worsening his condition, he decided to leave the band, saying that he would never return to that kind of performance. His impairment was so bad that he could not "even sit in a loud restaurant or bar anymore." However, he found performing in front of orchestras more tolerable, and returned several times to reprise his live performance ofJack Skellington.[2][151][152]

Sexual harassment lawsuits

[edit]

In July 2023,Rolling Stonereported that composerNomi Abadihad accused Elfman of sexually harassing her between 2015 and 2017. According to the magazine's reporting, Abadi and Elfman signed anon-disclosure agreementin 2018, with Elfman agreeing to pay Abadi $830,000 in installments if she did not publicize her allegations against him. Abadi stipulated that part of the settlement would help establish anonprofit foundation,the Female Composer Safety League. When Elfman defaulted on payments to the League, Abadi filed a breach of contract suit in Los Angeles Superior Court, leading to the matter becoming public.[153]

AfterRolling Stonerevealed the existence of this agreement, Elfman denied the allegations, and said that he only agreed to the settlement because he feared that his "50-year career may be destroyed in one news cycle" if the claims had been published. Elfman stated Abadi had a "childhood crush" on him and intended to break up his marriage to pursue him romantically, but that he rejected her advances, leading to the allegations. Elfman's lawyer was quoted saying "accusations alone should not and do not equate to guilt, and Danny will defend himself and clear his name with the volume of evidence and the other party's own words — her words speak for themselves." The article also reports that Elfman provided two legal declarations, including one from a former friend of Abadi's, casting doubts on Abadi's claims.[153]

In response, Abadi's attorneyJeff Andersonstated, "It is ironic that Mr. Elfman's current statements are directly contrary to the position he maintained in the underlying dispute and to the evidentiary record."[154]

In October 2023, a Maryland woman, using the pseudonym Jane Doe XX, filed suit against Elfman for "sexual assault, gender violence, intentional infliction of emotional distress, sexual harassment and negligence." The woman alleged that between 1997 and 2002 Elfman groomed and sexually abused her in a similar fashion to Abadi's claims.[155][156]

On July 10, 2024, Abadi sued Elfman fordefamationconcerning the statements he had made toRolling Stoneabout the allegations in 2023.[157]He was represented by a team includingCamille Vasquezof theDepp v. Heardtrial.[158]

[edit]

SinceThe Simpsons'second annualTreehouse of Horrorepisode aired in 1991, launching "scary names"tradition in the opening and closing titles, Elfman has been alternately credited for thethememusic as "Red Wolf Elfman", "Danny Skellingelfman", "Li'l Leakin Brain Elfman", "Boris Elfmonivich", "Danny Elfblood", "Danny 'Hell'fman", "The Bloody Elf", "Danny Elfbones", "Elfmunster" and "Daniel Beilzebelsman".

Elfman's composition "Clown Dream" fromPee-wee's Big Adventureis used in the video gameGrand Theft Auto V[159]and has often been used as the opening music forPrimusconcerts.[160]

In the 2007 sixth seasonStar Warsparody "Blue Harvest",Family Guylampooned Elfman's orchestral style. A scene shows Elfman replacing an incineratedJohn Williamsto conduct a full orchestra playing thescore,only to be decapitated by alightsaberafter conducting a few bars ofoom-pahmusic.[161]

Episode five of the 14th seasonofSouth Parkin 2010 criticizedTim Burtonfor using the "same" music in all his films, referring to Elfman's scores.[162]

In October 2016, Elfman produced a video clip forFunny or Diewith original "horror" music composed to footage ofDonald Trumppacing aroundHillary Clintonat the secondUnited States presidential election debates, 2016.[163][164]

In 2019, selections from Elfman'sMidnight Runscore were used in the third season ofNetflix'sStranger Things,[165]including "Stairway Chase" in episodes 5 and 6, and "Wild Ride" and "Package Deal" in episode 6.

Christina Aguilerarevealed that Elfman's music inspired her Las Vegasconcert residencyThe Xperience.[166]

List of compositions

[edit]
Main article:List of compositions by Danny Elfman

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Main article:List of awards and nominations received by Danny Elfman
Danny Elfman awards and nominations
Award Wins Nominations
Academy Awards
 0 4
Annie Awards
 0 1
BMI Film & Television Awards
 24 24
British Academy Film Awards
 0 2
Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards
 0 2
Chicago Film Critics Association Awards
 0 4
Emmy Awards
 3 5
Golden Globe Awards
 0 2
Grammy Awards
 1 11
Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards
 0 1
Satellite Awards
 1 6
Saturn Awards
 7 13
Sierra Awards
 1 2
World Soundtrack Awards
 0 2
Totals
Awards won 39
Nominations 105

American Film Institute

[edit]

Elfman's scores forBatmanandEdward Scissorhandswere nominated forAFI's 100 Years of Film Scores.

Discography

[edit]
Main article:Danny Elfman discography

Including commercial recordings of his film scores and theOingo Boingo discography,Elfman has produced over 100 albums as of 2019.[15][136]

Appearances in film and television

[edit]
Main article:List of Danny Elfman film and television appearances

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^"Oingo Boingo".AllMusic.RetrievedDecember 26,2016.
  2. ^abcdDenman-Underhill, Lori (October 12, 2019)."Overcoming Stage Fright, Danny Elfman Brings Nightmare to the Bowl".LA Weekly.RetrievedOctober 14,2019.
  3. ^abcdO'Neal, Sean (October 27, 2014)."Danny Elfman on Oingo Boingo, film scores, and the Beatles almost ruiningBatman".AV Music.RetrievedMarch 4,2018.
  4. ^abcKraft, Richard."Danny Elfman".Kraft-Engel.com.Kraft-Engel Management.RetrievedOctober 8,2019.Beginning with his first score on Tim Burton's Pee-wee's Big Adventure, Elfman has scored over 100 films...
  5. ^Gilchrist, Todd (March 25, 2019)."Dumbocomposer Danny Elfman on his iconic partnership with Tim Burton ".SYFY WIRE.RetrievedOctober 22,2019.
  6. ^Francisco, Eric (February 18, 2021)."Exclusive: Danny Elfman confirms he's scoringDoctor Strange 2".Inverse.RetrievedJune 1,2021.
  7. ^Iwasaki, Scott (January 24, 2018)."Filmmaker Gus Van Sant and composer Danny Elfman talk of their collaborations".Park Record.Park City, Utah.RetrievedOctober 22,2019.
  8. ^abcCollette, Olivia (July 6, 2015)."Danny Elfman Tells the Stories Behind 8 of His Classic Scores".Vulture.RetrievedOctober 22,2019.
  9. ^"Danny Elfman: Awards & Nominations".Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. September 18, 2016.RetrievedSeptember 11,2019.
  10. ^"Artist: Danny Elfman".National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.RetrievedNovember 11,2019.
  11. ^"Top Film, TV, Cable Composers Honored at BMI's Annual Film/TV Awards".Broadcast Music, Inc. May 14, 2002.RetrievedOctober 28,2010.
  12. ^Lincoln, Ross (July 14, 2015)."George Lucas, Danny Elfman, Others to Be Honored at D23 2015".Deadline.RetrievedAugust 4,2015.
  13. ^"BMI Composer Danny Elfman Receives Max Steiner Award at Hollywood in Vienna".BMI.com.October 7, 2017.RetrievedMarch 2,2020.
  14. ^Grein, Paul (November 23, 2022)."Danny Elfman & Nicholas Britell to Be Honored at Society of Composers & Lyricists' Holiday Celebrations".Billboard.RetrievedNovember 26,2022.
  15. ^abcMonger, Christopher."Danny Elfman | Album Discography".AllMusic.RetrievedNovember 1,2019.
  16. ^"Interview: Danny Elfman".The Jewish Chronicle.March 4, 2010. Archived fromthe originalon March 10, 2010.RetrievedAugust 26,2014.
  17. ^"Danny Elfman profile".Film Reference.RetrievedJanuary 2,2011.
  18. ^M. Glionna, John (April 18, 1999)."Danny Elfman Pinged from Oingo Boingo Front Man to Prolific Movie Score Writer. Now This Oddball May Pong into Directing His Own Scripts".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedDecember 26,2016.
  19. ^Hendrickson, Barbara (July 20, 2001)."Interview with Danny Elfman".KCSC FM.Archived fromthe originalon April 1, 2003.RetrievedApril 18,2022.
  20. ^abcdefBond, Jeff (October 2015).Danse Macabre: 25 years of Danny Elfman and Tim Burton.Warner Bros.pp. 12–259. 5251722.
  21. ^"Oingo Boingo – The Complete History".Buzzine. May 7, 2009. Archived fromthe originalon January 16, 2010.RetrievedJanuary 2,2011.
  22. ^abCarruthers, Fiona (August 2, 2015)."How Danny Elfman got his inspiration for the Simpsons theme tune".The Australian Financial Review.Sydney.RetrievedOctober 13,2019.I took a year off to travel Africa when I was 18. On my 19th birthday I crossed into Nigeria... I spent time in Mali, Ghana, Zaire, Uganda, Kenya... I have all my drums from India, Africa, plus my gamelan (percussive music set) from Bali...
  23. ^"Composed No. 2 – Danny Elfman".Cinetropolis.August 26, 2013. Archived fromthe originalon December 30, 2021.RetrievedJanuary 6,2017.
  24. ^Benson, Alex (May 15, 2018)."The Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo: Danny Elfman's Circus Theater Origins".Medium.RetrievedOctober 13,2019.
  25. ^abcHalfyard, Janet K. (September 7, 2004).Danny Elfman'sBatman:A Film Score Guide.Scarecrow Press.ISBN978-0810851269.
  26. ^Grow, Kory (November 6, 2015)."Inside Danny Elfman's Twisted Cult FilmForbidden Zone".Rolling Stone.RetrievedSeptember 11,2019.
  27. ^Thomas, Dana (April 29, 1990)."Eclectic and Eccentric".The Washington Post.RetrievedOctober 13,2019.
  28. ^Hayden, Mack (October 30, 2015)."Not just" Dead Man's Party "on a Halloween mix: Oingo Boingo deserves more respect than this".Salon.RetrievedOctober 15,2019.
  29. ^Buck, David."Mystic Knights of the Movie Soundtrack",Tedium, March 14, 2018.
  30. ^Willman, Chris (May 15, 1994)."Back to Boingo: Danny Elfman may have exhausted himself composing movie scores and TV themes, but he's getting renewed pleasure from the oddball rock band he founded and twice thought he'd retired".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedOctober 13,2019.
  31. ^Hochman, Steve (November 11, 1995)."Oingo Boingo Bids Warm and Emotional Farewell".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedOctober 15,2019.
  32. ^Iwasaki, Scott (April 26, 1996)."Boingo Closes Career with a Fitting 'Farewell...'".Deseret News.RetrievedNovember 4,2019.
  33. ^Romano, Nick (November 1, 2015)."Danny Elfman: 'Dead Man's Party' performed after 20 years".Entertainment Weekly.RetrievedDecember 26,2016.
  34. ^Harris, Will (May 9, 2012)."Dark Shadows composer Danny Elfman on his long collaboration with Tim Burton".The A.V. Club.RetrievedNovember 11,2019.
  35. ^abHarrington, Richard (June 10, 1990)."Danny Elfman's Big Score".The Washington Post.RetrievedOctober 14,2019.
  36. ^Grow, Kory (June 29, 2015)."Danny Elfman onThe Simpsons,Batmanand Tim Burton ".Rolling Stone.RetrievedOctober 23,2019.
  37. ^D'Angelo, Mike (January 16, 2014)."Danny Elfman's score tiedPee-wee's Big Adventuretogether—and launched a career ".The Dissolve.Pitchfork Media, Inc.RetrievedOctober 17,2019.
  38. ^Silber, Frederic (1989)."Danny Elfman: Wunderkind of Filmmusic".Fanfare.Boingo.RetrievedJanuary 2,2011.
  39. ^abMusic for a Darkened Theatre: Film & Television Music Volume One(booklet). Danny Elfman. Universal City, CA:MCA Records.1990. p. 3–9. MCD10065.{{cite AV media notes}}:CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  40. ^Burlingame, Jon (September 8, 2016)."Danny Elfman Looks Back at Tim Burton's Cinematic Adventures in Melody".Variety.RetrievedOctober 14,2019.
  41. ^Galindo, Brian (October 14, 2013)."18 Things You Probably Didn't Know AboutThe Nightmare Before Christmas".BuzzFeed.RetrievedOctober 14,2019.8. Burton's friend and composer Danny Elfman wrote the songs and music for the film without a script or storyboard... 9. Elfman also provided the singing voice for Jack...11. Elfman also provided the voices for Barrel and the Clown with the Tear-Away Face.
  42. ^Weintraub, Steve (June 17, 2019)."Men in Black: InternationalProducers on the Genesis of the Project and Casting Chris and Tessa ".Collider.RetrievedOctober 8,2019.The only people from the original franchise that are involved in this movie are me and Laurie, Emma and Danny Elfman, who did the music for all of them.
  43. ^Kis, Eva (February 8, 2019)."Wait, Danny Elfman wrote the music for50 Shades of Grey?".Metro.RetrievedOctober 11,2019.We ask Danny Elfman, better known as Tim Burton's collaborator on spooky fairy tales, about composing the music for all three Fifty Shades of Grey movies.
  44. ^abBond, Jeff (2019).Mission: Impossible – Limited Edition(booklet). Danny Elfman. Los Angeles, CA: La-La Land Records, Inc. pp. 5–6. LLLCD1411.
  45. ^Mendelson, Scott (March 4, 2015)."FinalAvengers: Age of UltronTrailer Teases Without Spoiling ".Forbes.RetrievedNovember 27,2022.
  46. ^Cooper, Hood (May 5, 2022)."The Marvel Movie Music Secretly Hidden inDoctor Strange 2".Screen Rant.RetrievedNovember 27,2022.
  47. ^Burton, Byron (November 18, 2017)."Danny Elfman Hates When Reboots Scrap Classic Themes".The Hollywood Reporter.RetrievedOctober 14,2019.
  48. ^abLenker, Maureen Lee (November 9, 2019)."Danny Elfman talks reinventing" You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch "with Tyler the Creator".Entertainment Weekly.RetrievedOctober 12,2019....once Elfman felt his own heart grow two sizes when it came to Christmas, incorporating the original songs become one of the highlights of writing his score for The Grinch. "The 'Welcome' song was easy," he says. "We were playing the song twice in the film, so it was just how to score it and then pick up the melody and have it kind of lift up and explode when his heart does." When it came to the other hit song, "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch," Elfman had a slightly more complex task, collaborating with rapper Tyler the Creator on the iconic tune first recorded by Thurl Ravenscroft.
  49. ^abcBurlingame, Jon (March 28, 2019)."Danny Elfman Broke His Cardinal Rule forDumbo's Bittersweet Score ".Variety.RetrievedOctober 12,2019."This is a cultural icon," the composer says, "and I was happy to pay homage." So "Pink Elephants on Parade," "When I See an Elephant Fly" and the train motif "Casey Junior" all make appearances...
  50. ^"The Interviews".Score-Movie.com.RetrievedSeptember 20,2019.
  51. ^Goldstein, Gary (June 22, 2017)."Review:Score: A Film Music Documentaryexplores composers' art ".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedSeptember 20,2019.Matt Schrader's "Score: A Film Music Documentary" spotlights such a rich and fascinating topic — the craft of motion picture scoring — that its mere presence proves a feast for the eyes and ears...the film is largely devoted to feting some of Hollywood's most influential composers...
  52. ^"All World Premiere Concert Features Legendary Rock Guitarist Andy Summers & Orchestral Debut of Hollywood Composer Danny Elfman".AmericanComposers.org.February 23, 2005. Archived fromthe originalon October 28, 2019.RetrievedSeptember 18,2019.
  53. ^"Concerto for Violin and OrchestraEleven Elevencomposed by Danny Elfman Composer ".Columbia-Artists.com.Columbia Artists Management Inc.RetrievedOctober 7,2019.
  54. ^Kruse, Kyle (February 22, 2018)."Berlin Philharmonic Piano Quartet premieres Danny Elfman piece at Lied Center".The Daily Nebraskan.Lincoln, Nebraska.RetrievedOctober 8,2019.
  55. ^Malkin, John (October 9, 2019)."Out of the comfort zone: Danny Elfman has world premiere at Philip Glass Festival".Santa Cruz Sentinel.RetrievedOctober 13,2019.The Elfman Percussion Quartet will have its world premiere at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Henry Miller Library in Big Sur, as part of the Days and Nights Festival.
  56. ^"18.03.2022 - Robertson, Capuçon / Korngold, Elfman, Stravinsky | Wiener Symphoniker".Archived fromthe originalon August 18, 2022.RetrievedAugust 15,2022.
  57. ^"Elfman symphonique".Philharmoniedeparis.fr.May 20, 2022.
  58. ^"San Francisco Symphony - Capucon Plays Danny Elfman".Sfsymphony.org.
  59. ^"Movie Legends | the London Philharmonic Orchestra".Archived fromthe originalon March 25, 2022.RetrievedAugust 15,2022.
  60. ^"Sundays at Soka: Percussion Concerto by Danny Elfman".Sfcv.org.
  61. ^"National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain premiere Danny Elfman's Wunderkammer".Fabermusic.com.
  62. ^Library of Congress."Danny Elfman at the Library for the World Premiere of 'Suite for Chamber Orchestra'".RetrievedAugust 21,2024.
  63. ^"Orpheus and Vijay Iyer Jazz Trio at 92NY".Orpheus Chamber Orchestra.RetrievedAugust 21,2024.
  64. ^San Francisco Classical Voice."Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra Presents West Coast Premiere of Danny Elfman's Suite for Chamber Orchestra and Features Renowned Violinist Christian Tetzlaff on Brahms' Violin Concerto in D major | San Francisco Classical Voice".www.sfcv.org.RetrievedAugust 21,2024.
  65. ^"24/25 Season - Reno Chamber Orchestra".Reno Chamber Orchestra.RetrievedAugust 21,2024.
  66. ^"Rabbit and Rogue".TwylaTharp.org.RetrievedOctober 8,2019.
  67. ^Goldwasser, Dan (June 11, 2012)."Review: Cirque du Soleil: Iris".Soundtrack.net.Autotelics, LLC.RetrievedSeptember 27,2019.
  68. ^Portwood, Jerry (March 11, 2019)."Danny Elfman to ScoreGaryProduction on Broadway ".Rolling Stone.RetrievedSeptember 18,2019.
  69. ^Ng, David (September 18, 2013)."Danny Elfman concert of Tim Burton film music adds third performance".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedOctober 10,2013.
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  71. ^abRyzik, Melena (July 2, 2015)."Danny Elfman Brings Music from Tim Burton's Films to Lincoln Center".The New York Times.ISSN0362-4331.Archived fromthe originalon July 5, 2015.RetrievedOctober 23,2019.
  72. ^Ng, David (November 1, 2015)."Danny Elfman concert at Hollywood Bowl brings out Tim Burton fans".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedOctober 13,2019.Danny Elfman was the main attraction on Saturday night at the Hollywood Bowl during a live concert performance of Tim Burton'sThe Nightmare Before Christmas...The screening of the 1993 stop-motion animated movie, with a live orchestra, felt almost like a decadent dessert to the main course... Elfman saved his entrance for last, sending the audience into a frenzy of cheering and fan worship.
  73. ^Blueskye, Brian (April 23, 2022)."Coachella 2022: 5 highlights from Danny Elfman's rock-infused, cinematic set".The Desert Sun.RetrievedNovember 27,2022.
  74. ^Pearis, Bill (April 17, 2022)."Watch Danny Elfman play Oingo Boingo,Simpson's,Nightmare Before Christmas& more at Coachella ".Brooklyn Vegan.RetrievedNovember 27,2022.
  75. ^Willman, Chris (August 22, 2022)."Danny Elfman to Perform at Hollywood Bowl Halloween Weekend, Following Coachella Triumph".Variety.RetrievedNovember 27,2022.
  76. ^Glionna, John M. (1999)."Danny Elfman in theL.A. Times".Danny Elfman's Music for a Darkened People. Archived fromthe originalon February 28, 2006.RetrievedJuly 3,2006.
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  78. ^"Soundtrack Album for ABC'sWhen We RiseAnnounced ".Film Music Reporter.February 9, 2017.RetrievedSeptember 27,2019.
  79. ^Gomes, Dessi (November 23, 2022)."Here Are All the Songs in Netflix'sWednesday".Yahoo.RetrievedNovember 27,2022.
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  81. ^Zahed, Ramin (November 2, 2000)."Stainboy".Variety.Los Angeles, CA.RetrievedOctober 7,2019.Also effective is Burton's frequent music collaborator Danny Elfman, who offers a grandiose, orchestral score to the Stainboy's adventures.
  82. ^"Wacky Tracks".DannyElfman.com.Archived fromthe originalon October 8, 2019.RetrievedOctober 14,2019.In the mid 90s my friend Luigi Serafini, who's an amazing artist, asked me to write something to play for his gallery show in Milan, Italy. I put this together as a semi-composed, semi-DJ'd experiment for him.
  83. ^"Gallery 22: Best of the US – Honda".Campaign.London. November 30, 2002.RetrievedOctober 24,2019.
  84. ^abNapolitano, Dean (June 14, 2013)."Danny Elfman on Scoring for a Disney Ride".The Wall Street Journal.RetrievedSeptember 19,2019....the film composer Danny Elfman jumped at the chance to try something new: creating the music for Mystic Manor, a new Disneyland ride in Hong Kong...Figures in Chinese art leap off the walls, Roman frescos come alive, musical instruments play themselves, and floating headgear from armored suits sing in three languages: Mandarin, Cantonese and English. ( "It's me singing in English, by the way," Mr. Elfman says.)
  85. ^Ryan, Patrick (October 30, 2019)."Nightmare Before Christmascomposer confirms it is, in fact, a Halloween movie ".USA Today.RetrievedNovember 6,2019.
  86. ^Tangcay, Jazz (August 21, 2020)."Joe Biden's DNC Videos Were Shot by an Oscar-Winning Documentarian".Variety.RetrievedAugust 23,2020.
  87. ^Petski, Nellie Andreeva,Denise; Andreeva, Nellie; Petski, Denise (November 16, 2021)."Karen Gillan to Star in Emily Kapnek'sRhona Who Lives by the RiverAnimated Musical Series With Danny Elfman in Works at Disney+ ".Deadline.RetrievedSeptember 23,2023.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  88. ^Minsker, Evan (October 29, 2020)."Watch Danny Elfman's Video for" Happy ", His First New Solo Song in 36 Years".Pitchfork.RetrievedOctober 30,2020.
  89. ^Grow, Kory (January 11, 2021)."See Danny Elfman's Creepy Video for Self-Described 'Alien Orchestral Chamber Punk' Song 'Sorry'".Rolling Stone.RetrievedFebruary 11,2021.
  90. ^Moore, Sam (April 12, 2021)."Danny Elfman announcesBig Mess,his first new solo album in 37 years ".NME.RetrievedApril 6,2021.
  91. ^Willman, Chris (January 3, 1985)."Oingo Boingo's Elfman Tries aSo-LoAlbum ".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedNovember 26,2022.
  92. ^Kreps, Daniel (August 11, 2022)."Danny Elfman Taps Trent Reznor for" True "Remix".Rolling Stone.RetrievedNovember 26,2022.
  93. ^Lemmon, Kyle (August 11, 2022)."Danny Elfman, Bigger. Messier".Flood.RetrievedNovember 26,2022.
  94. ^abElfman, Danny. "A note from the Composer." Liner notes. Serenada Shizophrana. CD. Sony Classical, 2006.
  95. ^Karliss, Jeff (March 28, 2018)."Danny Elfman Is Always Eying the Next Thing".San Francisco Classical Voice.RetrievedOctober 20,2019.
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  97. ^Elfman, Danny (December 3, 2019).Music for a Darkened Theatre, Vol 2(booklet). MCA. MCAD2-11550.RetrievedOctober 15,2019.
  98. ^Geslain, Kristy (January 8, 2018)."This is Lincoln Center: Danny Elfman".lincolncenter.org.Archived fromthe originalon November 5, 2019.RetrievedNovember 3,2019.there are composers that I love that have bridged that gap [between serious and entertaining music]. I mean, most famously amongst them for me, John Adams and Philip Glass
  99. ^Kaliss, Jeff (March 26, 2018)."Danny Elfman Is Always Eying the Next Thing".San Francisco Classical Voice.RetrievedOctober 20,2019.
  100. ^"Composers talk film scores".The Hollywood Reporter.April 28, 2009.RetrievedOctober 20,2019.
  101. ^"Editorial Reviews: Pee-wee's Big Adventure".Filmtracks.May 26, 2011.RetrievedOctober 23,2019....'Stolen Bike' is perhaps the clearest emulation of Herrmann's fearful tone from Psycho to ever exist (until Elfman ironically re-recorded the classic score in full over a decade later for the remake).
  102. ^"Danny Elfman: Wunderkind of Filmmusic – A Profile"(subscription).November–December 1989.RetrievedSeptember 25,2019.As for the Herrmann touch, Elfman was able to draw from that reservoir in some of the film's more inspires dream sequences. 'There was some strange and wonderful music of Herrmann's that influenced me, in particular, Jason and the Argonauts, The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad, and Mysterious Island.'Alt URL
  103. ^"Editorial Review: Batman".Filmtracks.August 29, 1997.RetrievedOctober 23,2019.
  104. ^"Episode 10: Batman".Art of the Score(Podcast). July 23, 2017. Event occurs at 1:01:30.RetrievedOctober 23,2019.
  105. ^Burton, Byron (November 18, 2017)."Danny Elfman Hates When Reboots Scrap Classic Themes".The Hollywood Reporter.RetrievedOctober 10,2019.Elfman and Whedon previously worked together on 2015's Avengers: Age of Ultron, another situation he describes as another "three-alarm call." He shared scoring credits with Brian Tyler.
  106. ^Danny Elfman (November 10, 2017).Justice League: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack(CD liner).Burbank,CA:WaterTower Music.19075807271.RetrievedSeptember 27,2019.
  107. ^Berman, Eliza (October 26, 2016)."Danny Elfman on HowNightmare Before ChristmasEndured ".Time.RetrievedOctober 26,2017.
  108. ^Lowman, Rob (2005)."Elfman goes (chocolate-covered) nuts".San Bernardino Sun.Archived fromthe originalon August 19, 2006.RetrievedOctober 26,2019.
  109. ^Elfman, Danny [@dannyelfman](July 2, 2019)."Andy Partridge was a huge influence. It was that first year of getting back to the radio after a decade long moratorium, and the music of XTC, The Specials, Selector, Madness, Fun Boy Three and Devo that turned me around"(Tweet) – viaTwitter.
  110. ^Givens, Ron (February 23, 1990)."Danny Elfman: On the rise".Entertainment Weekly.RetrievedOctober 30,2019.
  111. ^Weintraub, Steve (March 4, 2010)."Danny Elfman Exclusive InterviewAlice in Wonderland– TalksWolfman,Composing, More ".Collider.RetrievedOctober 30,2019.
  112. ^Pedersen, Greg (May 22, 2006)."Danny's Big Adventure".EMusician.RetrievedNovember 1,2019.
  113. ^Vienna Symphonic Library (April 4, 2014).VSL Studio Chat with Danny Elfman(video).Archivedfrom the original on December 11, 2021.RetrievedNovember 6,2019.
  114. ^Colker, David (January 2001)."Keeping Score".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedOctober 14,2019.I record my own samples, doing my own percussion. Percussion was my first love, and I have a whole warehouse of percussion instruments. When you hear percussion in the movies I do, it's probably me playing.
  115. ^Gilchrist, Todd (October 30, 2019)."Exclusive Interview: Danny Elfman".Fangoria.Archived fromthe originalon November 2, 2019.RetrievedNovember 1,2019.
  116. ^Lanser, Bryan; Monahan, Kevin (1999)."Danny Elfman's big adventure continues in Sleepy Hollow".E-mu.Archived fromthe originalon December 13, 2000.RetrievedOctober 30,2019.I never conduct because the conductor's job for me is answering many questions all at once as quickly as possible, and then to keep things moving...I'm listening in the booth, which is where I prefer to listen anyway because I am hearing closer to the way it's going to sound.
  117. ^Kendall, Lukas (December 1, 1995)."Danny Elfman Part 2: Sound Effects Suck".Film Score Monthly.Archivedfrom the original on December 26, 2019.RetrievedNovember 1,2019.Alt URL
  118. ^"Editorial Review: Fifty Shades Freed (Danny Elfman)".Filmtracks.March 4, 2019.RetrievedNovember 1,2019.These projects have always been collaborations between Elfman and David Buckley, some of the concept's more memorable music actually the work of the ghostwriter.
  119. ^Guerrasio, Jason (March 13, 2019)."Inside the inspiring journey of 'Captain Marvel' composer Pinar Toprak, from moving to America at 17 to becoming the first female composer of a Marvel movie".Business Insider.RetrievedNovember 1,2019.
  120. ^"Pure Luck Soundtrack (1991)".Soundtrack.Net.RetrievedNovember 1,2019.
  121. ^Corrado, E. (September 18, 2009)."The Music of 9 – An Interview With Composer Deborah Lurie".One Movie, Five Views.RetrievedNovember 1,2019.it was decided that Danny [Elfman] would do the themes for the film, and then I would get to take them, elaborate and score the film around them.
  122. ^Ebbinghaus, Peter F. (September 23, 2019)."Scoring as a team: The creative approach of The Newton Brothers".Behind The Audio.RetrievedNovember 1,2019.
  123. ^Davies, Sam (August 11, 2022)."Danny Elfman: 'Somewhere ahead of me is the Grim Reaper' -Interview".inews.co.uk.RetrievedSeptember 20,2022.
  124. ^Davies, Sam (July 29, 2021)."Big Mess—An Interview with Danny Elfman and Berit Gilma on his First Solo Album in 37 Years".post-punk.com.RetrievedSeptember 20,2022.
  125. ^Graff, Gary (August 11, 2022)."Danny Elfman's 'Bigger, Messier,' 5 things to know".Theoaklandpress.RetrievedSeptember 20,2022.
  126. ^Dobreff, Nick (April 17, 2019)."Elfman, Turned Up to" Eleven Eleven "".Colorado Symphony.Archived fromthe originalon November 1, 2019.RetrievedNovember 1,2019.
  127. ^"Soundtrack Information:To Die For".Soundtrack.Net.RetrievedNovember 5,2019.
  128. ^"Editorial Review:Silver Linings Playbook".Filmtracks.December 3, 2012.RetrievedNovember 5,2019.
  129. ^Hochman, Steve (July 3, 2005)."A return to format for Elfman".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedJuly 3,2005.
  130. ^"Danny Elfman 's Music For A Darkened People: Charlie and The Chocolate Factory (2005)".elfman.cinemusic.net.RetrievedJune 19,2024.
  131. ^Ng, David (October 24, 2015)."Danny Elfman can relate toNightmare Before Christmashero Jack Skellington ".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedOctober 14,2019.
  132. ^Elfman, Danny (January 11, 2010)."Tim Burton".Interview.RetrievedNovember 5,2019.
  133. ^"Editorial Review:Corpse Bride".Filmtracks.June 8, 2011.RetrievedNovember 4,2019.
  134. ^Anderson, Kyle (July 22, 2011)."Danny Elfman on Tim Burton, Gus Van Sant, and why it's so hard to sing in Russian: An EW Q&A".Entertainment Weekly.Meredith Corporation.RetrievedNovember 5,2019.
  135. ^"Editorial Review:Alice in Wonderland".Filmtracks.March 9, 2010.RetrievedNovember 5,2019.Late in the recording process, while stuck during a storm at an airport in London, Elfman decided to write lyrics to his main theme for Alice in Wonderland after recognizing his subconscious earlier choice to make the two final notes of the theme perfectly lend themselves to a performance of the name 'Alice.'
  136. ^abPrato, Greg."Oingo Boingo | Album Discography".AllMusic.RetrievedNovember 1,2019.
  137. ^"The Simpsons:three notes that pay composer Danny Elfman's health insurance ".Classic FM.Global.January 21, 2015.RetrievedNovember 5,2019.
  138. ^Friedman, Ann (February 5, 2015)."Even Kim Gordon Doesn't Have It All".The New Republic.RetrievedMarch 9,2017.
  139. ^Roberts, Randall (June 8, 2021)."After 30 years as Hollywood's coolest film composer, Danny Elfman still has something to prove".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedAugust 28,2021.
  140. ^"Watch: New Fun Size Horror Short Film 'Loop' Directed by Mali Elfman".FirstShowing.net.October 25, 2016.RetrievedAugust 17,2019.
  141. ^"Entertainment Magazine".The Other View.RetrievedAugust 17,2019.
  142. ^M. Silverman, Stephen (December 4, 2003)."Passages: Bridget Fonda's Boingo Wedding".People.RetrievedMarch 9,2017.
  143. ^Gilbey, Ryan (October 2, 2013)."Danny Elfman on Tim Burton,The Simpsonsand his return to singing live ".The Guardian.ISSN0261-3077.RetrievedJune 16,2020.
  144. ^Maslin, Janet (December 11, 1998)."Film Review; A Frozen Setting Frames a Chilling Tale".The New York Times.RetrievedMarch 9,2017.
  145. ^abPhull, Hardeep (July 4, 2015)."HowBatmanalmost broke composer Danny Elfman ".New York Post.Archivedfrom the original on July 5, 2015.RetrievedMarch 9,2017.
  146. ^Stambler, Irwin (1989).Encyclopedia of Pop, Rock and Soul(Rev. ed.). New York: St. Martin's Press. pp.495–497.ISBN0312025734.
  147. ^Flans, Robyn (October 7, 1983). "Oingo Boingo's Mondo Schizo!". BAM.
  148. ^Elfman, Danny (October 30, 2008)."Battling Our Greatest Fear".HuffPost.RetrievedDecember 26,2016.
  149. ^Tangcay, Jazz (August 21, 2020)."Joe Biden's DNC Videos Were Shot by An Oscar-Winning Documentarian".Variety.RetrievedAugust 31,2020.
  150. ^Elfman, Danny."Vote 2020".Instagram.RetrievedAugust 31,2020.
  151. ^Parker, Lyndsey (December 24, 2014)."A Danny Elfman Q&A: From Boingo to Burton".Yahoo!.Archivedfrom the original on March 9, 2017.RetrievedMarch 9,2017.
  152. ^Ng, David (September 5, 2016)."Nightmare Before Christmasand Danny Elfman returning to Hollywood Bowl for 2016 Halloween ".Los Angeles Times.Archivedfrom the original on September 5, 2016.RetrievedMarch 9,2017.
  153. ^abMillman, Ethan (July 19, 2023)."Danny Elfman Settled a Sexual-Harassment Allegation for $830,000".Rolling Stone.RetrievedJuly 29,2023.
  154. ^Wagmeister, Elizabeth (July 19, 2023)."Danny Elfman Accused of Sexual Harassment by Female Composer He Agreed to Pay $830K Settlement".Variety magazine.RetrievedJuly 29,2023.
  155. ^Millman, Ethan (October 19, 2023)."Danny Elfman: Second Woman Accuses Composer of Sexual Misconduct".Rolling Stone.RetrievedOctober 20,2023.
  156. ^Earl, William (October 19, 2023)."Another Woman Accuses Danny Elfman of Sexual Abuse in New Lawsuit".Variety.RetrievedOctober 19,2023.
  157. ^Millman, Ethan (July 10, 2024)."Danny Elfman Sexual Misconduct Accuser Sues Film Composer for Defamation".Rolling Stone.RetrievedJuly 10,2024.
  158. ^Kuznikov, Selena (August 13, 2024)."Attorney Camille Vasquez, Who Worked on Johnny Depp Trial, Joins Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton".Variety.RetrievedAugust 16,2024.
  159. ^"Music |Grand Theft Auto V".grandtheftauto.net.Archived fromthe originalon October 15, 2019.RetrievedOctober 15,2019.
  160. ^Feinblatt, Scott (July 5, 2018)."Primus Brings Goblins to the Greek".OC Weekly.RetrievedOctober 15,2019.
  161. ^"Blue Harvest".Family Guy.Season 6. Episode 99.September 23, 2007. Event occurs at 14:10.Fox.
  162. ^Torok, Franchesca (August 31, 2017)."20 Stars You Forgot 'Appeared' in South Park".Screenrant.RetrievedOctober 14,2019.Tim Burton is ridiculed for having Johnny Depp play main characters in all of his movies, and for using "the same crappy music" (meaning Danny Elfman) in all of his films.
  163. ^Leight, Elias (October 14, 2016)."Danny Elfman Scores Creepy 'Trump Stalks Hillary' Clip".Rolling Stone.RetrievedOctober 14,2019.In Elfman's new clip, titled 'Trump Stalks Hillary,' the swell of the music overwhelms Hillary's words. The composer builds anxiety with a tense string section, screechy, jarring effects and a haunting choir.
  164. ^Canfield, David (October 14, 2016)."Danny Elfman Wrote a Horror Movie Score Specifically For the Footage of Trump Looming Over Hillary".Slate.RetrievedOctober 14,2016.
  165. ^Lindquist, David (July 5, 2019)."Stranger Things 3music digs up gems from '80s charts and movies ".Indianapolis Star.Indianapolis, IN.RetrievedSeptember 27,2019.
  166. ^The Christina Aguilera Interview.Sun on the Strip.Las Vegas Sun.Greenspun Media Group. June 12, 2019.
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