THE SIMPSONS ARCHIVE THE SPRINGFIELD TIMES

The Simpsons: Testify, a Whole Lot More Original Music from the Television series

Shout! Factory Press Release - July 11, 2007


Los Angeles, CA – A soundtrack so highly anticipated that even Homer would get off the couch to celebrate its arrival, THE SIMPSONS: TESTIFY is finally here! Set for release on September 18, 2007 from Shout! Factory, THE SIMPSONS: TESTIFY music CD spotlights material culled from award-winning composer Alf Clausen and features the unmistakable voices of America’s most beloved TV family: Homer (Dan Castellaneta), Marge (Julie Kavner), Bart (Nancy Cartwright), Lisa (Yeardley Smith), and Springfield’s various townsfolk (Hank Azaria and Harry Shearer). The soundtrack kicks off with Danny Elfman's unforgettable main title theme, and continues with a collection of the best songs from the last nine seasons of the longest running primetime comedy on TV today. The album arrives just in time to accompany the premiere of Season 19 of THE SIMPSONS on FOX.

Only on THE SIMPSONS: TESTIFY can you find a range of great talents from Jackson Browne to “Weird Al” Yankovic, both willing to engage in self-parody that reflects the show’s uncanny irreverence. And then there is David Byrne, who while hearing a list of his vast musical accomplishments, adds with pride “And I used to wrestle under the name ‘El Diablo!’” It is Byrne who helps Homer realize the full odious potential of “Everybody Hates Ned Flanders,” even contributing an extended salsa remix, “No Me Gusta Flanders.” We’re also treated to the lyrical styling of the endearingly homicidal Sideshow Bob (as voiced by Kelsey Grammar) as he reexamines his overwhelming loathing of Bart Simpson on “The Very Reason That I Live.”

THE SIMPSONS: TESTIFY puts the music front and center, as the songs featured were mixed specifically for this new album. For the first time, the brilliant re-imagining of Broadway hits Evita, My Fair Lady, and The Sound Of Music can be fully appreciated for all of their satirical nuance. In “My Fair Laddy,” Groundskeeper Willie plays Eliza Doolittle to Lisa’s Henry Higgins, as Willie learns both elocution and manners to the refrain of “What flows from the nose, does not go on my clothes.” And in “Yokel Chords,” Cletus the Slack-Jawed Yokel and his hillbilly brood take the place of the von Trapp family, with Lisa again playing the role of teacher. In this memorable parody from the most recent season, the Sound Of Music line “I am sixteen going on seventeen” becomes “I have eight teeth, going on seven teeth.” Of course.

Any SIMPSONS fan will no doubt remember Ricky Gervais memorable appearance as the Marge-obsessed Charles Heathbar, who serenades Marge with “Lady,” which spends more time explaining its lyrics (in song) than actually saying anything romantic, with the possible exception of the closing exhortation, “don’t die.”

For those of us with a love of musical theater and the American popular songs, THE SIMPSONS has certainly carved out an iconic place in musical history by communicating in song at the highest level. Never in recent memory has a television series made such effective use of both songs and underscore to advance plot points, support the characters’ emotions and put a lasting smile on the viewer’s face.

Now entering its nineteenth season, THE SIMPSONS, a modern cult classic created by Matt Groening, remains one of TV’s most popular programs – in all demographics. The show premiered on FOX as a half-hour comedy series January 14, 1990, and received numerous Emmy® awards for Outstanding Animated Program. Nearly all of the music for this weekly animated half-hour series is composed or arranged by composer Alf Clausen, who has received 2 Emmy® awards and 20 Emmy® nominations for his Simpsons music.

THE SIMPSONS is a Gracie Films Production in association with 20th Century Fox Television. James L. Brooks, Matt Groening, and Al Jean are the executive producers. Film Roman is the animation house.

Shout! Factory is a diversified entertainment company devoted to producing, uncovering and revitalizing the very best of pop culture – The Stuff You Grew Up On But Never Outgrew. Founders Richard Foos, Bob Emmer and Garson Foos have spent their careers sharing their music, television and film faves with discerning consumers the world over. Shout! Factory’s DVD offerings serve up classic, contemporary and cult TV series, riveting sports programs, live music, animation and documentaries in lavish packages crammed with extras. The company’s audio catalogue boasts Grammy®-nominated boxed sets, new releases from storied artists and lovingly assembled album reissues. These riches are the result of a creative acquisitions mandate that has established the company as a hotbed of cultural preservation and commercial reinvention. For more on Shout! Factory, visit www.shoutfactory.com.

The Simpsons: Testify, a Whole Lot More Original Music from the Television series
Selection Number: 826663-10537
Price: €14 ($18.98)
Release Date: September 18

Track Listing:

  1. "THE SIMPSONS" MAIN TITLE THEME
  2. TESTIFY
  3. THE VERY REASON THAT I LIVE (FEATURING KELSEY GRAMMER)
  4. HE’S THE MAN (FEATURING SHAWN COLVIN)
  5. STRETCH DUDE AND CLOBBER GIRL
  6. "THE SIMPSONS" END CREDITS THEME (PERFORMED BY LOS LOBOS)
  7. ODE TO BRANSON
  8. SOLD SEPARATELY
  9. ISLAND OF SIRENS
  10. THEY’LL NEVER STOP THE SIMPSONS
  11. YOU’RE A BUNCH OF STUFF
  12. WHAT DO I THINK OF THE PIE?
  13. BABY STINK BREATH
  14. TASTES LIKE LIBERTY
  15. JELLYFISH
  16. HOMER & MARGE (FEATURING “WEIRD AL” YANKOVIC)
  17. "EVERYBODY HATES NED FLANDERS" (MEDLEY) (FEATURING DAVID BYRNE)
  18. I LOVE TO WALK
  19. MARJORIE (FEATURING JACKSON BROWNE)
  20. "THE PRESIDENT WORE PEARLS" MEDLEY
  21. GLOVE SLAP (FEATURING THE B-52S)
  22. O PRUNY NIGHT
  23. AMERICA (I LOVE THIS COUNTRY)
  24. AMERICA RULES
  25. WELCOME TO MOE’S
  26. WE ARE THE JOCKEYS
  27. SONG OF SHELBYVILLE
  28. "A STAR IS TORN" MEDLEY
  29. WHO WANTS A HAIRCUT? (FEATURING BAHA MEN)
  30. "MY FAIR LADDY" MEDLEY
  31. SPRINGFIELD BLOWS
  32. "KING OF CATS" ITCHY & SCRATCHY MEDLEY
  33. LADY (FEATURING RICKY GERVAIS)
  34. YOU MAKE ME LAUGH
  35. LADY RIFF (FEATURING RICKY GERVAIS)
  36. POPPA, CAN YOU HEAR ME?
  37. "YOKEL CHORDS" MEDLEY
  38. HULLABA LULA (FEATURING KELSEY GRAMMER)
  39. SONG OF THE WILD BEASTS
  40. DANCING WORKERS’ SONG
  41. OLDIES AND NUDIES
TRACKS 38-41 ARE PREVIOUSLY UNAIRED BONUS TRACKS

For more information please contact:
Tom Chen/ Lauren Gaffney
Shout! Factory



Search The Simpsons Archive:      Search Help

[ FAQs, Guides & Lists | Upcoming Episodes | Episode Guide | Capsules | Miscellaneous | Web Links | News | About | Home ]

Last updated on August 17, 2007 by webmaster@snpp.com