The Oingo Boingo Experience | Adam's Den

[@Flumptoe]

My favorite band on Earth. Good For Your Soul was the first album I heard, and is still my favorite album ever. It is the most experimental and versatile of Boingo’s discography. Big Mess sounds like a continuation of where Oingo Boingo ended.

[@bearvarine]

I completely ignored Oingo Boingo in the 80s and 90s, while simultaneously delighting in themes from Pee Wee's Big Adventure, Beetlejuice, and many other Tim Burton films. Now, I finally recognize the genius of Danny Elfman during those early years, and the awesomeness of his band members. Truly an amazing, unique, awesome band. Danny Elfman will be remembered as one of the most creative musical geniuses of the 20th century, without doubt.

[@jaysonb.6669]

Danny Elfman either built a time machine, discovered the fountain of youth in the Amazon Rainforest or is a vampire lol. One person cannot have that depth of musical talent, charisma & creativity. Not including the ability to put such amazing musicians around O.B. without the band imploding. Mind boggling. I think composing film soundtracks actually deprived of us his musical genius. Even if he records until 100, we're still going to miss out on brilliant material.

[@astropoint5640]

Oingo Boingo is by far my favourite band of all, and this is one of the best videos i've ever watched on them!! this is such a well put together video, i hope to see more :)

[@theadamsden]

Thanks so much! That makes my day.

[@barbarabunda6579]

I couldn’t agree more!

[@theadamsden]

@@barbarabunda6579 Thank you very much Barbara!

[@loosescrewentertainment9367]

My favorite artist oat, the fact that they are so slept on is insane

[@theadamsden]

True! Amazing how so many 80s movies and music lovers have never heard of Boingo.

[@1PhingerSalute]

The best ever! Saw them live almost every year somewhere in Southern California at Halloween and New Year’s. They were my favorite from the minute I first heard them and saw them play. The most underrated band of all time. The best live show and always sounded live as they did on their albums. They knew how to perform and entertain. They will always be my #1. Grey Matter was a shot at their record label who wanted them to be more “pop” but they said their fans were smarter than the label gave them credit for.

[@1PhingerSalute]

The Danny Elfman Solo album was actually the entire band playing on all the songs but it was released as Elfman’s “Solo” album due to a contractual obligation for him to release a solo album. It’s still all Oingo Boingo.

[@theadamsden]

@@1PhingerSalute Thank you for all that - and how right they were to trust their fans were smarter than the label thought they were. Proof is in the 40 year-old pudding where the cult following they left behind is still going strong into the 21st century. The 80s (and 90s) were such a unique and amazing decade to live through, and the Boingo embodies so much of that spirit. Sadly, I was never able to see them live but that has little to no bearing on how much I love and admire all of their work - clearly. Glad to have you at the Den - enjoy 😎

[@BruceWalther-s2l]

Thanks to Adam's Den. Great compilation. I'm not the only one to mention the 3 different venues for the song Grey Matter is impressively synchronized. Tight Band. Great editing. Oingo Boingo is so entertaining. You can see the pure 'hopping' and dancing fun in the crowd I'm in my mid-50's and it was next to impossible not to chair dance (at the least).

[@theadamsden]

Thank you for watching and for your words. I had a lot of fun putting this together, I guess you can tell. Synchronizing all the live performances with the album version was a cool challenge. And I don't blame you, I was still chair dancing one month into the editing.

[@johnnygonzales1590]

GOOD OL' J O H N N Y 🥁 V A T O S 👍 !

[@lhair02]

Stay became their biggest hit in australia in 1986 (13 in my local town's station 3GL) and surprise surprise had insane luck with the charts in 1985-1987 love these guys and would be honoured if Oingo boingo former members toured australia

[@theadamsden]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed the video. Would loved to see them in concert too.

[@andchi2000]

I remember when I discovered Oingo Boingo some 16 years ago. Heard "Little Girls" and thought that there is no way this band is serious. Oh boy, was I wrong and oh did that make me happy. Such a great band.

[@zoonatoona]

i love how when you showed the performances of grey matter, who do you want to be, etc that you showed multiple shows, it's fun to see them all in sync :] i loved this video and learned a bit from it i'm a huge boingo fan

[@theadamsden]

That's awesome, thank you! Loved editing it.

[@Worthless-t8x]

I"ve been listening to Boingo since I was 16 in 1984 and I'm still discovering things I never realized about Elfman and his creations. He's some kind of eternal musical imp

[@theadamsden]

@@Worthless-t8x So very true. Granted, information wasn't that easy to come by back then but, still, the richness of his life is clearly a result of a uniquely gifted mind and tremendous dedication to the craft. Thanks for watching! 😎

[@Worthless-t8x]

@@theadamsden No, thank you for sharing this.

[@ericsemaza6986]

And then came on to produce The Simpsons and Beetlejuice Plus 90 other music soundtracks including Edwards scissorhand

[@ericsemaza6986]

Well I love the Smoky

[@ericsemaza6986]

Ernest Mills and Louis Armstrong

[@jerrylukas8333]

Have to agree with a lot of others that this is a great video. Had the pieasure of seeing them a few times late 80's and early 90's and once more with Danny's solo tour here in 2024. Spectacular performances, all of them. This was a great trip down memory lane. Thanks for all your effort.

[@theadamsden]

@@jerrylukas8333 Thanks Jerry, those concerts must've been awesome, I'm sure. Thank you for watching!

[@gmailacct9810]

Saw them at the Concord pavillion in CA. Best show ever. Will always be one of my favorite bands. Thanks for putting this together. Dont forget, No Spill Blood and Pedestrian wolves. Elfman definitely underrated in my book

[@theadamsden]

Awesome - thanks for that, and for watching! Welcome to the Den 😎

[@theadamsden]

P.S. Forgot to mention: those are two great tracks you mentioned there! Especially Pedestrian Wolves. And even though Danny is a celebrated film composer, I am with you there when it comes to his contribution to and influence on both pop culture and film scores: still underrated.

[@marcfoxx1585]

Had the incredible luck of moving to Southern California in the early 80’s and became exposed to their music earlier than I would have otherwise…first time I saw them live was at the Greek Theater in November of 85…saw them many times at the Open Air Theater at SDSU, once at the San Diego Sports Arena and the last time I saw them was at the Academy in New York City in 1994…glad the algorithm directed me to your video, hope you get lots of views

[@theadamsden]

Thanks for that, Marc! Awesome life story with the Boingo. Never saw them live, unfortunately, but they're often live in my soul. This video took me over a month to put together from research to export (work a few different jobs) and was still rocking to it at the very end.

[@joewilliamson2011]

on the So-Lo album, the song Gratitude also appears on the soundtrack for Beverly Hills Cop

[@theadamsden]

Indeed it does! How the heck did I miss that? I love Beverly Hills Cop. Thanks for that 👍🏼

[@joewilliamson2011]

@@theadamsden and i also noticed in the album Dark at The End of the Tunnel, the last song, Try to believe was also in the end credits of Midnight Run, which Danny also did the music for....i believe it credited on the soundtrack to someone else, but it's Danny.

[@theadamsden]

@@joewilliamson2011 Awesome!

[@fivepindin]

Just logged in to make sure this was pointed out. Good spot!

[@annettelouise6781]

Gosh back in the 70's they had same energy as Split Enz (whom I adored). I wonder if those 2 bands knew of each other at the time. Loved this doco, thank you!!

[@theadamsden]

Thanks so much! Love hearing about new bands, will check out Split Enz.

[@EctoTripp]

THIS IS AN INCREDIBLY WELL MADE VIDEO!! DEFINENTLY DESERVES A LOT MORE SUPPORT!! Danny Elfman is beyond a musical genius. There are so many boingo song features in many more movies but thats just becuase oingo boingo is so legendary underrated... One more is "Home Again" from Boi-Ngo is featured in a movie you probably have NEVER heard of called Home Alone 3... 😅

[@theadamsden]

Thank you so much, EctoTripp! You're absolutely right, I could've made a 20 hour video talking about all the movies that feature Oingo Boingo's music. Glad you enjoyed it!

[@jeffdahlman8581]

Adam, You have done SUCH an incredible job with this. Was lucky enough to have been exposed in Oct. of '83 in PDX- and has shaped me ever since - I am always so blown away at his every step of Brillance as time goes by...Thankyou for putting this gem together !

[@theadamsden]

Thanks so much! Makes my day to know Boingo fans enjoy the video. Thank you for your words - and for watching!

[@Nyx.corvus]

This video is one of the most enjoyable and well put together I’ve ever watched about any of my favorite bands, although I’m pretty biased now that Oingo Boingo’s my favorite one of all time haha, thank you so much for this 🧡 I’ll defo be rewatching it at least once lol

[@theadamsden]

@@Nyx.corvus Thank you! It was certainly one of the most enjoyable videos I've ever worked on, I was still dancing in my chair a month into it. Thanks for watching - and rewatching 😎

[@kgcorrie]

Thanks for clarifying that alleged comment about Danny Elfman’s embarrassment of his Boingo history. I’d read that and it made me sad. Saw them live only once but what an experience!

[@theadamsden]

@@kgcorrie Thanks! Finally, someone mentioned that. Yeah, I strove to do a little public service for Boingo fans with that one. Glad to see it paid off. Thanks for watching and welcome to the Den 😎

[@daphnegold1052]

I have always loved Danny Elfman.❤ Thank you for this beautiful video.🩷

[@theadamsden]

@@daphnegold1052 Thank you for your wonderful comment, and for watching!

[@Shockster789]

Cool City from the So-Lo album is in Cool World the movie in 1992.

[@theadamsden]

@@Shockster789 Good find. Welcome to the Den!

[@amittaizero]

The "embarrassment" nonsense was frustrating the hell out of me. Thanks for addressing it.

[@theadamsden]

@@amittaizero You and me both. My pleasure, thanks for watching!

[@DanBarrowMusic]

I’m loving watching this, but just an observation: three live performances of Grey Matter, all perfectly visually in sync with the studio recording!!! Witchcraft!!

[@theadamsden]

@@DanBarrowMusic Thanks Dan! Yeah, I synched all live performances with the studio recording except for Insanity. The triples were a challenge to pull off but totally worth the trouble - especially with comments like yours😎 Glad you're enjoying it, thank you for watching!

[@DanBarrowMusic]

@@theadamsden Did you have to time shift them much? I can't imagine they were using onstage clicks back then.

[@theadamsden]

@@DanBarrowMusic Indeed I did, with all of them, sometimes to the centesimal or millesimal percentage point for accuracy, and then some surgical cutting frame by frame. To Boingo's credit, though, their skill and consistency made things a lot easier.

[@stevejaspar9872]

Great video, thanks! I love Grey Matter too - it was always awesome to watch Danny and John Avila bang on the balafons. Also, the choreography of Steve Bartek, Danny, and John during Dead Man's Party was lots of fun.

[@theadamsden]

I hear you, Dead Man's Party is very addictive. Thanks for watching!

[@swolf1625]

Having been a fan in the 80s (before youtube) I never realized how much Avila was such a huge part of the show. I really enjoy watching these old videos now.

[@diadexxus]

Really good video with history of OB and Danny!

[@theadamsden]

@@diadexxus Thanks, glad you had fun! Thanks for watching 😎

[@NonEntityDan]

Not much to say about Boi-ngo, huh? There are quite a few gems there. "Elevator Man" is an overlooked banger despite its corny aspects

[@theadamsden]

Truly good track there, "Elevator Man" is pretty groovy. From Boi-ngo, "Home Again" and "Not My Slave" are my jams. "Where Do All My Friends Go" is up there too... I could've made a several-hours-long video on Boingo with all sorts of different approaches. Hope you enjoyed this one, thanks for watching 😎

[@CodeBleu724]

​@theadamsden Not My Slave and My Life should have been massive radio hits.

[@brianruppert6146]

Awesome Oingo Boingo retrospective man... Incredible!!

[@theadamsden]

@@brianruppert6146 Thanks, man, I loved making it. Thanks for watching!

[@musicminute2004]

I love this video and I love Oingo Boingo. Thank you very much Adam

[@theadamsden]

Thank you! I had a lot of fun making this video. Love to see so many fans enjoying it.

[@Guy_69]

Awesome vid man, i started listening to boingo 4 years ago and now it cant pass a day without them on my ears my favorite track of al time is little girls!

[@theadamsden]

Thank you! I hope this Experience helped fuel your love for Boingo even more.

[@dougnoel3745]

I saw rem open for oingo boingo in 84

[@DylanWhitesChannel]

Great introspective. But HOW did you skip over the Boingo Alive double “live studio” album?!?!

[@theadamsden]

Ahah yeah, I know. I could've gone about this a number of ways but chose the one that introduced audiences to their start, evolution, and connection to movies and pop culture. You're right though, Alive is great. Thanks, glad you enjoyed the experience!

[@justdrums8273]

Awesome video! I had so much fun!!

[@theadamsden]

Thanks so much!

[@eancurtis9333]

Legends !!!

[@theadamsden]

@@eancurtis9333 That they are! Thanks for watching.

[@lucianoveiga9128]

My favourite band of the 80's with no doubt!! They made success here in Brazil with the song "Stay" due to had on the music list of a brazilian soup opera on TV. They appear in Rio de Janeiro City to perfom a great concert... By the way next November they will again here (unfortunately without Danny Elfman) with the former members!!! It will be amazing again!

[@theadamsden]

@@lucianoveiga9128 That is awesome! Hope you get to see them, I'm sure it'll be memorable. Obrigado por ter assistido a meu vídeo, fica numa boa, Luciano 😎

[@SignsofAmusement]

Great video.. thanks for making this!

[@theadamsden]

Thank you for watching!

[@st9211]

Goodbye Goodbye preceded Fast Times by a few years. It was played live by MKOTOB and there are a couple early studio demo versions.

[@theadamsden]

@@st9211 Very true. The Fast Times version was an adaptation for the movie, and the soundtrack for Fast Times was the only album that featured it (as far as I'm aware). Thanks for watching!

[@FarOutJunk]

It's also on Boingo Alive, which is a studio album.

[@theadamsden]

@@FarOutJunk Right you are! I keep forgetting about Alive, in my mind it's more of a live album than a studio album, but it is indeed a studio album and I stand corrected 😎 Thanks for watching!

[@BlakesPipes]

Great video. Well put together and shows that you did your homework or you too are a big fan. Looking forward to see more from you

[@theadamsden]

@@BlakesPipes Thanks! The answer is: right on both counts. I'm a big fan and I still had to do a lot of homework for this. I'm already working on the next one, just takes time to accomplish while juggling multiple jobs. Looking forward to show it to you.

[@arh3733]

I saw the Mystic Knights at the Westwood Playhouse in 1975. I was curious about these guys who would march around UCLA beating on drums, and the show no shit really tweaked my mind. I had no idea such ecletic dadaistic music and performance existed. The gamelan percussion with masked players on various elevated levels with dry ice flowing mixed with the rock the and the Cab Calloway music plus the zaniness of Chedderania... WOW!

[@theadamsden]

@@arh3733 Must of been mindblowing, I can only imagine! The gamelan caught me off guard like I mention in the video but it truly enriches the percussion. Goes to show how eclecticism and creativity can produce something out-of-the-box and still engaging. Thanks for watching, hope it brought back some good memories and cool vibes.

[@sinosemite]

Wasn't "Graditude" in Beverly Hills Cop?

[@theadamsden]

Indeed it was. Thanks for watching!

[@waltwright84]

Maybe I missed something, but wasn't their last album Boingo in 1994 and not Dark At The End Of The Tunnel in 1990?

[@theadamsden]

​@@waltwright84 Right you are, Walt 😎 That's the chronology in the video as well (at 42:00 and 45:50). Thanks for watching!

[@swolf1625]

Boi-ngo was the last album I remember, but for some reason I completely missed "At The End of the Tunnel" despite being a big fan. Things were different in the pre-internet days, though, and if your parents didn't take you to the record store it was possible to completely miss an album.

[@waltwright84]

@@swolf1625 Oh, for sure. "Dark At The End Of The Tunnel" is my favorite Oingo Boingo album, but their discography is pretty outstanding overall. I thought the preceding "Boi-ngo" album was their last one in that middle-period style, whereas "DATEOTT" was their most (and I cringe to use the word) mature album. The next and last album, "Boingo", I didn't care for at all and have never been able to like despite repeated listens. I get that Elfman was going for something very different, but it just didn't work for me. YMMV

[@jimmyramone7396]

My L.A. homeboys 💜💛

[@ericpanissidi6761]

73 punk not quite there, disco big, glam rock made fun by disco guys. Hippies almost gone.i would have frowned and said, are they mimes" in high school 83 i was a huge boingo fan.

[@theadamsden]

Ahah fun times. Timing is everything, and the 80s were the perfect time for the Boingo spirit. Cool little story. And thank you for watching! 😎

[@Worthless-t8x]

OK, Nasty/Beetlejuice kind of blew my mind.

[@theadamsden]

@@Worthless-t8x Oh boy, was that fun to put together. It's a great way to show how much of the film composer Elfman was already present in the Boingo Elfman. Awesome, glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching! 😎

[@Worthless-t8x]

@@theadamsden Your whole video was awesome and it should be required viewing in order to understand the Elfman phenomena.

[@theadamsden]

@@Worthless-t8x That makes my day, good sir.

[@ericpanissidi6761]

No one lives forever chainsaw 2 was perfect

[@theadamsden]

Fun patchwork of thrills, there. Thank you for watching, glad you enjoyed the ride 😎

[@BlakesPipes]

187 sub!

[@theadamsden]

@@BlakesPipes Welcome! Feel free to visit the official Den, made it myself so it's far from perfect but it's a nice little gathering place: adamsden.webflow.io

[@oregonhighroller5178]

Best band of all time

[@theadamsden]

Awesome, thanks for watching!

[@clarkunglued580]

I was lucky enough to see Boingo live in 1991. If I could only choose one concert to reattend from my past, that would be the one. The whole place just crackled with raw energy when they played.

[@theadamsden]

@@clarkunglued580 I can only imagine the raw awesomeness. Thanks for watching!