[Like the recent Burton blockbuster] Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, ... Corpse Bride. |
And the alcoholic bastard waved his finger at me, His voice was filled with evangelical glee, Sipping down his gin and tonics, While preaching about the evils of narcotics, And the evils of sex, and the wages of sin, While he mentally fondles his nex |
At the end of the day, Tim said, 'Look, can you just do this vocal?' I did not write it for myself, but did in the end, do it because Tim wanted me to, ... It was a fun part. |
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. |
For me, writing something in the spirit of Halloween is like Mother Teresa writing on charity and sacrifice. It's just second nature to me. |
He looks like Sammy Davis Jr. -- but he's a skeleton, |
I coached her through her singing debut, and she did great, ... And, she sings with a spider and worm. |
I really didn't intend to sing it, ... It happened like it did with the songs from 'Charlie' and 'Nightmare.' I always cut the songs myself doing all the voices. In 'Charlie,' I didn't count on doing all of them but it just worked out that way. |
I try to keep myself as blank and as unprepared as possible until that moment, ... I have to get my head into his head because it's not strictly about my own tastes and instincts. It's a collaboration. |
I'll do it very quickly and spontaneously. I expect that it will be slightly strange and bizarre, but catchy at the same time. |
It was a ragtag street ensemble, ... Literally, we'd pass the hat. I learned how to breathe fire. I learned to play the trombone. I was a street musician for years. |
It was a very sweet deal, ... But not for us. For them. |
It was very schizophrenic, |
It's convenient in a way, because you don't have to answer many questions: People say, 'Man, how are you feeling?' And I say, 'How do I look?' And they go, 'Oh, okay.' I've got the coffin maker calling every now and then about measurements, wanting to give me a proper fit. |
Like 'The Nightmare Before Christmas,' writing songs for 'Corpse Bride' was a real treat. Tim's visuals make the perfect complement for the kind of stuff I love doing most. These wonderfully fun, dark, offbeat tales are the perfect platform for me to write odd, slightly twisted, obscure styles such as my favorite musical era... 1930s jazz. I only hope we get to do more in the future |