And I oblige.

We went to see the Simpsons movie last night. It brought to mind the conversation that was circulating a few months ago particularly at Terry Teachout and The Rest Is Noise and The Iron Tongue of Midnight about whether there are any comedic film scores that rise to the level of “great.” The latter posits Looney Tunes, which brings us to Spiderpig.

That’s Homer’s version, which is pretty funny. I especially love how the last line is just a little bit too low for him. There’s this gravely earnestness at the bottom of his (right, Dan Castellaneta’s) range that’s so not part of Homer’s character - and then when he gets all serious and solemn, it’s, of all things, about Spiderpig.

But what really got me was the faux-modern spooky choral version that pops up when Homer goes down the rabbit hole before having his epiphany - and then turns up in the credits. Not only is it effective for the dramatic moment, a little disorienting, definitely a bit eerie, but also funny because it is the Simpsons and it’s important never to be taking anything too seriously. But on its own, it’s brilliant satire of what I think Nico Muhly was talking about when he was decrying the Harry Potter scores for not being angsty back in July. It’s in that English schoolboy choir style that’s gothic, but not really angsty, because it’s so, y’know, refined and calmly sung. I enjoyed it greatly. Watch Out!!

When I woke up this morning, I found I was unable to sing Spiderpig. Instead, it kept coming out “Particle Pig.” The moral: They Might Be Giants. Ruins. Everything.