Although it’s not a musical film, the most famous scene fromBeetlejuiceis that of “Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)”, a song that is now associated with the movie. Directed by Tim Burton,Beetlejuicewas released in 1988, establishing Burton’s style and the type of stories he would go on to direct in his career.Beetlejuicewas a critical and commercial success, and it has become one ofBurton’s best and most popular works.Beetlejuicefinally got a sequel 36 years later, and it repeated some of the first movie’s best tricks.
Beetlejuicetook viewers to Winter River, Connecticut, to meet Barbara (Geena Davis) and Adam Maitland (Alec Baldwin), a young married couple who, on their way back home, got into a car accident and died… but they didn’t know they were dead. Their house was sold and the Deetz family moved in, and after their attempts to scare them away failed, the Maitlands turned to Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton) for help. What followed was a series of chaotic events at the house provoked by Beetlejuice, but the most memorable scene in the movie wasn’t even his doing.
Where To Watch Beetlejuice
As spooky season approaches many are clamoring to watch Beetlejuice and find out where the Tim Burton classic is available to stream.
Beetlejuice’s Use Of Harry Belafonte’s “Day-O (Banana Boat Song)” Is A Highlight Of The Movie
Beetlejuice’s Dinner Scene Is Its Most Famous
The Deetzes hosted dinner with friends and colleagues at their home, which the Maitlands seized to make their big move.
When the Maitlands finally realized they were dead and trapped in their house, they were told by their caseworker, Juno, that it was up to them to get rid of the Deetzes. However, the Maitlands failed to scare them but bonded with the Deetzes’ daughter, Lydia (Winona Ryder), the only human who could see them. Their failed attempts led the Maitlands to contact chaotic bio-exorcist Beetlejuice, but once they got a taste of how rude and messy he was, they decided to try to get rid of the Deetzes one more time.
The Deetzes hosted dinner with friends and colleagues at their home, which the Maitlands seized to make their big move.Adam and Barbara possessed Delia (Catherine O’Hara), who started singing and dancingHarry Belafone’s version of “Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)”, and her husband and their guests followed her against their will and much to their surprise and horror. The “Day-O” scene inBeetlejuiceis the best example of the movie’s type of humor, and it’s also an unexpected moment.
Before the dinner scene, the Maitland’s attempts to scare the Deetzes away had a bit of everything: Barbara hung herself in the closet and pulled off the skin of her face, they posed as if Barbara had killed Adam, and even dressed themselves as traditional ghosts with a pair of bed sheets.Possessing the Deetzes and company wasn’t expected from the Maitlands, and even more unexpected is that they went for something more comedic than scary – no wonder they didn’t leave the house after that.
The History Of Harry Belafonte’s “Day-O” Explained
“Day-O” Has An Interesting Origin
“The Banana Boat Song” is believed to have originated around the beginning of the 20th century in Jamaica.
Beetlejuiceuses Harry Belafonte’s version of “Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)”, which is the best-known one, but the song wasn’t his. “The Banana Boat Song” is believed to have originated around the beginning of the 20th century in Jamaica.The song was sung by Jamaican dockworkersduring a time when the banana trade in the country was growing. It’s a call-and-response work song from the point of view of the workers on the night shift, with the lyrics describing the end of their shift when daylight arrived and their boss would arrive to tally the bananas so they could go home (viaHistory Daily).
Belafonte recorded “The Banana Boat Song” in 1955, with lyrics re-worked by Lord Burgess and William Attaway.
The lyrics of “The Banana Boat Song” changed depending on the situation, andit was first recorded by Edric Connor and the Caribbeans in 1952. Louise Bennett recorded her own version two years later, and Belafonte based his version on these two. Belafonte recorded “The Banana Boat Song” in 1955, with lyrics re-worked by Lord Burgess and William Attaway. Belafonte’s version was a huge hit, becoming his signature song, and he was proud of it as it helped change the idea that most Americans had of people living in the Caribbean.
Beetlejuice Soundtrack Guide: Every Harry Belafonte Song & When It Plays
Four songs by Calypso artist Harry Belafonte play throughout Tim Burton’s horror comedy classic Beetlejuice, including his signature song “Day-O.”
“Day-O” Has Become Synonymous With The Beetlejuice Franchise
“Day-O” Is Now Part Of The World Of Beetlejuice
“Day-O” was not only part of the movie but also the animated series.
“Day-O” is Harry Belafonte’s signature song, but it’s now also part of the world ofBeetlejuice. The dinner scene is so famous that even those who have never watchedBeetlejuiceknow exactly what it is about, and the movie and the song now go hand in hand. “Day-O” was not only part of the movie but also the animated series, in which Beetlejuice and Lydia sang the song in the first episode, andit was also included in the Broadway musical adaptation of the movie.
TheBeetlejuiceanimated series ran from 1989 to 1991 on ABC and Fox.
The sequel,Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, also included “Day-O”, with a very different version of it playing in the first trailer.Beetlejuicewouldn’t be the same without Harry Belafonte’s “Day-O” and the dinner scene, and the possession of the Deetzes and friends wouldn’t have had the same impact with a different song.
