The musicality, the metric quality, it all goes back to Dr. Seuss.
It was Illuminations dedication to Seuss original story and whimsy that convinced Elfman to hop on board.
Elfman says he wasnt actually familiar with the Whoville Welcome Christmas song before working onThe Grinch.
Credit: Illumination and Universal Pictures; Inset: ANGELA WEISS/AFP/Getty Images
Im definitely a Halloween kid, he says.
Christmas was one of the things that set me apart, he says.
What I imagined happening around Christmastime was very much Whoville at all my friends house.
I really imagined them holding hands around the tree and singing Christmas carols.
The Welcome song was easy, he says.
Elfman was impressed when the production team told him theyd selected Tyler to reimagine the song.
That is a definite bold move, he says.
Elfmans job was to help shape the song into one that would jibe with the story of the film.
Elfman says he was blown away by the song when Tyler first played it for him.
He was like, I wrote this this morning, Elfman recalls.
He played me the second song, and Im like, Oh s!
This thing is great.
Enthusiastic about the song, Elfman brought it to the films producers and directors at his next presentation.
It really blew my mind.
In many ways, Elfman has been circlingThe Grinchfor years.
Our heart could grow a few sizes just thinking about it.
The Grinchopens today in theaters nationwide.
