Establishing the mood with a rising, haunting synthscape featuring atmospheric vocal textures, wailing astral harmonies, and a brooding, cinematic organ, Monster’s Halloween Party opens Sally’s Song (originally by Danny Elfman from Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas) with drama and the lyrics, “I sense there’s something in the wind that feels like tragedy’s at hand…”
The opus, performed by Jennifer Marfíl Delgado, evolves into the famous tale of a diva who senses tragedy is approaching and worries about the fate of someone she deeply cares about. She also shares how she struggles with unrequited love, and realizes that despite her feelings and hopes, she will likely never be the person her friend falls in love with.
Speaking on the message of the release, producer Vidura Barrios, who we previously featured for Om Namo Bhagavate Rudraya confesses, “There’s something so special about the music of The Nightmare Before Christmas. Danny Elfman created this extraordinary musical world that is strange, beautiful, playful, and deeply emotional. Sally’s Song has always been one of my favourites, and I wanted to create something that honoured the original while bringing our own musical personality to it. Jennifer’s voice is absolutely beautiful, and I’m so happy with how the recording came together.”
This time around, the arrangement features cello by Min-Hyun Park, oboe by Misako Takata, viola by Matthew Caycedo, and drums by Vidura Barrios. We learn that Monster’s Halloween Party have been creating music since 2008, and this release celebrates their 18th anniversary. Producer Vidura Barrios and Kento Tachibana bring a cinematic sensibility to the project, and Jennifer’s experience as a former Columbia Records recording artist and international touring vocalist with Dark Latin Groove adds further depth to the performance.
Of course, this version of Sally’s Song Corpse Bride, Edward Scissorhands, Sleepy Hollow, Crimson Peak, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice and The Shape of Water. On television, it could work beautifully in Wednesday, The Haunting of Hill House, Penny Dreadful, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina or American Horror Story.
This is a beautifully crafted interpretation that honours Danny Elfman’s original whilst giving it a fresh, atmospheric identity. We have added Sally’s Song to our New Music Spotlight playlist and our TRIPPY playlist, whilst we continue to stream the wider discography of Monster’s Halloween Party, including Carmina Burana Remix, This Is Halloween, and Tubular Bells Remix.