Through a Saint, that looks over me, I received a tape. An audio tape. I slipped it in my magical cassette deck and out poured demo versions of the songs from what was once going to be Danny Elfman's feature directing kickoff. (he did do Forbidden Zone a long time ago and it's still a cult fave of mine) but this was to be his major film debut. I had nearly forgotten about this film. And here I was listening to the beautiful music from that film. While it does call up memories of Nightmare Before Christmas, and I can't help but see those fantastic Henry Selick animated Tim Burton designed characters running around in that style world, I am haunted by memories that LITTLE DEMONS (That is the name of the project) was to be Live Action. What is up with this project, anybody know? What's the latest, I'm dying to hear. Below is my review of the tracks I listened to.
1.The first song is delivered from what I will learn is the Greek Chorus of the film, the tellers of the tale. They have a mischeivious sound to them, as if they are delighted about what they are singing. Sounds like N.B.C. (Nightmare Before Christmas) music.
Here is how it ends, with at least three people singing the following:
"Is a newborn always pure
or can it begin from a darker place.
Li tle DEmons"
2 Score. Very interesting, typical Elfman deep sounds and interesting instruments. And repeating of Leit Motifs, specifically the "Little Demons" music. Takes you to a world of Darkness. Dances about this world as if a camera is swooping about, ghostlike, observing while unseen the activities and/or possible gathering of what we can only assume are Little Demons.
3. here is the 2nd installment of the greek nightmarish chorus. Observing and telling our story. Something is obviously going on in the "score" sequence and that creates even more evil glee in the tones of the chorus as they wrap up with:
" we shall see what we shall see."
4. "Come Along".
Begins with the title words repeated constantly in a bouncy almost teasing way. Then you have parts of different kids suggesting various things. Sounds like a "recruiting" song, searching for a child with a mischeivious world. Has a bit of that Cab Calloway big swing/blues band sound.
Bit swing-y kids corrupting other children to do evil things, showing them there secret places, something about a magic wagon. Very Catchy, I love this. Remember the coachman getting kids to go to Pleasure Isle? Conjures that same feeling, like kids hopping a ride to some secret kid place, where surely something has something to hide.
5. Can it be our little angels will become something else. 3rd installment of the chorus. These chorus pieces frame the other songs very well.
6. "The Cat Is Dead." Bouncy child theme,
"We chopped it into little bits and seasoned him with apple bits"
Funny as hell theme. about killing the cat and eating it. A siamese cat specifically. The kids are sick as hell of the cat, and plot to kill it with strychnine covered with seasoning. Then making kitty pie, and I think they are attempting to kill their visiting relatives. heh heh heh. Cooooooooool. The concept of killing the stupid kitty fills me with sadistic glee, and almost moves me to going outside and catching one and torturing it to death.
7.Dance Upon My Grave
"Hear me now, before I depaart"...
..."Soon you can meet, and dance upon my graaaave"...
..."Gather together and dance upon my grrrravvvvveee"....
..."Drink of my pain, YOU can ALL quench you're thirst."...
Elfman sings this very solemn tome of . A very disturbing lyrical piece that is immensely cool. A perfect all hallows eve song. This song is a very "Bass-timbre-ed" song. And for now there is a squeeze box background music, very haunting!
8. Reminiscent of Sally's street song. There is a haunting accordion in the background. A scary sweet girl's voice (picture Patty McCormick aka "The Bad Seed"), quite beautiful, singing about her dead mother. Almost brings me to tears, I dearly love this piece. Possibly called "Oh mother dear"
"Oh Mother Dear,
Can you hear us
We hate to disturb
Your unearthly ressst"
Sounds like lost children in search for guidance.
9. The mother's response? "Little Angels"
Angelic adult female voice. A reassuring song of a higher being looking down and observing the events of the world below. Or possibly a sweet angel of a human that takes them in, picture Lillian Gish singing "Lean on Jesus, Lean on Jesus..." in Night of The Hunter and rocking back and forth in her rocking chair with a shotgun in her lap.
10. The wrapping up song. The final chorus, wrapping up the film. Once again very spooky.
