Stay

Album: Dead Man's Party (1985)
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Songfacts®:

  • Written by band leader Danny Elfman, "Stay" first appeared on Oingo Boingo's 1985 album Dead Man's Party, but it got a lot of attention when it was prominently featured in the director's cut of the 2001 cult classic film Donnie Darko, during the party scene with Donnie and Greatchen. By this time, Oingo Boingo had been disbanded for six years, but they had a substantial catalog of off-the-wall albums to dig into for anyone who wanted more.
  • Yes, Oingo Boingo Danny Elfman is the same guy who scored movies like Spider-Man, Fifty Shades of Grey and Silver Linings Playbook. When "Dead Man's Party" was released in 1985, he was starting to work with Tim Burton on Pee-wee's Big Adventure. Elfman and Burton have a similar sensibility that paired well on more films like Batman and Edward Scissorhands.
  • "Stay" is one of the more conventional Oingo Boingo songs, with themes of love and longing - topics they usually shied away from. Most of their songs are at least a little deranged, including the album's title track.

Comments: 1

  • Leah from Brooklyn, NyOingo Boingo's music video to this tune featured a fabulous ballroom full of dancing ghosts. I'm sure many have noticed over the years that Boingo and Danny Elfman's music and movie themes frequently have a connection to something spooky.
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