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Beau Peep Notice Board => Outpourings => Topic started by: Rob Baker on July 07, 2009, 10:58:19 PM

Title: What's the greatest ever TV theme ?
Post by: Rob Baker on July 07, 2009, 10:58:19 PM
My money's on John Barry's 'The Persuaders':

<"http://www.youtube.com/v/bgLEdvRKAYI&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0">   
Title: Re: What's the greatest ever TV theme ?
Post by: Mince on July 07, 2009, 11:21:23 PM
Don't get me started.

Hawaii Five-O by the Ventures is the best.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUeacmnyS84
Title: Re: What's the greatest ever TV theme ?
Post by: Mince on July 07, 2009, 11:33:47 PM
And of course:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WZW4groJro
Title: Re: What's the greatest ever TV theme ?
Post by: Mince on July 07, 2009, 11:56:23 PM
Oh, and ask Tarquin what an SPV is, what he named his first big car (which was an olive green Vauxhall Cavalier), and which of the Captain Scarlet Angels (Melody, Harmony or Rhapsody) he had a crush on.
Title: Re: What's the greatest ever TV theme ?
Post by: Tarquin Thunderthighs lll on July 08, 2009, 01:11:41 AM
Is nothing sacred? Okay - Spectrum Pursuit Vehicle, Thunderbird 2...and all of them!

Can't make up my mind between these...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVgyxhe849k

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-aIKKpZtDs&feature=related

or

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IID-jIfwUhc&feature=related
Title: Re: What's the greatest ever TV theme ?
Post by: Diane CBPFC on July 08, 2009, 01:38:02 AM
I liked the music from Flambards. Dum dum de dum dum, dum dum de dilldly dum dum. Remeber that?
Title: Re: What's the greatest ever TV theme ?
Post by: Colin on July 08, 2009, 01:40:22 AM
My money would be on this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5i_pEYGe1o
Title: Re: What's the greatest ever TV theme ?
Post by: Joan on July 08, 2009, 07:18:45 AM
This one deserves a mention:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxIuIxqo2So

this is probably my favourite

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUQzNIxGLyM

and the classic The Saint

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFaIhXEt6hg




Title: Re: What's the greatest ever TV theme ?
Post by: Malc on July 08, 2009, 08:44:33 AM
Rob, I'm right with you there. I saw the thread title and thought "The Persuaders - no-one's going to think of that" but, er...you did.

High Chaparral, The Big Country, those are also up there, and there was another (I think) John Barry theme for a series called The Baron? Has anyone mentioned Doctor Who? If not, why not?

The Lone Ranger doesn't count, it's classical music co-opted into TV fpr the boneheads who hadn't heard of Rossini or, for that matter, Beethoven.
Title: Re: What's the greatest ever TV theme ?
Post by: Malc on July 08, 2009, 09:04:30 AM
How about Man In A Suitcase? It could be that I thought Richard Bradford
was the toughest of the actors in fight scenes. He looked the real deal. He also had that Steve McQueen style understated acting style.

Ooh! Ooh! Van Der Valk! Can't argue with a theme that was also a huge chart hit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sevbNtkIzH8&feature=related
Title: Re: What's the greatest ever TV theme ?
Post by: Roger Kettle on July 08, 2009, 09:17:53 AM
Great thread, Rob. I'll have to think about this and get back to you later.
Title: Re: What's the greatest ever TV theme ?
Post by: Tarquin Thunderthighs lll on July 08, 2009, 10:14:41 AM

Here's another absolute gem that's almost impossible to shift from your head once you've listened to it...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Wwm2_JJLYY




But for sheer variety, passion and tugging of emotional strings, this has to be my all-time favourite. It's 3 minutes of chest-swelling pride, every second a gem, and each of those seconds taken in isolation totally identifiable with the programme. There's no video with this one, but it is the full version - just close your eyes and you'll see all you need to see.

My nomination for the greatest theme tune of all time is...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wi5Xe2V0d2o
Title: Re: What's the greatest ever TV theme ?
Post by: Joan on July 08, 2009, 12:26:05 PM
Quote
The Lone Ranger doesn't count, it's classical music co-opted into TV fpr the boneheads who hadn't heard of Rossini or, for that matter, Beethoven.

That was purely nostalgia, Malc - when you're 6 where the music came from doesn't matter - it sticks with you forever.
Title: Re: What's the greatest ever TV theme ?
Post by: Mince on July 08, 2009, 04:32:42 PM
The Follyfoot theme music always scared me as a kid for some reason.
Title: Re: What's the greatest ever TV theme ?
Post by: Mince on July 08, 2009, 04:43:37 PM
Mind you, The Tomorrow People music scared me as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xez4o1ujOPI
Title: Re: What's the greatest ever TV theme ?
Post by: Tarquin Thunderthighs lll on July 08, 2009, 04:46:25 PM
The Follyfoot theme music always scared me as a kid for some reason.

Whoa! The theme from an over-sentimental girlie series about horsies scared you? Are you sure you want to admit this on a publicly accessible forum visited by thousands of people each day?

Or were you hit by lightning whilst standing under a tree as a child? In which case I apologise, and shall stifle my chuckles to a minimum.
Title: Re: What's the greatest ever TV theme ?
Post by: Tarquin Thunderthighs lll on July 08, 2009, 04:53:27 PM
Mind you, The Tomorrow People music scared me as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xez4o1ujOPI

Yes... well... that was proper scary.  :-\
Title: Re: What's the greatest ever TV theme ?
Post by: Roger Kettle on July 08, 2009, 06:35:23 PM
Has Bonanza been mentioned? I used to like the self-combusting map in the title series.
Title: Re: What's the greatest ever TV theme ?
Post by: Mince on July 08, 2009, 06:48:08 PM
Whoa! The theme from an over-sentimental girlie series about horsies scared you? Are you sure you want to admit this on a publicly accessible forum visited by thousands of people each day?

Or were you hit by lightning whilst standing under a tree as a child? In which case I apologise, and shall stifle my chuckles to a minimum.

It was just the music.
Title: Re: What's the greatest ever TV theme ?
Post by: Mince on July 08, 2009, 06:48:53 PM
Of course, there's also:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTsMx1DGfNk

And you could dance to this one.
Title: Re: What's the greatest ever TV theme ?
Post by: robbie62 on July 08, 2009, 09:43:07 PM
surely this one!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcII9pcGNL4
Title: Re: What's the greatest ever TV theme ?
Post by: Vulture on July 08, 2009, 09:55:27 PM
Of course, there's also:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTsMx1DGfNk

And you (Mince) could dance to this one.


And just what dance was that - the Twist?
Title: Re: What's the greatest ever TV theme ?
Post by: Tom on July 08, 2009, 10:15:56 PM
I'm going for the comedy classics... Rising Damp, Mind Your Language, Bewitched and The Munsters. Fun tunes!

I like Flambard's theme too!
Title: Re: What's the greatest ever TV theme ?
Post by: Tarquin Thunderthighs lll on July 09, 2009, 09:06:09 AM
Has Bonanza been mentioned? I used to like the self-combusting map in the title series.

Oh, good call, Roger...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTWB_ByQD4w


And then there's this one too...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JOO2EZqwVk&NR=1
Title: Re: What's the greatest ever TV theme ?
Post by: Tarquin Thunderthighs lll on July 09, 2009, 09:13:50 AM
Ooh, ooh - then there's this one. Classic! Where have all the cowboys gone?.... :(


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWet2qgieVc&feature=PlayList&p=E23E09E9310CE865&index=0
Title: Re: What's the greatest ever TV theme ?
Post by: Vulture on July 09, 2009, 04:50:13 PM
Ooh, ooh - then there's this one. Classic! Where have all the cowboys gone?.... :(


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWet2qgieVc&feature=PlayList&p=E23E09E9310CE865&index=0

I thought they'd all had a change of career and become builders? ..0
Title: Re: What's the greatest ever TV theme ?
Post by: Vulture on July 09, 2009, 05:00:07 PM
You CAN'T beat this one!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWa7cuM5CXA
Title: Re: What's the greatest ever TV theme ?
Post by: robbie62 on July 09, 2009, 08:20:16 PM
ladies and gentlemen , i give you

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-B_FQKHQDYk
Title: Re: What's the greatest ever TV theme ?
Post by: Tarquin Thunderthighs lll on July 09, 2009, 11:33:31 PM

Great theme tune/song, and, in my opinion, probably the best TV programme ever made...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICiFnQrHOrk&feature=related
Title: Re: What's the greatest ever TV theme ?
Post by: Vulture on July 10, 2009, 07:19:30 AM

Great theme tune/song, and, in my opinion, probably the best TV programme ever made...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICiFnQrHOrk&feature=related

Yes. I agree with you, Tarks. (I think I was lead astray by the 'cowboy theme' - I think the BEST [English] tv programme EVER made is 'The Good Life': just not impressed with the theme tune!)
Title: Re: What's the greatest ever TV theme ?
Post by: Roger Kettle on July 10, 2009, 10:14:27 AM
My first introduction to M*A*S*H was the book---back in about 1970---which inspired me to see the film. I thought both were brilliant. When the T.V. series came along, I thought it was pretty good but lacked the "edge" of the first two incarnations. American television at the time was a thoroughly sanitised medium and the series suffered because of this. Nonetheless, there were some great moments and it had, mostly, a terrific cast. It's a pity that, because of the restrictions, the writers took the sentimental, maudlin route far too often for my liking. It would be really interesting to see what a top production team would do with it today.
Title: Re: What's the greatest ever TV theme ?
Post by: Tarquin Thunderthighs lll on July 10, 2009, 10:51:16 AM
I take your point entirely, Roger, and M*A*S*H (to give it its full title) would've been a very different series if it had been made today, especially by the risk-taking channels.

I'm not entirely convinced it would be better however. I'm pretty sure I saw the TV series before I saw the film (I didn't read the book), and I recall being disappointed by the film, possibly because I'd already got used to the TV actors playing the parts, and not all were the same as the film. But for its time, the issues it tackled and the way it tackled them (it was sanitised, yes, but there was still some fairly graphic scenes for what was effectively a soap opera) was ground-breaking, and I thought the characterisations were superb and completely convincing. I loved them all, even Burns and Houlihan.

Yes, it could be over-sentimental at times, and that probably wouldn't happen today (though I'm not convinced of that), but I didn't necessarily see that as a bad thing (I admit to being a Waltons devotee also - I was still young), and the power of the series was there always. It was the first 'comedy' series (and only one that I can think of) that could not only make you laugh and cry virtually at will, but also bloody angry.

All that said, I dare not watch any reruns. I'd hate to prove myself wrong.
Title: Re: What's the greatest ever TV theme ?
Post by: Malc on July 11, 2009, 09:29:42 AM
At the top of this thread I wrote "The Big Country" when I meant "The Big Valley".

"The Big Country" was a film.
This correction caused me to go looking on You Tube and I stumbled across this bloody wonderful band and song. Take a look

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXHOyqHzupk&feature=related
Title: Re: What's the greatest ever TV theme ?
Post by: robbie62 on July 11, 2009, 12:04:56 PM
what the fleck was that...if only the beatles have had a bassoon player ..