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.
Helpless
Oingo Boingo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
While I stare at the wall
I ask myself over again...
How did I end up
In this little hell?
How - did it ever begin?
Helpless to turn back the clock
That ticks on
With its cruel shiny face
It laughs while it watches
My every disgrace - I was
Born a sap - all the
Nurses laughed when they
Saw me the first time
They giggled and they said
"This poor little monster'd be
Better off dead."
Oh, oh, oh oh oh helpess
Helplessly trapped in a body
I'm sure -
Should have never been mine.
I bet that my real one's
Doing just fine - and I
Don't belong here, I
Don't belong here - I
Should be quite rich
With a big shiny car
A house with twelve rooms
I deserve to go far.
Oh, oh, oh oh oh helpess
Helplessly falling in love
But does love
Really last through the night?
To love - To honor -
To kick and to bite! and I
Don't belong here, I
Don't belong here
It's all a mistake
I was destined for greatness
A leader, a prophet -
They're just too blind to notice.
Where did this whole silly story begin?
It seems that my mind has gone -
Blank.
I think that I've messed up a chapter or two.
Perhaps it is best if I'm frank!
Oh, oh, oh oh oh helpess -
Helplessly lost like that
Poor chap who came
For an innocent dance.
He left with his brain smeared
All over his pants! cause he
Didn't belong here, he
Didn't belong here
He never should've left
That warm cage in a zoo!
His face was so ugly
What else could I do?
Can you - really blame me, I
Had to smash it.
He left me no choice,
He was just like the others.
I just had to kill him.
With my poor, dear, old
Mother.
Oh, oh, oh oh oh helpess
Helplessly fucked in the ass
By a legion of forty ex-cons
That's what it feels like
When you walk all over me.
Don't belong here, I
Don't belong here
Your eyes burn right through me.
They fill me with fear.
I could've been at home
Watching football, and drinking beer.
Oh, oh, oh oh oh helpess, so Helpless.
The lyrics of "Helpless" by Oingo Boingo portray the feeling of despair, confusion, and frustration towards one's existence in this world. While the lyrics may seem chaotic and nonlinear, they tell a story of a person who is trying to figure out why they are in this position of hopelessness. The first stanza starts with the singer questioning how they ended up in their current state and why their life turned out this way, as they contemplate their own existence quietly. In the second stanza, the singer reflects on their physical attributes that they don't feel comfortable with and the ridicule they have faced throughout their life. The singer feels helpless, unable to control the situation, as time keeps on ticking, leaving them stranded in their misery. Despite the singer's efforts, they feel trapped and confined, longing to break free and become who they were meant to be, but never allowed to. The song is an embodiment of someone trapped in their own personal hell, yearning for a way to escape their feelings of hopelessness.
Line by Line Meaning
Countless long nights
I spend hours awake, staring at the wall.
While I stare at the wall
I'm not doing anything else, just staring.
I ask myself over again...
I keep asking myself the same question.
How did I end up
I wonder how I got to where I am now.
In this little hell?
It feels like I'm in a terrible place.
How - did it ever begin?
I'm trying to figure out how this all started.
Oh, oh, oh oh oh helpess
Feeling helpless and hopeless.
Helpless to turn back the clock
I wish I could go back in time but I can't.
That ticks on
Time moves forward no matter what I do.
With its cruel shiny face
Time seems like it's mocking me with its constant motion.
It laughs while it watches
Time seems to be enjoying my misfortune.
My every disgrace - I was
I'm embarrassed by everything I've done.
Born a sap - all the
I was born weak and foolish.
Nurses laughed when they
Even the nurses thought I was pathetic.
Saw me the first time
When they first saw me after I was born.
They giggled and they said
They made fun of me.
"This poor little monster'd be
They thought I was a monster.
Better off dead."
They thought I should have died at birth.
Helplessly trapped in a body
I feel like I'm stuck in the wrong body.
I'm sure -
I'm positive that this body doesn't belong to me.
Should have never been mine.
I feel like I was given the wrong body at birth.
I bet that my real one's
I'm convinced that my actual body is out there somewhere.
Doing just fine - and I
I'm sure that whoever has my real body is doing much better than I am.
Don't belong here, I
I feel like I don't belong in this world.
Should be quite rich
I think that I ought to be wealthy.
With a big shiny car
I envision myself driving a fancy car.
A house with twelve rooms
I imagine living in a huge house.
I deserve to go far.
I believe that I deserve to be successful.
Helplessly falling in love
I'm falling in love but I feel powerless over it.
But does love
I wonder if love is real.
Really last through the night?
I'm not sure if love can survive the long term.
To love - To honor -
I'm thinking about the commitment of love and marriage.
To kick and to bite! and I
But I'm also thinking about the unromantic and unpleasant parts of a relationship.
It's all a mistake
I feel like everything in my life is a big mistake.
I was destined for greatness
I believe that I was meant to become someone important.
A leader, a prophet -
I see myself as someone with great power and wisdom.
They're just too blind to notice.
But nobody else seems to see me that way, and I feel frustrated and ignored.
Where did this whole silly story begin?
I can't even remember how everything started, it feels like a joke.
It seems that my mind has gone -
I'm starting to feel like I'm losing my mind.
Blank.
I can't remember anything specific.
I think that I've messed up a chapter or two.
I feel like I've made some major mistakes in my life story, and that it's too late to fix them.
Perhaps it is best if I'm frank!
Maybe I should just be honest with myself about how poorly my life is going.
Helplessly lost like that
I feel like I'm completely lost in life.
Poor chap who came
I'm thinking about someone I met who was in a bad situation.
For an innocent dance.
He was just trying to have a good time.
He left with his brain smeared
But something terrible happened to him, he was brutally hurt.
All over his pants! cause he
He was attacked and humiliated in front of everyone.
Didn't belong here, he
Just like me, he felt like he didn't belong in this world.
Never should've left
He should have stayed somewhere safe.
That warm cage in a zoo!
Even a zoo would have been a better place for him than the world we live in.
His face was so ugly
He was physically unattractive.
What else could I do?
I'm trying to justify what happened to him.
Can you - really blame me, I
I'm asking for sympathy and understanding.
Had to smash it.
I felt like I had no choice but to destroy him.
He left me no choice,
It wasn't my fault, he provoked me and I had to react.
He was just like the others.
He was no different from the other people who annoy me.
I just had to kill him.
I'm admitting that I committed a serious crime, but I don't feel remorseful.
With my poor, dear, old
I'm trying to paint myself as a victim in this situation.
Mother.
I'm blaming my actions on my upbringing, and implying that my mother is to blame for what I've done.
Helplessly fucked in the ass
I feel like I'm being taken advantage of and exploited by others.
By a legion of forty ex-cons
There are many people who are out to get me, and they're all criminals.
That's what it feels like
It's a horrible feeling, like I'm being overwhelmed by people who are trying to destroy me.
When you walk all over me.
I feel powerless to stop them from hurting me.
Don't belong here, I
I think I was born in the wrong place or time.
Your eyes burn right through me.
The way people look at me is very intense and unsettling.
They fill me with fear.
I'm afraid of what other people might do to me.
I could've been at home
I could have avoided all of this if I had just stayed home.
Watching football, and drinking beer.
I would have been happy just doing something simple and enjoying my own company.
Oh, oh, oh oh oh helpess, so Helpless.
I'm still feeling helpless and hopeless.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DANNY ELFMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Chris Nemec
Lyrics:
Countless long nights
While I stare at the wall
I ask myself over again...
How did I end up
In this little hell?
How - did it ever begin?
Oh, oh, oh oh oh helpess
Helpless to turn back the clock
That ticks on
With its cruel shiny face
It laughs while it watches
My every disgrace - I was
Born a sap - all the
Nurses laughed when they
Saw me the first time
They giggled and they said
"This poor little monster'd be
Better off dead."
Oh, oh, oh oh oh helpless
Helplessly trapped in a body
I'm sure -
Should have never been mine.
I bet that my real one's
Doing just fine - and I
Don't belong here, I
Don't belong here - I
Should be quite rich
With a big shiny car
A house with twelve rooms
I deserve to go far.
Oh, oh, oh oh oh helpless
Helplessly falling in love
But does love
Really last through the night?
To love - To honor -
To kick and to bite! and I
Don't belong here, I
Don't belong here
It's all a mistake
I was destined for greatness
A leader, a prophet -
They're just too blind to notice.
Where did this whole silly story begin?
It seems that my mind has gone -
Blank.
I think that I've messed up a chapter or two.
Perhaps it is best if I'm frank!
Oh, oh, oh oh oh helpless -
Helplessly lost like that
Poor chap who came
For an innocent dance.
He left with his brain smeared
All over his pants! cause he
Didn't belong here, he
Didn't belong here
He never should've left
That warm cage in a zoo!
His face was so ugly
What else could I do?
Can you - really blame me, I
Had to smash it.
He left me no choice,
He was just like the others.
I just had to kill him.
With my poor, dear, old
Mother.
Oh, oh, oh oh oh helpless
Helplessly fucked in the ass
By a legion of forty ex-cons
That's what it feels like
When you walk all over me.
Don't belong here, I
Don't belong here
Your eyes burn right through me.
They fill me with fear.
I could've been at home
Watching football, and drinking beer.
Oh, oh, oh oh oh helpless, so helpless.
Brian E
Fight me if you want, but this is Danny Elfman at his best. Whether he's doing work for Tim Burton or for Oingo Boingo in its final years, he stepped up and put in the work.
I'll always have respect for Danny Elfman. He's one of the best.
Chris Nemec
Lyrics:
Countless long nights
While I stare at the wall
I ask myself over again...
How did I end up
In this little hell?
How - did it ever begin?
Oh, oh, oh oh oh helpess
Helpless to turn back the clock
That ticks on
With its cruel shiny face
It laughs while it watches
My every disgrace - I was
Born a sap - all the
Nurses laughed when they
Saw me the first time
They giggled and they said
"This poor little monster'd be
Better off dead."
Oh, oh, oh oh oh helpless
Helplessly trapped in a body
I'm sure -
Should have never been mine.
I bet that my real one's
Doing just fine - and I
Don't belong here, I
Don't belong here - I
Should be quite rich
With a big shiny car
A house with twelve rooms
I deserve to go far.
Oh, oh, oh oh oh helpless
Helplessly falling in love
But does love
Really last through the night?
To love - To honor -
To kick and to bite! and I
Don't belong here, I
Don't belong here
It's all a mistake
I was destined for greatness
A leader, a prophet -
They're just too blind to notice.
Where did this whole silly story begin?
It seems that my mind has gone -
Blank.
I think that I've messed up a chapter or two.
Perhaps it is best if I'm frank!
Oh, oh, oh oh oh helpless -
Helplessly lost like that
Poor chap who came
For an innocent dance.
He left with his brain smeared
All over his pants! cause he
Didn't belong here, he
Didn't belong here
He never should've left
That warm cage in a zoo!
His face was so ugly
What else could I do?
Can you - really blame me, I
Had to smash it.
He left me no choice,
He was just like the others.
I just had to kill him.
With my poor, dear, old
Mother.
Oh, oh, oh oh oh helpless
Helplessly fucked in the ass
By a legion of forty ex-cons
That's what it feels like
When you walk all over me.
Don't belong here, I
Don't belong here
Your eyes burn right through me.
They fill me with fear.
I could've been at home
Watching football, and drinking beer.
Oh, oh, oh oh oh helpless, so helpless.
Chris Howard
I wish this had been on the album when I bought it. Funny story about where I got this final studio album from... I was in the Navy on deployment somewhere, probably the Persian Gulf, and I saw it in the ship's store. It was, most likely, the only copy the store got. It took me a few listens to fully appreciate it, but it was an amazing album.
LonelyWhale
Jack Skellington rly popped off
help girl im trapped in the test tube
@Strange Wayfaring Stranger no shit
Strange Wayfaring Stranger
Danny Elfman was in this band way before that lol
David Westerlund
I bought the Boingo CD in Sweden and this was included as a bonus track (and it's great!)
fezenstein
it was my favorite on this record. and the farewell tour version was classic.!
Jobantus
Not sure that its well known, but this song featured on the Australian release of the Boingo album as a bonus track on the CD.
Ryan Simons
@Robin Hughes only on the tape! I bought both CD and tape day off release. Only on cassette and the CD single for Insanity.