Elfman's 55? Why, he's only a lad!

Everyone's favorite eclectic 80s new-wave band leader turned Hollywood movie score composer has a birthday today. But I don't want to imagine what flavor cake a guy like Danny Elfman would request for his big day. Can anyone say "rutabaga?"

I'd expect nothing less strange for the man behind tunes like "Grey Matter," "Insects" and "No Spill Blood."

The former Oingo Boingo front-man turns 55 years old today. And while the California-bred band has been in retirement since their final Halloween show in 1995, Elfman continues to compose movie scores at a phenomenal pace. What began as a side-job with 1980's "Forbidden Zone" has continued with dozens of additional themes including the catchy tunes to "Batman,"  "Beetlejuice" and "Pee-Wee's Big Adventure."

And don't expect Elfman to resurrect Oingo Boingo anytime soon. The long years of touring have left him with substantial hearing problems, thanks to a bad case of tinnitus.

"The last five or six years I was in the band, my instincts were telling me I was doing myself a lot of harm - and I was right," Elfman told the Orange County Register in 2005.

To that end, he won't jump back in if the band decides to reunite one day: "I'm happy to see that music live on, and it really doesn't bother me - as long as I'm not asked to participate. To me, it's the past, and the past should stay the past."

Not a chance, Danny. Here at the Stuck in the 80s, the past never dies. Click here to listen to our Oingo Boingo podcast from 2006.

Comments

[Paul Butler]

Heh. Ya know what? I'm not a Family Guy fan at all, but my roommate played Blue Harvest for me and the Danny Elfman bit had me cackling madly.

[Spears]

Paul -- I'll concede that point. I love the scene in "Blue Harvest" when Elfman replaces John Williams for the score. Great insider joke.

His work on Midnight Run though was very different.

[Paul Butler]

Danny Elfman, composer.
UGH.
Every score sounds the same. I can usually pick out Elfman as a composer within the first few measures of a film score.
Easily my least favourite film composer of all time. It doesn't help that he frequently works with Tim "Hack" Burton.

[Jeff from Vegas]

I just checked Amazon.com. The Farewell CD is $13.97. The DVD is $149 and must be purchased through a third party.

[Douglas Arthur]

Holy crap Jeff, thanks for that link! I'd never seen that before and I used to watch The Gong Show religiously...I even made a Gong Show comic book back in 4th grade. (featuring a a celebrity panel that included James Bond!) I think I was inspired that year because my class did The Gong Show as a play on stage for the rest of the school. I did a Porky Pig impression at the end where I said "That's All Folks!", and I almost slipped in some shaving cream that was used in an earlier sketch. Loved that show! Always interesting to see an evolution of a band and Oingo Boingo certainly has a strange genesis.

Hearing that the Farewell CD is fetching $100 on eBay almost makes me contemplate selling my copy, but toi be honest it is worth every penny to the hardcore Boingo fan, too. I have the DVD, too, which is also worth a seek out.

[Jeff from Vegas]

And for those of you who are *really* into Oingo Boing, you might like this little Gong Show appearance:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTRd1a5MVMw

At this point, they were still the Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo. Danny's playing the trombone.

[Jeff from Vegas]

Oh, yeah, I remember the Halloween shows at Irvine Meadows. We used to drive down from Las Vegas just to see those shows every year. One year, the fog came in during the concert, and I think it came in during Dead Man's Party. Pretty cool!

And Steve, you forgot "Goodbye, Goodbye" , "On the Outside", "Nothing Bad Ever Happens To Me" and "Stay".

[TheLoneIguana]

Another good solo Elfman track: "Happy", on the "Summer School" Soundtrack. Harder than bloody hell to track down, though.

And as a side note:
"Dear powers-that-be: Please re-release the 'Farewell' DVD. I do not want to spend $100 on eBay. Thank you."

[Douglas Arthur]

I don't have a lot to add here that others haven't already said, but I couldn't let an Elfman post go by without checking in. You really do need to do an Elfman podcast. His film score work in the 80s still stands out as some of the most memorable in film history: Pee Wee's Big Adventure, Beetlejuice, Batman, even stuff like Back To School, Midnight Run and Hot To Trot. Well worth a closer look from the crew at SIT80s. I even get the feeling that Sean would treat the subject with all the reverence he could muster. he says said many times that he is a big fan of Danny's film work. It sounds like he has a lot of other fans out here in 80's land as well.

Of course, I still want you to do a Devo podcast!

[specialkness]

great list, we're sitting her singing along with all the songs. Love Danny Elfman, his film work is genious! I only new Oingo Boingo from Sixteen Candles and Weird Science until I met my husband. Great music, great film scores. Hope he had a great birthday.

[Miguel]

Have you seen my Oingo Boingo list on Imeem Steve? A little different from yours.But i think we could make dozens of good lists with these guys.

[Brad]

I would add a couple personal favorites to that list:

Pictures Of You (And I said NO!)
Little Guns (They want you. You. You you you you!)
Ain't This The Life (Baby Baby Baby)

Well I remember the Halloween shows at Irvine Meadows...

[Bassnote]

I could gush about Danny Elfman's work on films, and with Oingo Boingo, all day. Steve, if you and Sean ever do a podcast on his 80s film work, please let me be a guest.

[Michelle]

And the theme song to "Tales from the Crypt"!

[jane]

Fab list. As usual. Still sounds so fresh to me.

And I'm sure Bridget and the kids made sure that he had whatever sort of cake he wanted -- even rutabaga.

[Bassnote]

I'm not knocking any of his film scores (because I own darn near all of 'em), and I love the "Midnight Run" score. There is just something about the "Edward Scissorhands" score that just transports me another place when I listen to it. I waould go as far as ranking it among the top film scores of all time by anyone (even John Williams). Elfman, himself, has said that ES was his favorite

[Spears]

That was a tough list to narrow it down to just 10.

I think Sean "Sexy Susan" Daly would opt for the "Midnight Run" score as Elfman's best.

Me? I cherish the entire collection.

[Bassnote]

Good list Mr. Spears. I'd add "Nothing Bad Ever Happens to Me", "Goodbye Goodbye" and "Take Your Medicine", which are some of my favorites. Heck, my list would have about 40 songs on it.

I agree with Miguel, "Edward Scissorhands" was his best film score.

[Miguel]

Don`t forget Edward Scissorhands and the fenomenal Nightmare Before Christmas,but,well,they`re in the 90s.

Good Oingo Boingo list.I can`t have enough of it.