Music Exploder – The Nightmare Earlier than Christmas
Danny Elfman – “What’s This?”
Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Earlier than Christmas got here out in 1993. It’s a stop-motion animated musical, with music by legendary composer Danny Elfman. He’s gained Emmys, a Grammy, and been nominated for 4 Oscars. His work consists of the music for Tim Burton’s Batman movies, Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man movies, Good Will Looking, and the theme to The Simpsons. From 1979 to 1995, he was the singer and songwriter within the band Oingo Boingo. This 12 months, he launched Large Mess, his first solo album in 37 years.
The Nightmare Earlier than Christmas takes place in a world the place totally different holidays all have their very own realm. And the story is about Jack Skellington, the chief of Halloweentown, a spot the place it’s at all times Halloween, and Halloween is all they know, and Jack has grown just a little uninterested in it. However then, Jack discovers a portal to Christmastown, with snow and Santa and all issues Christmas inhabiting it. The tune “What’s This?” takes place in that second of discovery. On this episode, Danny Elfman tells the story of the way it all got here collectively, and the way writing and singing this tune for Jack Skellington ended up profoundly connecting to his personal life.
You possibly can purchase or stream “What’s This?” right here.
Illustration by Carlos Lerma.
Steve Bartek, orchestrator
Pee-wee’s Large Journey
Beetlejuice
Edward Sciccorhands
Celesta, instrument
Tchaikovsky – “The Nutcracker,” ballet
Gilbert and Sullivan – “I Am the Very Mannequin of a Fashionable Main-Basic”