Here’s the aged old question, Is Tim Burton’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas” a Halloween Movie or a Christmas Movie? I’d say it’s both! It’s a Holiday movie, watch it whenever you want.
So because it’s Halloween, The Spooky Season, as well as being 32th anniversary of the movie’s release, I’m going to rank the songs in order of personal preference.
On the whole I think the soundtrack to The Nightmare Before Christmas is pretty solid and there is not one song that stands-out as being weaker than the rest but this ranking is based solely on my own taste and you can agree or disagree. Also as far as the movie goes I neither love it nor hate, I’m ambivalent about it.
Also I will reveal my favorite non-named citizen of Halloweentown as a bonus
Happy Halloween
#11: Kidnap the Sandy Claws
When I first mentally going through the songs from this movie I actually forgot about this one. The song itself functions as sort pre-villain, villain introduction song mixed with a strategy meeting. I do like the light chaotic mischievous opening of the instrumentals mixed with the “Lalalas” of the chorus but it’s a very staccato and the music doesn’t change up all that much through the duration of the song. Again, I do not think it’s a bad song, it just get lost for me amongst the rest.
Also good use of the word “cohorts” this soundtrack uses a lot words not commonly used in movie musicals.
#10: Town Meeting
I mean if you think about it any present could be the head that the undersea gal found in the lake. I do like silliness and the sheer misunderstanding that the HalloweenTown citizens have for anything outside of the Halloween vibe. It’s a cute song but again for it ranks lowish for me.
#9: Making Christmas
I do love the Dies Irae melody mixed with the “Lalalas.” This song does get stuck in my head and is legit a great Christmas song. It has a lot of great elements and is fun, just other songs I personally prefer over it.
#8: Jack’s Obsession
Jack is a classic over-thinking gentleman scholarly type who still classically missed the point. I do like the movements and how the song builds. “Jack’s Obsession” also has a lot of great lines that really capture his feelings of not getting the concept and having little to really go on.
Though it’s not a lyric in the song, I love use of the word “Eureka.”
#7: Poor Jack
This song is a journey. Jack wallows, than comes around by admitting his faults and short comings before rediscovering himself. While the staging of this song is simpler than some of the other songs, the scene makes up for it with really dramatic dynamic orchestration and stunning camera work.
#6: Finale/Reprise
Gotta love a good reprise melody as part of a happy ending but where this song gets me is the ending with Jack and Sally, I adore their duet, it’s beautiful and makes such a lovely note for the movie to go out on.
#5: This Halloween
Going into this ranking I THOUGHT this song would rank higher (#1) for me as it’s the most iconic song in the movie and sets it up perfectly. It’s kind shocks me that it’s #5 but on re-listening to it for this list a lot of the song is vibes and one citizen singing about who they are and that just didn’t resonate with me as much as I thought it would. Still a great song, no question there. Honestly I gave this a still bump for it iconicness.
#4: Jack’s Lament
I have a massive soft spot for the slower parts of this song. It’s a great “I Want” song that captures Jack’s burn-out and melancholy. I do like the creative lyrics but for me it’s those slower part that work me.
#3: Sally’s Song
Maybe a controversial ranking but Sally is one my favorite characters in the movie and I appreciate the soft, airy vulnerable song. I just resonated this song a little more than some others but it’s definitely the song that doesn’t really go with rest of the songs’ aesthetics.
#2: What’s This?
“What’s This” ranking was a total surprise for me, I wasn’t expecting to enjoy this song as much as did. It’s just such a joyful, bright, happy song full of curiosity and whimsy. Plus it’s uptempo and fun in the music proving a great contrasting to brassy staccato chord progressions of many of the other songs. This song just puts a smile of my face. Also I like when Jack hits the sign, good sense of physical comedy.
#1: Oogie Boogie’s Song
Yes, it’s the creepy villain song but I love the jazziness mixed with menacing enthusiasm with some levity and a lot of mocking. Just such a fun song. This just edges out “What’s This?” ever so slightly.
Bonus: My Favorite unnamed citizen of HalloweenTown
The Cyclops is cute. Not sure if the the cat counts but also like the cat too.
Happy Halloween!
