My mistake

[urbpan]

I've been going around thinking that "Soul Bossa Nova" (popularized as the theme from Austin Powers, and in my opinion, the best thing about the Austin Powers movies) was a Burt Bacharach composition, when in fact it's by Quincy Jones. Incidentally, I discovered this when I decided that I needed to own another Quincy Jones tune, "The Streetbeater," which also was famous as a theme song. (Bonus points if you know what it's the theme of)

I have an inordinate amount of theme songs in my collection, partly because context makes music better, and partly because theme songs tend to be catchy and anthemic, and I dig that.

In addition to the Dr. Who theme (2 versions), the themes from Star Wars, Firefly, and Invader Zim, I also have the theme from the Katamari video game, "Boss of Me" by TMBG, "Hawaii 5-0," "Judgement Night" (the whole soundtrack which is far better than the movie), "Repo Man," "View to a Kill," "Some Kind of Monster," "Peter Gunn," "Live and Let Die," "Love is All Around Us," that whole Saturday Morning Cartoons thing, as well as "Watching the Detectives," "Life on Mars," "All of Me," "Hockey Monkey," "Pretty in Pink," "In the Street" which have retroactively become themes.

I was going to post asking what you thought the best themes were, but boy there sure are a ton of them. I always loved the sitcom themes from my youth: Barney Miller, WKRP, Taxi, etc. but those are mostly context. Except Barney Miller. That's still pretty damn funky. So let me ask anyway: What do you think are the best themes?

I didn't count the music of Seks Bomba, but I should have.

Comments

Sanford & Son of course.

[rudezombie.livejournal.com]

When I was younger I thought the Airwolf theme song was pretty kickass.

[buboniclou.livejournal.com]

Duh! A-TEAM.

[agelena.livejournal.com]

"Sanford & Son" was raunchy and fun. I like Barney Miller, too, and The Rockford Files.

[silvaerina-tael.livejournal.com]

Greatest American Hero (which I need to nab of a roommates computer).

[nautiluspq.livejournal.com]

Red Dwarf (the original one, with lyrics).

[thatcrazycajun.livejournal.com]

I too have an inordinate amount of TV and movie theme music in my digital collection. I think "The Streetbeater" was from The Streets of San Francisco, but I can't swear to it without resorting to Google.

Airwolf did indeed have a kick-ass theme, as did Barnaby Jones and most other Quinn Martin productions. The TV series version of M*A*S*H's "Suicide Is Painless" is also pretty neat, and of course Lalo Schifrin's classic Mission: Impossible theme and the Ventures' surf-tinged Hawaii Five-O theme. I could go on and on...

[says-bomb.livejournal.com]

Night Court!

[brush-rat.livejournal.com]

Oh great gooogily moogily, you know I could go on for hours on this subject. It's notable that several of the songs on your list were hits before they were lifted for theme songs.

I'll add a few. The theme from Baretta, Journey of the Sorcerer (which was used in both the TV and film version of Hitchhikers Guide but in it's original full version is an Eagles song you would never guess was an eagles song), Spider-man (The sixties cartoon version), Mrs. Robinson, That Thing You Do, Miserlou, Viva Las Vegas, Help, The Boys Are Back in Town and... Ah hell, I'll stop before I fill up your blog.

I also have an insane number of songs from soundtracks, but I won't get into that.

Seems like I favor instrumental themes...

[badnoodles.livejournal.com]

I really liked the short version of the "Star Trek: Next Generation" theme. It was so enthusiastic! With that fanfare, they were going to boldly explore the CRAP out of the galaxy.

I'm a sucker for synth bells, too - I like both the "Futurama" theme and "Dead Like Me" because of it.

And from the "80's tv", both "L.A. Law"'s opening trumpet and the heavy synthesizer of "Miami Vice" made me happy.

But hands down, bar none, my favorite tv theme ever was the National Geographic Special theme. Not only was it a seal of quality edutainment, it had all that sweet tympani under the horns.

Re: Seems like I favor instrumental themes...

[smallerdemon.livejournal.com]

I am almost certain that Futurama's theme didn't use synth bells. The composer, Christopher Ting, is a percussionist and has plenty of genuine bells at his disposal.

Re: Seems like I favor instrumental themes...

[badnoodles.livejournal.com]

I was assuming they were synth because of the overall slightly electronic feel to the theme. But that very well may be post-processing.

[smallerdemon.livejournal.com]

The Doctor Who theme is pretty amazing, but when it comes to amazing themes I always think of the fantastic theme from The Prisoner. The Prisoner opening theme as well as the closing theme are possibly some of the best television themes to ever grace the airwaves.

I too am a HUGE fan of many others you listed, including the Invader Zim theme, a highly underrated piece of work on the whole.

I didn't see Living Daylights in that Bond list. :) That seriously has become my favorite bond theme, but then again, I happen to quite like A-Ha as a band.

Ah, Seks Bomba, I do love their cover of Casino Royale. I discovered them through the astounding SOMA FM channel "Secret Agent".

"Life On Mars" theme is pretty damn good as well.

As far as film goes, it is incredibly difficult to choose since so much is indeed context. Film music can vary so wildly, and you realize how much a Bernard Hermann of a John Williams or a Jerry Goldsmith can add to a movie when you see a few scenes with the music lifted out, or a trailer with some stand-in music (Star Wars original trailer had NO Williams music). Let us not forget that while Tangerine Dream was pretty cool for the Legend Soundtrack, Jerry Goldsmith's soundtrack was astounding and sadly left to rot until we got a real director's cut and release. My wife commented just this week that she vividly remembers her revelation in film music and how it made films work in different ways: Psycho. It was on last week and it you really do forget what a wonder that soundtrack is until you watch the film from start to finish again.

One of the most recent films to really strike me as amazing with its use of music was the French horror flick Haute Tension. The composer is a young guy that just finished conservatory school and has a classic music background but his choice of instruments are all electronic. Francois-Eudes Chanfrault (http://francois.eudes.free.fr/music.htm) is his name. Here are three of the pieces from Haute Tension: *LINK* (http://smallerdemon.vox.com/library/post/music-from-haute-tension-high-tension.html)

Re: Seems like I favor instrumental themes...

[smallerdemon.livejournal.com]

Could be. I misspelled his name: Christopher Tyng.

I know he does commentary with the rest of the crew on several of the DVDs and talks extensively about his love for old percussion instruments. He say he found something from the 50s called the Boobams (http://www.pas.org/museum/Tour/0304.cfm) that he loved using on Futurama. I would be surprised that a Man that uses Boobams on a cartoon scifi comedy wouldn't use real chimes. :)

[harrietbrown.livejournal.com]

Um, the original "Batman" series theme? That previous comment was so thorough and educated I feel stupid now ... hiding ...

Re: Seems like I favor instrumental themes...

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

Oh, yeah, I'm old enough to have the Miami Vice soundtrack on Vinyl. Pity or adore me.

The Natl Geographic theme is awesome--it's like the local news themes from everywhere, but lords over them all with its feeling of importance and adventure.

I forgot to mention that I have (and you should too) the source material for the Futurama theme. It's called Psyche Rock by Pierre Henry, and you can listen to it on youtube here:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=TKz4qVmUz84

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

You're a fount of good info!

Yes, the Legend Soundtrack was like a dream come true for me when it came out. I didn't even mention the great work Queen did on Highlander and Flash Gordon, which I love without irony.

A minor boast: Seks Bomba played at my first wedding reception.

Holy Flypaper!

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

The soundtrack to the tv show has a bunch of really fun and somewhat cheesy lite jazz tracks and audio clips of dialog to go along with the iconic theme song. Definitely worth having.

Word.

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

You reminded me that I have a 12 inch single of Tangerine Dream's theme to the super motorcycle tv series "Streethawk."

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

Catchy as hell. Too bad the show was cringingly bad.

The theme reminds me of The Hartford Whalers (hockey team) theme that we used to hear on tv all the time. I gotta find that one.

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

Actually, it sounds nothing like the A-Team theme, but it's awesome nonetheless:

http://www.brassbonanza.com/Sound/brassbonanza-2.mp3

Re: Holy Flypaper!

[harrietbrown.livejournal.com]

Aw, so glad you think so. Love the icon, btw. It's one of my favorites.

[buboniclou.livejournal.com]

Gah! I found it before I read your second comment. Yeah, no similarities there. I have to say, I'd hate to play it in marching band. It's kinda...repetitive. Plus no one in the audience would get it. OH wait! We're playing Hartford Pride this year. Maybe I'll sneak it in to the drum major.

I loved that show. Then again, I was c. 8 yo when I was watching it, so I didn't have the same critical eye I guess I would now. Plus my big brother loooved it, and at that age I was still trying to imitate him.

[buboniclou.livejournal.com]

The Dragnet theme is also pretty darn awesome.

[elainetyger.livejournal.com]

Hey, you took all of mine! :)

Except maybe The Monkees. And the opening to the Bugs Bunny Hour. "Overture! Curtain, lights!"