The Music of This 80s Genius RULED Pop Culture for 40 Years, But NEVER Had a Hit | Professor Of Rock
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- Опубліковано 30 жов 2022
- "On this episode, one of the greatest composers of the Rock Era, Mr. Danny Elfman of Oingo Boingo wants to invite you to a party….Not just any party… "It will a party unlike any that you’ve ever attended….a party where no one’s still alive. When you arrive….please leave your body and soul at the door. Don’t run away….It’s only the story of an 80s macabre thriller called Dead Man’s Party inspired by the tragic history of a haunted hotel where 7 murders happened all at once. Danny Elfman stayed on the 11th floor where many have reported seeing the ghost of the 7 murdered. He turned it into an Oingo Boingo classic but it just missed the top 40 as did his 1985 hits weird science. the band had at least 20 classics but not one top 40 hit. Then Elfman quit too focus on composing some of the most famous scores ever such as the simpsons, Batman, and the Nightmare Before Christmas. the story is ….NEXT on Professor of Rock.”
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Hey music junkies, Professor of Rock, always here to celebrate the greatest artists and the greatest songs of all time. If you know This is Spinal Tap by heart you will love this channel. music nostalgia overload. Make sure to subscribe below to get the stories straight from the legends. Also check us out on patreon for even more content.
Today we present our Halloween special. When I think of Halloween I always think of this song. I don’t quite know why because I thought of them before this composer did Nightmare before Christmas… It’s one of my favorite bands due to it’s creator whom I consider a true experimental genius Danny Elfman, who has composed countless film & TV scores, and the mastermind behind the band Oingo Boingo, is what they call an ‘Autodidact’ (auto-die-dact)
A self taught musician, with no real formal training in composition, or the recipient of a music degree, Elfman blossomed in his late teens, awakening an innate gift for classical theory and orchestration. Not only did Elfman succeed without the benefit of a scholastic education of the arts, he is one of those rare people that simply didn’t need school to excel.
Elfman was a high school dropout, who didn’t even pick-up a musical instrument until he began noodling around with a violin when he was 16. Until that point, Elfman appeared to be headed for a completely different career path. He demonstrated an aptitude for science...but not for music. In fact, young Danny was rejected from joining the elementary school orchestra, being told by the school advisors that he “had no propensity for music.”
The so called system had a different plan for Danny Elfman…
It reminded me of that scene from the movie Caddyshack, where Ty Webb, the wealthy, aloof, entrepreneur character played by Chevy Chase, shares with caddy Danny Noonan what the Career Aptitude Test he took in high school revealed to him:
Elfman’s future was set for good when he switched high schools, and started hanging out with new crowd of musicians that introduced Danny to the work of Stravinsky and his 20th century contemporaries.
It was in his late teens that he began to practice music notation, by transcribing the works of jazz legend, Duke Ellington. Danny Elfman traveled extensively in the early 70s, playing the violin in parts of Europe, before spending time in Africa to study Bambara (bahm-br-uh) percussion. - Розваги
Boingo was not the kind of band that worried about writing hit songs. They had a loyal and dedicated fanbase who loved/loves everything they wrote.
I miss the days when I knew their lyrics by heart. 😢
My son died a few months short of his 30th birthday. He had a wicked sense of humor and we both loved Oingo Boingo. At his life celebration I started the music with Dead Man's Party. It shocked a few people who didn't know him very well, but his friends and close family got it. I like to think he was watching and smiling. It's what he would have wanted, and when i go i want that song as well.
That’s amazing 🩵
It’s about time Oingo Boingo finally got the recognition and love it deserves! Danny Elfman is a musical genius, and honestly, his skills as a lyricist and as a singer are severely overlooked.
It’s a crime that they didn’t hire him to write the Beetlejuice musical. I mean hello, he wrote the Nightmare Before Christmas, Corpse Bride, and the whole damn script to two other musicals that he only got so far as to record the demos for before Disney cancelled those projects because of budget cuts.
I grew up to Oingo Boingo. Saw them at an amusement park when they were promoting only a lad. Such a great time for music and they helped KROQ be world famous
I completely agree that Oingo Boingo is wildly underrated, and that they deserve more recognition, so thank you for this video. It's why I started a podcast about them: the Oingo Boingo Secret Appreciation Society. We do lyric and music analysis, place things in historical context and get really nerdy about Boingo. Their songs have a lot to offer, so we get to dive deep in every episode. We've interviewed Nili Brosh and Stu Brooks, who play for Danny Elfman's current band, Brendan McCreary, who is the frontman for Oingo Boingo Former Members, and Johnny 'Vatos' Hernandez. They've all been super nice and told great stories and shared fascinating insights.
Anyway, if you like Oingo Boingo and you like podcasts, check us out.
"Just Another Day" is my all-time fave Oingo Boingo song. it's one of 3 songs that i can listen to on repeat and at over 5 min, it still seems too short!
Yesss! Thank you so much for covering Oingo Boingo! I attended a couple Oingo Boingo concerts as a teenager, in Berkeley. I wore Oingo Boingo T-shirts and still have a pin from one of their shows. After they stopped making music as a band it was years before I pieced together that the amazing composer Danny Elfman had been their lead singer/songwriter. I still get chills listening to their iconic music.
First rock concert I was ever allowed to attend as a young teenager: OINGO BOINGO. It was the tour supporting Dead Man's Party. I've seen countless other acts over the years, ranging from Fats Domino to Slayer to Alicia Keys. No one does it better than Danny Elfman & Co.
My favorite concert in my 51 trips around the Sun has got to be Oingo Boingo, early 90s, at Irvine Meadows. I was 20-ish and I think it was a Halloween concert. There was an enormous mosh pit. The entire crowd of people (possibly in the 10s of 1,000s) were dancing in unison to several incredible tunes. The energy was contagious, the music sonic, and the experience positively collective.
Ironically, I just saw Danny Elfman play this past weekend at the Hollywood Bowl, playing a "career-retrospective" that included songs by Oingo Boingo, film scores with an orchestra, and songs from his solo work. He still sounds great. What a night!
Cool!
This was my sister's all time favorite band. Personally, I didn't like it because the arrangements were too complicated for me, a kid that was being self taught on guitar. It was just too difficult to learn their songs.
She pasted away at 42 and now Oingo Boingo is a special band for me. Every time I hear one of their songs, I feel my sister is also listening. Maybe her taste in music was way advanced than mine. I just didn't know it.
It is a very unique sound, for sure.
I’m sorry for your loss.
@@itwontcomeout5678 Thank you. Your response was felt even more today. Last night I lost my brother too.
I always try to push myself,for me a band that sounds interesting and complex is a good excuse to improve... boingo are also fun to listen to and analyse
@oldschoolfunkster1 I'm sorry sorry for both your losses.
Oingo Boingo actually had a couple of Top 40 hits in Australia (at least according to their Wikipedia page), with Weird Science and Stay. I would still argue that is nowhere near the recognition they deserve as a band, but I'm grateful that at least Danny would eventually become well-known as a composer.
How did it NOT happen in America.
They’re super underrated. Danny is really intelligent.
Should have read the comments before I posted I was going through my copy of 'The Book' which is a top 40 reference covers 1950 to 2018.(my edition).
I love “Stay.”
Best live shows, an experience never to forget! 30 songs, 3 encores were the norm! So lucky I was privileged to see them many times! Met several members of the band at KJQ radio station in SLC, Utah the night prior to a show and they couldn’t have been more gracious! What great memories!
Oingo Boingo & Danny Elfman is such an underrated band/musician. One of the top bands during the 80's. I make sure my daughters know who they are. Loved see'n them for their Halloween shows at Irvine Meadows back in the day. Thanks for highlighting.
Danny Elfman is so legendary. He's made so much memorable music, and he's composed so many awesome and iconic themes. Wonderful work Adam
Thank you!
@@ProfessorofRock Cheers!
@@RC32Smiths01 Same to you!
He’s INCREDIBLE.
Did you see CBS Sunday morning show, it there was an amazing 10 minute interview of Danny Elfman 💖🎙🎶
Still my favorite band of all time! First time I saw them live was at the Hollywood Paladium in 1986. Can't count how many times I've seen their Halloween shows at Irvine Meadows. Still very sad I didn't get to go to the farewell concert.
As a HUGE fan of Oingo Boingo, I'm so glad you discussed this work of genius. Dead Man's Party opens and closes my Halloween playlist every year. I love the nods to horror pop-culture, as they allow me to introduce my kids to the source material.
one of my fav tapes was that of oingo boingo.
Oingo Boingo and Devo are proof that you don’t necessarily have to have a full library of top 10 hits with every album you put out to be successful !
They’re so gruesomely good.
Hey Jacob, can you consider Oingo Boingo a one hit wonder given Weird Science is their highest charting song?
I grew up in SoCal and going to see Oingo Boingo live was always a treat. They didn’t tour much (and if they did it was always west of the Rockies). But they would always do four or five shows around Halloween - usually at the outdoor Irvine Meadows venue. One year we even watched as brushfires we running rampant in the distance. The venue smelled like we were in a fireplace. Nice and smoky!
Boingo will always be apart of me as it was instrumental in my early years of learning about music and what it can do.
Plus it made me appreciate horns in a band. Love me some horns!!!!
Thanks for doing this episode Professor!!!
Thanks Harold! I love this band too.
@@ProfessorofRock
I wrote my above comments before listening to episode. (I had to get my comments out quick…couldn’t contain them.)
But you nailed it Professor!!!
I bought a scalped ticket for the final concert at the Universal Amphitheater. What a glorious 4+ hours!!! (Yep it went that long as they gathered tracks to put on the Farewell album.)
Funny story about that…they performed We Close Our Eyes and when finished Danny said they need to do it again as it was performed too slow. So…sure enough they did it again. On the album you can hear John Avila say to do it a third time and Danny laughs back…
Them and Chicago. Masters of the horns.
11:30 Good job acknowledging Elfman’s collaborator Steve Bartek here. His over-the-top, phrase-after-phrase riffing on the song “Weird Science” is some of my favorite 80s guitar. It’s same stellar caliber as “My Sharona” and “She’s a Beauty”
I am a SoCal native and Boingo was essentially L.A.'s house band in the 1980s and '90s. Alternative radio station KROQ basically adopted them as their flagship band.
Bought all their CDs and still have them. Ridiculous that they never found a bigger foothold nationally or globally. The horn section was fantastic and Bartek could really, really, REALLY play. They were hard to beat as a live act and it was fun to mosey across the mosh pit (I lost a shoe once).
Elfman's skill as a songwriter speaks for itself. Did you know that his niece is actress Jenna Elfman?
I did. He's also married to Bridget Fonda!
100% agree with you about KROQ..it never occurred to me that they weren't famous every where because they sure were with everyone I knew!
Yep So Cal native here as well..Boingo was on Kroq all the time, It wasnt till i was online and talking to people around the globe and realized how few know the band except for maybe hearing a song in a movie..
Yes, I did know that! Those Elfmans sure are geniuses. 😊
Coming from Chicago being stationed at MCAS El Toro, KROQ and Boingo was a mind blowing experience! Could not believe this amazing band was pretty much unknown outside SoCal.
Ah, that was fantastic! Being a musician in the SoCal scene in the early 80's, Boingo was a staple. I was lucky enough to attend a high school that had many accredited bands roll through and play dances. "The Bang," (Later the Bangles), Fleshtones, Go Go's, Plimsouls (whom my band opened for), and a few others. However, by far my favorite was the two visits from Boingo ('81 and '83). DMP was not released yet, but they played songs from "Only a Lad" and "Nothing to Fear." The energy of Danny was infectious. He also pulled out a few different instruments at times (such as Danny and Steve on marimbas at the same time!). Good memories for most certainly one of the most influential unsung bands of the 80's.
He's a genius. A GENIUS>
Wish I was a fly on the wall there! Boingo is awesome.
That’s so unreal! Danny and Steve on marimbas IS Oingo Boingo to me. My mom tried to get OB to play our high school grad night in 1990, but the school couldn’t afford the fee, which I think was around $10k, if I remember correctly.
Oingo Boingo is so intertwined in mine and my families life. No one lives forever is epic. The scene in TCM2 on the bridge. The build up in the radio station to the end of the scene!!!! Dark at the end of the tunnel was my go to album when my son was a baby. On road trips the farewell concert is a given. They truly are family to us
They are one of a kind.
Growing up in Los Angeles in the 80s, I always looked forward to Oingo Boingo’s Halloween shows. Thinking back to their 1995 final show at the Universal Amphitheater, it’s makes somewhat sad to know that both the band and venue no longer exist.
I just put up a pic of my 1990 Dia De Los Muertos concert tee as my Facebook profile pic. Those shows were the best. Always took a couple days to recover.
Wish I could've seen them live!
Very cool!
I went to their Halloween shows at Irvine Meadows in the late 80's. It was always a great time. They always put on a fantastic show.
@@terryforsythe8083 Wasn’t it one of the Halloween shows at Irvine Meadows where they built a trebuchet and flung a giant pumpkin in the parking lot?
I grew up in Southern California and I was obsessed with Oingo Boingo in the 80's so this was a joy to watch. The Halloween concerts at Irvine Meadows were legendary! 2 if not 3 encores and the energy was off the charts the entire time. My friends and I would be soaked in sweat from dancing like crazy all night and we'd screamed/sang ourselves hoarse by the end of it. Been to many different types of concerts over the years and Boingo are still the best live band ever imho. Got to see Danny Elfman perform Nightmare Before X-mas at the Hollywood Bowl in 2015 and he was still as powerful a performer as ever, even though he's said interviews that he has stage fright. That was a magical night.
Super cool! I wish I could go to one of their Halloween concerts.
I am surprised you skipped right over the movie "Forbidden Zone" which is one of the most absurd musical movies ever put to film... but I digress, Danny Elfman is a national treasure! His recent album, "Big Mess" is a MUST HEAR work of musical genius. Thanks for the video!
I worked in an office for many years and also owned a sailboat and was an avid sailor. Once and a while, when it was a perfect day with perfect conditions for sailing and I was caught up on work, I'd call in and tell the boss, I'm going sailing today. When I cleared the marina and raised the sail, the first tune that I always played as I started sailing was, "Let's Take the Whole Day Off".
Awesome! Thanks for sharing!
Super cool! Did you also like the song by Christopher Cross? Maybe it was your theme song perhaps?
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 I had a couple of 90min cassettes that were sailing mix tapes. Beach Boys, Buffett, Little River Band, Cristopher Cross, CSY, etc. I also had a driving west mix tape. It got played when we crossed the border into Texas and the first tune is "I've Seen Miles and Miles of Texas". The playlist is populated by lots of Asleep at the Wheel, Bob Wills, Ryders in the Sky, Lyle Lovett and Michael Nesmith. Music is one of the things that elevates our soul and makes our lives better. Especially on an 18 hour drive across Texas.
@@lowellmccormick6991 Super cool! Pablo Cruise should also be on there. They are THE yacht rock band. Music totally heals the soul, indeed.
I was lucky to grow up in Southern California where Oingo Boingo was played on KROQ very early on. Then they played my high school in 1981, when I was a senior. I was already a New Wave/KROQ fan, and that show cemented my love for Boingo and Danny. You can find audio of that show if you search youtube for Oingo Boingo Westlake High School. I still love Danny and follow what he does, for all these years. I wasn't able to go to his recent shows at the Hollywood Bowl because I don't live in SoCal anymore. But two of my friends went! He's a genius, he doesn't need a big radio hit. He's a legend and will never be forgotten in the world of music.
My strongest memory of the Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo is viewing the movie "Forbidden Zone" for the first time with a friend while visiting NYC. A strange little film starring the late Hervé Villechaize, it caught me up in it's twisted, tangled tale.
Living in the 6th dimension can be tough.....You might fall into a Forbidden Zone. Great memories
....Hatched from a witch's ayggg...!
One of my favorite bands- While attending a Halloween concert in northern California- The power went out so Danny Elfman and his bassist broke into an acoustic sing-along it was awesome- Hell when the power came back we urged them to continue the acoustics. It was a fantastic night... Danny is an incredibly talented man. THIS BAND DESERVES SO MUCH MORE RECOGNITION-
Sounded like so much fun!
Man, what a treat! I have seen Boingo so many times, but that would have been awesome. Wonder if you can find those recordings anywhere.
@@BDogg2023 unfortunately not, it was once in a life time- there was absolutely no power so I'm guessing nothing was recorded. I'll certainly never forget it.
@@shoop4040 Back in the 80s, I used to smuggle in my Walkman that had recording capabilities and record shows with a “duel direction stereo mic.” 😂 The recording were awful, but I still have some of them.
@@BDogg2023 Oh, dam I never thought of that😃
Thank you for covering this band! I was introduced to them in college by a girlfriend who told me that Dead Man's Party barely scratched the surface. Stay, Home Again, Just Another Day, We Close Our Eyes and more. It seemed that their less popular songs were the best, but Dead Man's Party is still great. Loved hearing their music in Back to School and in the original Buffy. Perfect road trip music.
Danny Elfman is so talented and so underrated this band was so good live it’s a shame that more people don’t know or didn’t see this band in concert.
Glad you emphasized the guitar player, he was a huge force in the band.
Danny Elfman is a national treasure and is a huge part of my childhood soundtrack. Always loved this song, and Back to School, also childhood favorite! Happy Halloween professor!
I was at Disneyland last week and as I went through the Haunted Mansion's nightmare before Christmas I was impressed with the immensity of the music and thought of how many millions of people hear Danny Elman's music every day - along with the Simpson's theme and other movies it has to be in the millions - perhaps billions that his music has reached.
That's exactly right! Good point.
I really, truly hope so.
What an amazing segment ! It seems he only gets better - saw him 10/29/22 at Hollywood bowl - blew me away - AGAIN !! Can’t wait for next time - !! Love you DAnny!!!!
I saw Oingo Boingo in concert back in the late 80s with my friend Joe. A dozen years ago Joe passed away from cancer. At his memorial gathering I had the DJ play Dead Man's Party. Got a few strange looks from people who weren't as close to him and didn't understand how much he would've appreciated it. Even his mom got it and loved the gesture.
They are hands down my favorite band ever.
The first concert I went to was "Dead Man's Tour." I saw them in concert at least 9 times.
The are and were one of the most unique bands out there, and so gracious with their performances. I was 14 at that first concert.
My mom gave me the most incredible blessing. She bought me tickets to show at the Hollywood Bowl, and I got to take son to experience it. I never thought he'd be back on stage.
Danny Elfman's contribution to films, the classical realm are amazing. I actually sent him my ballet choreographed to ,"Serenata Scitsophrania" (please ignore the spelling). He actually replied and had enjoyed it.
The one thing that you did not include... He worked with ABT on a ballet named "Rabbit and Rogue. "
I had all of their cassettes. I went to four shows, including the final one.
Thanks for this tribute.
Their whole discography continues to be underrated.
"Dead Man's Party" and "No One Lives Forever" (from the same album) were two of my staple songs in college. They embodied what I called "jovial morbidity" which fit (still fits 30 years later) my personality -- I enjoy humor and being happy too much to be called a morb or goth, but I have a dark and brooding side, so I enjoy ways to meld the two. And both of those tracks worked perfectly for me.
I really love Dead Mans Party, brings tear of joy to my eyes. I was married and got separated in 1990, discovered Oingo Boingo then, wife &I were working on re-uniiting, took her to see O-B live at a small venue in Baltimore. She & I didnt work out but the love of Danny Elfmans genius stayed with me. I truly deeply respect his talent. Hearing the music brings back so many memories. Later I was aware of his work in scoring shows and movies. What a career!
I was a late fan of Oingo Boingo, but I love Danny Elfman's music! My favorite song of theirs is Just Another Day... but it's worth acknowledging that he also sang the vocals of Jack Skellington in The Nightmare Before Christmas. Amazingly talented dude!
Halloweens with Boingo were epic events. Here in LA, I still overheard people talking about it years after their Farewell concert in 1995.
Grew up in LA, listening to KROQ,..the rock of the 80’s, never missed a Halloween Boingo show…best concerts ever! Thank u Danny Elfman for all the great music and memories!
One of my favorite bands ever! Boingo changed my life, and I lived in Africa when I discovered them. I love them. Please make a video about "Stay" or "Just Another Day"
Will do!
Just Another Day is my favorite song by Boingo, largely due to Stranger Things.
Great video. Saw Danny's career spanning show Saturday night in Irvine, CA and it was great. I'm a lifelong Oingo Boingo fan who first saw them live in 1984.
Just saw Elfman this weekend at the Hollywood bowl . Was really good to hear him perform Boingo live again ! Was at a few of the Irvine meadows shows in high school . Great times . Thanks for the video !
We saw Oingo Boingo so many times... NEVER a bad show. Always an uplifting experience.
AWESOME! Wish I could've seen them!
@@ProfessorofRock One of the well kept secrets in Sacramento was the Mansion Inn. Back the the 80s and 90s any band that played the Memorial Auditorium or Convention Center stayed at the Mansion Inn. My wife (she was still alive) and I would park at the Mansion Inn and walk to the gigs then go back to the bar. Had a good half hour talk with Danny after one of the shows... lots of others too. Sunny Wantz (Sunny Productions) was a good friend (and cut our hair) and got us tickets to all the great shows and early shows of future greats. Great time to have been alive.
I wish I saw them too.
Had the privilege to see them three times. One of them in SF Danny had a fever of 103 and still rocked it! I was in the mosh pit and lost my shirt. Love Oingo-Boingo. I have been hoping you would do a show on them.
Boingo and Halloween are synonymous to those who grew up in Southern California.... they are such a staple of our younger years. Love Dead Man's Party but my Boingo 5'er would be 5. Weird Science 4. Only a Lad 3. On the Outside 2. Goodbye Goodbye 1. We Close Our Eyes
Good one! I'd have to go with Private Life and Not my Slave in my top 5!
His influences are eye opening but completely understandable as you follow his career path.... I had heard somewhere that Elfman isn't really a big fan of his years in Oingo Boingo and is actually a bit embarrassed by it.... he shouldn't be at all. Such a creative genius, and he added to the joy of so many teenage and young adults of that time and later.
Private Life is sooooo good!
@@ProfessorofRock So I wanted to hear On the Outside (kind of an anthem for me in my younger years) and came across this fan video made in '87..... it fits the song perfectly.... enjoy....ua-cam.com/video/w4GWN6h2rlI/v-deo.html
Oingo Boingo was unique, and cool. I was fortunate to see one of their Halloween concerts at the Irvine Amphitheater in Orange County. I believe that that venue no longer exists m, which is such a shame. I saw quite a variety of musicians there including Steely Dan, Moody Blues, Midnight Oil, Spyro Gyra, Basis, Manhattan Transfer…
I remember the first time I heard the Simpsons theme song. When I saw his name in the credits it all made sense. He has at least two volumes of his themes (Music for a Darkened Theatre). Amazing that he started doing scores on an Amiga computer if I remember correctly back in the 80s.
What an amazing talent, and an underrated band.
I remember they performed this song in the movie Back to School. Was perfect for the vibe and era.
I cover it in the video! Great use!
Yes, with Rodney Dangerfield!
Two of my favorite movies growing up, Back to School and Weird Science. The scene in Back to School with Oingo Boingo cemented this movie for my top 5 comedies, it was just flat out fun.
Elfman is a genius that all too often goes unnoticed. Just a quick look at his film credentials would fucking blow most people’s minds.
Many fans of NBC have no idea that Elfman did all the Jack Skellington’s vocals, while the spoken lines are done by Chris Sarandon (aka Prince Humperdink in Princess Bride).
Just saw Elfman at the Hollywood Bowl the other night. Great show. Great to hear some Oingo classics.
"Stay" must have charted highly in Australia, I remember it playing constantly on our music clip shows. Loved it.
I always consider Oingo Boingo to be hometown heroes from Cali. Their sound was so tight and forceful, but not overbearing and Danny's lyrics always had something to say about contemporary topics. As a composer Danny has become one of the most recognizable names of the modern film era. At the same time, it will be interesting to see if he is considered as familiar by the film industry as a whole.
OMG I loved Oingo Boingo growing up! This was so great! Tip: If anyone reading this has their early CDs, hold on to them, they're out of print and impossible to get.
Man I love Oingo Boingo. Just loved the sound and style of them. I can remember sitting in the movie theater back in 1986 (i was 26 then), watching Back to School with some friends. I was laughing my ass off, when I heard this amazing sound it sobered me right up and all I did was focus on the song not the movie. I stayed through the credits just to see who was that band. I never sat through all the credits before then. Danny Elfman is a true genius. Been nominated 4 times for the Academy Award (Oscar). Heck he even composed music for the Hong Kong Disneyland ride Mystic Manor. The man is a Phenom 100%!
Great review of Danny and his work. I was lucky enough to see them multiple times at Irvine Meadows in SoCal. Also was at the Farewell tour...we got to see the show that was 2 days before the Halloween show. Tickets were ridiculously expensive on the second hand market :). I till listen to them regularly. Just brings back great memories and I still find new things in their music. Talk about depth.
Oingo Boingo has been a big part of my life ever since I was a child, I was born only 2 months after the Farewell concert and because of my parents Dark At The End of the Tunnel was the soundtrack for my childhood pretty much. Now that I'm older the lyrics of You're Out Of Control have been very meaningful to me as I have suffered with depression for years and it always helps me feel better listening to that song. I was lucky enough to see a cover band called Dead Man's Party and that really helped me feel like I was actually seeing Oingo Boingo in concert, something I thought I would never get to experience
I remember listening to Oingo Boingo back in the 80's as a teen. I had a CD compilation with Dead Man's Party on it. Great content as usual. Please keep up the good work. Thank you.
How great were they? So great. I was introduced to them by a friend in high school who had transferred in from So Cal back in 1987. It was like nothing I had ever heard, completely on their own tangent. That summer, our family took a vacation to California and on my radio headphones I picked up the signal from alternative radio station KROQ, where they were playing music unheard of back in Iowa. I was completely captured by it, and jealous of those who were just simply able to tune it in on a daily basis. And of course, they played "We Close Our Eyes" from Oingo Boingo's new release "BOI-NGO", which I went out an bought immediately. Such a memorable trip!
So, thank you for this episode, Adam. OB was staple soundtrack music for my late high school years and, of course, I have been a die hard fan of Danny Elfman's work ever since.
I was there during the taping of the Gong Show! We were another act that appeared during the same week. Watching them do the "Chedderanian National Anthem" on such a small stage was awesome! Went to see the Mystic Knights at the Westwood Playhouse. What a great show! Had a whole Evolution of Man theme starting with cave men and ending in the future with a trip to Chedderania. Saw them several times over the years at the Whiskey A Go Go, Pasadena Playhouse and other venues. They always had a great show. My favorite band ever.
This episode was pure nostalgia! Growing up in Tustin (Orange County) when I was old enough to go to their concerts at Irvine Medows was the highlight of the Halloween season. Some of the best costumes were at those shows. I’m a huge Boingo fan. My first tattoo was a Boingo tat.
I was so excited seeing Danny on the thumbnail that I almost jumped out of my seat.
Thanks for all you do for us, bringing these great backstory’s to the music and artists we love.
I'm having flash backs of the movie Weird Science, that was my first introduction to Oingo Boingo. Danny Elfman has been so creative and prolific. I would have liked to have seen Oingo Boingo live. Everyone have a Happy Halloween. 🎃
I"m right there with you.
Happy Halloween. Trick or Treat. 🎃
Having grown up in the 70s and married in the 80s, I lived this music as it was released. And being from the Silver Lake District (Hollywood adjacent) music played a pivotal role in my life thru the Los Angeles radio scene. As a result, my iTunes consists mainly of 70s and 80s music, the best years in my humble opinion and Oingo Boingo is right there in the mix of it all.
I LOVE Danny & all of Oingo Boingo!!! One of my life-long favorites. They put on an epic show.
🧡💀 ❤
Danny has such a gorgeous voice.
Love your stuff PoR. Had no idea Danny was a rock star before a film\tv composer, but now I do thanks to you. Unknowingly, Danny has been an influential part of my musical life since I was a child. Thank you for enlightening me.
What to say. As a kid and teenager I was closed minded to most music. If it was on the radio and not rock then I wasn't a fan. Since then I've become more open minded and have embraced the pop and alternative music styles that I shunned. I've become a definite fan of Oingo Boingo and especially Danny Elfman's work in the cenima. Being a bit of a dark soul myself, I've been enthralled with his scores and the movies they accompanied.
Thank you Adam.
My absolute favorite band ever! Thanks for featuring them. They should be massive!
Danny and band.... if you read this... please know that you and your band are genius ..... you created different sounds than other bands that lives in our hearts to this day. Please realize that you guys are loved and admired and if I may take the liberty of speaking for myself and others ..... we thank you for being so awesome !!!
Professor of rock..... thank you for speaking so eloquently in all the work you do. YOUR videos are truly enjoyable and appreciated!!!!
Oingo Boingo always makes me smile. Great sound with fun and thoughtful lyrics. Memories and Melodies of the joys of growing up.
Great video, Professor! So chuffed to see you giving Oingo Boingo a moment in the spotlight - they were a unique band that fully deserve wider recognition, even if it is long after the fact. That said, they were a band that I became aware of very gradually, since they were barely known here in the UK. In fact, I'd wager that Boingo were perhaps only fleetingly familiar to us Brits by virtue of their inclusion in a smattering of movie soundtracks (which is ostensibly the key means through which I was made aware of them) - it was an extremely slow, drip-fed introduction:
1984 - 'Gratitude' (Beverly Hills Cop), 1985 - 'Weird Science' (Weird Science), 1986 - 'Dead Man's Party' (Back To School), 1989 - 'Flesh and Blood' (Ghostbusters 2), and 1990 - 'Skin' (Nightbreed)... I can still recall how these quirkily appealing songs caught my ear at the time. And yet, it was only once I'd acquired the "Best o' Boingo" compilation in the early '90s that I connected the dots, finally in a position to appreciate just what a dynamic and interesting sounding band they were. The aforementioned songs were swiftly joined by 'Stay', 'Out of Control', 'Not My Slave', 'Sweat', and 'Just Another Day' to become enduring favourites of mine.
And it was all thanks to my love of Danny Elfman's amazing 1989 score for 'Batman', and discovering he was responsible for The Simpsons theme tune, that triggered a vague memory of having seen his name credited on the Beverly Hills Cop OST album... what had initially started as a vague fascination and appreciation for his unusual vocal stylings on the song 'Gratitude', later led to an enduring infatuation with the track upon its rediscovery, and a "better-late-than-never" foray into the broader scope of his (and Boingo's) 80s/90s pop hey-day.
I think it's already been amply covered by others' comments here regarding Mr Elfman's sterling efforts in the realm of movie soundtrack scores, so I won't labour the point further - I think I've said plenty already. Thanks again for a great video, and mini-retrospective. Cheers!
I grew up in San Diego in the 70s/80s/90s and Oingo Boingo is my all time favorite band. The music and lyrics always connected with me. I first heard them on a late night music show in 1980 and haven't looked back. Danny's film composing is truly one of a kind. Thanks Professor for showcasing the best band ever!! :)
My friends and I would go to San Diego a few times a year, short drive from Scottsdale. We would bring one of our boom boxes and blank cassettes. Get to the hotel, tune into 91X, then fill'em up. I still have a few of the tapes. We wore out many of them.
We really didn't even listen to the station as it recorded until we headed home. It was always a nice surprise when we got anything by oingo boingo (they didnt play much of oingo boingo in AZ), Berlin, Dramarama or the smithereens on there.
My white 85 Honda civic SI had the coveted auto reverse option in the cassette player so we listenedall the way home.
Wish I would of kept those tapes but really I wish I would have kept that car.
Her name was, Puff the magic Honda! Out ran the cops in that car, thanks to my mom teaching me that the emergency brake does NOT activate the brake lights.
@@studiokohl1 Love these types of stories from the 80s. 91X was the best - along with KROQ in LA. Such great memories - Thanks for for sharing :)
Oh man, Oingo Boingo was an amazing band. Brilliant lyrics, one of a kind music, and absolutely bonkers showmanship. It's crazy that they never had a major hit considering how many amazing songs they made.
What is the law? Don't spill blood! A song based on HG Wells Island of Dr. Moreau? Yes that's exactly what it was and is the perfect snapshot of what Oingo Boingo was all about. I first heard them in the credits of Fast Times at Ridgemont High where they played Goodbye, Goodbye and I was hooked. I also remember Who Do You Want to Be in the Tom Hanks movie Bachelor Party. Oingo Boingo got very little airplay but was in so many 80s movies and soundtracks. They had a cult status when I was in college in the early 90s. There has never been anything like them. This is the perfect episode for Halloween
Grew up in OC in the 80s and they played at the Irvine Meadows around '86 and that was the first concert I saw with my friend from HS. Awesome show, followed them for years until we saw them at their Universal Amp show which was the last time I saw them, unfortunately. Love that band!
They’re the best!
I went to elementary, Junior High, (Middle school today) and High School, with Steve Bartek. We were both into music and yet we never played in any of the same groups together. In the 9th grade, I won the outstanding musician award for the concert band and Steve Bartek won the same award for the Orchestra. Our pictures hung on the wall of Fame at the school until 2003. I toured all over North America with a horn band called The Gringos from 1970 until late 1976. The band continued on without me until 1980. I have kept up with Steve and we chat every once in a while on social media. I've seen him several times with the Strawberry Alarm Clock as I've know some of those members almost as long as I have known Steve. If you look closely at all of the movie and television themes that Danny Elfman has written, you will see Steve Bartek's name as the Orchestrator for his music. At our high school's 40th reunion, Steve was supposed to be in attendance but got called away to London to fix a movie score Elfman had been working on and his wife attended without him. So nice to see you bring him to light in this wonderful piece about an amazing group of musicians.
(The Gringos are back into music production having recorded and released 9 new singles since late 2020.)
L. B. T.
Trombone
The Gringos
I remember listening to Dr. Dimento's show and hearing the Mystic Knights and thinking, sure it's quirky, but damn!' I was also fortunate enough to be at the Universal Amphitheater in 1995 for the farewell (backstage pass too). Phenomenal is an inadequate description. Bittersweet indeed.
The episode I’ve been waiting for. Thank you!
Almost 2 years after I requested this very video, the Professor comes through! YES!!!
One of my favorite bands of all time. Saw every Halloween show from 1987-1993, and a few other shows in L.A. Missed the final two because I was living overseas. Have seen the "former members" perform several times over the last decade, and caught Elfman from the front row at Lincoln Center when he was touring his movie hits and got up to sing the Nightmare Before Xmas medley. Had all their cassettes. Even bought the Fast Times at Ridgemont High soundtrack for Goodbye Goodbye before they recorded it on Boingo Alive. Still listen to them every Halloween and watch the recording of their final concert. They provided the soundtrack for my youth. And the highlight of my birthday most years for the last 10 or so is when i receive my birthday greeting from Facebook friend, Johnny ("Cry of the...") Vatos, who is just the nicest and most generous dude. Love this band forever!
Awesome Halloween show! I was a big fan of Oingo Boingo through my college radio DJ years '83-'85. And saw them one snowy night at the Ritz in New York City in December 1985, a few days before Christmas - they were everything I hoped they'd be. In mid 1987, while attending school in Boston, I blew off their concert to see Graham Chapman from Monty Python speak at club about the Dangerous Sportsman. Near the end of the evening, I turned around and was looking straight into the face of John Avila. I said, "I blew off your show to come here." He replied without missing a beat, "We almost did too!" At the end of the show, he told me they were playing the next night at a club in Connecticut (New Haven). "Come to soundcheck, I'm sure we can get you in to the show". They did and it was awesome.
I love how wrong people can be about other people's potential. My 9th grade English teacher told me I'd never be a writer. I've published several books. When I was interviewing for a job during my last year of college, I interviewed with a bank for a position in Latin America. They decided not to hire me saying that they believed I lacked sufficient language ability. A couple of years later I graduated from Defense Language Institute where I learned Chinese Mandarin.
Hey, I hate to be pedantic, but the real origin of the song “Dead Man’s Party” came after Danny Elfman demonstrated how a drum machine works to his eldest daughter Lola, who was about 5 or 6 years old at the time. The simple beat that he used to demonstrate it inspired him to mess around with a guitar riff (which ended up becoming the riff used for the intro). The first lyric that sprung to mind was “Don’t run away, it’s only me…” followed by “It’s a Dead Man’s Party”.
Usually when Danny writes songs, the melody comes first, and the lyrics come out in fragments and it’s up to him to figure out what this song was about. The result was this idea of death coming at your door and inviting him to “the dead man’s party”. The “silver dollar on either eye” is actually a reference to the song “St. James Infirmary Blues” sung by Cab Calloway, one of Elfman’s biggest influences.
All the allusions to notable short stories and historical events are entirely coincidental.
Favorite band for me. Caught the Boingo Alive tour. Thanks for the show Adam. Well done.
Thanks for watching. Mark!
Oingo Boingo was the 1st ever rock concert to be held at the Delta Center (Now Vivint Arena) in Salt Lake City Utah. A mere 3 blocks away from the haunted International Dunes Hotel.
I won tickets from KJQ radio to see the show! One of the best ever…
Oingo Boingo played a lunch concert at my High school (Edison High School in Huntington Beach Ca) when I was a freshmen in the fall of 1980.
I had no idea who they were, but was totally hooked on their sound. once I was able to drive I made it a habit to attend the Halloween concert at Irvine Meadows almost every year, and was lucky enough to be at the farewell concert the last time they played there. I no longer live in southern California but before I moved I had the pleasure of seeing the tribute band Dead Man's Party, witch includes several of the original band members. The lead singer is a dead ringer for Danny Elfman and they sounded great. I now live in the south and the chance of seeing a live performance of any of the original members, or going to see Danny preforming his music is slim.
Thank you so much for taking the time to recognize the contributions of the whole band, It really brought me back.
Another excellent video! Thank you !
I've been WAITING for this episode since I found your channel!
One of my all time favorites. I have so many memories attached to this fantastic band. Growing up in Utah in the late 80’s my group of friends and I were obsessed with new wave music and especially Oingo Boingo! I’ve loved seeing Danny’s carrier develop. This is the video I’ve been waiting to see you do. Thank you!
THANK YOU PROFESSOR!! I have been BEGGING you to do a video on Oingo Boingo…. Grew up going to their concerts in Southern California. Went to many and recently went to many Dead Mans Party (great Boingo cover band) concerts. Unfortunately I’ve recently moved to Texas and they are a California band so I’m in Boingo withdrawals. Your video cheered me up on a really and day. ❤
I didn't listen to too much *Oingo Bingo* but I did watch *Back to School* & the other 80's movies they were in so I'm familiar with them.
Thank you for having me as an honorary producer for this video Adam, PoR.
Thanks for this! Boingo is my favorite band and I think you really captured why his music is so unique since he didn’t come from the typical mainstream pipeline. It was really amazing to see him play again at the Hollywood bowl last year (on my birthday no less). Great episode! Thanks again
Still my favorite band of all times.
"Let's have a party there's full moon in the sky, it's the hour of the wolf and I don't want to die."
Dead Man’s Party was our theme song for the white water rafting trip on the Penobscot River in Maine on the video recording of the drops we maneuvered! Great song I’ll always remember as my adventure in white water rafting was a memorable trip of a lifetime. Thanks for posting!!!
What a great video Professor. Brought back so many good memories of me and friends in high school cruising around with Boingo blaring out of the tape deck. Saw them live a few times and the best show had to be at Red Rocks Amphitheater in CO. The Red Hot Chili Peppers opened for them. What a great time for music. Thanks for keeping the memories alive sir.
One more story. I am at “Rock in Rio”. I am introduced to my producer for MTV. ( I was a PA, desperate to shoot.)“ they tell me you’re new?” He asks. “Well, yeah, I reply “ but” referencing his T-Shirt, “I think “ good for your soul” I s a great and underrated album.” “ yeah?” Well, we’re good then.”
i was singing an Oingo Boingo special the other night. Dead Man’s Party and then Stay. during Stay a couple lamented “is he gonna sing this weird sh!t all night?!?” and they left.
Oingo Boingo had 2 Top 40 hits here in Australia, with "Weird Science" at 39 and "Stay" at 30 .. I loved "Stay" and bought the single .. Think I now need to get myself a copy of the whole "Dead Man's Party" album it came off .. My other favourite OB song is "Only A Lad", a new wave classic for sure !
One of my favorite bands of all time. Danny is an absolute genius!