the 'TV Series with unforgettable music' Thread by chrisisall

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the 'TV Series with unforgettable music' Thread

POSTED BY: CHRISISALL
UPDATED: Monday, September 20, 2010 15:44
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Wednesday, September 08, 2010 1:31 PM

Down the centuries you have slurred the meaning of the words, WE THE PEOPLE...

I think we can all agree that Firefly had AMAZING music- the kind that drifts into your mind at random times, bringing that smile to your face despite yourself.

But other shows have had excellent musical scores as well. What notes play in your head when you least expect them (I focus on series scores here 'cause in general, they have less time & money to produce them, making them all the more impressive when they ARE great IMO)?

I find these series' music dancing on my synapses quite often:

Star Trek TOS (usually the Constellation theme...:evil:) The Prisoner (Main Title AND incidental- It's ALL good!!) Dark Angel (love that end credit music)

And, once in a while...

Incredible Hulk Secret Agent CHUCK

You all make a list; I'll check it twice...

The naughty & nice Chrisisall

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Wednesday, September 08, 2010 1:36 PM

WHOZIT

I love the theme to "Cheers".....go ahead and laugh but I think it's great. Also, the music to "BONES" rocks!

Those arn't boobs, they're lies! - Stewie Griffin

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Wednesday, September 08, 2010 1:46 PM

MUTT999

Okay. Gonna show my age here. The Avengers had a great main title, and atmospheric incidental. Loved that show.

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Wednesday, September 08, 2010 1:49 PM

CHRISISALL

Down the centuries you have slurred the meaning of the words, WE THE PEOPLE...

Quote:
Originally posted by whozit: I love the theme to "Cheers".....go ahead and laugh but I think it's great.

There was a time "The Greatest American Hero" song flew 'twixt my ears on a regular basis...

The laughing Chrisisall

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Wednesday, September 08, 2010 1:50 PM

CHRISISALL

Down the centuries you have slurred the meaning of the words, WE THE PEOPLE...

Quote:
Originally posted by Mutt999: Okay. Gonna show my age here. The Avengers had a great main title, and atmospheric incidental. Loved that show.

Man From U.N.C.L.E. (Jerry Goldsmith) was VERRRRY catchy as well.

The laughing Chrisisall

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Wednesday, September 08, 2010 1:56 PM

MUTT999

Oh! One more. The U.F.O. main title just plain kicked butt!

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Wednesday, September 08, 2010 2:08 PM

CHRISISALL

Down the centuries you have slurred the meaning of the words, WE THE PEOPLE...

Quote:
Originally posted by Mutt999: Oh! One more. The U.F.O. main title just plain kicked butt!

1980!!! LOL!!! Yeah, that crossed my mind as well.

The laughing Chrisisall

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Wednesday, September 08, 2010 2:47 PM

ECGORDON

There's no place I can be since I found Serenity.

If your talking about theme songs then my list would have to include:

The Twilight Zone Twin Peaks The X-Files True Blood

I re-watch Wonderfalls quite often, and it is a lot like Firefly, I cannot skip past the opening theme, I have to sing along every time.

Another that most people might think strange for someone of my age to mention, but I also love the theme to the Nickelodeon show The Adventures of Pete and Pete, performed by Polaris.

But for a show that was perfect in using music to set the theme and structure of all the episodes, none compares to Cowboy Bebop.

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Wednesday, September 08, 2010 2:54 PM

CHRISISALL

Down the centuries you have slurred the meaning of the words, WE THE PEOPLE...

Quote:
Originally posted by ecgordon: If your talking about theme songs

Not just, but including. I can't tell you how much the incidental music from The Prisoner ep "The Girl Who Was Death" goes through my head. If I ever go deaf, I'll STILL hear all of it!:evil:

The laughing Chrisisall

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Wednesday, September 08, 2010 7:14 PM

THEHAPPYTRADER

I'll never forget that one episode of Castle (Think it was ep 7 or so season 1) where Nathan Fillion was told to stay in the police car while the cops checked the building, and he's going "Puh na na naaa na naaaa naaa naaaa Puh na na na naaaa na na!" and then the bad guy falls on the hood and Nathon's little song is orchestrated in the action music! Hy-Larious!

Found the first part of it on youtube. If I remember correctly the music starts about when this clip ends when he throws the door open.

Also the little whistling bit in the intro is kinda catchy and humorous.

Edit: oh cool, links are videos instead. I'll remember that.

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Wednesday, September 08, 2010 9:00 PM

NAVYSEILS

ATeam and Airwolf are two of mine. I'll never forget those theme tunes. Some of the best parts of a lazy weekend day watching tv as a kid.

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Wednesday, September 08, 2010 9:11 PM

DROCCULARI

For title music, do I even have to say it? Hawaii Five-O

For series score, Lalo Schifrin's music for Mannix

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Wednesday, September 08, 2010 9:55 PM

THESOMNAMBULIST

ECGordon wrote:

Quote:
But for a show that was perfect in using music to set the theme and structure of all the episodes, none compares to Cowboy Bebop.

Spot on! I would pick this as my absolute favourite.

The other show that had the theme that suited the show was Mark Snow's theme for X-Files. Now I was never a fan of the show but that introduction absolutely found the essence of the show. Absolutely brilliant piece of music.

Other good ones.... John Barry's theme for the Persuaders, Nerf Herder for Buffy

Cartoons - http://cirqusartsandmusic.blogspot.com

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Thursday, September 09, 2010 12:58 AM

LWAVES

If we are sticking to TV shows then for main themes the most common is pobably Airwolf for me. That pops up into my head more often than others. But I also get the themes from Cheers and MASH in there as well. I have tendancy to whistle The Twilight Zone theme whenever something weird happens.

If it's something sadder then it's either The Lonely Man theme from The Incredible Hulk, Close Your Eyes from Buffy or Laura Palmer's theme from Twin Peaks which I consider one of the most beautiful pieces ever composed. In fact all the Twin Peaks music suited the show perfectly.

And as we are talking scores here I have to mention the new Battlestar Galactica. Not so much for it's theme or other music (although it was good) but for the way Bear McReary took Hendrix's All Along The Watchtower, then disguised it and wove it into the show as the awakening theme for 4 of the final five. McReary then took the main sequence of notes which, when turned into the numbers on a toned keypad, gave them the coordinates to (our) Earth. A brilliant way of not just having music playing over the scene but have it become part of the scene itself and in an extremely important way.

"The greatest invention ever is not the wheel. It's the second wheel." - Rich Hall

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Thursday, September 09, 2010 1:11 AM

JONGSSTRAW

I like the opening song in Cleopatra 2525. It's what got me to watch this great, underrated series.

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Thursday, September 09, 2010 2:45 AM

IMNOTHERE

Quote:
Originally posted by chrisisall: You all make a list; I'll check it twice...

Sorry, but there can be only one, and it was made in 1963 by cutting up bits of tape and splicing them together:

...the modern versions don't really cut the mustard.

However, I'd also second U.F.O (and add most of the Gerry Anderson shows to the list).

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Thursday, September 09, 2010 3:10 AM

GWEK

The A-Team Mission: Impossible Battlestar Galactica (the original) Firefly (of course!)

On a lighter note: Friends Three's Company

www.stillflying.net: "Here's how it might have been..."

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Thursday, September 09, 2010 3:25 AM

ZEEK

Cheers (totally agree on that theme song) Fresh Prince of Bel Air (if you can't sing that theme song right now you fail at life) Looney Toons (can't really forget that music)

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Thursday, September 09, 2010 5:38 AM

CYBERSNARK

Ignoring main themes and out-of-show "source" music 'cause otherwise we'll be here all year:

There is a bagpipe arrangement of "MacBeth's Theme" in the Gargoyles series, but I can't find it on Youtube. It's basically the last minute or so of this:

Where that "rolling" fanfare kicks in, just done in bagpipes instead of horns. It's one of the only tunes in existence that actually sounds good on the pipes.

Then there's the "Jaffa March," which still sends chills down my spine:

The Klingon Theme which has been with us since TMP:

It's not exactly reused in any series, but "Unicron's Theme" has become my go-to "Cosmic Horror" music.

There's also "Inca Rose" from El Cazadore de la Bruja

For the utterly sweet, there's Beast Player Erin's "lalalila."

Of course, Yoko Kanno's "original" music for Macross Frontier, which is just a pastiche of all of her favourite soundtracks. (Because she's the goddamn Yoko Kanno, that's why.)

Then there's "Dance of Curse" from Escaflowne, again by Kanno-sama.

And I have to give a shout-out to Wreck-55's "The Demon in Me" and "The Will to Love" from W.I.T.C.H. (both were written by Producer Greg Weissman especially for the show).

(Sorry, but there are no "clean" versions. Damn people talkin' over my music.)

An oldie: the "Thundertank" BGM from Thundercats:

The rock/jazz/gospel "impending beatdown music" from Bleach, that plays whenever Ichigo's about to deliver a truly Epic ass-whuppin':

And of course, the four words that can stop any monster, dispell any nightmare, bring down any evil empire, and save the world from total annihilation: "I. Am. The. Doctor."

And a whole bunch of background music from Oban Star Racers that isn't on Youtube.

. . . Y'know, I'm gonna break my "no main themes" rule and add "The March of the High Guard" from Andromeda, because it's just so damn alien and cool:

Lyrics: Heaven burns, the stars are falling, As the enemy draws nigh. Sound the call, fleet and Lancers, "Commonwealth" our battle cry. Face the foe, never waver, Summon fire from the sky. From a million sovereign planets, Scattered through the endless night. Bound by blood and High Guard honour, Hold the line until the light. Hold the line against the Night.

----- We applied the cortical electrodes but were unable to get a neural reaction from either patient.

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Friday, September 10, 2010 9:40 AM

KANEMAN

Opening of "The adventures of Brisco county Jr."...way over the top. You would think it was going to be an epic western.....

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Friday, September 10, 2010 9:42 AM

CHRISISALL

Down the centuries you have slurred the meaning of the words, WE THE PEOPLE...

Quote:
Originally posted by kaneman: Opening of "The adventures of Brisco county Jr."...way over the top. You would think it was going to be an epic western.....

It WAS an epic western.

The laughing Chrisisall

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Friday, September 10, 2010 10:32 AM

KANEMAN

Quote:
Originally posted by chrisisall: Quote:
Originally posted by kaneman: Opening of "The adventures of Brisco county Jr."...way over the top. You would think it was going to be an epic western.....
It WAS an epic western.

The laughing Chrisisall

LOL..I agree one of my alltime favs...got to admit opening tune a bit much for the laughter that comes next...

Now I have to go watch it again...thanks

Happyaboutitisall

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Tuesday, September 14, 2010 1:49 PM

CLJOHNSTON108

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Tuesday, September 14, 2010 5:43 PM

JOURNEY

So I wasn't going to reply, but then I saw that my faves weren't on the list. 'Course that could be because they are a little off the wall, except the last ones. In no particular order, tv music/themes that have gotten stuck in my head:

Theme Songs Witch Hunter Robin - Shell by Bana

Veronica Mars - We Used To Be Friends by The Dandy Warhols Say what you want about the show, I'll probably even agree with you, but the opening song is just fun.

McLeod's Daughters It got way too soapy, but I love the music.

Just orchestral would be: Hogan's Heroes

Magnum It's not musical, but the eyebrow wag at the end is my favorite. :biggrin:

Stargate SG-1 I think one reason this gets stuck on repeat in my brain's iPod is the absolute GENIUS timing of the clips with the music.

Well, that's my part for clogging up the boards with too many links.

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Wednesday, September 15, 2010 4:47 AM

ZEEK

Quote:
Originally posted by Journey: Veronica Mars - We Used To Be Friends by The Dandy Warhols Say what you want about the show, I'll probably even agree with you, but the opening song is just fun.

OK. Best show ever on CW. 3rd season suffered a bit, but the show should still be on the air today.

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Wednesday, September 15, 2010 11:31 AM

AURAPTOR

America loves a winner!

Northern Exposure.

That tune is my default ring for my phone.

:smile:

"The modern definition of 'racist' is someone who is winning an argument with a liberal."

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Monday, September 20, 2010 3:44 PM

ANTHONYT

Freedom is Important because People are Important

Hello,

Crusade's episode music was memorably awful. To this day, I think it was one of the main contributing factors to the failure of the series. It was so grating that it was hard to wait through the bad starter eps hoping for better episodes later on. I learned later that the Bab 5 creator jettisoned the Bab 5 music guy when he did Crusade. Error.

As a child, the Gummi Bears theme song got stuck in my head. Don't get an aneurism laughing.

Besides the main theme, the Klingon music from TMP was practically the best thing in the movie. But that's a film, so I'm cheating there.

--Anthony

Due to the use of Naomi 3.3.2 Beta web filtering, the following people may need to private-message me if they wish to contact me: Auraptor, Kaneman, Piratenews. I apologize for the inconvenience.

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