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Some of you FSM readers may remember that I did a Danny Elfman Buyer’s Guide in the last-ever print issue of the magazine back in 2005, at least the first part of the guide. The second part was published in the inaugural issue of the online version. This also included a selective list of films with Oingo Boingo songs in them. Oh, and before I forget, I need to make a small correction here: the film 100 GIRLS (2000) is listed as featuring the song “On the Outside”. There is, however, no Boingo whatsoever in this film. Sorry for that; I was duped by imdb.
Anyway, this always left me with the desire to do a more complete overview of Oingo Boingo film appearances. After all, their songs have popped up periodically in films for more than three decades now – both popular and obscure. It has always frustrated me that no such comprehensive overview exists. There is imdb, with its occasional omissions and erroneous listings. Then there are a couple of fan-made discographies on the internet, but even these have certain holes and/or are left without an update since the 90’s!
So by scouring ALL these sources – including my own knowledge that I’ve built up over the years – I think I’ve managed to assemble the most comprehensive listing of Oingo Boingo songs in movies thus far. I made it a mission to watch as many films with Boingo songs as I could possibly manage to find, irrespective of quality, and then post threads about them on the messageboard afterwards. There are still some things I have been unable to find due to various levels of obscurity and availability, but I’ll be sure to update this list if and when I do. Sometimes, I’ve given a youtube link where available, to show you what it’s all about, at the very least. Otherwise, I’ve forwarded you to the respective messageboard thread for more info about the title in question.
The listing has been divided into 1. “Films with Oingo Boingo songs and/or appearances in them”, 2. “Films with Oingo Boingo songs in them also scored by Danny Elfman” and – since I was in the groove of charting Danny’s songwriting skills in movies – 3. “Danny Elfman as solo songwriter for specific films”, even though this latter category has little to do with Oingo Boingo, strictly speaking.
I should clarify that this list only includes fiction films and TV material. Concert films, music videos, concert appearances etc. are not included. That’s for a future, even more comprehensive list!
P.S. I’d be more than happy to receive tips on things I’ve missed or possibly have wrong.
FILMS WITH OINGO BOINGO SONGS AND/OR APPEARANCES IN THEM:
HOT TOMORROWS (1977) – “St. James Infirmary”
The Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo performs the old folk song “St. James Infirmary”. I have not been able to track down the Martin Brest film, but a clip of the hypnotic performance is up at http://www.youtube.com/v/8iv4iRaeLFA
I NEVER PROMISED YOU A ROSE GARDEN (1977)
LONGSHOT (1981) – “I’ve Got to Be Entertained”
THE LAST AMERICAN VIRGIN (1982) – “Better Luck Next Time”
FAST TIMES AT RIDGEMONT HIGH (1982) – “Goodbye Goodbye”
TEMPEST (1982) – “On the Outside”
BEVERLY HILLS COP (1984) – “Gratitude” (only on soundtrack, not in movie!)
BACHELOR PARTY (1984) – “Who Do You Want To Be”, “Something Isn’t Right”, “Bachelor Party”
SIXTEEN CANDLES (1984) – “Wild Sex (in the Working Class)”
SURF II - THE END OF A TRILOGY (1984) – “Hold Me Back”, “Only a Lad”
BUDWEISER – TV COMMERCIAL (1984) – “This Bud’s For You”
WEIRD SCIENCE (1985) – “Weird Science”
THAT WAS THEN...THIS IS NOW (1985) – “Just Another Day”
STINGRAY – “ANCIENT EYES” – TV (1986) – “Private Life”
FAST TIMES – TV (1986) – “Fast Times”
SOMETHING WILD (1986) – “Not My Slave”
THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE 2 (1986) – “No One Lives Forever”
TEEN WOLF TOO (1987) – “Who Do You Want To Be”, “Outrageous”
DOWN TWISTED (1987) - "No One Lives Forever"
MY BEST FRIEND IS A VAMPIRE (1988) – “Same Man I Was Before”
SHE'S OUT OF CONTROL (1989) – “Winning Side”
GHOSTBUSTERS II (1989) – “Flesh’n’Blood”
THE ADVENTURES OF FORD FAIRLANE (1990) – “Violent Love”
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER (1992) – “We Close Our Eyes” (performed by Susannah Hoffs)
BEAVIS & BUTTHEAD – “SCIENTIFIC STUFF” – TV (1993) – “Weird Science”
Snippets of the “Weird Science” video is shown, while the two goofy teenagers lambast it in typical fashion. Butthead dislikes it because he believes “this guy (Danny Elfman) thinks he’s smart”, while Beavis dislikes it because he thinks “college music sucks”. They switch the channel.
SHRUNKEN HEADS (1994) – “No One Lives Forever”
CASPER: A SPIRITED BEGINNING (1997) – “No One Lives Forever”
HOME ALONE 3 (1997) – “Home Again”
DILBERT – TV (1999-2000) – “Forbidden Zone” (reworked)
Elfman reworked his main theme/song from FORBIDDEN ZONE (which qualifies as a Boingo song!) into the main theme for this animated series. It can be viewed here: http://www.youtube.com/v/5lVp8BcyU4k
DONNIE DARKO (2001) – “Stay” (only in director’s cut)
PAULY SHORE IS DEAD (2003) – “Little Girls”
THE SLEEPOVER (2004) – “We Close Our Eyes” (performed by Allister)
INDEPENDENT LENS – “ENRON: THE SMARTEST GUYS IN THE ROOM” – TV (2005) – “Capitalism”
A very brief excerpt of the song is heard over an illustration scene of someone playing roulette and the evolution of capitalism. You only hear the lyrics "There's nothing wrong with capitalism, there's nothing wrong with free enterprise..." before it's cut off.
NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED (2005) – “Dead Man’s Party”
This is a semi-pro student film, which used the “Dead Man’s Party” song in a montage scene of a guy working as – appropriately enough – a coroner. The film is on youtube and the montage can be viewed from 3:15 here: http://www.youtube.com/v/DYDT8Rddp18
FILMS WITH OINGO BOINGO SONGS IN THEM ALSO SCORED BY DANNY ELFMAN:
THE FORBIDDEN ZONE (1980)
BACK TO SCHOOL (1986) – “Dead Man’s Party”
WISDOM (1986) – “Home Again”
SUMMER SCHOOL (1987) – “Happy”
FACE LIKE A FROG (1988) – “Don’t Go in the Basement”
MIDNIGHT RUN (1988) – “Try to Believe”
NIGHTBREED (1990) – “Skin”
DANNY ELFMAN AS SOLO SONGWRITER FOR SPECIFIC FILMS:
BATMAN RETURNS (1992) - “Face to Face” – performed by Siouxie and the Banshees
THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS (1993) – “This is Halloween”, “Jack’s Lament”, “What’s This?”, “Town Meeting Song”, “Jack’s Obsession”, “Kidnap the Sandy Claws”, “Making Christmas”, “Oogie Boogie’s Song”, “Sally’s Song”, “Poor Jack” – performed by Danny Elfman, Catherine O’Hara, Ken Page, Ed Ivory, Paul Reubens
ANYWHERE BUT HERE (1999) – “Strange Wind” – performed by Poe
SPY KIDS (2001) – “Floop’s Song” – performed by Alan Cummings, Danny Elfman
BIG FISH (2003) – “Twice the Love” – performed by Bobbi Page, Candice Rumph
THE CORPSE BRIDE (2005) – “According to Plan”, “Remains of the Day”, “The Wedding Song” – performed by Danny Elfman, Albert Finney, Joanna Lumley, Tracey Ullman, Paul Whitehorse, Jane Harrocks, Paul Baker, Alison Kier, Gary Martin, Helena Bonham-Carter, Enn Reitel
CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY (2005) – “Wonka’s Welcome Song”, “Augustus Gloop”, “Violet Beauregarde”, “Veruca Salt”, “Mike Teavee” – performed by Danny Elfman
CHARLOTTE’S WEB (2006) – “Wilbur’s Lullaby” – performed by Dakota Fanning
MEET THE ROBINSONS (2007) – “The Future Has Arrived” – performed by The All-American Rejects
WANTED (2008) – “The Little Things” – performed by Danny Elfman
© Thor J. Haga 2009
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