A collection of Matt Groening’s favourite songs
Whether or not you’re a fan of the yellow-fleshed family, The Simpsons can be seen as nothing short of an institution when it comes to long-running animated sitcoms and is still unchallenged as being the most globally recognised show of its kind. Its serialisation of the lives of the typical American household was unlike anything else that had previously been broadcast – it was far more anarchic and risque than The Waltons, and with it being animated, it had the capacity to be a lot more surreal than the likes of The Brady Bunch.
There are several reasons why The Simpsons was able to land such a seismic cultural impact and why its initial run of nine or ten seasons (depending on who you ask) is recognised as being some of the most groundbreaking comedy series to ever grace television screens worldwide. Each character within the show had an outlandish and exaggerated personality that was still relatable, and having a relentless quotability was another factor in its success for such a long period of time.
One element that has remained an important part of the show from its inception to the present day (where the series still exists as an apologetic shadow of its former self) is the use of popular culture as a reference point for gags. Many musicians have appeared in the show or been parodied to some degree, and considering how many jokes the show manages to make that fly under the radar, there are probably even more references to bands and artists that the average viewer might not have ever picked up on.
However, the relationship between The Simpsons and music extends far beyond having Paul McCartney and Flea as guest stars over the years. For example, the theme tune provided by new wave songwriter and composer Danny Elfman is hugely significant to the show, and if it weren’t for series creator Matt Groening’s love of Elfman’s former band Oingo Boingo, they would have settled for something that might not have garnered the same attention.
Groening’s vast musical knowledge has allowed him to express love for various artists and genres of music over the years. He’s known for being something of a jazz and blues aficionado, having lovingly based the character Bleeding Gums Murphy on “a combination of every blues guy with a funny name,” he told Variety in 2021, before going on to cite the likes of Roland Kirk, Archie Shepp and Ornette Coleman as some of his favourite jazz players of all time.
Delving even further into his musical tastes, Groening was invited to curate his own edition of the now defunct All Tomorrow’s Parties festival in 2010, inviting a broad selection of acts to perform, such as Iggy Pop, Daniel Johnston and The Residents, among others. There’s a certain thirst for the unusual and avant-garde in the artists he often cites as being among his favourites, and this was no different when he was invited to contribute a guest selection for NTS Radio in 2021.
Within an hour’s worth of choice cuts, Groening highlights a penchant for outsiders such as Frank Zappa and Wild Man Fischer while also throwing in selections from across the globe to highlight a love for less globally recognised genres such as cumbia from Latin America and the rhythmically complex konnakkol from India. It’s a fascinating selection full of rare finds and bizarre pivots in sound, and it highlights the uniqueness of Matt Groening’s tastes, which have clearly rubbed off on the show’s oddball sense of humour for so long.
