They say that supply and demand is the most important law of economics, so if there is a bombardment of Christmas movies every year around this season, there must be a demand for them? I'm talking about all the movies about Santa, his reindeers and elves, sappy family movies with uplifting messages, and the odd romantic comedies - because when are you going to find true love if not in Christmas, the "miracle season?" I mean seriously, why are people still making those movies if they're all going to be the same? Then, in 1993, came a Christmas movie that was completely different than any other: funny, weird, bitter-sweet, macabre, and... Halloweeny. Walt Disney Pictures was involved but made sure their name and logo was nowhere to be seen. The idea was conceived by the brain behind the best modern Gothic fairytales: Tim Burton. His aesthetic permeates the whole project even if the actual direction of the painstakingly realized stop-motion animation belongs to Henry Selick. The film became a cult hit whose fame kept growing while, lo and behold, was later proudly re-released by Disney under their own name - as one can also see on the cover of the vinyl soundtrack here.
The music is, of course, written by Burton's permanent collaborator Danny Elfman, who was then still active as a member of pop band Oingo Boingo and not yet a full-time film score composer. Here, he not only writes the melodies but also sings the parts of the main protagonist Jack Skellington and writes the lyrics which are integral to the plot as they either recount was is happening onscreen or propel the story further. So, to make sense of the songs it is necessary to let you in on what is happening in the movie when the songs are playing: the album begins with an orchestral "overture" offering samples of the film's main themes. The narrator (actor Patrick Stewart) then explains the film's basic premise: for every holiday there is a different group of creatures living in the respective city, spending a whole year planning and executing that holiday down its last detail ("Opening"). The action then shifts to Halloweentown and its spooky residents introducing themselves in upbeat musical number "This Is Halloween". After that comes "Jack's Lament" in which the town hero both celebrates his ability to terrify and confides his yearning for something different ...which he finds in Christmastown. "What's This?" is a happy number filled with Jack's excitement and amazement at the strange things happening at Christmas (Presents! Singing! Laughter!). He shares his finding with the other Halloweeners ("Town Meeting Song") and finally hatches the plan to organize Christmas himself ("Jack's Obsession"). Cue the snappy "Kidnap Santa Claus" where the Halloween kids fantasize about the terrible fate that will befall Santa. In the New Orleans blues-like "Oogie Boogie Song" Santa is the prisoner of a deep voiced boogeyman, while "Making Christmas" is sung by the citizens of Halloween town as they are mangling the holiday by giving its familiar trappings their own nightmarish twist. "Sally's Song" is the closest we get to the obligatory love ballad. It gives voice to Sally, a ragdoll who loves Jack and who is imprisoned by her creator/evil scientist. Another Elfman-sung number is "Poor Jack" where Jack realizes his mistake and goes to Santa's rescue, saving Christmas just in the nick of time. "Finale" sees the two communities reconciliate and Halloween citizens watching their first snow falling, the music mixing the themes of both "This is Halloween" and "What's This". The narrator returns on "Closing" and the album ends with "End Title" reprising some of the themes we heard earlier. Like all the instrumental passages, it alternates dark and light, tension and calm. This is one of those cases where film and music complement each other perfectly so that the one makes the other seem even better. But even without watching the film, the music is captivating, and the songs are wondrously quirky but utterly hummable, resulting in one of the greatest musicals since the genre's glory days of the 60's. It's hard to understand why neither film nor musical score won an Oscar, in contrast to other Disney movies. Or maybe it is a testament of Burton's peculiar talent, to make a Christmas movie for kids that nevertheless was too dark for both Disney and the Hollywood Academy. Though not for the public, which embraced the movie, rendering it a classic and justifying a 3D re-release, a rock covers album, and, finally, collectible vinyl releases - the latest being this, in striking "pumpkin orange" vinyl. Beautiful edition, though not one for the hi-fi lovers: the volume is rather low, and my brand new copy played with some pops and clicks - not really bad, but a shame considering it costs more than 30€ in the shops. Worth adding to one's collection anyway.
***** for This Is Halloween, Jack's Lament, What's This?, Kidnap The Sandy Claws, Making Christmas, Oogie Boogie's Song,
**** for Town Meeting Song, Jack's Obsession, Sally's Song, Poor Jack, Finale/Reprise, End Title
*** for Overture, Opening, Doctor Finkelstein/In The Forest, Jack And Sally Montage, Nabbed, Christmas Eve Montage, To The Rescue, Closing
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