Jedi Council Forums - Selling The Show: TV Themes

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Author	Topic: Selling The Show: TV Themes - Now discussing: "Hawaii 5-0"
JediTrilobite Registered: Nov '99	Date Posted: 3/29/06 11:55am Subject: Selling The Show: TV Themes - Now discussing: "Hawaii 5-0" - Date Edited: 11/26 7:43pm (45 edits total) Edited By: Zaz
	The TV Opening Credits thread gave me an idea- The Opening Sequences are undoubtably important to the show, but the really important part, most of the time, is the theme song for the television series. It's the part that you can hum to yourself even when not seeing the show, or something to sing along with if you have no shame what so ever. They tend to be definitive and catchy and can often sell the show. So, in this hosted discussion, we're going to examine theme songs for TV shows, new and old. I'll welcome suggestions for two a week. We'll take a look at how well the theme song fits with the show in question and how it sounds in general. So, to start us off, we're going to go with Buffy the Vampire Slayer and the Dukes of Hazzard. Buffy the Vampire Slayer: One of Joss Whedon's creations, and one that I haven't seen at all, which is something I'm hoping to correct soon. Total length is about a minute, and is a pretty fast theme with lots of guitars and sounds a bit like a rock song, which sounds kinda weird for a show about Vampires, although this show takes place in the present day, IIRC. Take a listen: http://mythemes.tv/series/themes/opening/buffythe.mp3 Dukes of Hazzard: This is a very fun song for the show, and essentially tells the story of what the show is all about. It's sung by Waylon Jennings. Lyrics: Just the good ol' boys, Never meanin' no harm, Beats all you've ever saw, been in trouble with the law since the day they was born. Straight'nin' the curve, Flat'nin' the hills. Someday the moutain might get 'em, but the law never will. Makin' their way, The only way they know how, That's just a little bit more than the law will allow. Just good ol' boys, Wouldn't change if they could, Fightin' the system like a true modern day Robin Hood. It's country and in my mind, really sells the show very well. Take a listen: http://mythemes.tv/series/themes/opening/dukesofh.mp3 Discuss! Shows covered in this thread: Buffy the Vampire Slayer Dukes of Hazzard MASH Arrested Development House, MD Star Trek: The Original Series Alias Battlestar Galactica (Original) A-Team Grey's Anatomy Stargate SG-1 *Stargate Atlantis Mission Impossible X-Files Babylon 5, Season 1 Babylon 5, Season 2 Babylon 5, Season 3 Babylon 5, Season 4 Babylon 5, Season 5 ER Adventures of Rin Tin Tin Scrubs Sopranos Fawlty Towers Futurama Standoff Hack Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman Grey's Anatomy Yes, Prime Minister Monty Python's Flying Circus Sex and the City Friends Logan's Run Lost in Space Andy Griffith Show Baywatch Red Dwarf Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Adventures of Johnny Quest Family Guy -----signature----- Ever wonder what happened during the clone wars? Visit: http://www.theclonewarz.net My Blogs: http://www.jeditrilobite.com , http://tk3220.wordpress.com TK-3220, NEG VT Rep
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Zaz Title: Manager, The Ampitheatre Registered: Oct '98	Date Posted: 3/29/06 1:03pm Subject: RE: Selling The Show: TV Themes - Now discussing Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Dukes of Hazzard
	The "Dukes of Hazzard" is a good theme. The song isn't much, but it suits the show. Easy, lazy, and mildly amusing.
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JediTrilobite Registered: Nov '99	Date Posted: 3/29/06 2:06pm Subject: RE: Selling The Show: TV Themes - Now discussing Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Dukes of Hazzard
	Very much so, and it's fun to listen to, much like the show is to talk. IMO, it suits it perfectly. -----signature----- Ever wonder what happened during the clone wars? Visit: http://www.theclonewarz.net My Blogs: http://www.jeditrilobite.com , http://tk3220.wordpress.com TK-3220, NEG VT Rep
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Forcefire Registered: Jul '00	Date Posted: 3/29/06 2:37pm Subject: RE: Selling The Show: TV Themes - Now discussing Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Dukes of Hazzard
	JediTrilobite posted: Total length is about a minute, and is a pretty fast theme with lots of guitars and sounds a bit like a rock song, which sounds kinda weird for a show about Vampires, although this show takes place in the present day, IIRC. I guess I could see why one would think the style is an odd choice for a vampire show, but that's also the point, I think. Buffy is a complete mishmash of genres (comedy, drama, action, horror, musical once), so the music should reflect that wish to defy classification. Star Wars trivia: the band that performs it is called Nerf Herder. The Dukes of Hazzard theme is just plain fun. -----signature----- "Dear Diary, today I was pompous and my sister was crazy. Today we were kidnapped by hillfolk, never to be seen again. It was the best day ever." Jayne Cobb, the Hero of Canton
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JediTrilobite Registered: Nov '99	Date Posted: 3/30/06 7:41am Subject: RE: Selling The Show: TV Themes - Now discussing Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Dukes of Hazzard
	Nerf Herders? Pretty funny, that. -----signature----- Ever wonder what happened during the clone wars? Visit: http://www.theclonewarz.net My Blogs: http://www.jeditrilobite.com , http://tk3220.wordpress.com TK-3220, NEG VT Rep
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hansen Registered: Apr '03	Date Posted: 3/30/06 12:43pm Subject: RE: Selling The Show: TV Themes - Now discussing Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Dukes of Hazzard - Date Edited: 3/30/06 12:45pm (1 edits total) Edited By: hansen
	About the rock vibe to the Buffy theme song: The idea it that the song starts out as classic horror movie with scary organ music, and then it suddenly transform into a rock song. This tells us that neither the show nor the main character want to do the vampire/demon/horror thing the traditional way, but rather bring their own youth and attitude to it. Personally I love the themesong and it's easily one of my favorite TV themes ever... -----signature----- Hansen: An "Oct 01" in disguise... "I will not be subjugated by the common perception of night and day"
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JediTrilobite Registered: Nov '99	Date Posted: 3/30/06 2:39pm Subject: RE: Selling The Show: TV Themes - Now discussing Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Dukes of Hazzard
	I think that it works good. It's quirkiness is nice. -----signature----- Ever wonder what happened during the clone wars? Visit: http://www.theclonewarz.net My Blogs: http://www.jeditrilobite.com , http://tk3220.wordpress.com TK-3220, NEG VT Rep
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Zaz Title: Manager, The Ampitheatre Registered: Oct '98	Date Posted: 3/30/06 11:23pm Subject: RE: Selling The Show: TV Themes - Now discussing Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Dukes of Hazzard
	I have seen some Buffy episodes but didn't remember the theme song at all. Then I listened to it, and remembered why I didn't remember it. It starts promisingly, but then goes into a monotonous rock beat for far too long.
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JediTrilobite Registered: Nov '99	Date Posted: 4/1/06 11:45am Subject: RE: Selling The Show: TV Themes - Now discussing Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Dukes of Hazzard
	Really? I would have thought that the mix of both would make it more memorable. -----signature----- Ever wonder what happened during the clone wars? Visit: http://www.theclonewarz.net My Blogs: http://www.jeditrilobite.com , http://tk3220.wordpress.com TK-3220, NEG VT Rep
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JediTrilobite Registered: Nov '99	Date Posted: 4/4/06 10:50am Subject: RE: Selling The Show: TV Themes - Now discussing Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Dukes of Hazzard
	Alrighty, moving to two new themes: MASH and Arrested Developement MASH. Arrested Developement. MASH has a very cool opening theme, not really something that you'd expect from a War/Medical drama, although with the opening images, it works really well. Arrested Developement is a nice intro to the show. Now the story about a wealthy family who lost everything, and the one son who had no choice but to keep them together. The background song is catchy, and very fun to listen to, although it's only 15 seconds long. Thoughts? -----signature----- Ever wonder what happened during the clone wars? Visit: http://www.theclonewarz.net My Blogs: http://www.jeditrilobite.com , http://tk3220.wordpress.com TK-3220, NEG VT Rep
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Zaz Title: Manager, The Ampitheatre Registered: Oct '98	Date Posted: 4/4/06 12:06pm Subject: RE: Selling The Show: TV Themes - Now discussing MASH/Arrested Development
	I never liked the MASH themesong, either for the movie or for the TV show. It's a trunk song, I think; somebody wrote it, stuffed it in their trunk, and hauled it out when it became useful, but didn't tailor it much to suit the vehicle it was attached to. "Suicide is Painless" is both not true and dumb. The lyrics are awkward, too.
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Ive_Got_Two_Legs Registered: Jul '05	Date Posted: 4/4/06 12:07pm Subject: RE: Selling The Show: TV Themes - Now discussing MASH/Arrested Development
	Great themes from great shows both. I really liked the extended opening theme form the MASH pilot; one thing that I din't like about the MASH theme is how it ends. And once Radar left the show and they couldn't have the opening start with him looking out at the choppers, it didn't feel as complete... -----signature----- "Where's your sense of optimism?" "It opted out."
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solojones Registered: Sep '00	Date Posted: 4/4/06 12:27pm Subject: RE: Selling The Show: TV Themes - Now discussing MASH/Arrested Development
	Wow, my two favourite TV shows being discussed at once. "Suicide is Painless" is indeed a strange song if you're actually listening to the whole thing with lyrics. Kind of uncomfortable, actually, because I completely disagree with it. But out of that context, and in the lyric-free context of MAS*H... the thing is, it's so incredibly iconic that I have trouble judging whether it's really a good theme song for the show or not. I like the theme a lot because it's such a part of me. Whenever I heard that song playing somewhere in my house, I knew inevitably that my whole family would soon be gathered there. The theme for Arrested Development is brilliant and quirky, a perfect fit for the show. The synth organ and ukeleli (sp) are perfect for this oddball show. Not to mention the matching titles are awesome. Really, all the original music for this show is great. -----signature----- 6 x 9 = 42 Proud member of the Colbert Nation My short films: http://www.youtube.com/solojones1138
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JediTrilobite Registered: Nov '99	Date Posted: 4/5/06 4:29am Subject: RE: Selling The Show: TV Themes - Now discussing MASH/Arrested Development
	I actually haven't listened to the entire song, but it does kind of fit with the entire theme of the show. -----signature----- Ever wonder what happened during the clone wars? Visit: http://www.theclonewarz.net My Blogs: http://www.jeditrilobite.com , http://tk3220.wordpress.com TK-3220, NEG VT Rep
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TheBoogieMan Title: Manager Emeritus Registered: Nov '01	Date Posted: 4/5/06 5:20am Subject: RE: Selling The Show: TV Themes - Now discussing MASH/Arrested Development
	The MASH theme is elevator music. The lyrics however, while in themselves make no sense in context of the program, fit in the sense that they are strongly ironic and world-weary.
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JediTrilobite Registered: Nov '99	Date Posted: 4/5/06 6:48am Subject: RE: Selling The Show: TV Themes - Now discussing MASH/Arrested Development
	Yeah, that's what I meant. -----signature----- Ever wonder what happened during the clone wars? Visit: http://www.theclonewarz.net My Blogs: http://www.jeditrilobite.com , http://tk3220.wordpress.com TK-3220, NEG VT Rep
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