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alf clausen
Simpsons composer, who penned many of the show's iconic songs, sacked after 27 years
Alf Clausen put the spring in Springfield.
THE TWO-TIME Emmy winner who penned the songs for The Simpsons for nearly three decades has been fired.
Alf Clausen, who wrote tunes such as We Put the Spring in Springfield and I’m Checking In, has been let go from the animated series after 27 years.
The story was first broken by Variety, and Clausen subsequently confirmed it on his Twitter page.
He also composed the musical score for every episode since the second season of the series.
He collaborated with the show’s many musical guests, including U2 for the song The Garbage Man Can.
The actual theme song for the show, which is still used, was composed by Danny Elfman, whose other work includes Batman, The Nightmare Before Christmas and Spider-Man.
Tributes were paid to Clausen’s work from across the entertainment world.
Family Guy creator Seth McFarlane said that Clausen “reinvented the sound of prime-time animation”.
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Others bemoaned Clausen’s departure as indicative of a perceived fall in standards for the show.
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