One of the creepier (and best) movies I've watched this year is Coraline. I've been itching to watch it again because it is perfect for Halloween. The music also has an eerie tone, as large children's choirs frequently do. Perhaps there is just something creepy about a large group of children all doing the same thing at the same time. Unnatural perhaps?

Written by French composer Bruno Coulais, the song is sung by "The Children's Choir of Nice". Can you hear the French? I was straining to understand the lyrics until I learned all the lyrics were intentionally gibberish, some actual words mixed in but no meaning behind the phrases:

Creaking Van Iddli Fla Lu Va
Pretty Sah Lu Feh Iddli Twu Ki Padi
Trelly Goilly Doilly Seli Pretty Chedi
Emi Swalin Gwoh
Seri Ferin Dorin Greh
Fairy Seiry Don
Sweedes Machin Twinky Doo
Fweeden Soreti

Oosi An Tweeban Retiso
Neh-Neh Fehreeden
Sindwee Bin Doh
Swin Ting Lan Twenty Some Dring Doli
Sweet Lan Bih City Tran Dolinda
Pretty Leheleni Switi Kull
Meli Swimmin So

In my search for the lyrics, I found someone has made up a fake translation. I believe it is LIES! As evidence (other than the wiki page that says it is gibberish), here is a quotation from a site that interviewed the director, Henry Selick:

Capone: So what language are they singing in. To me it doesn't sound like a language I know. It sounds made up even.
HS: [smiles big] It is! It's all nonsense words. You might hear a little accent, and you're not sure, but that's something Bruno likes to do. He uses sounds. It's all sung nonsense.

Song Recommendations

If you like this song, I also suggest:

• The Nightmare Before Christmas
• Serguéi Prokofiev's "Peter and the Wolf"
• Sarah Slean

I also suggest the music genre:

• Songs For Halloween

Click here for more info on Bruno Coulais – Coraline Soundtrack – "End Credits".

The MP3 may be purchased here…

Bruno Coulais - Coraline Soundtrack