collider.com: It’s quickly approaching the spooky season, so it’s time to get the midnight movie parties organized. There is something so captivating about the eeriness of a creepy movie, but what makes them so spine-shivering? The chilling music that accompanies them. Danny Elfman has long been one of the most distinctive composers of film music, despite beginning his musical career in the new wave band Oingo Boingo.
This is something that I have brought up many times when it comes to conversations about Tim Burton and what it is that makes his movies so memorable and eerie. A great deal of it really does lie in the hands of Danny Elfman, equipped with such a unique style and an ear for greatness. There are multiple elements that he uses specifically that makes his work both so effective, and so recognizable. Not only that, but it seems that he has a true understanding of Burton’s genius, and their ease of collaboration is reflected in their work, not only in the quality of it, but the sheer volume that they have created together. One thing that surprised me about this article was the specifics on the celeste that elfman uses. It has never occurred to me that he would create this system, or instrument in order to create this work as opposed to just using multiple instruments.
ReplyDeleteI am a big proponent of finding people you collaborate well with and continuing to work with those people. From what I understand, a lot of the industry works this way, especially stage management teams. When you go to a Broadway show and you read the credits for the stage managers most of them have very similar credits. I enjoy the idea that if I find people I love to work with, work well with, that do similar work, then the pressure of finding jobs is somewhat off. You are not an individual in the crazy industry, you have a team that you know will hire you. The unfortunate part is that it seems difficult to break into a well-established successful team. If you are looking to create a team, then the difficult part is breaking into the industry. However, if everything does go your way then the reward is insane, as shown by Tim Burton and Danny Elfman.
ReplyDeleteAs a big Tim Burton fan, I thought it was really interesting to kinda see how Danny makes his distinct sound while working with the eerie moods of Tim's movies. Their collaborations are so recognizable, and this feels like the right time to talk about it due to the time of year. Around October, I look forward to being able to get into the spooky spirit by watching the iconic Tim Burton movies that I have watched since I was a kid. As soon as I hear the main title from the movie, I know that I am in for a treat and that it will definitely set the eerie mood for the season. Danny Elfman has such a distinct sounds that it really make the songs get stuck in your head. The idea of Tim and Danny working together for so long is really awesome, actually. I feel like it is nice to be able to find someone with whom you are compatible when working on a collabrative piece like this. I feel like it can make the process go smoother, and it allows the director and composer to work to get the music just right for the film.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I'm a huge Tim Burton fan, and I love the aesthetic and feeling associated with his movies. It's quite fascinating how sound and music are such a big driver of creating that feeling, and how they blend with the visuals and story. Having good collaborators, people who match you artistically, but will push you further is so important. Obviously, in our industry being able to work with a variety of different people is important too, but when you find others you work well with, continuing to draw upon their skills for future projects is an advantage. Teams of people that mesh well together like Tim Burton and Danny Elfman have proven that this really is a group effort. As I continue to explore my own styles and ways of collaborating, I hope to find other artists who I can collaborate with in ways like this, because I believe whatever it is I create will be so much more impactful that way.
ReplyDeleteDanny Elfman is great. I like a lot of Oingo Boingo’s catalogue and it’s pretty clear when you listen to their music, especially knowing that their lead writer’s/composer’s are the same guy, that they both come from the same place. Oingo Boingo’s music is in the same vein as Depeche mode and like their contemporaries a lot of their electronic and guitar infused new-wave rock music has a dark edge to it. On songs like Just another Day the band evokes that kind of underlying dread that can be felt in the works of bands like The Doors. A lot of their songs also incorporate macabre imagery- something Elfman would get no respite from in his partnership with Burton. It’s cool when artists like this find a way to team up and utilize their skills to enhance each other and each other’s art. I like the fact that Elfman isn’t a traditional composer and brings his unique ska-flavored rock and roll to the table in helping Tim Burton make weird and kind of spooky movies.
ReplyDeleteI for one had no idea that that Tim Burton worked closely with a single musical composer. Though after thinking about it I have realized that all of the music in his works seems to have the same feel to it, and I not realize that this is due to there being one main composer that Tim Burton turns two. From looking at Danny Elfman's lists of productions that he has been a part of it also seems that as a composer he has a wide range of talents, and is able to create musical for many different genres. Despite the fact that he seems to turn to eerie or creepier musical scores. It is also very interesting to learn that musical composer had their start as a member of a band. I suppose that I don't really have any expectations for where musical composer get their start, but I did not expect it to be as a member of a band. Both Nightmare before Christmas and Corpse Bride have amazing musical scores that are both eerie and beautiful, and it is cool that I now know of the person behind these scores and the other works their are a part of.
ReplyDeleteI’mI love Tim Burton so much, so reading about his longtime partnership with Danny Elfman was super interesting. I honestly didn't know Danny Elfman was the composer before this, which surprised me because his music is such a big part of what makes Tim Burton’s movies feel so unique. I’ve always loved that weird mix of dark, spooky, and emotional that Tim Burton does so well, and now I realize how much of that comes from the music. The article talked about how they’ve worked together for years, and it make sense because the sound and visuals match perfectly, you can tell they have a strong connection. I think it’s really cool how Danny Elfman doesn’t just write background music but creates something that feels like its own character in the story. I kind of want to go listen to the Edward Scissorhands or Nightmare Before Christmas soundtrack now just to appreciate how much it adds to Tim Burton’s world.
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