The band from Los Angeles, California, USA, a pared-down version of the theatrical troupe The Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo, released eight major albums and two live compilations, each containing songs that varied from fast-paced ska to soulful jazz to emotional rock to off-kilter pop.
Starting in 1980, Oingo Boingo spent their first three albums establishing themselves as a band with quirky, bizarre, sarcastic, and anti-conformist vocals, lyrics, and instrumentation, among other things lambasting "normal" society and politics for their many hypocrisies and encouraging people to think for themselves. The band made a change toward a different sound when frontman Danny Elfman recorded So-lo in collaboration with the band and a new label, beginning a trio of "new wave"-ish albums containing ballads and songs about life and mortality, including the famous Dead Man's Party. The band went on to record Dark at the End of the Tunnel, a change toward a sort of Boingo-esqe "spirituality", and finally recorded their last album: dark, guitar-driven, hornless, influenced by the Beatles and Pink Floyd, eponymous with the new band name Boingo.
Now mostly known for their frequent contribution to movie soundtracks (including their most successful song "Weird Science"), Oingo Boingo formally broke up in 1995 after their last Halloween live concert, the reason being that 'it was time.'
Throughout the years, the following joined Elfman and Bartek as members of Oingo Boingo:
Leon Schneiderman - baritone and alto saxophones, percussion, backing vocals
John 'Vatos' Hernandez - drums, percussion
Kerry Hatch - bass, bass synthesizer, percussion, backing vocals
Sam 'Sluggo' Phipps - tenor and soprano saxophones, clarinet, percussion, backing vocals, flute
Dale Turner - trumpet, trombone, percussion, guitar, backing vocals
Richard Gibbs - keyboards, synthesizer, trombone, percussion, backing vocals
John Avila - bass, bass synthesizer, percussion, accordion, backing vocals
Michael Bacich - keyboards, backing vocals
Carl Graves - keyboards, synthesizers, backing vocals, electronic percussion pad
Warren Fitzgerald - guitar
Doug Lacy (aka Doug Legacy) - percussion, trombone, accordion
Marc Mann - keyboards, samples
Aftermath
Since the band's dissolution, frontman Danny Elfman has continued to find success in his career writing film scores, particularly in collaboration with director Tim Burton; he almost exclusively employs Boingo guitarist Steve Bartek as orchestrator. His film scores have included Pee Wee's Big Adventure, Batman, Edward Scissorhands, Good Will Hunting, Men in Black, Sam Raimi's Spider-Man, Big Fish, and dozens more. Elfman also wrote the themes for more than a dozen TV series, including The Simpsons, Batman: The Animated Series, Desperate Housewives, Tales from the Crypt, and Sledge Hammer!.
Steve Bartek, besides working with Danny, has composed music for various TV shows, including Tales from the Crypt and Desperate Housewives, and movie scores, such as The Art of Travel, Meet the Deedles and Cabin Boy.
Vatos formed a concert show along with Sluggo, Bartek, and Avila in California. The concert show features performances of Oingo Boingo's most popular songs. This has led to speculation about a reunion. In early 2007, Danny Elfman said there would not be a reunion. He has irreversible hearing loss and is worried that playing live would exacerbate it. He stated that some members may also suffer from the condition.
The Oingo Boingo spirit is kept alive by tribute band Dead Man's Party, which performs regularly in Southern California - occasionally with original Boingos Steve Bartek, John Avila, and John Hernandez. Lead singer Robert Elfaizy sings quite impressive "Danny Elfman" vocals.
Other Projects
John Avila and Johnny "Vatos" Hernandez were two members of the trio Food For Feet. They also formed the rhythm section of Tito & Tarantula, a Los Angeles band fronted by Tito Larriva of The Plugz and the Cruzados. Avila and Hernandez also joined Larriva and guitarist Stevie Hufstetted in a one-off project band called Psychotic Aztecs. The Aztecs released one album on the Grita called Santa Sangre.
After the break-up, John Avila, guitarist Steve Bartek, drummer Johnny "Vatos" Hernandez, and saxophonist Sam Phipps (along with Doug Lacy and other musicians) formed a band called Doug & The Mystics. They recorded one album, New Hat, which included a cover of the Oingo Boingo song "Try to Believe," original songs, and covers of songs by Frank Zappa and other artists.
During the Halloween 2005 season, Johnny "Vatos" Hernandez put together a tribute to the band (and to Halloween itself), joined by former Oingo Boingo members Steve Bartek, John Avila, and Sam "Sluggo" Phipps which took place at the Grove of Anaheim. Standing in for Elfman was Bt4, a young man whom many fans call "the Danny byproduct." During the Halloween 2006 season, there were two Johnny Vatos Tribute to Halloween shows, one in Los Angeles and one in Orange County, with Vatos, Bartek, Avila, Phipps, Legacy, and Bt4 once again on vocals. "Vatos" has announced his intentions of hosting yet another concert along these lines in the 2007 Halloween season, this time at the House of Blues branches on the Sunset Strip and in Anaheim.
In 2005, John Avila, Johnny "Vatos" Hernandez, and Steve Bartek joined the list of performers on the soundtrack of the 2003 re-imagination of the classic sci-fi series, Battlestar Galactica. Richard Gibbs joined at this time as well, but is credited as both a performer and composer. Their performances can be heard in seasons two and three, and will likely be heard on subsequent seasons of the series as well.
Soundtrack Appearances
•The studio recording of "Goodbye, Goodbye" appears on the soundtrack to the 1982 film Fast Times at Ridgemont High. The song can only be found elsewhere on Boingo Alive and Best O' Boingo as a live recording.
•"Bachelor Party" and "Something Isn't Right" appear on the soundtrack to the 1984 film Bachelor Party. These songs can not be found on any Oingo Boingo albums. The soundtrack also includes "Who Do You Want To Be" from the album Good for Your Soul.
•In the 1984 John Hughes film Sixteen Candles, the character of Farmer Ted dances spastically to "Wild Sex (In The Working Class)" from the album Nothing To Fear.
•"Hold Me Back" and "Only A Lad" are featured during the opening and closing credits, respectively, of the 1984 film Surf II.
•"No One Lives Forever" can be heard during the bridge scene in the 1986 film The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2.
•"Not My Slave" can be heard on the car radio during a scene in the 1986 film Something Wild.
•"Happy" appears on the soundtrack to the 1987 film Summer School. This song cannot be found on any Oingo Boingo albums.
•"Better Luck Next Time" appears on the soundtrack to the 1982 film The Last American Virgin. This song cannot be found on any Oingo Boingo albums.
•"Who Do You Want To Be" appears on the soundtrack to the 1987 film Teen Wolf Too.
•"Try To Believe" (performed by Oingo Boingo under the alias "Mosley and the B-Men") can be heard in the 1988 film Midnight Run, which was scored by Danny Elfman. This version of the song is different from the version on the album Dark at the End of the Tunnel.
•"Same Man I Was Before" can be heard in the 1988 film My Best Friend Is a Vampire.
•The studio version of "Winning Side" appears on the soundtrack to the 1989 film She's Out of Control.
•"Flesh 'N Blood" appears on the soundtrack to the 1989 film Ghostbusters II. A short snippet is played as background music during the film.
•"Skin" can be heard on the radio (though not performed by Oingo Boingo) during a scene in the 1990 Clive Barker film Nightbreed.
•Susanna Hoffs covered "We Close Our Eyes" for the soundtrack to the 1992 film Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The song can be heard during the closing credits.
•"No One Lives Forever" can be heard in the 1997 television film Casper: A Spirited Beginning.
•"Home Again" appeared in the John Hughes film Home Alone 3 in 1997.
•A slightly altered version of "Forbidden Zone" was the theme song to the animated television show Dilbert (1999).
•"Stay" can be heard in the director's cut of the 2001 film Donnie Darko.
•"Violent Love" can be heard in the 1990 film The Adventures of Ford Fairlane.
•"Capitalism" appears on the soundtrack to the 2005 film Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room.
•"Dead Man's Party" can be heard during a costume party in the "Witch Hunt" (2006) episode of the television show NCIS.
•The live recording of "Who Do You Want To Be" (from the album Boingo Alive) appears on the soundtrack to the 2005 video game Tony Hawk's American Wasteland. It is also featured in the 2005 Nintendo DS version of Tony Hawk's American Sk8land.
•"Dead Man's Party" is a selectable song in the 2006 Xbox video game Dance Dance Revolution Ultramix 4.
•"Only A Lad" was featured in the 2007 video game Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the '80s.
•"Weird Science" made an appearance in Beavis and Butthead as a music video. However, the duo disliked the song because Butthead believes that "this guy (Danny Elfman) thinks he's smart." Beavis disliked it because he said that "college music sucks." The duo decided to change the channel.
•"Home Again" can be heard at the end credits of the 1986 film Wisdom, written and directed by Emilio Estevez. The soundtrack to Wisdom is also the first all electronic film score that Danny Elfman created for the film.
•"Not My Slave" plays during the 1987 film Like Father Like Son starring Kirk Cameron.
•"Dead Man's Party" is also performed by Oingo Boingo in the movie back to school staring Rodney Dangerfield.
Freak Show
Oingo Boingo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's a freak show
It's a freak show and we're the freaks
It's a freak show
It's a freak show
Thought we were late, we were just in time
Thought we were someone else
And I thought we were high
Thought we were watching someone else
Thought we were at the show
Thought we were seeing some funny things
But we didn't know
It's a freak show
It's a freak show
It's a freak show and we're the freaks
It's a freak show
Thought we were living someone's lives
Thought we were by ourselves
Thought we were standing in a line
At the back of a carnival
Thought that we looked like someone else
Thought we were normal guys
Thought that we got good grades at school
And I thought we were doing all right
When the freaks come out to play at night
All the little girls get such a fright
Nobody understands the way they talk
How in the world could we ever know
That someday we'd end up in the show
At the very very back of a big top tent
It's a freak show
It's a freak show
It's a freak show and we're the freaks
It's a freak show
Thought that we looked like normal guys
Thought we were doing all right
Thought we were late, we were just in time
Thought we were high
When the freaks come out to play at night
All the little girls get such a fright
Nobody understands the way they talk
How in the world could we ever know
That someday we'd end up in the show
At the very very back of a big top tent
With the whole world laughing at a cruel cruel joke!
It's a freak show
It's a freak show
It's a freak show and we're the freaks
And we're the freaks
And we're the freaks
And we're the freaks
And we're the freaks
The lyrics of Oingo Boingo's "Freak Show" tell a story about feeling out of place and like an outsider. The first verse describes a situation where the singer and their group of friends think they are watching other people do strange things, but they realize it is actually them who are the "freaks" in a bizarre show. The second verse continues this theme of feeling like they are living someone else's life, not fitting in, and being relegated to the back of a carnival or "big top tent" where they are the butt of a cruel joke. The chorus repeats the song's title, emphasizing the idea that this experience is like a circus sideshow, and the final lines express the feeling of being stigmatized and ridiculed.
Overall, "Freak Show" explores the concept of societal norms and exclusion. The singer and their friends are depicted as trying to understand themselves in relation to what they perceive as typical or ordinary, only to find out they do not fit those molds. The song suggests that the world can be a cold and unforgiving place for people who are different, and that even their attempts to blend in can backfire. The repetition of "It's a freak show" serves as a reminder that the world is full of these kinds of displays, and that the singer and their group are just one example of many.
Line by Line Meaning
It's a freak show
The current situation is bizarre and unpredictable.
It's a freak show and we're the freaks
We are the ones in the strange and unpredictable situation.
Thought we were late, we were just in time
At first we thought we were behind in the situation, but we actually arrived at the perfect time.
Thought we were someone else
We thought we were someone different than who we actually are.
We thought we were losing someone's mind
We thought the situation was insane and confusing.
And I thought we were high
We thought we were under the influence of drugs and experiencing hallucinations.
Thought we were watching someone else
We believed we were observing someone other than ourselves.
Thought we were at the show
We thought we were attending an event or entertainment.
Thought we were seeing some funny things
Things we observed were strange and comical.
But we didn't know
However, we were still unsure about what was happening.
Thought we were living someone's lives
We believed we were experiencing another person's existence.
Thought we were by ourselves
We thought we were alone in the situation.
Thought we were standing in a line
We believed we were queueing for something.
At the back of a carnival
We were located at the rear of a funfair or circus.
Thought that we looked like someone else
We thought we resembled someone or something else.
Thought we were normal guys
We believed we were regular and average people.
Thought that we got good grades at school
We thought we were intelligent and high-performing students.
When the freaks come out to play at night
When the peculiar and strange individuals reveal themselves in the night-time.
All the little girls get such a fright
Young girls become scared when faced with these odd creatures.
Nobody understands the way they talk
Their communication methods are unintelligible to most people.
How in the world could we ever know
We had no way of predicting or anticipating this situation.
That someday we'd end up in the show
We would eventually become part of the display and spectacle.
At the very very back of a big top tent
We were hidden and inconspicuous in the farthest part of a large circus tent.
And we're the freaks
We are also the strange and unusual individuals in this situation.
And we're the freaks
We continue to be the peculiar ones in the present moment.
And we're the freaks
Our abnormalities are a distinguishing characteristic.
And we're the freaks
We are still regarded as strange and unpredictable individuals.
And we're the freaks
We are constantly reminded of our peculiarity in this situation.
Contributed by Anthony S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
AceOne
Lyrics:
[Chorus]
It's a freak show
It's a freak show
It's a freak show and we're the freaks
It's a freak show
It's a freak show
[Verse 1]
Thought we were late, we were just in time
Thought we were someone else
We thought we were losing someone's mind
And I thought we were high
[Verse 2]
Thought we were watching someone else
Thought we were at the show
Thought we were seeing some funny things
But we didn't know
[Chorus]
It's a freak show
It's a freak show
It's a freak show and we're the freaks
It's a freak show
[Verse 3]
Thought we were living someone's lives
Thought we were by ourselves
Thought we were standing in a line
At the back of a carnival
[Verse 4]
Thought that we looked like someone else
Thought we were normal guys
Thought that we got good grades at school
And I thought we were doing all right
[Bridge 1]
When the freaks come out to play at night
All the little girls get such a fright
Nobody understands the way they talk
How in the world could we ever know
That someday we'd end up in the show
At the very, very back of a big top tent
[Chorus]
It's a freak show
It's a freak show
It's a freak show and we're the freaks
It's a freak show
[Verse 5]
Thought that we looked like normal guys
Thought we were doing all right
Thought we were late, we were just in time
Thought we were high
[Bridge 2]
When the freaks come out to play at night
All the little girls get such a fright
Nobody understands the way they talk
How in the world could we ever know
That someday we'd end up in the show
At the very, very back of a big top tent
With the whole world laughing at a cruel, cruel joke!
[Chorus]
It's a freak show
It's a freak show
It's a freak show and we're the freaks
And we're the freaks
And we're the freaks
And we're the freaks
And we're the freaks
Alfredo
Sounds like it was scientifically engineered to get stuck in your head.
Nuclear Cat Baby
Danny was an amateur scientist before he found out he had musical talent...
Fiskool
I'll always be curious why so many of these songs never made the cut. With so many outtakes from NTF and GFYS they could've had another album in between with all kinds of songs from this demo session and whichever other songs were in the works during the NTF sessions. Imagine that, an album with better luck next time, freak show, all the pieces, and the earlier version of I stand defeated... one can only dream I guess
Oingo Boingo Tapes
Fiskool Thats true but I suppose things happened so quickly, the band were always rehearsing and touring and then on to the next album the following year! So many great songs slipped through the net
Nuclear Cat Baby
I think he was going for a particular theme for those albums that these songs didn’t fit. If you look at the songs on GFYS and how they are arranged they seem to be depicting a message about religious authoritarianism. NTF has more of a dystopian theme about going crazy either due to drugs or isolation while society is collapsing and on the verge of nuclear war. This song as well as Elementary Physics would fit in well on the album with a high school nerdy theme that Danny never wrote.
Josan Crewbar
@Nuclear Cat Baby now that you mention it, thematically I think Find You, Waiting for You, and Remember My Name would also fit thematically on a young-and-nerdy album
DotComGaming :D
@Nuclear Cat Baby as unfortunate as it is, I agree that a lot of cut songs didn't fit the theme/style of the album they've been cut from, as good as they are. There are exceptions of course, such as Teenage Monster and Vultures IMO.
Nuclear Cat Baby
@Josan Crewbar Some of these sound more like songs for a teen puppy love album, like something a male version of Taylor Swift would write. Along with “Better Luck Next Time” (it’s a breakup song where he sings about colors and it reminds me of Taylor Swift’s “Red”) “Goodbye Goodbye” would also fit. But yeah maybe it would be a mixed high school awkwardness/puppy love album.
AceOne
Lyrics:
[Chorus]
It's a freak show
It's a freak show
It's a freak show and we're the freaks
It's a freak show
It's a freak show
[Verse 1]
Thought we were late, we were just in time
Thought we were someone else
We thought we were losing someone's mind
And I thought we were high
[Verse 2]
Thought we were watching someone else
Thought we were at the show
Thought we were seeing some funny things
But we didn't know
[Chorus]
It's a freak show
It's a freak show
It's a freak show and we're the freaks
It's a freak show
[Verse 3]
Thought we were living someone's lives
Thought we were by ourselves
Thought we were standing in a line
At the back of a carnival
[Verse 4]
Thought that we looked like someone else
Thought we were normal guys
Thought that we got good grades at school
And I thought we were doing all right
[Bridge 1]
When the freaks come out to play at night
All the little girls get such a fright
Nobody understands the way they talk
How in the world could we ever know
That someday we'd end up in the show
At the very, very back of a big top tent
[Chorus]
It's a freak show
It's a freak show
It's a freak show and we're the freaks
It's a freak show
[Verse 5]
Thought that we looked like normal guys
Thought we were doing all right
Thought we were late, we were just in time
Thought we were high
[Bridge 2]
When the freaks come out to play at night
All the little girls get such a fright
Nobody understands the way they talk
How in the world could we ever know
That someday we'd end up in the show
At the very, very back of a big top tent
With the whole world laughing at a cruel, cruel joke!
[Chorus]
It's a freak show
It's a freak show
It's a freak show and we're the freaks
And we're the freaks
And we're the freaks
And we're the freaks
And we're the freaks
Dead Man's Mixtape
How have I just found this?
I AM IN FUCKING LOVE