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.
Piggies
Oingo Boingo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Baby said, what a cute little piggy you are
When he took one look at her rocket tits
He smiled real wide and said "Baby, you're it"
Piggy said baby won't you come with me
My little place is three steps away
Piggy gonna take us both to paradise
So Piggy and Baby sauntered into his crib
Said, "here it is baby, this is where I live"
Won't you take a load off, can I fix you a drink
Baby turned real slowly and said, "Piggy you stink"
Piggy said baby, do you have a smoke?
Baby said no, she was tryin to quit
Piggy was speechless for a couple of beats
When his jaw dropped open and he said... "shit"
Now Piggy and Baby had some swingin times
And though piggy was stupid,
Baby sure didn't mind
Baby said, "lets go straight to the stars"
And Piggy said
"huh? .... whatever"
Baby and Piggy took a walk in the park
It seems that Piggy was in kind of a fix
He owed seven bills to a couple of sharks
Who were gettin kind of itchy in their finger-tips
So they figured it was best to clear out for a while
Piggy had lots of friends, or so he would boast
And his little piggy habit was kind of out of control
So they packed up his Lincoln, and head for the coast
Baby started smokin again on the way
Piggy's little habit was making him sweat
So they stopped off in Vegas for a couple of days
To scam some cash up and make a few bets
They went and shacked up in a place on the strip
Piggy made some calls and Baby got sick
Baby turned to Piggy with a desperate plea
"c'mon Piggy, you know what we need"
But the problem, you see, was that they were broke as shit
So Piggy asked Baby if she'd turn a few tricks
She argued at first, but she finally agreed
With a couple of shiners, she hit the street
Now Piggy felt good, and piggy felt mean
And Piggy was high on his self esteem
So he pulled out his piece, in front of a cop
But the cop said "Fuck you" and Piggy got popped
The song “Piggies” by Oingo Boingo tells the story of a man called Piggy who meets a woman called Baby in a disco bar. Piggy is attracted to Baby, and they end up going back to his place. However, Baby is not impressed with Piggy's living conditions, and eventually, they leave for Vegas. They run into financial trouble and decide to rob a convenience store. When confronted by a cop, Piggy pulls out his gun and is arrested. The song is a cautionary tale of the dangers of excess and making bad decisions. Piggy's drug addiction and desire for fast money lead him to make questionable choices that ultimately lead to his downfall.
The opening lines of the song establish Piggy as the central character, and Baby as the woman who he meets that leads him on a dangerous path. The lyrics describe Piggy's physical appearance and his sexual attraction to Baby, which sets the tone for the rest of the song. Piggy's addiction to drugs is suggested when he asks Baby for a smoke, and his financial struggles are explained when Baby and Piggy decide to rob a convenience store.
The song's chorus, “Piggy went to market, piggy stayed home, piggy's gonna leave you, all alone,” is a nod to the children's rhyme “This Little Piggy.” However, instead of a playful game of counting toes, the song alludes to Piggy's desire to escape his current situation and leave his problems behind. The song's lyrics are dark, and the synthesisers and drums add to the overall sinister tone.
Line by Line Meaning
Piggy met baby in a disco bar
Piggy, a man, encountered Baby, a woman, in a nightclub
Baby said, what a cute little piggy you are
Baby complimented Piggy's appearance
When he took one look at her rocket tits, He smiled real wide and said "Baby, you're it"
Piggy was attracted to Baby's physique and expressed his interest in her
Piggy said baby won't you come with me, My little place is three steps away, Piggy gonna take us both to paradise, He said "Come on little baby, won't you please be nice"
Piggy invited Baby to go to his nearby home with the intention of engaging in sexual activity
So Piggy and Baby sauntered into his crib, Said, "here it is baby, this is where I live", Won't you take a load off, can I fix you a drink, Baby turned real slowly and said, "Piggy you stink"
Piggy showed Baby his residence and offered her a drink, but Baby commented on his unpleasant odor
Piggy said baby, do you have a smoke?, Baby said no, she was tryin to quit, Piggy was speechless for a couple of beats, When his jaw dropped open and he said... "shit"
Piggy asked Baby for a cigarette but she refused, leaving him disappointed
Now Piggy and Baby had some swingin times, And though piggy was stupid, Baby sure didn't mind, Baby said, "lets go straight to the stars", And Piggy said "huh? .... whatever"
Despite Piggy's lack of intelligence, Baby enjoyed their time together and suggested they aim high
Baby and Piggy took a walk in the park, It seems that Piggy was in kind of a fix, He owed seven bills to a couple of sharks, Who were gettin kind of itchy in their finger-tips
Baby and Piggy went to a park, but Piggy was in debt to dangerous people who were becoming impatient
So they figured it was best to clear out for a while, Piggy had lots of friends, or so he would boast, And his little piggy habit was kind of out of control, So they packed up his Lincoln, and head for the coast
To avoid trouble, Piggy and Baby decided to leave and go on a road trip since Piggy had a drug addiction and claimed to have connections
Baby started smokin again on the way, Piggy's little habit was making him sweat, So they stopped off in Vegas for a couple of days, To scam some cash up and make a few bets
Baby resumed smoking while Piggy's addiction made him anxious, so they visited Las Vegas to gamble and earn money
They went and shacked up in a place on the strip, Piggy made some calls and Baby got sick, Baby turned to Piggy with a desperate plea, "c'mon Piggy, you know what we need"
They rented a motel room on the Las Vegas Strip, but Baby became ill, so Piggy had to make arrangements. However, Baby urged him to get drugs
But the problem, you see, was that they were broke as shit, So Piggy asked Baby if she'd turn a few tricks, She argued at first, but she finally agreed, With a couple of shiners, she hit the street
Since they had no money, Piggy proposed that Baby prostitute herself, and after initial resistance, she eventually did
Now Piggy felt good, and piggy felt mean, And Piggy was high on his self esteem, So he pulled out his piece, in front of a cop, But the cop said "Fuck you" and Piggy got popped
Inflated with confidence and under the influence of drugs, Piggy brandished a weapon in front of a police officer, resulting in his arrest
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DANNY ELFMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Kino
on make it right
I believe this line says "If I have to, then I'll fight!"
Kino
on make it right
I believe this line says "I go where I'm not wanted"