Swan Lake on steroids: Elfman tries ballet

It's been more than a decade since Oingo Boingo put away its eclectic brand of new wave shock music, leaving frontman Danny Elfman alone to work on movie orchestrations.

Judging from the latest update, our man Danny is starting to show the signs of prolonged isolation. How do we know? He's turned to writing music for ballet.

According to Southern California Public Radio, Elfman has composed all the music for "Rabbit and Rogue," a new ballet by Twyla Tharp and a co-production with the Orange County Performing Arts Center. (Click here to listen to the audio interview.)

"The orchestral music that I more or less grew up on was ballet," Elfman tells the station. "Ballet made sense to me. It was the 'Rite of Spring' that changed my life. It was 'Romeo and Juliet' that made me go 'Wow!' "

The production will be staged this weekend in SoCal. Afterward, Elfman's back to work that seems more, well "Elfish" -- three new films, a Broadway musical based on Harry Houdini, and music for a Cirque de Soleil show to be based in Los Angeles.

[AP photo]

Comments

[Douglas Arthur]

Worst ever?

that's a bit harsh don't you think?

probably similar to film snobs saying Spielberg is a lousy director. If you don't like it that is fine, but his scores have enhanced dozens of great films since the 80's. Memorable, hummable music that brings images of the film back to the mind when you do.

The complaint I most often hear is that all his scores sound the same, which is a complete farce of an argument. He certainly has a style that is uniquely his own, but so did some of the greats like Bernard Herrman. I can usually pick out his scores too, but that doesn't make him bad. Same with John Williams. Can always tell his scores too.

A lot of Rock musicians have been involved with Twyla Tharp, some supplying original music like David Byrne's aforementioned Catherine Wheel score (brilliant in my opinion), and some she choreographed to existing songs, like Billy Joel. I am sure that Danny's music will be suitable and in his own style.

Worst film composer ever?

Not in my book. Not by a long shot. Not saying he is the best ever, but certainly not the worst. ever.

[Jeff from Vegas]

Bassnote: Thanks for the kind comment at Imeem.

[Jeff from Vegas]

Bassnote, you inspired me. I just added Food For Feet's version of Tequila to my Oingo Boingo playlist on Imeem: http://www.imeem.com/people/_zciVZD/playlist/4xlDmeYA/oingo_boingo_music_playlist/.

[Paul Butler]

Worst.
Film Composer.
Ever.

[Jeff from Vegas]

Wow! I had no idea anyone else knew about Food For Feet. I have that CD somewhere around here.

BTW, I met Johnny "Vatos" Hernandez once. Back when I was in college, very few cool bands came through Las Vegas (something about being considered "has-beens"). Anyway, I was in student government and we happened to be up in Reno for a Board of Regents meeting. That night, UNR's student government happened to be putting on an Oingo Boingo concert and they invited us backstage after the show.

Vatos was pretty cool. At the time, he had this wild zig-zag haircut and he told us this story about walking into a biker bar and almost getting thrown out because of his haircut. But once the bikers found out he was on MTV, they were really cool about it. Didn't get to meet Danny Elfman, though.

Just my little brush with greatness...

[Bassnote]

John Avila, what a great bass player. I have a six song ep by a band called Food For Feet, that featured John Avila and Johnny "Vatos" Hernandez, from 1989. It was a power trio, and there was a killer cover of the song "Tequila" with the bass and guitar doing the saxophone parts. I used to play it at Halloween parties, and everyone loved it.

[jo]

The Miami City Ballet premiered the collaborated ballet ~NIGHTSPOT~ this past Feb/March 2008 -

Choreography by Twyla Tharp
Original Music by Elvis Costello
Costumes designed by Isaac Mizrahi

Joe & I attended & really loved the experience! The NY Times critic musta had a stick up his butt because he liked `nothing` about it- said the choreography wasn't up to Twyla's standards, Elvis's music was `weak`, & Isaac's costumes were lacking.
Different strokes for different folks I guess. We thought the dancers were skilled, colorful & confident! Saw Elvis hangin with wife Diana. Also Isaac (dressed head~to~toe in madras) hangin with John >pencil-thin-mus Waters (dressed head~to~toe in white). We had fun!

jo(&joe)

[Jeff from Vegas]

Speaking of Oingo Boingo, check out the bass player (http://mutaytor.com/cast/member/John) of the group Mutaytor. Look familiar?

[Pages]

In the '80s, David Byrne did music for a Twyla Tharp dance project, too -- "The Catherine Wheel."

A couple of those songs show up on the Stop Making Sense DVD, and they rock. So I wouldn't worry too much about Elfman here.

[Bassnote]

Have you heard his song "The Little Things" from the "Wanted" sondtrack? Classic, rockin' Elfman.