N°111 DANNY ELFMAN - THE SIMPSONS MAIN THEME

It’s been a while since I’ve used some kind of instrumental music and thanks to All That Remains I can use one of the most popular TV shows from the past centuries. When I say ‘Doh’. You say Homer Simpson and when I ask where these yellow creatures live you say Springfield. And where did All That Remains resides? Yes indeed Springfield !!!!

Daniel ‘Danny’ Elfman is one of the most famous composers of film music and TV series. If you’re, like I, am a huge fan of the Tim Burton movies you must have at least heard of him since he composed the musical themes for almost all of his movies starting with Pee Wee’s Great Adventure. Danny also made the compositions for the eighties series Beetlejuice; Tim Burton later would create also a movie around this character. But off course if you’re not a fan you might know him from the Desperate Housewives theme or the one I chose: the one from The Simpsons.

Mr Elfman’s parents were also performing artist. His other was a writer, his father played the sax and stimulating their children in art, literature  and music they send their sons to France to study theatre arts. Upon his return he and his brother started the band Mystic Knights Of The Oingo Boingo. When the band split Danny took over with some remaining musicians and renamed themselves to Oingo Boingo. Apparently well known in the neighbourhood of California.

His brother left the band to study the art of film and when he produced his first film The Forbidden Zone, Danny created his first movie theme with his band Oingo Boingo. This is how he and Tim Burton got in touch and  being a big fan of Oingo Boingo, Burton asked him to compose for his first movie, …, and all the rest. Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Big Fish, Corpse Bride, Sleepy Hollow, Batman, Dark Shadows, Big Fish ….. Only exceptions are Sweeney Todd and Ed Wood. Danny also sang the lyrics of the Oompa Loompa’s in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Other series or movies he did: Dick Tracy, Mission Impossible, Spy Kids, Hulk, Red Dragon, Men in Black and many more. When it comes to music, Elfman is a big name in the movie business. This is why he has four Oscar nominations behind his name. Unfortunately he didn’t win any of them. At a late age he married actress Bridget Fonda, daughter of Jane Fonda. I don’t know if they met on the set or not but then again it’s a small world out there. 

Now enjoy The Simpsons theme once more.