What's the greatest ever TV theme ?

[Rob Baker]

My money's on John Barry's 'The Persuaders':

<"http://www.youtube.com/v/bgLEdvRKAYI&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0">   

[Mince]

Don't get me started.

Hawaii Five-O by the Ventures is the best.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUeacmnyS84

[Mince]

And of course:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WZW4groJro

[Mince]

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.

[Tarquin Thunderthighs lll]

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

[Diane CBPFC]

I liked the music from Flambards. Dum dum de dum dum, dum dum de dilldly dum dum. Remeber that?

[Colin]

My money would be on this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5i_pEYGe1o

[Joan]

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

[Malc]

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.

[Malc]

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

[Roger Kettle]

Great thread, Rob. I'll have to think about this and get back to you later.

[Tarquin Thunderthighs lll]

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

[Joan]

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.

[Mince]

The Follyfoot theme music always scared me as a kid for some reason.

[Mince]

Mind you, The Tomorrow People music scared me as well.

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