[Battlestar]

So, we all have our favorite TV shows and themes, but what happens when the tv execs decide to jazz up the theme, change it and make it tottaly different.

I can think Of a few that have been made better, and a few that have been made worse.

One I came across today was the french version of the A-team music.

The Theme in the US had two versions, one for the first 4 seasons and another faster paced one in the fith season. Thsi french one though actually has singing in it.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/brien.h...renchintro.zip

Can any one else think of different versions of themes that they liked or disliked?

Dave.

[Battle]

The theme tune for the first series of House was fantastic then they jazzed it up for the second season and ruined it (I assume they couldnt get the rights to the tune for the second season)

[peterpatch]

Many many years ago, when I was about 7 or 8 years old, I watched Space 1999. I purchased series 1 and 2 a couple of years ago on DVD. Series 1 had a much better theme tune than series 2.

[Battlestar]

Originally Posted by peterpatch

Many many years ago, when I was about 7 or 8 years old, I watched Space 1999. I purchased series 1 and 2 a couple of years ago on DVD. Series 1 had a much better theme tune than series 2.

I actually preffered the season 2 version my self

"V" was another series that had a few differnt themes. The mini series then the one for the final battle and then another one for the 20 odd episode tv show.

Dr who, although having the basic same theme through out its life has had many incarnations. The peter Davidson 1980s version being my favorite

[Battlestar]

Originally Posted by Battle

The theme tune for the first series of House was fantastic then they jazzed it up for the second season and ruined it (I assume they couldnt get the rights to the tune for the second season)

This is one where I dont really care for either of the themes. Dont get me wrong, I love the show, but the theme doesnt do a lot for me.

[gargoyle]

Battle, Ditto about the current theme for House - it stinks big time and just does'nt compare to the original.
You guys seem to have forgotten enterprises 'jazzed' up theme from the later series, theres also babylon 5's themes which differ from season to season although retaining the basic melody.
Even though its not a film theme, I always hated the later version of the ewok celebration theme in return of the jedi!

[Battlestar]

The theme from enterprise was just utter pap no matter what version you listened to However in the mirro universe two parter they had a completly diferent theme and that was not to bad.

The version of Bablon five music I liked the most was the last season one.

[gargoyle]

Dave, have just listened to the french version of the A team - what a scream!!!!

[mattym]

hmmm

baylon5 season 1 and season 5

Enterprise theme was ok, i got a Rod Stewert version of that somewhere!!

[Battlestar]

Originally Posted by mattym

hmmm

baylon5 season 1 and season 5

Enterprise theme was ok, i got a Rod Stewert version of that somewhere!!

Yep, its better by him and is used at the end of the robin williams movie patch adams

[Battlestar]

Originally Posted by gargoyle

Dave, have just listened to the french version of the A team - what a scream!!!!

Yep I know, great stuff isnt it, god knows what they are singing about

[krish]

Originally Posted by mattym

.....Enterprise theme was ok, i got a Rod Stewert version of that somewhere!!

Pure fromage!!!!
- and so was the theme song

[krish]

Originally Posted by Dave-S

Yep I know, great stuff isnt it, god knows what they are singing about

Here's an A-Team theme mashup: http://www.paintingbynumbers.com/mus....php?track=b10
(direct download: www.paintingbynumbers.com/music/mp3/fire_in_the_a-bar.mp3)

[Garrett]

The Man From U.N.C.L.E was my favorite theme tune but after the first season they jazzed it up and became a product of style over substance.

Re-Enterprise I preferred the theme used for the 2 part story in the Mirror Universe.

Most original themes are wrote as a straight piece of music, later versions are not they bastardise the original. As said above become a product of style over substance.

All of V’s themes were different and when people remember the theme think of the Final Battle and I think would be most favourite of the themes used.

Not all variations come in the series some come from the the film versions of the TV series.

[danjaq]

In later seasons of 'Quantum Leap' the opening theme was beefed up, I preferred it.

Also later episodes of ST:DS9.

[Battlestar]

Originally Posted by krish72

Here's an A-Team theme mashup: http://www.paintingbynumbers.com/mus....php?track=b10
(direct download: www.paintingbynumbers.com/music/mp3/fire_in_the_a-bar.mp3)

This one would be better if they got rid of the lyrics, Not that I have a problem with people being "superstars in gay bars"

[Battlestar]

Some more from memory.

Hunter- This had about 5 different versions of the same theme through out the shows life.

Magnum had a total different theme to the one we all know in its first season.

Hardcastle and Mcormac also had 2 totaly differnt themes, one for the first season and another for the second.

http://www.80stvthemes.com/ra/HARDCASTLEA.ra

http://www.80stvthemes.com/ra/HARDCASTLEB.ra



Magnum---

http://www.80stvthemes.com/ra/MAGNUM80.ra

http://www.80stvthemes.com/ra/MAGNUM83.ra

[captainH]

Those that I can recall:

Starsky and Hutch had at least two themes that I can remember. Both were excellent.

The Professionals initially started off with a dodgy voiceover by "The Cow" but ended up with the fantastic theme we all know and love.

Only Fools and Horses had a really crap tune for the first episodes but then ended up with the proper song.

[PoochJD]

Hi,

The American TV series "Monk" had a wonderful instrumental theme for Seasons 1 (and possibly 2), by Jeff Beale, but then, later seasons went and used a crappy "song" by Disney/Pixar supremo Randy Newman, entitled "It's A Jungle Out There". I loved the original, as it fitted the show, and the characters better. The "song" they use now, is horrible, and doesn't gel with the title credits at all.

"Happy Days" originally had the song "Rock Around The Clock" by Bill Hailey (And The Comets), for the first season or two, and then an instrumental theme briefly, (if my memory serves), before the famous "Happy Days" theme we all knew and loved! The titles also changed with the "Happy Days" song, from shots of the show, to shots of character Potsie singing the song itself.

"Airwolf" had several variations of the classic music by Sylvester Levay. They were almost the same as one another, except for their duration, and sequencing of certain sections of the music. The theme was sometimes about 2 minutes in length, to as short as 50 seconds, depending on the episode and the season in question. The same issue also occured for the end-theme credits - sometimes it would be the full-length theme, whilst at others it would be severely cut down.

"Quantum Leap's" theme music was always good, except there was one occasion when they did use a really terrible piece of instrumental stuff for a few episodes, around Seasons 3 and/or 4. I can't recall how it went, or why it was changed, but I do remember it being bloody awful! I'm pretty certain however, that US fans complained in their droves, and Donald Bellisario replaced it with the classic theme that the fans preferred.

"The Bill" has had various theme tune changes in recent years, but none have been as good as the classic mid-1980's version, that started off with the sound of the police siren, followed by squealing car brakes, and then the instrumental theme. All the other versions have been awful, especially the newest ones.

"Desperate Housewives" has had its main theme changed, for Season 2, which is a shame, as I loved the Season 1 credits scene, and the homage to Andy Warhol pop-art! It's always dissappointing to have a great piece of music changed.

I can't think of any others that have changed, although I'm sure there are plenty.

Pooch

[Battlestar]

Star trek the original series had 3 slight variations of its theme , one for each season. Therewas not a great deal of difference between the three, but there was defenatly some changes made.


Dallas had updates of its theme music through out its life time, with the basic tune staying the same but various different arangments of the theme being used as the show got older.

TJ hooker had a slight remix of its theme for its late night repeat run in the mid eightys.


Nearly forgot.......

New Battlestar Galactica had one version of its theme for the U.S and one for the UK. The US now uses the UK version


Chips the 70s cop show on motor bikes also had some differnt themes as well.


http://www.80stvthemes.com/ra/CHIPS77.ra first version of chips

http://www.80stvthemes.com/ra/CHIPS.ra second version of chips

[krish]

Originally Posted by Dave-S

Dallas had updates of its theme music through out its life time, with the basic tune staying the same but various different arangments of the theme being used as the show got older.

I do recall with each season they made a few tweaks at the start of the tune just after the opening fanfare.. so there'd generally be a new guitar chord or two or twangy noise or some new percussion rhythm in the background, but the main tune would be pretty much the same recording remixed with the new sounds

[mattym]

the theme for Wrath of Khan was the best Trek theme, imo, not anywhere near as cheesy as the Enterprise theme, but a domn good bit of orchestration

[krish]

Originally Posted by mattym

the theme for Wrath of Khan was the best Trek theme, imo, not anywhere near as cheesy as the Enterprise theme, but a domn good bit of orchestration

yup very good - James Horner

I bought the Motion Picture (ST1) soundtrack CD a few years ago, think it was a 20th aniversary special, and it was amazing, so I feel Jerry Goldsmith created the definitive theme, as subsequently plundered for TNG and Goldsmith's other Trek movie soundtracks - gave me goosebumps!

[pmc]

The Wire has different versions of the same song each series, 3 so far. The 2nd one is my favourite.

One of the most famous theme songs of all has just been updated. Dr Who. I like the new one.

South Park changed it at least once, possibly twice.

I'm pretty sure The Simpsons theme was re-recorded or remastered at some point. Later series sound better and clearerer I think.

And of course Eastenders and Neighbours both new version a few years ago. Not that I watch them mind

[WildeKarde]

If I remember rightly the Goodies theme changed a couple of times as well.

Or how about Hitman and Her (which everyone I know seemed to watch)

[NicolasB]

There are a number of different versions of the Doctor Who theme. The first few are actually quite hard to tell apart if you don't know what you're listening for. Then they rejigged it and did an electronic/synthesiser version which was just dreadful. There's at least one other version of that (possibly more). Then there's the version for the 1996 movie (also horrible), and for last year's revival (which is quite good, but I still like the original better).

I don't know how many iterations the theme tune for Blue Peter must have gone through by now.

The original theme for Why Don't You...? was also superior to the one they ended up with.

[Battlestar]

South Park changed it at least once, possibly twice

Got a feeling it could be as many as 4.

The original music.
Then they had a new theme for 4th grade (lasted a whole season).
Then it changed to a more in key version of the original theme.
And now, on its seventh season it seem to have a slightly different variation again.

[LV426]

I remember as a kid being very disappointed that the Single version of Barry Gray's "Thunderbirds" theme was quite a different arrangement to that used on the show itself. I don't just mean the "extended" part in the middle, but the entire orchestration was somehow less engaging.

Just recently I got the 40th Anniversary set of Thunderbirds, which includes a soundtrack CD containing the original arrangement of the theme. At last.

If I remember right then eastenders had a jazzy variation in the early 90's - I think it lasted about 3 shows before the Radio Times brigade got it changed back.

[Battlestar]

Originally Posted by grambles

If I remember right then eastenders had a jazzy variation in the early 90's - I think it lasted about 3 shows before the Radio Times brigade got it changed back.

Actually it was 10 whole painfull months.

And this is it.


http://tv.cream.org/specialassignmen...nders_93_2.mp3