Born in Los Angeles, he entered the film industry in 1976, initially as an actor. He made his film scoring debut in 1980 for the film Forbidden Zone directed by his older brother Richard Elfman. He has since been nominated for four Academy Awards and won a Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media for Tim Burton's Batman and an Emmy Award for his Desperate Housewives theme. Elfman was honored with the prestigious Richard Kirk award at the 2002 BMI Film and TV Awards. The award is given annually to a composer who has made significant contributions to film and television music.
He is the son of novelist Blossom Elfman and the brother of director Richard Elfman.
Elfman was born in Los Angeles, California, the son of Blossom Elfman (née Bernstein), a writer and teacher, and Milton Elfman, a community in the Baldwin Hills area of Los Angeles. He spent much of his time in the local movie theatre, adoring the music of such film composers as Bernard Herrmann and Franz Waxman.
Stating that he hung out with the "band nerds" in high school, he started a ska band. After dropping out of high school, he followed his brother Richard to France, where he performed with Le Grand Magic Circus, an avant-garde musical theater group. Violin in tow, Elfman next journeyed to Africa where he traveled through Ghana, Mali, and Upper Volta, absorbing new musical styles, including the Ghanaian highlife genre which would eventually influence his own music. Elfman contracted malaria during his one-year stay and was often sick. Eventually he returned home to the United States, where he began to take Balinese music lessons at the CalArts. He was never officially a student at the institute, nonetheless, the instructor encouraged him to continue learning. Elfman stated, "He just laughed, and said, 'Sit. Play.' I continued to sit and play for a couple years." At this time, his brother was forming a new musical theater group, The Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo. The group performed the music for Richard's debut feature film, Forbidden Zone. Danny Elfman composed his first score for the film and played the role of Satan. By the time the movie was completed, they had taken the name Oingo Boingo and begun recording and touring as a rock group.
In 1985, Tim Burton and Paul Reubens invited Elfman to write the score for their first feature film, Pee-wee's Big Adventure. Elfman was apprehensive at first because of his lack of formal training, but with orchestration assistance from Oingo Boingo guitarist and arranger Steve Bartek, he achieved his goal of emulating the mood of such composers as Nino Rota and Bernard Herrmann. In the booklet for the first volume of Music for a Darkened Theatre, Elfman described the first time he heard his music played by a full orchestra as one of the most thrilling experiences of his life.[citation needed] Elfman immediately developed a rapport with Burton and has gone on to score all but two of Burton's major studio releases: Ed Wood, scored by Howard Shore, which was under production while Elfman and Burton were having a fight, and Sweeney Todd, an adaptation of the 1979 Stephen Sondheim Broadway musical. He also, more recently, accompanied Tim Burton in the composition of music for "Almost Alice", the soundtrack for Alice in Wonderland.
Burton has said of his relationship with Elfman: "We don't even have to talk about the music. We don't even have to intellectualize – which is good for both of us, we're both similar that way. We're very lucky to connect" (Breskin, 1997).
In 2021 he released "Big Mess", his first non-soundtrack album since 1984's "So-Lo", which is often considered to rather be an Oingo Boingo album due to the presence of many other band members.
Elfman has three children: Lola, born in 1979; Mali, born in 1984; and Oliver, born in 2005. On November 29, 2003, Elfman married film actress Bridget Fonda. In 1997 he scored A Simple Plan – his only score for one of her films to date (although he did compose a cue for the film Army of Darkness, in which Fonda has a cameo). He is the uncle of actor Bodhi Elfman who is married to actress Jenna Elfman, known most notably in her role as Dharma in the TV series Dharma and Greg.
Give Me The Simple Life
Danny Elfman Lyrics
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I don't believe in frettin' or grievin'
Why mess around with strife?
Guess I was cut out to step up and strut out
Give me the simple life
It must be pleasant dining on pheasant
I want tomatoes and mashed potatoes
Give me the simple life
Cottage small is all I'm after
Not one that's spacious and wide
Ah, that brings the joy and laughter
With the ones that you love inside
You take the high road, I'll take the low road
Free from all care and strife
Sounds corny and seedy, oh yes, indeed
Give me the simple life
A cottage small is all I'm after
Not one that's spacious and wide
A house that brings the joy and laughter
With the ones that you love inside
You take the high road, I'll take the low road
Free from all care and strife
Sounds corny and seedy, oh yes, indeed
Give me the simple life, give me the simple life
In the lyrics of Danny Elfman's song "Give Me The Simple Life," the singer expresses a strong preference for simplicity and contentment over the complexities and stresses of modern life. The lyrics convey a sense of nonchalance and a carefree attitude towards life's troubles, suggesting that the singer is not inclined to worry or dwell on difficulties. Instead, they find joy and satisfaction in embracing a simpler way of living, free from unnecessary complications and turmoil. The repeated refrain of "Give me the simple life" underscores the singer's desire for a more straightforward and uncomplicated existence.
The references to dining on pheasant with the proper knife and enjoying tomatoes and mashed potatoes evoke a sense of rustic charm and a return to basics in terms of food and lifestyle. The singer seems to appreciate the simple pleasures of a modest meal and a cozy cottage over extravagant luxuries or elaborate extravagances. The emphasis on the joy of sharing these moments with loved ones further highlights the importance of human connection and relationships in fostering happiness and fulfillment. By valuing the small and intimate moments with loved ones, the singer celebrates the warmth and comfort that can be found in the midst of simplicity.
The imagery of a small cottage, as opposed to a grand mansion, symbolizes a preference for modesty and humility over opulence and grandeur. The idea of a compact living space filled with love and laughter suggests that true happiness can be found in the company of those we cherish, rather than in material possessions or social status. The sentiment of choosing the low road over the high road implies a rejection of conventional paths to success and a willingness to prioritize personal well-being and inner peace above external markers of achievement.
Overall, the lyrics of "Give Me The Simple Life" convey a nostalgic yearning for a more uncomplicated and authentic way of living. Through its evocative language and heartfelt sentiments, the song invites listeners to reflect on the beauty of simplicity, the value of close relationships, and the possibility of finding contentment in life's everyday moments. The singer's plea for a simpler, more carefree existence strikes a chord with those who long for a return to a more genuine and unassuming way of being in a world that often feels overwhelming and chaotic.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: HARRY RUBY, RUBE BLOOM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
a.m p.m
We need more movies like
Meet The Robinsons❤
Super Deadshot
Yah
Awardcrazed
Danny Elfman=The Nightmare Before Christmas=Jack's singing voice=me loving Meet The Robinson's even more :)
Nathanael Ash Non Music
God, this and Treasure Planet. My favorite disney movies of all time.
JACE PIGEON
Ikr, they're just fantastic 👌👌
binkyy
This is very nostalgic...but I LOVE ITT😍😍😍💕😇😩
LinkXToboeXAmaterasu
Meet the Robinsons is an amazing film! This song is awesome!
DaniGirl
"Grandpa, I think I found your teeth."
"Sarsaparilla! My teeth are back!" 😅😅😅
Disney Parks & Star Wars Lover
The Patriotic Bros Dive group Wow....look at the time....(runs off)
The Patriotic Brothers Dive Group
Ring a ding ding