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Hello, I am a fan of Danny Elfman’s music, though not a die hard listerner/fan, and have decided to use his music in a Pro-Con paper for my english class. I will be debating against another student, more or less, Elfman vs. John Williams. My thesis is going to be, “The movie makes William’s music, while Elfman’s music makes the movie.” Anyway, the paper isn’t due for about a month so what I would like to do is make a compilation of his best work to get me in the mood for my paper. I have heard most of his work, but vaguely, thus I cannot recall which ones are most worthy of being considered a ‘great.’ I love love love the Edward Scissorhands score but other than that the only other one I know I want on the CD is Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure. Anyway, if you could please let me know what I’m missing and what must be on this compilation I would appreciate it.
Thanks so much,
Michael Adamski
mike@ulyssesright.comTry…
“Attack Of The Batwing” from BATMAN
“Baby Beauty” from BLACK BEAUTY
“Vera’s World” or “End Titles” from DOLORES CLAIBORNE
“M.I.B. Theme II” a.k.a. “End Credits” from MEN IN BLACK
“The Hunt” from PLANET OF THE APES
“Main Titles” from MARS ATTACKS!
“Promise” from THE FAMILY MAN
“Introduction” and “Main Titles” from SLEEPY HOLLOW
“Death” from A SIMPLE PLAN…all just off the top of my head.
Though I think a “battle” between Williams and Elfman is pointless. Both do what they do very well and both do things very differently.
Ryan
I would go with just about anything from BeetleJuice. You want an example of how important Danny’s music is to a movie–I’d say this is it. (No. Wait. You could say that for just about anything he’s scored. Still….)
I mean, the music is a character in and of itself–not to mention it perfectly reflects Tim Burton’s imagery. Lots of wild and crazy bouncing horns, and twisty violins and such. Saucy. (Yeah, and you can tell I know the music lingo–blunt sarcasm at its worst)!
Also, I’d say if you wanted a glimpse of Danny’s darker side, I would look into the main titles of Batman Returns, and Nightbreed. Batman is more gothic and abundant, while Nightbreed is more tribal and innocent–but not. Kinda spooky.
The new Spiderman and Red Dragon scores are excellent for new material to compare–because while BeetleJuice and Edward Scissorhands are my personal favorites, they are from quite a few years back.
And you can’t forget The Nightmare Before Christmas! If you want proof of Danny’s ability just watch that movie. (Yeah! Take that John Williams! Just kidding–I know not the ways of other composers)!
Just about all of his material is worth going over, though. I suppose it depends on how much you want to write, and how long your paper’s allowed to be….
I’d also suggest the “End Credits Suite” from Red Dragon…either that, or the “Main Titles” from Dragon…why not both? However, as Ryan also mentioned, I would suggest “Baby Beauty” from “Black Beauty.” Brooding melancholy – that’s what gets me every time. Best of luck on your project!
-E
You’ve GOT to hear Main Titles to Red Dragon!
“Parade Attack” Spider-Man
“He’s Back” Red Dragon
“Poor Jack” Nightmare before Christmas
“Clown Attack” Batman
“Finale/End Credits” Batman returns (my favorite one)
“Lydia strikes…a bargain !” Beetlejuice
“Main titles” Darkman
“Preparing for battle” Planet of the Apes
“End Credtis” A Simple Plan
“Vera’s World” Dolores Claiborne
“Frolic” Black Beauty
“End Credits” Sleepy Hollow”There are many others but it’s a good start…
Sincing we’re compiling lists, add these on there too:
Carnival Underground – NIGHTBREED
Suzie’s Theme and or Main Titles – TO DIE FOR
The Breakfast Machine – PEE WEE’S BIG ADVENTUREThose three seemed to have been ommited. Carry on.
Since we’re compiling lists, add these on there too:
Carnival Underground – NIGHTBREED
Suzie’s Theme and or Main Titles – TO DIE FOR
The Breakfast Machine – PEE WEE’S BIG ADVENTUREThose three seemed to have been ommited. Carry on.
“Parade Attack” Spider-Man
“He’s Back” Red Dragon
“Poor Jack” Nightmare before ChristmasY’r a poet and you didn’t know it!
“birth of a penguin” & “rooftops” -Batman returns
“zoom a” & “uh oh” -Mission impossible
“finale” & “main theme” – Men in black
“main title” & “it’s alive” -Flubber
“high steel” -Darkman
scrooged theme
“descent into mystery”, “finale”, & “attack of the batwing” -Batman
“main titles” & “ritchie’s speech” -Mars attacks
the flash theme
“main titles” -Sommersby
“introduction” & “grand finale” -edward scissorhands
“main titles”, “revenge”, & “costume montage” -Spiderman
the simpsons theme
“clown dream” -Pee wee’s big adventure
“main titles” -Beetlejuicelemme know what you think
No one’s mentioned it, so I will: The theme from SLEDGEHAMMER!
From Big Top Pee Wee: Main Title, Happy Circus, Zsa Zsa’s Delight & Elephant Ride, Big Top Finale
Selina Transforms — Batman Returns
Burning $ — A Simple PlanNow I see that even fans of the same person have different tastes. I would say any of the Main Titles because they are the opening and set the mood for a movie, and that is extremely important.
Knight (I can’t pick the best because I like them all too much)
You COULD include that Danny has *sung* the music for a full-length musical, “The Nightmare Before Christmas.” To my knowledge, John Williams has not done that. Then again, Elfman has never written an Olympic theme song…ah, I just don’t see the point of “debating” it, man. They’re both good at what they do; they just have rather different styles and certainly different educational backgrounds.
-E (who is currently on a “Damn, Elfman was hot in his younger days!” kick. I’m all about the Satan get-up in “The Forbidden Zone.”
Well…that and the red suspenders. And THEN there’s the voice! The Nightmare soundtrack is good, but it’s truly “Is This” on “Dark at the End of the Tunnel” that gets me every time. He was darn sexy. Why am I telling you this? Damned if I know. I feel like a schoolgirl with a crush, who has the compunction to tell understanding people who won’t say, “Ewww! You like HIM?! Ewww!”. LOL!)well, while williams wrote the Olympic theme.. who wrote the Simpson’s theme? that theme is more known nation-over than the Olympic theme.. well at leas to me.
Now, I think edward scissorhands has some sweetness. use the emotheme not the fairytale theme.. i really like the song right before the end titles. hmm..then one must show off the brass. You can find that anywhere and the kids might like Spider-man. then, they might like To die for’s guitar bits. For a percussion bit, i’m in love with the Planet of the ape’s battle scenes. the little whistle thing in “the battle begins.”
lexi: and that’s all she wrote.
I’d personally have to go with…
Main themes from
Batman, Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands, Black Beauty, and Nightmare Before Christmasand more specifically
“Birth of a Penguin” and “The Children’s Hour” from Batman Returns
“Baby Beauty” from Black Beauty
“Christmas Eve Montage” from Nightmare Before Christmasand I personally thought he should have won for “Good Will Hunting” so check out that too…
In terms of soundtracks, i would recommend:
Batman- this totally reflects Danny’s traditional and orignal gothic genius.
Beetlejuice- shows danny’s ability for the ultimate quircky score.
Batman returns: mabye not as good as batman, but certainly shows variety of music on the same charcter
Mars Attacks- the main titles basically sums up the rest of the soundtrack/
Nightbreed- very dark and mysterious
Darkman- also very dark
Sleepy Hollow- shows danny amazing ability to give the word gothic two meanings.
Spiderman- Excellent superhero stuff here.Now, as far as the whole Elfman vs Williams thing goes, youve won.
Just listen to Williams score and see how he can only write one type of music.
Heroic, boring and mainstream film scores that you would here from any average film composer. That fact is that John Williams is OVER-RATED, big time.
When I heard Indiana Jones again I thought, christ, this is just superman with a few notes changed around. Same goes for the star wars theme.
He simply could not reach dannys gothic and dark beauty with and 500 mile pole.
Of course, he tries to, as we can see from the Harry Potter soundtrack. So, whether or not this was any help to you at all, I know that ur potential for acing this debate is much greater than Williams boy.“Just listen to Williams score and see how he can only write one type of music.”
Have you heard any of his great concert work – the Violin, Cello, Flute, or Bassoon Concertos? Or have you ever heard his music for films like The Missouri Breaks or Rosewood – now tell me that he only writes “ONE type of music.” I don’t see why this has to be a battle of Williams vs. Elfman, because I know Williams can do things that Elfman can’t (he is probably the best composer of the Americana sound today). It’s funny, but Elfman’s detractors use the same argument against Elfman – that his scores all sound the same. So instead of saying that either one writes “one” type of music, why not admit that each has their own STYLE. If you don’t like Williams’ style, then fine, you don’t have to discuss it. But I find both styles rewarding; if you take the time to really listen to what is there. I find that Elfman is certainly one of the best when it comes to music that takes repeated listening to truly grasp, but on the other hand, that doesn’t mean that I can’t also enjoy a heavily melodic score by Williams (or even a simple little standard Verse-Chorus song by Oingo Boingo).
Nat who fells the need to now put in Raiders of the Lost Ark, next to Spiderman and enjoy them both then watch the Oingo Boingo: Farwell DVD.
I like the “little standard Verse-Chorus” songs by Oingo Boingo
Especially “Something Isn’t Right…” because most of the time, it isn’t. Then there’s always “We Close Our Eyes,” the Farewell version. *Sigh*-E (who feels the need to listen to Iggy Pop’s “Lust for Life” CD at the present moment…and the Meatheads)
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