Danny elfman composer biography kids

Elfman has been an atheist since the age of 11 or In an interview with the New York Post, he referred to himself as a "cynic-ologist". Describing his politics during the s, Elfman said, "I'm not a doomist. My attitude is always to be critical of what's around you, but not ever to forget how lucky we are. I've travelled around the world. I left thinking I was a revolutionary.

I came back real right-wing patriotic. Since then, I've kind of mellowed in between. InElfman expressed support for Barack Obama.

Danny elfman composer biography kids

For the Democratic National Conventionhe scored the biographical video played ahead of Joe Biden 's acceptance of the presidential nomination in the United States elections. In a series of posts on his Instagram page discussing the video, Elfman criticized Donald TrumpRichard Nixon, and the electoral collegeand linked to several voter resources.

During his 18 years with Oingo Boingo, Elfman developed significant hearing damage as a result of the continuous exposure to the high noise levels involved in performing in a rock band. Afraid of worsening his condition, he decided to leave the band, saying that he would never return to that kind of performance. His impairment was so bad that he could not "even sit in a loud restaurant or bar anymore.

Including commercial recordings of his film scores and the Oingo Boingo discography, Elfman has produced over albums as of Danny Elfman facts for kids Kids Encyclopedia Facts. Quick facts for kids. Los AngelesCaliforniaU. Composer record producer singer songwriter musician. Bridget Fonda. Film score pop new wave contemporary classical music.

Main article: List of compositions by Danny Elfman. Main article: List of awards and nominations received by Danny Elfman. Main article: List of Danny Elfman film and television appearances. All content from Kiddle encyclopedia articles including the article images and facts can be freely used under Attribution-ShareAlike license, unless stated otherwise.

Cite this article:. This page was last modified on 1 Octoberat Suggest an edit. Academy Awards. Annie Awards. British Academy Film Awards. Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards. Emmy Awards. Golden Globe Awards. What shaped Danny Elfman's early musical influences? Growing up in Los Angeles, you couldn't escape the impact of classic sci-fi and horror films.

These cinematic experiences sparked your imagination, even if you initially showed no interest in music. In fact, you faced rejection from your elementary school orchestrahighlighting a late start to your musical journey. However, you chose to drop out of University High School, diving headfirst into music and traveling to France, where you immersed yourself in diverse cultural influences.

Your early career with the new-wave band Oingo Boingo allowed you to develop a unique styleblending rock with various genre elements. This eclectic foundation would later serve you well. As you transitioned into film scoringyou drew inspiration from renowned composers like Nino Rota and Bernard Herrmann. Their thematic compositions shaped your sound, guiding you toward the distinctive voice you've become known for in the industry.

These early influences laid the groundwork for your remarkable career, helping you craft scores that resonate with audiences and showcase your innovative approach to music. Elfman's orchestration stands out for its innovative blend of traditional and unconventional instrumentscreating captivating soundscapes that define his film scores. His collaboration with Tim Burton showcases a distinctive musical style, merging whimsical and eerie elements that perfectly complement the fantastical nature of their films.

Danny Elfman often employs thematic motifsusing diverse instrumentation, including strings, brass, and synthesizers, to represent characters and enhance emotional depth. One notable aspect of his orchestration is the use of children's choirsas seen in "Edward Scissorhands," which evokes an otherworldly sound that resonates with audiences.

This technique adds a layer of innocence and wonder, contrasting with the often dark themes present in his work. Additionally, Elfman's background as a rock musician with Oingo Boingo influences his unique approach, allowing him to seamlessly fuse rock, pop, and classical elements within his scores. InElfman and his brother worked on the film "Forbidden Zone.

Elfman's defining partnership began in the mids with director Tim Burton. Elfman composed the unforgettable soundtrack for Burton's "Pee-Wee's Big Adventure," solidifying their long-standing friendship and business relationship. Elfman has scored nearly every Burton film, excluding "Ed Wood. His accolades include an Emmy Award and three Academy Award nominations.

Daniel Robert Elfman born May 29, is an American film composer, singer, songwriter, and musician. He came to prominence as the lead vocalist and primary songwriter for the new wave band Oingo Boingo in the early s. In his early school days, Elfman exhibited an aptitude for science with almost no interest in music, and was even rejected from elementary school orchestra "for having no propensity for music.

After returning to Los Angeles from Africa in the early s, Elfman was asked by his brother Richard to serve as musical director of his street theatre performance art troupe The Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo. The Mystic Knights performed on the street and in theaters, and later in nightclubs throughout Los Angeles until Richard left in to pursue filmmaking.

Elfman composed the songs and his first score for the film, and appeared as the character Satanwho performs a reworked version of Calloway's " Minnie the Moocher. Before the release of Forbidden ZoneElfman took over the Mystic Knights as lead singer-songwriter in Inhe pared the group down to eight players to record and tour as a ska -influenced new wave band.

That summer, the group's name would change to Oingo Boingo. Elfman shifted the band to a more guitar-oriented rock sound in the late s, [ 32 ] which continued through their last album Boingo in Elfman told the audience the performance was "20 years to the day" of Oingo Boingo's retirement. Non-comedy work included the all- synth score to Emilio Estevez 's crime drama Wisdom and the big bandblues -infused music for Martin Brest 's buddy cop action film Midnight Run.

InElfman's influential, Grammy -winning score for Burton's Batman marked a major stylistic shift to dark, densely orchestrated music in the romantic idiom. With BatmanElfman firmly established a career-spanning relationship with Burton, [ 42 ] scoring all but three of the director's major studio releases. InElfman wrote the score and ten songs for the Burton-produced stop motion animated film The Nightmare Before Christmasdirected by Henry Selickand also provided the singing voice for main character Jack Skellingtonas well as the voices for secondary characters Barrel, the Clown with the Tear-Away Face and others.

Among his franchise work, Elfman composed the scores for four Men in Black films — [ 44 ] and three Fifty Shades films — Elfman entered the Marvel Cinematic Universe by providing additional music in 's Avengers: Age of Ultronreceiving composer credit with Brian Tyler. For several high-profile sequel and reboot projects in the s, Elfman incorporated established musical themes with his own original thematic material, including the DC Extended Universe 's Justice League[ 49 ] The Grinch[ 50 ] Dumbo [ 51 ] and Men in Black International.

Elfman was featured in the documentary Scorein which he appeared among over 50 film composers to discuss the craft of movie music and influential figures in the business. Elfman's first piece of original concert music, Serenada Schizophranawas commissioned by the American Composers Orchestrawho premiered the piece on February 23,at Carnegie Hall.

In OctoberElfman returned to the stage for the first time since his band Oingo Boingo disbanded to sing a handful of The Nightmare Before Christmas songs as part of the concert Danny Elfman's Music from the Films of Tim Burtonfeaturing suites of music from 15 Tim Burton films newly arranged by Elfman. SinceElfman has appeared regularly in a Hollywood Bowl Halloween concert featuring full orchestra performing the Nightmare Before Christmas score live to the film projection.

Conducted by Steve Bartekand featuring Elfman vocals, guitar, percussionWes Borland guitarStu Brooks bassNili Brosh guitarand Josh Freese drums[ 76 ] the concert was expanded for two shows Halloween weekend at the Hollywood Bowl. In addition to his music for film, Elfman also penned themes for the television series The Simpsons[ 78 ] Tales from the CryptThe Flash and Desperate Housewiveswhich won Elfman his first Emmy.

In the s, Elfman composed music for advertising campaigns for NikeNissan and Lincoln-Mercuryand in wrote the music for Honda 's "Power of Dreams" advertising campaign, which was the first cinema commercial to be shot in the IMAX format. In he composed the music and provided the English-language vocals for the Hong Kong Disneyland attraction Mystic Manor.

On October 31,the MasterClass online educational series released "Making Music out of Chaos," presenting 21 compositional and career lessons from Elfman's four decades of experience primarily in the film industry. Elfman scored the minute video "Joe Biden," which introduced Joe Biden 's acceptance of the presidential candidacy nomination at the Democratic National Convention.

On November 16,Disney Branded Television announced that Elfman would compose score and songs of the upcoming Disney Television Animation and 20th Television Animation stop-motion animated comedy series Rhona Who Lives by the River created by Emily KapnekElfman also serves as executive producer for the series. Though many believe Richard Wagner informed his influential score to BatmanElfman has said it was more likely from Wagner's influence on classic film composers such as Herrmann, Steiner, Waxman and Korngold, as he was unfamiliar with Wagner's work at the time.

Elfman counts Herrmann as his biggest influence, and has said hearing Herrmann's score to The Day the Earth Stood Still when he was a child was the first time he recognized film music as a cinematic art form and realized the powerful contribution a composer makes to the movies. Given his appreciation and study of world music and his vast collection of instruments from non-Western cultures, [ 24 ] Elfman will often use traditional instruments in his scores when there is an international setting, such as African percussion for Instinctthe oud for The Kingdom set in Saudi Arabiaand pan flute for Proof of Life set in South America.

When working on films with established musical identifiers, Elfman will often incorporate original themes in addition to his own thematic material. For his film scoresElfman draws musical inspiration almost exclusively from viewing a cut of the film, [ 73 ] and occasionally from visits to the set while the film is in production he wrote and orchestrated his theme for Batman on an airplane to Los Angeles after visiting the set in London.

Once a rough cut of the film is ready, Elfman and the director have a spotting session to decide where to place music in the film, the emotional undercurrents of each scene, and overall tone. When he has received approval on initial material from the filmmakers, Elfman begins to compose anywhere from 60 to minutes of music cue-by-cue. He says two of the most important things to capture at this point are the tone of each scene and editorial rhythm.

Next to thematic development, action set pieces tend to take Elfman the most time given the complexity of timing music to action. Early in his career, he wrote out his scores using pencil, but has composed largely digitally since the mids. Before recording the score, he demos each cue by mocking orchestral and choral parts on synthesizer to get approval from the director.

Elfman also typically samples or records his own percussion and guitar playing to overlay with live orchestra. He oversees the recording from the control booth so that he can troubleshoot with the film's director and danny elfman composer biography kids engineers. Elfman will usually do a separate mix of select cues for an album presentation of the score, and has produced nearly to date.

On the occasion that there are compressed deadlines or in the event he is not available to rescore or adapt his music if there are major edits to the film after the score's completion, Elfman will hire additional composers to work on small cues or sections of cues, adapting his existing material or themes. Elfman has only collaborated once with another artist: Siouxsie and the Bansheeson the song " Face to Face " for Batman Returns in I did one track with Siouxsie and the Banshees but that's it.

I've always been in my own bubble, and that bubble has been very fertile". In the liner notes for the CD recording of his first concert work Serenada SchizophranaElfman wrote: "I began composing several dozen short improvisational compositions, maybe a minute each. Slowly, some of them began to develop themselves until finally I had six separate movements that, in some abstract, absurd way, felt connected.

To create the cadenzas for his violin concerto Eleven ElevenElfman collaborated with soloist Sandy Cameron, for whom the piece was written. Elfman often incorporates choral or vocal arrangements into his film scores, [ 8 ] notably the use of women's and children's choirs ScroogedNightbreedEdward ScissorhandsBatman ReturnsSleepy HollowAlice in WonderlandThe Grinchand solo danny elfman composer biography kids or vocal effects BeetlejuiceMars Attacks!

Elfman also adds his own vocals into compositions in much the same way he mixes his percussion and guitar dannies elfman composer biography kids into orchestral arrangements. Elfman typically writes the lyrics to songs he has composed for movies. He employs song structures from Tin Pan Alley and early musical theatre composers bar formand pop and rock of the s and s verse-chorus.

As his songs serve to advance the plot and develop characters, lyrics reflect storylines and imagery specific to the film and express the inner life of characters. He wrote the lyrics and music for ten songs featured in the stop-motion musical The Nightmare Before Christmas. Nicholas and concept drawings, Elfman wrote each song in consultation with Burton before the film even had a script.

Though uncredited, Burton contributed some lyrics to Nightmareincluding the line "Perhaps it's the head that I found in the lake" in "Town Meeting Song". Elfman composed five songs for Burton's Corpse Bride : [ ] "According to Plan", with lyrics co-written by screenwriter John August; "Remains of the Day" which he sung as the character Bonejangles and "Tears to Shed", both with additional lyrics by August; and "The Wedding Song", credited solely to Elfman.

The song "Erased" was not used in the final film. Elfman wrote the lyrics to all of Oingo Boingo 's original songs — [ ] and has made residuals on the titular two-word opening phrase sung in his The Simpsons theme since the series first aired in As a teenager, Elfman dated his classmate Kim Gordonwho would later become one of the members of the rock band Sonic Youth.

On November 29,Elfman married actress Bridget Fonda. Elfman has been an atheist since the age of 11 or In an interview with the New York Post, he referred to himself as a "cynic-ologist". Describing his politics during the s, Elfman said, "I'm not a doomist. My attitude is always to be critical of what's around you, but not ever to forget how lucky we are.

I've traveled around the world. I left thinking I was a revolutionary. I came back real right-wing patriotic. Since then, I've kind of mellowed in between. InElfman expressed support for Barack Obama. During his 18 years with Oingo Boingo, Elfman developed significant hearing damage as a result of the continuous exposure to the high noise levels involved in performing in a rock band.

Afraid of worsening his condition, he decided to leave the band, saying that he would never return to that kind of performance. His impairment was so bad that he could not "even sit in a loud restaurant or bar anymore. A scene shows Elfman replacing an incinerated John Williams to conduct a full orchestra playing the scoreonly to be decapitated by a lightsaber after conducting a few bars of oom-pah music.

Episode five of the 14th season of South Park in criticized Tim Burton for using the "same" music in all his films, referring to Elfman's scores. In OctoberElfman produced a video clip for Funny or Die with original "horror" music composed to footage of Donald Trump pacing around Hillary Clinton at the second United States presidential election debates, Inselections from Elfman's Midnight Run score were used in the third season of Netflix 's Stranger Things[ ] including "Stairway Chase" in episodes 5 and 6, and "Wild Ride" and "Package Deal" in episode 6.

Including commercial recordings of his film scores and the Oingo Boingo discographyElfman has produced over albums as of Contents move to sidebar hide. Article Talk. Read Edit View history. Tools Tools. Download as PDF Printable version. In other projects. Wikimedia Commons Wikiquote Wikidata item. American composer born Los AngelesCaliforniaU.