TV Theme Songs...- Page 2

[gavrochegirl]

Posted: 10/21/06 at 12:40am

I love Six Feet Under's theme song.

[cturtle]

Posted: 10/21/06 at 12:43am

of course ... it's thomas newman :)

[Jon]

Posted: 10/21/06 at 11:26am

THAT GIRL had lyrics as one point:

BRIGHT LIGHTS
DAISIES
SUNSHINE
THAT GIRL...

et cetera

[Elphaba]

Posted: 10/21/06 at 11:27am

both Lost in Space themesongs
Time Tunnel
I married Joan
Patti Duke Show
The Avengers
Are you being served

[best12bars]

Posted: 10/21/06 at 11:28am

Yeah, so did "I Dream of Jeannie" and "Bewitched" (I posted those earlier).

I wonder if the lyrics to these TV Themes were written AFTER the fact, or if they were first written as songs (with lyrics) and then, ultimately, it was decided they would just be instrumentals for the show?

Don't know the answer to that one.

[duroc]

Posted: 10/21/06 at 11:30am

I still have most of the theme songs of all of the cartoons/shows I used to watch as a child memorized... not sure if I could choose a favorite, though.

[Stagedoor2]

Posted: 10/21/06 at 11:51am

There's a parking garage in Chicago that has songs with colors in the title for each floor and one of them is the theme to Green Acres. It made me think of this thread.

That being said, I always had a soft spot for for the theme to One Day at a Time...

this is it (this is it)
this is life the one you get
so go and have a ball...

[Malice]

Posted: 10/22/06 at 5:21pm

My all time favorite Billy Joel song, to one of my all time favorite tv shows, Bosom Buddies.

Any love out there for the Greatest American Hero? One of my favorite Seinfeld episodes was when George put the tune on his answering machine.

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 10/23/06 at 1:49am

I'm pretty sure I Dream Of Jeannie's theme did have lyrics written for its music, but they were abandoned.

I'm one of those dorks who loved and even made my own TV theme CD. I love the theme of Greatest American Hero! I didn't even watch the show but I love the song.

So many good ones but I think my ultimate favorite was Perfect Strangers.

Standing tall on the wings of my dream
Rise and fall on the wings of my dream
The rain and thunder
The wind and haze
Look down on better days
It's my life
My Dream
Nothing's Gonna Stop Me Now!

Followed closely by Growing Pains.

Can't ignore the classic Inspector Gadget though. or Saved By The Bell. or the Muppet Show. And Who's the Boss became pretty famous.

The industry weas heading toward this trend though. With shows like Full House and Family Matters among others I'm sure, much longer themes were written but at one point early on in the run they cut the theme down b/c they thought a long song was losing viewers. So we went from shortened songs to no songs.

[TomMonster]

Posted: 10/23/06 at 2:44am

Damn! I'm late to this thread...

A big part of my "hole" career has been writing theme songs to pilots that have not been picked up!! (Yeah, I'm that good!hehehe)

It was that awkward period when no one wanted them anymore. Ya know, when Seinfeld only needed a simple bass lick to introduce the show...

Then "The Nanny" had that brilliant piece from Ann Hampton Calloway... That still didn't change anything. Thought it would, didn't.

That's when Kelsey wrote his own theme song for Frasier. Don't know what it means...I assume the "sausage and scrambled eggs" is a metaphor for the situation itself--various items that actually can work together.

I had the privilege to collaborate with one of the "Cheers" theme writers on a new sitcom. Didn't take.

Oh well...residuals are key, and some of mine are good, but I look at the 88's and see the endless possibilities within those keys. You only need one combination of those "keys" to make a hit theme song...not the focus of my work, but what the hell...

Just as a heads up for any young composers out there reading this: When you are asked to write a theme song for a TV show, it's ALWAYS on spec. Meaning, you have to deliver a fully produced track for them to use for the pilot (with all of the subsequent variations of whatever they need: 30, 20, 10, 5, etc, seconds).

Out of pocket expense. If they don't use it. Gone. If the pilot is picked up, you are paid for the usage. And it continues to pay if it's a hit. It can add up in a MAJOR way.

I've completely oversimplified this...so don't take any of it as gospel.

This is why it's hard for newbies to break into the market and also why the networks don't want to pay for theme songs. They ain't cheap--

Residuals must be paid...

Check please!

[Elphaba3]

Posted: 10/23/06 at 3:04am

I'm related to Vic Mizzy, who wrote the Addams Family and Green Acres theme songs.

[TomMonster]

Posted: 10/23/06 at 3:20am

So cool, Elphaba!!

Also wanted to say how much I love ANYTHING Thomas Newman has written--he's also a really nice guy. And cute as hell.

Updated On: 10/23/06 at 03:20 AM

[Incognito]

Posted: 10/23/06 at 5:36am

Spoken: One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight. Schlemeel, schlemazel, hasenfeffer incorporated.

We’re gonna do it!
Give us any chance, we’ll take it.
Give us any rule, we’ll break it.
We’re gonna make our dreams come true.
Doin’ it our way...

Laverne & Shirley! It took me years to get hold of a copy of this, I still love it...

Updated On: 10/23/06 at 05:36 AM

[JohnBoy2]

Posted: 10/23/06 at 6:36am

10 favorite television themes:

Room 222
The Waltons
The Time Tunnel
The Virginian
Who's The Boss
Dynasty
That Girl (original season 1 theme)
Lost In Space (both themes)
Barnaby Jones
Wonder Woman

[DG]

Posted: 10/23/06 at 7:07am

"I'm so glad we had this time together,
Just to have a laugh, or sing a song.
Seems we just get started and before you know it
Comes the time we have to say, 'So long.' "
- Joe Hamilton

[GuyfromGermany]

Posted: 10/23/06 at 7:16am

Dawsons Creek - "Run Like Mad" (only Season 1 and only in international airings)
Bette - "Nobody Else But You"
The Nanny - "The Nanny Named Fran"
Buffy - The Vampire Slayer
Fraggle Rock
Ally McBeal - "Searchin' My Soul"

Updated On: 10/23/06 at 07:16 AM

[blueroses]

Posted: 10/23/06 at 8:34am

Twelvy, I LOVED the theme song to It's a Living! "Life's not...the French Riviera!"

gavrochegirl...good call. Instrumental opening in SFU is great. I also get a kick out of the circus-type music for Curb Your Enthusiasm.

For Malice:

"Believe it or not
George isn't at home
Please leave your message
at the beep
I must be out
or I'd pick up the phone
Where could I be?
Believe it or not
I'm not hoooooooooome..."

[JohnBoy2]

Posted: 10/23/06 at 9:28am

IT'S A LIVING is a great theme song!

[Garland Grrrl]

Posted: 10/23/06 at 9:29am

instrumentals:
THE ODD COUPLE
SANFORD & SON


Lyrics;
THE MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW -- this is also my personal theme song that plays when i walk down the street.
and of course, THE NANNY.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 10/23/06 at 9:29am

THE NANNY!!!!!!!

[blueroses]

Posted: 10/23/06 at 9:31am

I loved Ann Jillian! And remember, she spoke openly about her breast cancer and was an advocate for research when people didn't like to speak about the subject.

[best12bars]

Posted: 10/23/06 at 9:32am

Speaking of lyrics vs. no lyrics...

The "Wonder Woman" theme was sung in the first season, and then played as an instrumental in subsequent seasons.

And "Buck Rogers" had its (very nice) theme sung in the pilot movie only... and it was an instrumental version after that!

TomMonster, that's so cool! Even if they were near misses.

My own experience starts and ends with jingle writing... something else you see (or hear?) very little of these days.

[blueroses]

Posted: 10/23/06 at 9:32am

Oh Rath, The Nanny is fabulous.

Both versions...Calloway's and Amato's.

[DG]

Posted: 10/23/06 at 9:34am

"People let me tell you 'bout my best friend,
He's a warm hearted person who'll love me till the end.
People let me tell you bout my best friend,
He's a one boy cuddly toy, my up, my down, my pride and joy.

People let me tell you 'bout him he's so much fun
Whether we're talkin' man to man or whether we're talking son to son.
Cause he's my best friend.
Yes he's my best friend."

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 10/23/06 at 9:35am

No, blue, only Callaway's.