Clocking in at barely over two minutes, Danny Elfman has released “Kick Me” today, a swift and pummelling new track with lyrics that simultaneously dismiss and seek approval from their audience. Directed by Petros Papahadjopoulos and featuring animation by Joe Pascale, the song’s new video features Elfman – utilising inverted photography in many amorphous shapes and colours – delivering the track’s frenzied lyrics directly into the camera.
WATCH VIDEO FOR WALLOPING NEW TRACK “KICK ME”
“A snarly, string-streaked rocker that sounds more like Queens Of The Stone Age than anyone could’ve expected.” – Stereogum on “Love In The Time Of Covid”
“Elfman has forged a lasting career on his singularly irreverent and offbeat compositions, and this one is no different.” – Rock Cellar Magazine on “Love In The Time Of Covid”
“I was feeling particularly mellow one day last summer. I decided to write this very chill song for everyone who wants to put something on that will really help them zone out and relax. Enjoy!” Elfman explains.
Papahadjopoulos said of “Kick Me”: “This video is a statement on image and, to me personally, a fulfillment of seeing a wild, raw performance from Danny Elfman after a lengthy hiatus from the stage.”
“Kick Me” features vocals, guitars and synths by Elfman, drums by Josh Freese (The Vandals, NIN, Devo), guitars by Warren Fitzgerald (The Vandals, The Offspring, Dweezil Zappa), bass by Stu Brooks (Dub Trio, Lady Gaga, 50 Cent), percussion by Sidney Hopson (LA Philharmonic), Joe Martone (Hollywood Chamber Orchestra) and strings by the Lyris Quartet (Kraftwerk, Ben Harper).
Photo Credit: Silvia Grav
Throughout this year Elfman will continue to release songs on the eleventh day of the month. The number 11 has always had significance to Elfman, with his name Elf meaning “eleven” in German.
Last month Elfman released “Love In The Time Of Covid”, a song that tells a bizarre story of longing for intimacy in today’s socially isolated world in a unique way. The song’s video features Scottish transgender performer Shrek 666 who wears extensive makeup and prosthetics. Elfman also appears in a few surprise cameos in the video. Directed by Sven Gutjahr, watch it HERE.
At the beginning of 2020 Elfman released “Sorry”. “The anger-fueled track pulls from industrial and prog-rock influences to create an uneasy atmosphere that’s made even more unnerving with a jarring video animated by Jesse Kanda,” said SPIN. Kanda (Arca, FKA Twigs, Bjork) originally created the video’s intricate animation as a visual backdrop for Elfman’s live performance of the song for the now postponed Coachella 2020. Watch it HERE.
A four-time Oscar nominee and Grammy winner, Elfman has scored over 100 films including: Milk (Oscar nominated), Good Will Hunting (Oscar nominated), Big Fish (Oscar nominated), Men in Black (Oscar nominated), Edward Scissorhands, Batman, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Spider-Man, Silver Lining’s Playbook and many more.
DANNY ELFMAN
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