I strove to write a lyrically honest and emotionally genuine song. I collaborated with co-lyricist and screenwriter Tyler Burton Smith to compose the lyrics. I was thrilled for the opportunity to compose “The Buddi Song,” and then to collaborate closely with actor Mark Hamill, whose nuanced vocal performances would bring Chucky to life. In the world of the film, Chucky is a Buddi Doll, an AI enabled toy that comes pre-programmed to sing “The Buddi Song.” Chucky sings it in a number of scenes, to an increasingly creepy effect. My first move was to sneak into my four-year-old daughter’s playroom and “borrow” toys that made interesting sounds: her toy pianos, chromatic desk bells, pull-string xylophones, action figures with clicking joints, necklaces, rattles, slinkies, a ukulele, and a plastic guitar.Īs a piece of source music, “The Buddi Song,” transcends the score and lives within the story itself. Inspired by Chucky’s toy store origins, I challenged myself to compose the score solely with toys and handheld instruments, completely avoiding traditional orchestra. With these influences in mind, I dove into creating a musical voice for this new vision of the classic tale. The film drips with tonal references to many of my favorite 1980s films, incorporating Verhoeven’s satirical humor, Spielberg’s childhood wonder, and Kubrick’s existential dread – equal parts horror, science fiction, thriller, and classic Amblin-style childhood adventure. Stripped of the original film’s supernatural voodoo origins, this version of Child’s Play drew from contemporary fears of cloud-based computing, automation, loss of privacy, corporate irresponsibility, and the risks of smart-home convenience. When I first watched the new film in an early cut, I was shocked by its sophisticated and surprisingly emotional storytelling. This film gave me the chance to assemble a unique “toy orchestra,” use my own voice to create a “kids choir,” and collaborate closely with legendary actor Mark Hamill, who sang my tune for the film, “The Buddi Song.” Child’s Play opened theatrically this week, and my soundtrack album is available now! Now, thirty years later, I found a surprising opportunity to contribute to his cinematic legacy, by scoring director Lars Klevberg’s imaginative new spin on the classic, Child’s Play. Chucky, the demented doll and horror icon with the devilish little face, peered out at me from a torn VHS cover at my local video store and haunted my dreams as a kid.
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