Beetlejuice

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

Way back in '88, Elfman was the hot little composer of his time. Who can forget what, for instance Batman did for the crowd. And while we are at the subject of hand, darker movies didn't receive more proper scores then Danny Elfman's own trademark sound. Along with Scrooged, it was Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice that stirred the crowd with an insane if perfect fit of a soundtrack. As the time went by, Tim Burton realized the impossible and Danny Elfman was there to make it more the reasonable. The movie is one of those over absurd things that just works through the excellent acting (Michael Keaton at the top), the incredible special effects and just the right kind of mood. If all, 90% of that came trough Elfman's score. Applauded by most, accepted by some, difficult for me. It is true the fitting score, the downright perfect tone but the rude listening experience that jumps from one thing to another that makes me sea sick, and I never had any problems with that before! Of course, Beetlejuice can not become any zanier and wackier then this and in all the mayhem, Elfman has still some moments to think twice over. First of all, 'Main Titles' is one of the best openers of Elfman's career and has all what they adored in that time, a perfect development of a theme, a wacky beat and a Elfman magic that makes it all so good.

The second, which especially does it for the scene in the movie is 'The Incantation', a choral developed spiritual dead wave that weaves more interest then the pope's Christmas speech. But of course, as I've told it before the zany background may do wonders for the movie and the various scenes, I always found it difficult as pure listening material. Accepting it is one thing but enjoying it for the musical taste is another and that is Beetlejuice's main flaw. Though others might think different of it, it still leaves me a bit cold after each listen. You listen to it but you don't pick up the signals, those that make the experience worth it. Also worth mentioning is that both songs (by Harry Belafonte) are more of a relief then a pain, they are well placed and create of moment of easy. So at the end don't see me as the hater of Elfman or the soundtrack in general Beetlejuice but simply as someone that doesn't enjoy it as musical magic. Its the ongoing parade of weird tones after another that makes me go crazy, effective but crazy. So, people who still haven't tried a score out of Elfman (by the love of god, there are still people out there?), kidding, then Beetlejuice is one to recommend if you truly appreciate it in the context of the movie. Oh, and by the way that movie is insanely hilarious. Little heads placed upon massive bodies, a dead team of ball players who think they are still alive and a road kill factory worker that uses the rails as his transportation. Only Tim Burton does it with flair and Elfman uses that kind of mood well enough, to make the best out of the music and score. So a good Day-O to you to.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. Main Titles (2.28) Excellent Track

2. Travel Music (1.07)

3. The Book / Obituaries (1.29)

4. Enter... "The Family" / Sand Worm Planet (2.49)

5. The Fly (0.48)

6. Lydia Discovers? (0.56)

7. In The Model (1.32)

8. Juno's Theme (0.47)

9. Beetle-Snake (2.08)

10. "Sold" (0.33)

11. The Flier / Lydia's Pep Talk (1.22)

12. Day-O: Harry Belafonte (3.04)

13. The Incantation (3.12)

14. Lydia Strikes A Bargain... (0.50)

15. ShowTime (1.07)

16. "Laughs" (2.32)

17. The Wedding (2.02)

18. The Aftermath (1.21)

19. End Credits (2.48)

20. Jump In Line (Shake, Shake Senora): Harry Belafonte (3.43)

Total Length: 37.00

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=== Link to Composer Site: Danny Elfman ===