{"id":2449580,"date":"2025-06-19T23:41:59","date_gmt":"2025-06-20T03:41:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/alf-clausen-1941-2025-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2025-06-19T23:45:23","modified_gmt":"2025-06-20T03:45:23","slug":"alf-clausen-1941-2025-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/alf-clausen-1941-2025-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Alf Clausen, 1941-2025 &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">12<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Falf-clausen-1941-2025-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2449580&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Alf Clausen, the longtime composer for *The Simpsons*, passed away on May 29, 2025, at the age of 84, leaving behind a remarkable legacy in television music. Known for his innovative scoring that integrated various musical genres-jazz, rock, blues, and Broadway-Clausen was instrumental in creating the show&#8217;s distinctive sound for nearly 27 seasons, scoring approximately 600 episodes. His compositions elevated the show&#8217;s humor and emotion, making him a vital part of *The Simpsons*&#8217; enduring appeal.<\/p>\n<p>Born on March 28, 1941, in Minneapolis, Clausen&#8217;s early exposure to music, <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >alongside formal studies<\/a> in music theory, laid the foundation for his triumphant career. Before joining *The Simpsons*,he worked on various projects,including *Moonlighting*,which earned him notable acclaim.Though he was fired from *The Simpsons* in 2017, a decision that sparked fan outrage and a lawsuit over age discrimination, Clausen remained a respected figure in the industry.<\/p>\n<p>His work on the show, highlighted by both comedy and drama, garnered him 21 Emmy nominations, solidifying his reputation as one of television&#8217;s most honored composers. Clausen&#8217;s passion for music and innovative spirit made him not just a composer but a key contributor to the show&#8217;s unique identity.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Alf Clausen, 1941-2025<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>A secret society gathers in a shadowy hall beneath Springfield, chanting a rollicking anthem. &ldquo;Who controls the British crown? Who keeps the metric system down? We do! We do!&rdquo; The Stonecutters&rsquo; song from <em>The Simpsons<\/em> episode &ldquo;Homer the Great&rdquo; is a brassy, absurd ode to conspiracy-laden brotherhood, its melody as sharp as the show&rsquo;s satire. This unforgettable tune, like so much of what made <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/the-simpsons\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">The Simpsons<\/a><\/em>  a cultural juggernaut, sprang from the genius of Alf Clausen, the composer who scored nearly every episode for 27 seasons. When Clausen died on May 29 at 84, he left behind a legacy that ensured Springfield&rsquo;s music would echo forever in the hearts of fans.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/entertainment\/3444668\/mel-gibson-gavin-newsom-karen-bass-poor-leadership\/\">Mel Gibson accuses Newsom and Bass of &#8216;incompetence&#8217; and &#8216;poor leadership&#8217;<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/entertainment\/3443385\/yankees-legend-andy-pettitte-reflects-on-god-career\/\">Yankees legend Andy Pettitte reflects on how faith in God affected his career<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/entertainment\/3442727\/musicians-attacking-trump-ice-raids-army-parade-shakira-trump\/\">Shakira, Green Day among musicians attacking Trump for ICE raids and Army Parade<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Longtime lovers of the show, myself included, have long been aware that <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/2447564\/homer-to-keep-choking-bart-as-simpsons-co-creator-dispels-rumor-of-dropping-gag\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">The Simpsons<\/a><\/em>  would not have been <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/2450774\/the-simpsons-producers-poke-fun-at-reports-that-recurring-gag-is-being-dropped\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">The Simpsons<\/a><\/em>  without Clausen. From 1990 to 2017, he was the show&rsquo;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/music\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/johnny-depp-performs-with-guitar-legend-in-u-k-gig-as-he-awaits-defamation-verdict\/\" title=\"Johnny Depp Performs With Guitar Legend In U.K. Gig As He Awaits Defamation Verdict\">musical soul<\/a><\/a>, crafting nearly 600 episode scores and conducting a 35-piece orchestra with the precision of a symphonic maestro and the mischief of a stand-up comic. His compositions &mdash; spanning jazz riffs, rock anthems, bluesy interludes, and Broadway-style showstoppers &mdash; gave the show its emotional depth and comedic bite. Matt Groening, the show&rsquo;s creator, dubbed him &ldquo;our secret weapon,&rdquo; a testament to Clausen&rsquo;s ability to make every gag land and every tender moment linger. While Danny Elfman penned the iconic theme, Clausen filled each episode with music that could shift from a sultry Tito Puente mambo to a Falco-infused <em>Planet of the Apes<\/em> musical parody in a single, seamless beat. His scores weren&rsquo;t just background &mdash; they were as vital to Springfield as Marge&rsquo;s blue beehive or Homer&rsquo;s &ldquo;D&rsquo;oh!&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Born on March 28, 1941, in Minneapolis, Alf Faye Heiberg Clausen grew up in Jamestown, North Dakota, where music was his earliest passion. His mother had him singing for local women&rsquo;s clubs at age 5, while his father filled their home with orchestral records spinning on the family Victrola, sparking Alf&rsquo;s love for lush, cinematic sounds. As a boy, he took to the piano, French horn, and double bass, excelling in high school bands and choirs. Clausen enrolled at North Dakota State University to study mechanical engineering. But a summer in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/new-york-city\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">New York City<\/a>, where he fell under the spell of Broadway&rsquo;s <em>My Fair Lady<\/em>, changed everything. He switched to music theory, later earning a diploma from Berklee College of Music and immersing himself in the works of composers such as Henry Mancini and Lalo Schifrin.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-full is-resized\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Alf Clausen (Todd Williamson\/Invision for the Television Academy\/AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>Clausen&rsquo;s early career in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/los-angeles\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Los Angeles<\/a> was a grind. Starting as a music copyist for films such as <em>Planet of the Apes<\/em> (1968), he worked his way up to arranger, conductor, and composer. By the 1970s, he was the musical director for variety shows such as <em>Donny and Marie<\/em>, orchestrating for stars including Goldie Hawn. His <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/tampa-ball-how-the-buccaneers-built-a-roster-of-rejects-and-misfits-and-won-a-super-bowl\/\" title=\"Tampa-Ball: How The Buccaneers Built A Roster of Rejects And Misfits And Won A Super Bowl\u00a0\">big break<\/a> came with <em>Moonlighting<\/em>, the 1980s dramedy starring Bruce Willis and Cybill Shepherd. Clausen&rsquo;s jazzy, romantic scores earned him six Emmy nominations, showcasing his knack for blending emotion with flair. He later scored <em>ALF<\/em>, quipping &ldquo;no relation&rdquo; to the furry alien, and films such as <em>Ferris Bueller&rsquo;s Day Off<\/em> and <em>Weird Science<\/em>, proving his versatility across genres.<\/p>\n<p>When <em>The Simpsons<\/em> came calling in 1990, Clausen was hesitant, fresh off <em>Moonlighting<\/em> and craving dramatic projects. But Groening&rsquo;s pitch, that this was a &ldquo;drama where the characters are drawn,&rdquo; won him over. Starting with Season 2&rsquo;s &ldquo;Treehouse of Horror,&rdquo; Clausen became the show&rsquo;s musical backbone, scoring up to 35 cues per episode in a frenetic four-day turnaround. His philosophy was to play the music straight, letting the comedy shine. Whether it was the gospel-tinged &ldquo;Checkin&rsquo; In,&rdquo; a Betty Ford Clinic parody that won an Emmy in 1998, or the burlesque romp &ldquo;We Put the Spring in Springfield,&rdquo; another Emmy in 1997, Clausen&rsquo;s scores elevated the show&rsquo;s absurdity into art. His 21 Emmy nominations for <em>The Simpsons<\/em>, part of a record 30 overall, cemented his status as one of television&rsquo;s most honored composers.<\/p>\n<p>Clausen&rsquo;s tenure wasn&rsquo;t without strife. In 2017, Fox fired him in a cost-cutting move. The decision outraged fans, including me, and collaborators, prompting Clausen to sue Disney, the show&rsquo;s owner, for age discrimination. The suit settled in 2022, and he retained the title of &ldquo;composer emeritus,&rdquo; though his active role waned. Still, his influence endured in Springfield&rsquo;s soundscape, preserved in countless classic episodes that we never tire of watching.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/magazine-obituary\/3431779\/alasdair-macintyre-obituary\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\"><strong>ALASDAIR MACINTRYRE, 1929-2025<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Beyond <em>The Simpsons<\/em>, Clausen&rsquo;s big-band album <em>Swing Can Really Hang You Up the Most<\/em> (2005) showcased his jazz roots, and his five Annie Awards underscored his animation legacy. He saw the orchestra as &ldquo;another actor,&rdquo; infusing every note with emotion. His work ethic was tireless, and his creativity was boundless, whether mimicking a Western theme or crafting a <em>Cheers<\/em> parody for &ldquo;Flamin&rsquo; Moe&rsquo;s.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m dead serious about the music,&rdquo; Clausen once said, &ldquo;because if you try to make it funny, you dull the gag. But off the clock? I&rsquo;m probably humming &lsquo;Who Needs the Kwik-E-Mart?&rsquo; while dodging my taxes.&rdquo; That mischievous spirit, paired with his musical genius, ensured that Clausen didn&rsquo;t just score <em>The Simpsons<\/em> &mdash; he made it sing.<\/p>\n<p><em>Daniel Ross Goodman is a&nbsp;<\/em>Washington Examiner<em>&nbsp;contributing writer and the author, most recently, of&nbsp;<\/em>Soloveitchik&rsquo;s Children: Irving Greenberg, David Hartman, Jonathan Sacks, and the Future of Jewish Theology in America<em>.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Alf Clausen, 1941-2025: The Stonecutters&#8217; anthem from &#8220;Homer the Great&#8221; captures a humorous conspiracy spirit, showcasing Clausen&#8217;s musical genius behind The Simpsons<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2854,"featured_media":2449581,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Obit.062525.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[57522,9207,32229,32076],"class_list":["post-2449580","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-alf-clausen","tag-composer","tag-obituary","tag-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Obit.062525.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2449580","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2854"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2449580"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2449580\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2449584,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2449580\/revisions\/2449584"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2449581"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2449580"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2449580"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2449580"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}