Day 61: Oingo Boingo - Dead Man’s Party

Album cover courtesy of MCA Records

Happy Halloween! And also happy Samhain to all of those who celebrate. I was once at a reiki session and the man asked me about October 31st, I said something about Halloween, he said “What? No. It’s Samhain” So that’s a mistake one only makes once, happy Samhain to all of my pagan/Celtic readership! Please invite me to your forest rituals, I promise I’m nice.

Aside from that, today is also time for another annual event. I don’t know why this is one specific piece of information that never sticks in my brain. Every year I go, “Danny Elfman is in Oingo Boingo!?” Then I remember that I have also learned that before. For some reason, it’s just not a piece of information that sticks. Maybe it would if I listened to more Oingo Boingo. In honour of all of today’s celebrations, today’s album is Oingo Boingo’s 1985 release Dead Man’s Party.

I had it on while I was getting ready for the nights activities, and it was perfect background music for that. It definitely falls on the fun-spooky axel I was talking about yesterday, it feels like something that should be playing in the background of some fun ‘80s spook film, something fun and not scary like Lost Boys. But no surprises there, it’s Danny Elfman, spooky film composer extraordinaire. He’s composed the scores to films like Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands and the Nightmare Before Christmas. Apparently also Weird Science. Didn’t know that, I was surprised to hear it on the album. A fun film to enjoy in your youth, but probably doesn’t pass the sniff test as an adult.

It’s good, I like it, it’s fun and perfect for spooky festivities. I will also listen to this next Halloween. There won’t be any more analysis available from me today, as I need to head out to beg for ritual invites from witches. Just kidding, I won’t beg, I’ll be standing near them dressed as a witch and looking desperate. 8/10.