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.
Jack's Obsession
Danny Elfman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Something's up with Jack
Something's up with Jack
Don't know if we're ever going to get him back
He's all alone up there
Locked away inside
Never says a word
Something's up with Jack
Something's up with Jack
[JACK]
Christmas time is buzzing in my skull
Will it let me be? I cannot tell
There are so many things I cannot grasp
When I think I've got it, and then at last
Through my bony fingers it does slip
Like a snowflake in a fiery grip
Something's here I'm not quite getting
Though I try, I keep forgetting
Like a memory long since past
Here in an instant, gone in a flash
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
In these little bric-a-brac
A secret's waiting to be cracked
These dolls and toys confuse me so
Confound it all, I love it though
Simple objects, nothing more
But something's hidden through a door
Though I do not have the key
Something's there I cannot see
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
Hmm...
I've read these Christmas books so many times
I know the stories and I know the rhymes
I know the Christmas carols all by heart
My skull's so full, it's tearing me apart
As often as I've read them, something's wrong
So hard to put my bony finger on
Or perhaps it's really not as deep
As I've been led to think
Am I trying much too hard?
Of course! I've been too close to see
The answer's right in front of me
Right in front of me
It's simple really, very clear
Like music drifting in the air
Invisible, but everywhere
Just because I cannot see it
Doesn't mean I can't believe it
You know, I think this Christmas thing
It's not as tricky as it seems
And why should they have all the fun?
It should belong to anyone
Not anyone, in fact, but me
Why, I could make a Christmas tree
And there's no reason I can find
I couldn't handle Christmas time
I bet I could improve it too
And that's exactly what I'll do
Hee,hee,hee
Eureka! I've got it
The lyrics of "Jack's Obsession" by Danny Elfman portray the main character, Jack Skellington, who is the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town, expressing his confusion and curiosity about Christmas. At the beginning of the song, the citizens of Halloween Town express their concern about Jack's disappearance, as he is locked away, deep in thought about what he has observed in the world of Christmas. Jack is intrigued by the new holiday and finds himself thinking of it constantly. He tries to understand the meaning of Christmas through books, toys, and dolls, but feels as though he cannot grasp the true essence of it. However, he finally realizes that even though he cannot see it, he can believe in it, and he decides to take over Christmas and make it his own.
The song highlights Jack's inner conflict between wanting to understand and be a part of the magic of Christmas, while still being true to who he is as the Pumpkin King. The contrasting emotions are portrayed through the eerie and haunting melody of the citizens, and the more upbeat and exciting melody of Jack's character. This song is an iconic part of the Nightmare Before Christmas soundtrack and has resonated with audiences of all ages who have experienced feelings of confusion, curiosity, and self-discovery.
Line by Line Meaning
Something's up with Jack
Jack's behavior is unusual and concerning to the citizens of Halloween
Don't know if we're ever going to get him back
The citizens are unsure if Jack will return to his normal self
He's all alone up there
Jack is isolated and separated from the others
Locked away inside
Jack has purposely confined himself to his own space
Never says a word
Jack is uncommunicative and closed off
Hope he hasn't died
The citizens are worried that Jack's behavior may have led to his death
Christmas time is buzzing in my skull
Jack's mind is consumed with thoughts of Christmas
Will it let me be? I cannot tell
Jack is unsure if he can control his obsession with Christmas
There are so many things I cannot grasp
Jack is struggling to understand the concept of Christmas
When I think I've got it, and then at last
Jack believes he understands Christmas, but realizes he doesn't
Through my bony fingers it does slip
The concept of Christmas is slipping from Jack's grasp
Like a snowflake in a fiery grip
The more Jack tries to hold onto Christmas, the more it eludes him
Something's here I'm not quite getting
Jack senses there is something about Christmas he doesn't understand
Though I try, I keep forgetting
Jack keeps forgetting what he's learned about Christmas
Like a memory long since past
The concept of Christmas feels distant and forgotten to Jack
Here in an instant, gone in a flash
Jack's understanding of Christmas comes and goes quickly
What does it mean?
Jack is trying to understand the true meaning of Christmas
In these little bric-a-brac
Jack is looking at little objects that remind him of Christmas
A secret's waiting to be cracked
Jack believes there is a hidden message in these objects that he needs to uncover
These dolls and toys confuse me so
Jack is puzzled by the meaning of Christmas toys
Confound it all, I love it though
Despite his confusion, Jack is drawn to Christmas and its traditions
Simple objects, nothing more
Jack sees these objects as just simple toys and decorations
But something's hidden through a door
Jack believes there is something else behind these objects
Though I do not have the key
Jack doesn't have the answers yet
Something's there I cannot see
Jack feels like he's missing a crucial piece of information
Hmm...
Jack is deep in thought
I've read these Christmas books so many times
Jack is well-versed in Christmas literature
I know the stories and I know the rhymes
Jack is familiar with Christmas stories and poems
I know the Christmas carols all by heart
Jack knows many Christmas songs by memory
My skull's so full, it's tearing me apart
Jack's obsession with Christmas is overwhelming and causing him distress
As often as I've read them, something's wrong
Jack senses that there is something missing or not right about Christmas
So hard to put my bony finger on
Jack doesn't know the exact problem with Christmas
Or perhaps it's really not as deep
Jack is considering that the issue may not be as complicated as he's making it out to be
As I've been led to think
Jack is realizing that he may have overthought the concept of Christmas
Am I trying much too hard?
Jack is questioning if he's making Christmas too difficult for himself
Of course! I've been too close to see
Jack is acknowledging that he's been too invested in Christmas to see clearly
The answer's right in front of me
Jack suddenly realizes that the solution to Christmas is simple and obvious
It's simple really, very clear
Jack understands the true meaning of Christmas now
Like music drifting in the air
The essence of Christmas is intangible, like music
Invisible, but everywhere
Christmas is not visible or tangible, but it's all around us
Just because I cannot see it
Jack understands that just because he can't physically see Christmas, it still exists
Doesn't mean I can't believe it
Jack believes in Christmas even though he can't see it
You know, I think this Christmas thing
Jack has had a breakthrough and is excited about the possibilities
It's not as tricky as it seems
Jack has realized that Christmas is not as complicated as he thought it was
And why should they have all the fun?
Jack is questioning why humans should have all the fun with Christmas
It should belong to anyone
Jack believes that everyone should have the opportunity to enjoy Christmas
Not anyone, in fact, but me
Jack is determined to make Christmas his own
Why, I could make a Christmas tree
Jack is excited about creating his own Christmas traditions
And there's no reason I can find
Jack can't think of any reason why he shouldn't have his own Christmas celebration
I couldn't handle Christmas time
Jack is convinced that he can successfully manage a Christmas celebration
I bet I could improve it too
Jack is confident he can make Christmas even better
And that's exactly what I'll do
Jack is determined to make Christmas his own and improve upon it
Hee,hee,hee
Jack is excited and happy about his realization
Eureka! I've got it
Jack has had a breakthrough in his understanding of Christmas
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: DANNY ELFMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind