The film Nightmare Before Christmas may not have turned many heads when it premiered back in 1993, but over the years it has gained the audience that it always should have had, becoming a cult hit, then a major one after its characters first took over DISNEYLAND's Haunted Mansion back in 2001.
The biggest issue audiences seemed to have with the film is that they just didn't understand it at first. Was it a horror film? Was it a Christmas film? A Halloween movie? Once people got it, however, it became the classic it was destined to be. Who can resist the story of a wayward ghoul with a heart of gold?
Jack's first solo song is What's This? in which he describes his dream of not scaring people, but bringing them magic and happiness like Santa Claus. This begins his attempt to innocently co-opt Santa's job by delivering Halloweentown's version of Christmas.
While Chris Sarandon provided Jack's speaking voice, his singing voice came from Danny Elfman, who also wrote the movie's songs and score.
What's this? What's this?
There's color everywhere
What's this?
There's white things in the air
What's this?
I can't believe my eyes
I must be dreaming
Wake up, Jack, this isn't fair
What's this?
What's this? What's this?
There's something very wrong
What's this?
There's people singing songs
What's this?
The streets are lined with
Little creatures laughing
Everybody seems so happy
Have I possibly gone daffy?
What is this?
What's this?
There's children throwing snowballs
instead of throwing heads
They're busy building toys
And absolutely no one's dead
There's frost on every window
Oh, I can't believe my eyes
And in my bones I feel the warmth
That's coming from inside
Oh, look
What's this?
They're hanging mistletoe, they kiss
Why that looks so unique, inspired
They're gathering around to hear a story
Roasting chestnuts on a fire
What's this?
What's this?
In here they've got a little tree, how queer
And who would ever think
And why?
They're covering it with tiny little things
They've got electric lights on strings
And there's a smile on everyone
So, now, correct me if I'm wrong
This looks like fun
This looks like fun
Oh, could it be I got my wish?
What's this?
Oh my, what now?
The children are asleep
But look, there's nothing underneath
No ghouls, no witches here to scream and scare them
Or ensnare them, only little cozy things
Secure them in their dreamland...
What's this?
The monsters are all missing
And the nightmares can't be found
And in their place there seems to be
Good feeling all around
Instead of screams, I swear
I can hear music in the air
The smell of cakes and pies
are absolutely everywhere
The sights, the sounds
They're everywhere and all around
I've never felt this good before
This empty place inside of me has been filling up
I simply cannot get enough
I want it, oh, I want it
Oh, I want it for my own
I've got to know
I've got to know
What is this place that I have found?
What is this?
