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You are here: MacNN Forums > Community > MacNN Lounge > The Art of the Theme Tune (and title sequence)

The Art of the Theme Tune (and title sequence)
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Doc HM
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Jul 19, 2010, 10:41 AM
 
BOy, modern TV shows seem to have really crappy theme tunes and the art of the title sequence seems to have vanished forever. Back in the day it used to be part of the whole experience of viewing your favourite shows. Now part of that will have been that you HAD to wait a week to see the next episode and once it was gone that was it until a rare repeat came along (yes US cable has always been slightly different in this respect).

But I really miss the excellent theme tune and cracking title sequence. The apogee of this must be Dr Who with it's brilliant and innovative theme and famous time tunnel title sequence. This is the one thing the new series has blown. Give me the original Delia Derbyshire version and the John Pertwee era titles and I'm in heaven.

Which shows to you think had ace theme tunes or title sequences (or both). I've got:

Dr Who (both)
The Rockford Files (funk kay)
The X Files (music only, titles were OK, but not great)
Star Trek Voyager (show was crap but the music and titles were cool)
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Doofy
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Jul 19, 2010, 12:25 PM
 
Even whole shows these days aren't as good as title sequences of old...

YouTube - Hawaii Five-0 intro Metal Version By Sylvain Cloux
Been inclined to wander... off the beaten track.
That's where there's thunder... and the wind shouts back.
     
Sage
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Jul 19, 2010, 01:21 PM
 
I quite like the new DW opening… first time I saw it I wasn’t sure about it at all, but it’s really grown on me. I absolutely love how near the end they take the logo TARDIS and rotate it to turn it into a real TARDIS.

My other favorite would be Futurama (the theme song has been my ringtone for quite a while now).
     
-Q-
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Jul 19, 2010, 02:11 PM
 
I think there are a few shows that do their title sequence/theme song rather well. Less so than in days gone by, but they're still out there:

Chuck
Mad Men
Firefly (Not a big fan of the song, but really fit the show well.)
True Blood
Justified (Obviously strongly influenced by the design of True Blood's.)

And for some classics:

Knight Rider
The Jeffersons
The A-Team
Magnum PI
CHiPs
MASH
Cheers
MacGyver

And I do love me some Rockford Files theme.
     
Laminar
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Jul 19, 2010, 04:42 PM
 
Opening credits annoy me. It was a relief when Venture Bros. got rid of the minute plus theme.
     
angelmb
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Jul 19, 2010, 04:52 PM
 
     
mattyb
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Jul 19, 2010, 04:56 PM
 
Hill Street Blues

Rockford Files ftw
     
Spheric Harlot
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Jul 19, 2010, 05:07 PM
 
You're all raving on Rockford Files, but nobody's mentioned Streets of San Francisco?

WTF is wrong with you people?

YouTube - The Streets of San Francisco
     
mattyb
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Jul 19, 2010, 06:26 PM
 
You're just a vintage keyboard whore aren't you ?
     
Spheric Harlot
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Jul 19, 2010, 06:58 PM
 
That yes, but it's the funk that gets me, really.
     
ghporter
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Jul 19, 2010, 08:44 PM
 
Those '70s and early '80s shows all tried to cash in on popular music trends, thus plenty of funk in their theme music. Or Mike Post wrote them and they are just awesome anyway. For example, the following series had themes written by Mik Post:
The Rockford Files
Hill Street Blues (Grammy)
Murder One (Grammy)
NYPD Blue (Grammy nominated)
L. A. Law (BMI award)
Law & Order (various, also BMI awarded)
The Greatest American Hero (Billboard #1 single)
The A-Team
Baa Baa Black Sheep
Blossom
CHiPs
The Commish
Doogie Howser, M.D.
Hardcastle & McCormick,
Hooperman
Hunter
MacGyver
Magnum, P.I.
NewsRadio
Profit
Quantum Leap
Renegade
Riptide
Silk Stalkings
Stingray
Tenspeed and Brown Shoe
Wiseguy
BBC's Roughnecks
(Mike Post - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

Glenn -----OTR/L, MOT, Tx
     
imitchellg5
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Jul 19, 2010, 10:49 PM
 
Top Gear.
     
0157988944
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Jul 19, 2010, 10:59 PM
 
The "Fringe" title sequence is great, especially the music. Personally, though, I'm more of a fan of title-cards. The same wasted minute of theme song and montage every week takes away from my TV!
     
SpaceMonkey
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Jul 20, 2010, 12:55 AM
 

"One ticket to Washington, please. I have a date with destiny."
     
mattyb
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Jul 20, 2010, 04:51 AM
 
I like CSI (except for that ginga twat in Miami) and using The Who was a stroke of genius.
     
BadKosh
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Jul 20, 2010, 12:15 PM
 
Remember when those TV Themes set up the show?

"Gilligan's Island" is a good example.
They explained the set-up in the lyrics.

"Time Tunnel" was also pretty good.
     
Laminar
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Jul 20, 2010, 12:27 PM
 
Green Acres.
     
besson3c
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Jul 20, 2010, 12:33 PM
 
How about Fat Albert? That was Herbie Hancock... YouTube - Fat Albert Opening Theme

Sesame St. was also quite catchy, the harmonica player was Toots Thielsman (Toots Thielemans - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia).
     
-Q-
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Jul 20, 2010, 01:11 PM
 
Sanford and Son is also a favorite.
     
besson3c
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Jul 20, 2010, 01:31 PM
 
Originally Posted by -Q- View Post
Sanford and Son is also a favorite.

Yeah, the music written by your namesake!
     
Spheric Harlot
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Jul 20, 2010, 01:52 PM
 
Originally Posted by besson3c View Post
How about Fat Albert? That was Herbie Hancock... YouTube - Fat Albert Opening Theme
     
The Final Dakar
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Jul 20, 2010, 01:57 PM
 
Lost.
     
imitchellg5
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Jul 20, 2010, 06:17 PM
 
LOST is probably the best ever.
     
Doc HM  (op)
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Jul 21, 2010, 03:48 PM
 
We all know and love the Thunderbirds theme and titles (come on everybody, 5...4...3...2...1... Thunderbirds are GO!). But Gerry Anderson delivered some funkadelic gems as a follow up.

Joe 90
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2d9QZFdW8uQl

UFO
YouTube - UFO TV Show Opening Sequence
Set in 1980 don't you know!
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Doc HM  (op)
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Jul 21, 2010, 03:50 PM
 
Sadly later show Space 1999 never lived up to it's mighty theme tune and exciting title sequence. What TV show could?
YouTube - Space: 1999 - TV intro (season 1) HQ (1975)
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Spheric Harlot
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Jul 21, 2010, 05:21 PM
 
Originally Posted by Doc HM View Post
We all know and love the Thunderbirds theme and titles (come on everybody, 5...4...3...2...1... Thunderbirds are GO!). But Gerry Anderson delivered some funkadelic gems as a follow up.

Joe 90
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2d9QZFdW8uQl

UFO
YouTube - UFO TV Show Opening Sequence
Set in 1980 don't you know!
Both of these are monstrous.

The former I didn't know about; the latter is one of my favorite series ever.

Thanks!
     
   
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