h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Distinctive Theme Songs - A795035
Author: Lucrecia - U199253

Sorry guys! Anyway, I'm looking for quotes about experiences you've had with the music, which parts make you remember the show the most, why the song captures the mood of the show/movie, etc. I figure the whole thing will end up being in a sort of list form with the movie, the composer and a couple of quotes from us contributors that capture the feelings the songs give us. Any other suggestions on format or any "quotations" will be welcome.

-Lucrecia

The Monty Python theme was originally some sort of military march, I believe. I read a story once of some PoWs who were captured and then paraded around as part of some propoganda/victory celebration/whatever. And the music played was... you guessed it... the Python theme. So they kept cracking up and making obscure jokes about parrots and so on - and their captors just didn't have a *clue* what they kept laughing about.

I just wish I could remember more - sounds apocryphal anyway, but it's a nice story

-MyRedDice

Do you have any idea which war they were prisoners of, considering the show didn't start until the early 1970s?

Sounds aprocryphal to me too...

Just a few tidy-up notes:

* Considering how this is shaping up, I'd suggest a title change to 'Distinctive Theme *tunes* as very few of these are songs.

* Superman - link to the John Williams entry.

* Speed Racer - never heard of this; is it American? Maybe whoever sugegsted it could supply some background info.

* Twilight Zone - those rapid-plucked, high-pitch guitar strings that always meant we were off to another dimension, a dimension of imagination blah blah blah. I could find the original intro speech for you if you want...

* Star Trek - the original one was written by Alexander Courage (link to the entry on him) while the movie and TV themes were composed by Jerry Goldsmith (link to his entry)

* Star Wars - for many, the Star Wars theme starts with the famous 20th Century Fox fanfare (composed by Alfred Newman), then the familiar brassy fanfare of the Star Wars theme begins and the summary of events prior to the film begins to scroll up the screen in bold yellow type. John Williams' most infamous score ever, it's become a pet favourite of amateur brass bands across the globe.

* The Simpsons - a link to the Danny Elfman entry would be nice here.

Chariots of Fire - This is Vangelis, who also did Blade Runner. It's weird, because in movies, running is always shown in slow motion, so to hear a theme tune for a film about racing, it's significant that it's such a slow tune; it's written with a *cinematic* race rather than a real one in mind.

* The Magnificent Seven - written by Elmer Bernstein.

* Happy Trigger - this should read Trigger Happy TV, though as the show uses pop music rather than having a specially-written theme, I wonder whether this qualifies.

* Raiders of the Lost Ark - another John Williams (maybe you should lump all of his into one section?). Reminiscent of the old chapter serials the movies were trying to imitate, all full of gusto and umph!

* The Pink Panther - Henry Mancini's slinky tune really does sound like a panther on the prowl as well as, presumably, the jewel thief and the detective (Inspector Clouseau) sneaking round trying to avoid each other.

* The Great Escape - Elmer Bernstein again. Now as much a part of British patriotism as Rule Britania.

* Doctor Who - written by Ron Grainer but arranged by Delia Derbyshire, with the help of Dick Mills and Brian Hodgeson of the BBC Radiophonics Workshop using pure electronic noise, audio tape and splicing equipment to create a totally unique, other-worldly sound. Many have tried to rearrange this (most recently David Arnold for the 'Big Finish' audio range), but the original cannot be bettered.

* Match of the Day - altogether now:

Da da da dah dadadada dah / Da dah dada dah dah
Da da da dah dadadada dah / Da dah dada dah dah
Da da da dah dadadada dah / Da dah dada dah dah
Da da da da dada dada dada da da dada dada dah!

* Jaws - Williams again.

* Duel of the Fates - this should be a subheader under Star Wars.

* Starksy and Hutch - it's the second version of the theme that everyone remembers, all porno funk and wahwah guitar (speaking of which, the British equivanet, in terms of theme tunes, was The Professionals, scored by Laurie Johnson). The James Taylor Quartet do a superb version of this on their live performances.

* The A-team - firstly, you could link to the entry on this, secondly I don't know what time it was shown in the USA and germany, but originally this was on British TV on Saturday early afternoons, after the sports round up. Usually around 5.15.

WOW!! Thanks for the comprehensive info!!! No time for a re-write today! (just checking my messages) but, rest assured I'll get right on it!

-L.

The lengths I'll go to not to tidy my flat

Thanks for providing me with a distraction from vacuuming and decluttering!

Jims

Er.. could it be that two theme songs are still missing? One of them is 'Basic Instincts' and the other one is, er... what-was-its-name, the one where Ravel's 'Bolero' featured in a most prominent scene with Bo Derek?

Is Basic Instinct really that memorable? I can't even remember who did it. Or was it stock music?

Bolero - was that in '10'? I think for most British people, that's best-remembered as the music ice dancers Torville and Dean did their most famous routine to. Gorgeous piece of music though.

'Basic Instincts' was on the TV yesterday (that is, over here) and before the title was shown I thought "this must be '9.5 weeks' or something like that, er, perhaps B.I.?". I wouldn't think it's stock music and I rarely care to remember who composes or plays something, so this much for my expertise

That's kind of what I was getting at - if you hear the music, you don't necessarily think of Basic Instinct. Just recalling Lucrecia's comment in the entry: 'The instant you hear it, you should immediately see the credits or the scene in which the song is played in your mind's eye.'

That's the problem with Jerry Goldsmith for me - he's way too generic (yes, I did have to look that up )


Along these lines though, for Brits, the theme tune to Coronation Street (the world's longest-running TV drama series) instantly brings forth images of cobbled back-streets and wet Manchester evenings. The theme is quite brassy too, which evokes the heritage of Northern brass bands.

But that will mean nothing to anyone outside of the UK probably. Oh, except the fans of the show in Canada and Australia.

Jims

James Bond - The James Bond Theme

Couple the jazzy sophistication with the menacing guitar-line, the ostentatous orchestra with the view through the 'finder, the half turn and 'Bang!'

Pure class

All together now...

da, da, da, da... da da de dum, de da da! dum-de-dum, de, de, dum....

(A nice bit of bondage never did hurt anyone... much )

Stay ,
WD

Something to think about for the Great Escape tune, it's a great whistler theme. Try it with your friends and you'll see that once you're two or three notes in everyone is whistling with you. Fantastic!
Oberon2001