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TV Babble - October 2006

Your Favourite Television Theme Music

October 31st 2006 04:40
While reading through the comments on Childhood Cartoons, I began thinking about the power of theme music. Several themes had made a lasting impression; Cibbuano cited the amazingly epic theme of Visionaries: Knights of the Magical Light, while Gareth linked to the rocking intro from Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors. I found it incredible that, as soon as Adrienne mentioned Lady Lovely Locks, the theme tune sprung into my mind, despite the fact that I couldn’t actually remember the cartoon.


So there’s no doubt about it – television theme tunes are pervasive, captivating and can last the test of time. Here are some of my favourite theme tunes.

Futurama*

Futurama
This one is definitely one I love – it’s even my ringtone at the moment. Christopher Tyng has created a really unusual and distinctive opening theme. He also created a host of other fantastic songs throughout the series. It’s interesting to listen to the commentaries on the Futurama DVDs where Tyng is present, as he outlines the obscure instruments he incorporates into the music.

Angel*


Angel
This theme was one of the more beautiful opening tunes on television. The solo cello is haunting and never fails to send shivers up my spine. The addition of the rock instruments gives it an edge which is fitting of the show. The final piano mirrors the isolation of the protagonist perfectly. Overall it’s an evocative theme, capable of being listened to as a piece of music in its own right.



Alias*

Alias
This is another great theme worthy of mention. It’s sort of mysterious, kind of funky, and just downright cool. Like the Angel theme, there is a certain edginess to the music that matches the feel of the show, which I believe is an important attribute in making a theme memorable. I preferred the original to the remixed version of the later seasons, but both are entertaining.


Which theme tunes are you favourites? What do you think makes a good theme tune, and why does it stick with you even if the show doesn’t?

*All images courtesy of Wikipedia, and used under Fair Dealing for review and criticism.
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Comment by Aaron

October 31st 2006 05:57
All time favorite theme music has to be The Simpsons. I love all the different couch scenes that they think up at the end. The opening to The Simpsons never get old.

Aaron.

Comment by Nina

October 31st 2006 06:11
Aaron: That's very true, and I imagine the Simpsons theme music would have to be amongst the most recognisable on the planet.

Comment by Emily

October 31st 2006 06:45
Hey there

I agree with all three of those. I always used to hum to the Angel theme especially *smirks* And Futurama makes me sit there and bop up and down. Um, yes, because I'm weird.

Anyway, I also liked the Buffy theme just because it was edgy and I never got tired of hearing it. I've never really watched Six Feet Under but I used to love it's opening credits. Very haunting. And I quite like the House theme song as well. The Australian one especially - before they changed it.

I have a bit of a thing for opening credits music, lol.

Comment by Tracy

October 31st 2006 06:49


Movies and Life
What another great question....I also think Six Feet Under as well as Love My Way and Red Dwarf. I love singing along to the Red Dwarf one...

Comment by Nina

October 31st 2006 07:04
Emily: The Buffy theme is another great one - very rocking and grungy. I love the Six Feet Under one two - it's somewhat quirky, much like the show.

Comment by Nina

October 31st 2006 07:12
Tracy: I can't think of the Love My Way theme off the top of my head, but I know that I used to love the original ads for the show which featured 'Never Tear Us Apart' by INXS.

Comment by DuskDevi

October 31st 2006 07:24


Rugby World Cup 2007
Hi Nina...

Fantastic post! I love TV theme songs. Have quite a collection of TV theme song CDs. I'm such a nerd.

'Angel' - love it, can hear it now...
'Six Feet Under'...very haunting...

My all time favourite - 'Hawaii 5-O'

Never actually watched this show but love the theme- 'Third Watch', an earth wind and fire show (medico, cops and er...firemen)
Also like the 'Cold Case' theme...the wail at the start is eerie

'Mission: Impossible'
'Miami Vice' quintessentially eighties
'Batman and Robin'...the Adam West Batman...
'Different Strokes'
'Gilligan's Island'
'Wonder Woman'
'Masters of The Universe; HeMan and SheRa'

Love this post...must stop...thanks Nina.

DuskDevi



Comment by Nina

October 31st 2006 07:31
DuskDevi: Some great picks there. I have a particular fondness for the kitschy Batman music. Don't feel like a nerd for having theme tunes on CD - its just music after all, and some damn fine music at that. Nothing to be ashamed about!

Comment by Ragin Cajun

October 31st 2006 08:44


Observer's Post
Death By Myopia
I love old cartoon tunes like Thundercats and Dinosaucers. The theme music of McGyver also rocks.

Comment by Whatever

October 31st 2006 09:24


WHATEVER
Even to this day, I cannot get The Smurfs jingle out of my head!

Comment by Tracy

October 31st 2006 10:52


Movies and Life
Bewitched was pretty catchy...

Comment by Nina

October 31st 2006 11:57
Ragin Cajun: MacGyver certainly is very recognisable, and is a great example of the typical 80s theme music - piano, synthesizer and drum machine at their finest!

Comment by Nina

October 31st 2006 12:03
Whatever and Tracy: Both the Smurfs and Bewitched are very catchy and hard to get out of your head once they are in there... I'll probably be dreaming about them tonight, in fact

Comment by Adrienne

October 31st 2006 19:23


Celebrity Fox
That song from "Ugly Betty!"

Comment by Nina

October 31st 2006 22:14
Adrienne: Ugly Betty hasn't started screening here yet, but I'll definitely have to check that one out after my exams are over and I have some free time...

New Tricks is another example of a great theme tune. Big Cat's post begins with the opening lyrics of the tune which just sends it running into my head, despite only having actually watched the show once. I didn't realise it was sung by Dennis Waterman, one of the stars of the show. He's they guy that they make fun of on Little Britain as being a midget that loses roles because he insists on writing and singing the theme tune of the show! You learn something new every day.

Comment by JohnDoe

October 31st 2006 22:45


Film & TV on DVD
Nice one Dusk with Mission Impossible and Miami Vice

5 Classic themes that I love-
Hawaii Five O
The Saint
X-Files
Twilight Zone
Rawhide

5 Newer ones:
Entourage
The Sopranos
Oz
Dead Like Me
WonderFalls

Comment by Nina

October 31st 2006 22:55
JohnDoe: The X-Files is another classic one that slipped my mind. It's so distinctive and kind of eerie.

Comment by KylieW

October 31st 2006 23:17


Celebrity Obsession
And you'd have to include Cheers in the list somewhere. Who doesn't know the theme song to Cheers?

My other picks are :
- Angel
- Charmed - it's a bit grungy like the Angel and Buffy ones
- Futurama (I can't believe that I never watched this show up until a couple of months ago......and now I love it!)
- Simpsons
- The Smurfs......just cos once it's in your head, you can't get the damn thing out.

I could go on, but I won't.

Comment by Jimbo

October 31st 2006 23:43


Punk Rawk News
I can't believe there's even argument. Captain Planet hands down. I mean is it even possible to match the standards of that brilliance? It's got everything - catchy melody, underlying morals, and of course the most important thing - CAPTAIN PLANET.

Comment by Big Cat

October 31st 2006 23:51


Chatterpillar
Web community sharing teaches you a lot!
I didn't know Dennis Waterman is the guy Little Britain sends up as the midget who loses roles by insisting on writing and singing the theme.
Good example of cross-fertilising between the generations.
Hey, all you Generation X, Y and younger Orblers!
How about telling your Mums and Dads to get cracking in Orble too?

Comment by Nina

October 31st 2006 23:59
KylieW: Cheers is another great one! I love it even more due to the send-up they did on the Simpsons about Moe's Tavern.

Comment by Nina

November 1st 2006 00:05
Jimbo: The theme from Captain Planet is kind of awesome. The show did have good morals, but could be a little preachy at times. I put that down to Jane Fonda's involvement.

Comment by Nina

November 1st 2006 00:07
Big Cat: It never occured to me who the send up was of, probably because I didn't know that Dennis Waterman wrote and sang theme tunes as well. I checked out his IMDB page and found out that little tidbit.

Comment by DuskDevi

November 1st 2006 00:10


Rugby World Cup 2007
Hi Nina...

'The X-Files'...definitely. Thanks JD.

Also;
'Knight Rider' KITT and The Hoff...classic!
and 'Secret Agent Man'...love this! From the 60s' British TV show 'Danger Man'.

Nina...how about a post along the lines of, "What's Your TV Theme Song?" or something like that...
I can't be the only one who secretly thinks 'Hawaii 5-O' was made to strut to...or am I??

DuskDevi

Comment by Nina

November 1st 2006 00:16
Hawaii 5-0 is definitely good to strut or even bop along to, DuskDevi!

Comment by Bryn

November 1st 2006 00:43


Horrorphile
Six Feet Under is hauntingly beautiful. Very beautifully composed against the images ...
As a boy I loved Mike Post's themes: Magnum P.I. and Hill Street Blues are two classic themes, one conjuring the rockin' pop funk of Thomas Magnum's wiley charm, and the other conjuring the melancholic humdrum of life on the streets of new york city.

Comment by Nina

November 1st 2006 01:25
Bryn: I think that's a great analysis of those theme tunes.

Comment by Bryn

November 1st 2006 01:38


Horrorphile
I'm a muso/DJ-cum-writer, 'tis why .... lol

Comment by historylass

November 1st 2006 01:45


The Written Word
History Lass
My favourite tv theme music of all time is the music from Greatest American Hero. I even downloaded it and have it permanently on my MP3 player. The music from the Muppets is also pretty cool. That was my ringtone for a while.

Comment by Nina

November 1st 2006 01:56
Bryn: That explains it. What sort of musician are you?


Comment by Nina

November 1st 2006 01:59
historylass: I love the theme from Greatest American Hero. It's a lovely song in it's own right. The Muppets music is fantastic too - kind of zany, much like the show itself.

Comment by Bryn

November 1st 2006 02:02


Horrorphile
I conjure original funk/gehttotech/neo-soul with my younger brother under the moniker jaywalkers ...
check us out
jaywalkers
that's my vocals on a couple of the tracks ... we use electronic sources (digital samples, manipulated loops, keyboards, fx, etc) and vox

Comment by Bryn

November 1st 2006 02:03


Horrorphile
"Believe it or not, I'm walking on air, I never thought I could feel so freee, Flying away on a wing and a prayer, you could it be? Believe it or not, it's just me!"

Comment by Nina

November 1st 2006 02:17
Bryn: I've just been listening to 'The Ride.' Very funky, good chill out music. I'll be back to listen to some more later. Good stuff!

Comment by fabrizio

November 1st 2006 08:23
BBC news countdown!!! It's amazing!!

Comment by Legally Brunette

November 1st 2006 09:13


My Wedding
I can't believe I'm going to make this public knowledge, but what the hell. The Golden Girls

Comment by Nina

November 1st 2006 12:25
fabrizio and Legally Brunette: I can't say I know how either of those go, but maybe I'm missing out on something...

Comment by Bryn

November 1st 2006 23:51


Horrorphile
Nina, muchos gracias! May the Funk be with you.

Comment by Anonymous

November 2nd 2006 04:35
Buffy
Smallville
Sopranos
Rescue Me

Thats all I can think of right now

Comment by Nina

November 2nd 2006 05:45
Anonymous: The Soprano's opening is great. Smallville's one is pretty good too - very fitting.

Comment by Nathan P. Mahney

November 2nd 2006 11:35


NerdBlog
The Comic Nerd
Once again, the answer is Doctor Who.

Comment by rightback

November 2nd 2006 13:00
I'm surprised no one has mentioned MASH. Or there are some are beauties like Magnum PI, Dallas and my old favourite Cheers.

Comment by Justin

November 2nd 2006 13:11
Ooh, Buffy, Angel, NYPD Blue, American Dad and Arrested Development.

Comment by Jimbo

November 2nd 2006 13:15


Punk Rawk News
Yeah Arrested Development theme is a good one, but after watching all three seasons back to back, it becomes quite grating.

Comment by Nina

November 2nd 2006 13:42
Nathan P. Mahney: The Doctor Who music is just wonderful, and so distinctive. I love the string motif that plays under the main melody. Just beautiful!

Comment by Nina

November 2nd 2006 13:43
rightback: MASH is another great one- instantly recognisable and very catchy.

Comment by Nina

November 2nd 2006 13:45
Justin: I love the opening for American Dad. It epitomises Stan's over-zealous patriotism so well.

Comment by Nina

November 2nd 2006 13:48
Jimbo: I find that's a problem with watching a lot of episodes of TV shows back to back - the whole opening sequence can get damn repetitive.

Comment by Whatever

November 2nd 2006 14:26


WHATEVER
Jimbo & Nina
I agree, Captain Planet was another fave of mine. As was Roger Ramjet and Inspector Gadget!

Comment by Nina

November 2nd 2006 22:50
Whatever: I'd forgotten about the opening from Roger Ramjet. It's simplistic but very memorable.

Comment by Shani

November 3rd 2006 02:10
The best theme song ever is Monkey Magic. It epic. I have it on my playlist and listen to it all the time.
Also I agree that captain planet rocks!

Comment by Lizard68591

November 3rd 2006 03:02


The Blog Formerly Known As Saturday Morning Movie Club
The Wire has a pretty groovy theme...did I just say groovy??? I guess I did!!!

Comment by Nina

November 3rd 2006 04:56
Shani: Do you mean the song from the animated series Monkey Magic, or from the live action Monkey?

Comment by Nina

November 3rd 2006 04:57
Lizard68591: I just checked outt the theme from the wire then - groovy is a pretty good way to describe it.

Comment by Justin

November 3rd 2006 06:02
Shani's inclusion (that I forgot) is totally awesome. Monkey and his theme song ..."was irripressible!"

Comment by postmoderncritic

November 4th 2006 09:49


Postmodern Critic
Daily Inspirations
Relativity Watch
Padsoc
The Friends theme always cheers me up.

Comment by Nina

November 4th 2006 09:52
postmoderncritic: The song from Friends certainly is very upbeat and quite uplifting.

Comment by Aaron

November 5th 2006 17:17
The Sopranos!

Aaron.

Comment by Nina

November 5th 2006 22:09
Aaron: The Sopranos certainly seems to be a popular choice!

Comment by Anonymous

May 1st 2007 07:57
I love the theme songs for Buffy, Angel, Friends and One Tree Hill

Comment by Nina

May 1st 2007 08:01
Some great choices there, anonymous. Thanks for stopping by!

Comment by Bryn

May 1st 2007 08:38


Horrorphile
MInder ...
"I could be so good for you ...love ya like ya want me to" --- Dennis Waterman

Comment by Nina

May 1st 2007 08:46
Bryn wrote:

MInder ...
"I could be so good for you ...love ya like ya want me to" --- Dennis Waterman

Oh, another Dennis Waterman theme tune! He must do them for almost every show he is in.

Comment by Bryn

May 1st 2007 09:23


Horrorphile
The Equalizer.
Hardnosed "bounty hunter" played by Edward Woodward.
Theme and music by Stewart Copeland (drummer for The Police).

Comment by Nina

May 1st 2007 09:53
I just looked that up on youtube. It certainly is a very 80s theme. It's quite gritty, and seems to fit the feel of the show.

Comment by Bryn

May 1st 2007 12:44


Horrorphile
Twas my fave show as an ageing adolescent ... (hmm, actually that sounds about what i am still ... lol)

Comment by Nina

May 1st 2007 23:05
Lol Bryn, nothing wrong with that!

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