It’s 36 years since Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice first lit up cinema screens, swiftly becoming a cult classic thanks to its madcap mix of comedy and horror.
So it must be some sort of record, then, that the director has waited this long to deliver a sequel, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, which features returning cast members Michael Keaton, Catherine O’Hara and Winona Ryder, not to mention composer Danny Elfman.
What is Danny Elfman’s music for the original Beetlejuice like?
Elfman’s second feature film score for Tim Burton was really unlike anything heard before it. His first , for Burton’s Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure, tipped its hat to two of Elfman’s favourite composers, Nino Rota and Bernard Herrmann.
Beetlejuice has some of the rhythmic energy of Rota, but it’s a sound all Elfman’s own. The original score features a relatively small orchestral ensemble of brass, strings, harp and percussion, originally conducted by William Ross.
The ‘Main Titles’ begin with a hint of Harry Belafonte’s classic song, ‘Day-O’ (which makes a full and very memorable appearance later in the film) and turn into a wild romp, a musical cavalcade if you will.
There’s wholesome, perky string music for the Maitlands (Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis), the couple who find themselves ‘recently deceased’ and quirky music for the afterlife featuring solo violin and hand percussion. From there it’s aheady mix of comical, lightly horrific scoring for the ensemble with blasts of pipe organ, flaring brass and the return of Elfman’s romping main quasi-quick march theme, all as the newly-dead Maitlands attempt to rid their house of its new living occupants, the Deetz family.
What music is in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice?
The new film has far more songs in it, with Jimmy Webb’s ‘MacArthur Park’ used in two versions by Richard Harris and Donna Summer. The use of the Harris version is particularly memorable! ‘Tragedy’ by the Bee Gees makes an appearance, too, as do tracks by Richard Marx (‘Right Here Waiting’) and Sigur Rós (Svefn-g-englar). Horror fans will be amused by the use of Pino Donaggio’s main theme from the film Carrie, too.
Harry Belafonte’s ‘Day-O’ makes a return appearance for a significant graveside scene, but in the guise of an a cappella children’s choir with lead solo vocal from Alfie Davis. The young singer is joined by the Sylvia Young Theatre School Choir for the performance.
What is Danny Elfman's music for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice like?
Danny Elfman brings back his wild main title theme, adding a few more bells, whistles and vocal elements – huffing male voices and plenty more eerie women’s voices. He also explores the theme a little more, taking it to some interesting new places. On the whole, though, it’s the Beetlejuice theme we know and love – which is just as it should be.
Elfman also makes heavy use of pipe organ, with touches of chimes/tubular bells for certain accents and there’s a fabulous return of his solo violin music for the afterlife (replete with hand percussion). In fact it's in the afterlife/Beetlejuice character scenes where the majority of the more familiar music is used. New shades and thematic material features for the characters in the real world, particularly for Astrid (Jenna Ortega).
There’s a more expansive feel and a polish to the new music, which isn’t surprising given how recording quality has improved, not to mention the fact that Elfman has 36 years more experience in orchestral and film music.
What films has Danny Elfman scored for Tim Burton?
Burton and Elfman have enjoyed (and occasionally endured) an almost-40-year collaboration. The director sought ought the composer to write the music for his first feature film, Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure in 1985. That was followed by Beetlejuice (1988), Batman (1989), Edward Scissorhands (1990), Batman Returns(1992), The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993, not directed by Burton, but written and produced by him), Mars Attacks! (1996), Sleepy Hollow (1999), Planet of the Apes (2001), Big Fish (2003), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005), Corpse Bride (2005), Alice in Wonderland (2010), Dark Shadows (2012), Frankenweenie (2012), Big Eyes (2016), Wednesday (2022-present, main title theme).
What Tim Burton films did Danny Elfman not write the music for?
Only two of Burton’s feature films have music by other composers. Howard Shore scored 1994’s Ed Woodand Matthew Margeson and Mike Higham scored 2016’s Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children.
Where can I hear the soundtrack for Beetlejuice Beetluejuice?
The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is out on 6 September from Watertower Music, available to stream wherever you enjoy your music. It features all the songs in the film and Danny Elfman’s ‘Main Title Theme’ and ‘End Titles’. It’s highly likely an album of just Elfman’s music will follow.
Image: Warner Bros Pictures
