Oingo Boingo Secret Appreciation Society

Welcome to our little world of Pain! Is the world of pain a safe space where you can relieve your burdens, or is it a sinister cult waiting to suck you in? And what is the hidden connection between Pain and The Lion King? Come soak it up with us as we explore the song Pain from the 1987 album Boi-Ngo.   Song Clips: “Same Man I Was Before” - Oingo Boingo, Dead Man’s Party (1985)  “Pain - Extended D...

Is there anybody in there? Are we getting through to you? In this episode, the OBSAS crew reveals various interpretations, personal stories, and a musical breakdown as they peel away the many layers of the 1990 song, Skin.  Join us as we look below for hidden treasure. Song Clips: “Is There Anybody Out There” - Pink Floyd, The Wall (1979)  “It Only Makes Me Laugh” - Danny Elfman, So-Lo (1984)  “Sk...

The OBSAS crew takes a deep dive into once hard-to-find Oingo Boingo songs that were released on movie soundtracks and compilations. If you were a tape-trading fan back in the day, you know what it felt like to open the mail and find a hand-labeled cassette called “Oddities and Rarities.” Join us as we dust off these odd and rare gems: I’m Afraid, Better Luck Next Time, Goodbye-Goodbye, Bachelor P...

Two of our favorite musicians are back! Nili Brosh and Stu Brooks share lively stories about being in the Danny Elfman band, performing at the Hollywood Bowl on Halloween, and other behind-the-scenes goodies. Check their websites for upcoming shows! www.nilibrosh.com www.stubassiebrooks.com Fan-Supplied Content: “Goodbye-Goodbye” - The Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo , bootleg demo “Grey Matter...

You’re mine now, but you’re not my slave! Join us as we uncover the moral philosophy in this beloved feminist pop song. Adam reveals the hidden layers in the song structure and Matt completely nerds out and extols the virtues of the “club dub” and “extended” remixes     Song Clips: “Stay” - Oingo Boingo, Dead Man’s Party (1985) “Not My Slave” - Oingo Boingo, Something Wild - Original Motion Pictur...

Is the earliest Oingo Boingo song just a fun little bop, or is there a dark heart lurking behind those staccato horn riffs? Is the narrator just having fun, or is he a clueless jerk - or something much worse? And what are those billionaire babies doing on the dance floor? Song Clips: “Ain’t This The Life” - Oingo Boingo, Oingo Boingo 10” EP (1980) “Ain’t This The Life” - Oingo Boingo, Oingo Boingo...

Oingo Boingo’s legendary drummer tells tales of the band’s early Mystic Knights days, where his nickname ‘Vatos’ came from, and the story of how Cry of the Vatos came to be. Who wielded the cursed finger? What is Steve Bartek’s superpower? Learn all that and more from Johnny! Song Clips: “Ai Ai Ai” - Mayo Shono, Ai Ai Ai (1982) “Cry of the Vatos” - Oingo Boingo, Good For Your Soul (1983) “Change”...

Danny Elfman showcased his wide-ranging musical accomplishments in one extraordinary and incandescent concert. The OBSAS crew had an amazing Boingo-filled Halloween weekend, full of the best kinds of spooky tricks and treats. We’d like to take you with us and make you feel like you were there. Song Clips: “Ain't This The Life” - Danny Elfman, The Hollywood Bowl, 10-28-2022 “Ain't This Th...

Put on your scariest costume, light the jack o’ lanterns, and hang the cobwebs! It’s our favorite time of the year, and the Secret Appreciation Society shares Halloween stories and exhumes Oingo Boingo’s most beloved tune, Dead Man’s Party. Just remember to leave your body and soul at the door. Song Clips: “Trick or Treat” - The Mellomen (1952) “Grim Grinning Ghosts” - X. Atencio and Buddy Baker,...

Meet the creative forces behind the fanzine Dead Man’s Fan Society! In this episode, Robynne and Matt talk with Ashley, Sarah, and Rocky about their shared love of Boingo, what first hooked them, and how their fanzine evokes the original Secret Society spirit. It’s a fun discussion among different generations of Boingo fans. Join their Patreon at: https://www.patreon.com/deadmansfansociety/ Song C...

Stu Brooks is a multi talented bassist, producer, and founding member of Dub Trio. He’s Danny Elfman’s bassist, and he co-produced Elfman’s album of remixes, Bigger, Messier.   We got to chat with him about his upcoming solo album 40Hz, what it was like working with Danny Elfman on a big, messy project in the middle of a pandemic, and why, for Stu, playing bass is like swinging a telephone pole. S...

It's on the tip of everyone's tongue! In this episode, the Oingo Boingo Secret Appreciation Society finds themselves in the middle of a big tornado and unwraps the gift that is Gratitude. The music video for Gratitude is referenced in this episode, and can be viewed here. Song Clips: “Tough As Nails” - Danny Elfman, So-Lo (1984) “Gratitude” - Danny Elfman, So-Lo (1984) "Gratitude (E...

Don’t insects make you want to… dance? Come hear the Society get extremely silly about these extremely silly songs. Who are those reptiles and samurai who keep invading our dreams, and where did all these nasty insects come from? In this episode, we dissect two songs from Oingo Boingo’s legendary album Nothing to Fear. Song Clips: “Jaws Theme” - John Williams (1975) “Insects” - Oingo Boingo, Nothi...

Nili is a fiercely talented guitarist who played with Danny Elfman at Coachella and on his riotous Big Mess album. Listen to her stories about her experiences working with Danny and his band, find out what her favorite Boingo tunes are - and catch her most terrifying moment on stage. She shares some things you won’t hear elsewhere. You don’t want to miss this episode! Nili's website Fan-Suppl...

Do you really want to change? We unpack the existential question at the heart of Oingo Boingo’s nearly-final studio release. What’s the key to Change - and what key is it in? Find out, plus more, in this episode. Song Clips: “Taxman” - The Beatles, Revolver (1966) “Her Majesty” - The Beatles, Abbey Road (1969) “Echoes” - Pink Floyd, Meddle (1971) “Time” - Pink Floyd, Dark Side of the Moon (1973) “...

In this episode, we explore the gritty details of the music & lyrics in I’m So Bad and Pedestrian Wolves. Join us as we roam the mean streets of the big city with two notorious villains from the opposite ends of Boingo’s career. Are they genuine bloodthirsty murderers, or are they merely puffed-up showoffs? What really happens in those dark alleyways? Song Clips: “I’m So Bad” - Oingo Boingo, O...

We uncover the life underground in one of Oingo Boingo’s masterpieces, Just Another Day.  Highlights include Greek mythology, an exploration of the song structure, and some deeply personal stories. We break down how the imagery and musicality intertwine and support each other, and along the way we discover some surprising musical features. As mentioned in the episode, here is the Dead Man's F...

Listen to the OBSAS crew’s unbridled excitement about Danny Elfman’s wild, weird, incandescent Coachella 2022 shows. We share “goosebump moments,” give mad props to everyone involved, and break down why the show worked so beautifully. And of course we geek out over hearing Danny sing Boingo songs for the first time in 27 years. Song Clips: “Just Another Day” - Danny Elfman, Coachella, 4-16-2022 “J...

We uncover mysteries lurking within two hidden gems from Oingo Boingo’s deep catalog: "Sucker For Mystery" and "Pictures Of You." These tunes carry shades of film noir and gothic influences, Rod Serling, and much more! Song Clips: “I’m So Bad” - Oingo Boingo, Oingo Boingo EP (1980) “Pictures Of You” - Oingo Boingo, Good For Your Soul (1983) “Little Guns” - Oingo Boingo, Good Fo...

Come play games with us! We debate which Oingo Boingo album we’d bring with us to a deserted island, take a stab at Name That Boingo Tune, and speculate on Danny Elfman’s upcoming Coachella set. We think this episode is lots of fun, and we hope you do too. Song Clips: “Violent Love” - Willie Dixon & The Big Three Trio, Lonesone/Violent Love 7” Single (1951) “Violent Love” - Oingo Boingo, Oingo...

The OBSAS crew takes a bird’s-eye view of a recurring theme in Oingo Boingo - alienation and being on the outside. We offer a selection of amuse-bouches for your listening pleasure: a set of song analyses in miniature; meeting Steve Bartek under a lamppost; speculation about who was the real skeleton in the closet; and much more. Song Clips: “On The Outside” - Oingo Boingo, Only A Lad (1981) “Isla...

One of Oingo Boingo's most beloved songs, "Stay," gets the full Secret Appreciation Society treatment. Come for the lyric and song analysis, stay for the yip-yips. Song Clips: “Cry of the Vatos” - Oingo Boingo, Good For Your Soul (1983) “Stay” - Oingo Boingo, Dead Man’s Party (1985) “Dead Man’s Party” - Oingo Boingo, Dead Man’s Party (1985) “Stay (Stay Late Mix)” - Oingo Boingo, Sta...

Two essential Oingo Boingo songs, "Dead or Alive" and "No Spill Blood," feature in this episode, which covers classic horror movies and lots of fun stories. Song Clips: “Dem Bones” - The Delta Rhythm Boys, Swingin' Spirituals (1960) “Insects” - Oingo Boingo, Nothing To Fear (1982) “No Spill Blood” - Oingo Boingo, Good For Your Soul (1983) “Dead or Alive” - Oingo Boingo, Go...