Choose your Poison

October 30, 2020 12:03 PM

Happy by Danny Elfman. Take my hand, in my hand, and my eloquent knife. First solo song since 1985. Puppy, Puppy, Puppy, Puppy. 2020 2020 2020 2020. [Warning: Video has flashing lights]
posted by swift (26 comments total)

Wow.

This will be the soundtrack I remember, when I think back to 2020.
posted by meese at 12:10 PM on October 30, 2020

On mobile - os reads “2020 2020 2020 2020” as a phone number. Care to share the underlying URL(s) for us platform-limited?
posted by Silvery Fish at 12:27 PM on October 30, 2020

"2020 2020 2020 2020" has no URL. Your phone lies.
posted by swift at 12:29 PM on October 30, 2020

Yay!

My initial reaction: oh my gosh he looks younGARRGH no he doesn't he looks ageless and eldritch

One of his early musical tics was a tendency to write melodies (presumably unintentionally) to which you could sing his name: danNY elfMAN danNY elfMAN danNY elfMAN danNY elfMAN He's using that again here to good effect. It reminds me of his late Boingo work, which sounded so badass to me in '95.
posted by Countess Elena at 12:46 PM on October 30, 2020 [4 favorites]

That's definitely a CGI Danny Elfman, but it's a very good model, very uncanny valley, which I think is the point.

Also, some serious late-era Boingo vibes. Shame that a reunion is too much to ask.
posted by SansPoint at 12:52 PM on October 30, 2020 [3 favorites]

Danny Elfman still owns an early 1990s Video Toaster?
posted by Nanukthedog at 12:54 PM on October 30, 2020 [2 favorites]

I didn't like this at first, and also on seconds, and on thirds I was like 'well, maybe this team makes sense'.
posted by cocotine at 12:58 PM on October 30, 2020 [1 favorite]

I'm part of the "ZOMG Danny Elfman is writing songs of any sort again MOAR PLS OKTHXBYE" crowd, and also, this was much more about building a mood than it was being a song.
posted by jscalzi at 1:14 PM on October 30, 2020 [4 favorites]

This is the perfect 2020 Halloween jam, in the sense that it kind of feels like Halloween but it's lonely and frantic and legitimately terrifying.
posted by Ursula Hitler at 1:30 PM on October 30, 2020 [2 favorites]

This was awesome but also made me miss OB more. RIP boingo
posted by thebotanyofsouls at 1:54 PM on October 30, 2020 [2 favorites]

I miss Boingo.
posted by Chuffy at 1:56 PM on October 30, 2020 [1 favorite]

So far this year, and maybe a few years before, everyday has been Halloween.
An appropriate theme song for our times. Thank you, Mr Elfman.
posted by njohnson23 at 1:58 PM on October 30, 2020

Definitely a visual thematic sequel to the video for "Gratitude".
posted by The Tensor at 2:06 PM on October 30, 2020

MINISTRY - Everyday (Is Halloween) - 1985 Vinyl 12" Single because Everyday is Halloween. Also from my favorite album to play for newbie Ministry fans and have them try to guess which band played this.

I do so miss Oingo Boingo, back in the days I had a worn out tape for my Walkman with Oingo Boingo on one side and Love And Rockets on the other. Probably listened to that tape thousands of times. I lucked out when an ex-GF told her new BF to take me to a concert that she didn't want to go to. Twas Oingo Boingo's last Halloween show at Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre. Yay!

It's really nice that's he's putting out something and it'll take a couple or more listens to sink in.
posted by zengargoyle at 2:24 PM on October 30, 2020 [3 favorites]

Given how much antipathy he's shown to a reunion this is a nice surprise, though it doesn't really have any OB in it to my ear. I'm an "IRS albums only" fan, though, so that part's no surprise.
posted by rhizome at 2:50 PM on October 30, 2020

Ah yeah -- it felt much more like Boingo-era than any IRS OB album. (Which is fine by me, as I adore Boingo. Dark at the End of the Tunnel suxxxxx though.)
posted by Rev. Syung Myung Me at 2:55 PM on October 30, 2020 [2 favorites]

Can’t wipe the grin off my face.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 5:35 PM on October 30, 2020

I have possibly listened to the Boingo album more times through than any other album I know, period. At times compulsively several times a day. I just revisited it two days ago, actually. I should listen to it again tonight.

I'll have to listen to this new song, too. Oh listen tender lumpling, let me take your little hand.
posted by hippybear at 6:35 PM on October 30, 2020 [5 favorites]

Thanks so much. I really needed this.
posted by kinnakeet at 7:03 PM on October 30, 2020

Danny Elfman just showed the last two decades’ worth of horror filmmakers how “disturbing” is done.
posted by Mister Moofoo at 7:10 PM on October 30, 2020 [5 favorites]

I keep thinking that the video would be a perfect use for the weird 3d facial projection mapping tech (INORI (Prayer) on Vimeo).
posted by zengargoyle at 9:46 PM on October 30, 2020 [1 favorite]

Might also be a years-after follow-up piece to Lost Like This.
posted by hippybear at 11:27 PM on October 30, 2020 [1 favorite]

aw hell yea
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 2:03 AM on October 31, 2020 [1 favorite]

Have listened to it twice so far, already stuck in my head. Sounds very much like Boingo meets some of his soundtrack work, and that's not a bad thing at all. Wouldn't mind a full album of solo Danny Elfman songs in this vein.
posted by jzb at 10:21 AM on October 31, 2020

Chris Cunningham wishes he could make videos this disturbing.
posted by The Ardship of Cambry at 12:54 PM on October 31, 2020

Sounds very much like Boingo meets some of his soundtrack work, and that's not a bad thing at all. Wouldn't mind a full album of solo Danny Elfman songs in this vein.

That's pretty much what the Boingo album is, if you don't already know it. I listened to it again last night. So so good.
posted by hippybear at 3:11 PM on October 31, 2020 [1 favorite]