David Byrne and Hayley Williams have written a song together for Netflix’s new animated adaptation of The Twits, and somehow, that combo just makes perfect sense.
Byrne, known for bending the rules of songwriting ever since Talking Heads made it cool to be a bit weird, has contributed three original songs to the film. Titled We’re Not Like Ev’ryone Else, Lullaby, and The Problem Is You, they’re all written and produced by Byrne, performed by the voice cast. And yes, that cast includes Johnny Vegas, Natalie Portman, Emilia Clarke and Timothy Simons.
But it’s the closing credits song, Open The Door, that’s grabbing attention. Co-written and performed by Byrne and Hayley Williams, it gives the film a heartbeat after all the grotesque chaos of Mr and Mrs Twit. It’s not the first time the two have crossed creative paths either. Byrne covered Paramore’s Hard Times, Williams did Burning Down The House on the Stop Making Sense tribute, and there’s been a remix or two in the mix. This time, though, it’s a full-blown original between the pair.
Byrne said he was drawn to the twisted characters (no surprise there) and the emotional complexity underneath. He called on Williams to help wrap the story up with something a bit more human, a reminder of warmth after all the Dahl-style cruelty. She brought in lyric ideas inspired by the character Beesha, and Byrne turned them into what’s probably going to be a strange but touching tune.
Williams called it surreal, fun and a total pinch-me moment. Plus her childhood love for Dahl’s work clearly fed into the process, and the fact that she’s now writing songs with David Byrne for a Netflix film about The Twits feels just about as full-circle as it gets.
The Twits hits Netflix on October 17. Expect oddball energy, wild animation and a soundtrack that goes harder than it probably needs to.
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