Friday, March 26, 2010

name that tune.

TV theme songs are impossible to ignore when discussing television programming. Some theme songs are even more identifiable than the cast or plot of a show. A good theme song does not promise a shows success, however it can definitely help it. Good theme songs create awareness of a TV show and draw viewers to a show, especially when channel surfing. TV show theme songs have played an important part of blending programs into culture. Real World Producer, Jonathan Murray explains our love of TV theme songs, “A lot of generation Xers grew up knowing words to songs better than words to a poem in school. We’re trying to speak to them in their language, which is often music”. A great resource of old TV themes you can’t put your finger on, might be found at this site: http://www.televisiontunes.com/index.php. Some of my favourite TV theme songs include: Weeds, Big Love (old and new), True Blood, The Sopranos. Enjoy this lovely video of 22 different TV themes in seven minutes; it’s really well done and a pleasure to listen to if you are a TV sitcom fan.
Image Source: flickr- sugaroni

7 comments:

  1. Aw this warmed my heart just a little (especially the Cheers opening!). I agree with the notion that the most recent generations are more apt to remember or recognize something if it is set to music. Also, there's an emotional attachment to TV theme music that I feel overshadows iconic film scores, even some of the ones I feel particularly attached to (Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, Apollo 13). I think these iconic jingles and short diddys really help to establish the tone of the particular television show and act to effectively 'train' viewers how to go about watching. Very cool.

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  2. Aw this warmed my heart just a little (especially the Cheers opening!). I agree with the notion that the most recent generations are more apt to remember or recognize something if it is set to music. Also, there's an emotional attachment to TV theme music that I feel overshadows iconic film scores, even some of the ones I feel particularly attached to (Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, Apollo 13). I think these iconic jingles and short diddys really help to establish the tone of the particular television show and act to effectively 'train' viewers how to go about watching. Very cool.

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  3. This was a really cool video to watch! I was amazed at how many shows I was not familiar with, and some themes definatley initated some emotional responses. I think that is the beauty of theme songs. If you are a devoted television watcher, then you have heard that theme song a countless number of times. Hearing just a few seconds of that song, can allow a viewer to identify with a show, and feel the emotions that they would feel from actually watching the show. It is representative of fandom towards any given show, and can seperate those devoted fans from occasional viewers.

    Music is something that individuals can easily and quickly identify with. Gilmore Girls, for example, is a show that I always used to watch with my mom. Hearing even just a few seconds of that familiar theme song, immediatley takes me back to the days of Gilmore Girls. It brings back joyous and warm family memories. Watching ten seconds of the show, would not initate the same feelings that hearing ten seconds of the song would, because the song stands on its own.

    As a side note, watching this video was a little bit distracting. Are they the same person?

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  4. These songs can keep a sow "alive" in a sense because people remember the songs long after the shows are over. For example my friend plays concerts at bars and plays the fresh prince claims that it gets a great reaction every time! I"m sure if that guy in the video.. or twins i'm not sure.. were to play that live people would love it. I think it is probably because we attach the song to characters that we like that we actually get to see come to life rather than just imagining characters that are described in songs. It is difficult to forget Will Smith dressed in those shiny track suits.

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  5. I agree with what has been discussed in earlier comments. While it is true we remember music and have an emotional connection to theme songs, what happens when a show has a terrible theme song? Can anyone think of any examples? Do we remember the ones we hated? (i can't really think of any) I guess even the ones i dislike i eventually find charming, depending on my opinion of the show...

    I hate to admit this, especially on the internet, but I once bought a CD of Theme songs so i could listen (Specifically to the Full House theme. I am a little sad it wasn't in there!)

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  6. I was going to post this video, but you beat me to it, as it seems is the nature of this blog with new content being on the blog so fast.
    I loved this video, and the first time I watched it, I minimized the screen to see how many I could identify and was surprised that I knew almost all of them. Seeing as I don't listen to music (yea, I'm weird like that), TV theme songs are pretty much the only form of music I hear/know, so for me, they all form a direct link to their shows.
    As for terrible TV show theme songs - Blossom ranks up there with one of my least favourite, so bad.
    This video made me smile, and also made me realize that perhaps I watch too much television...

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  7. I agreed with what have been said above. Most well-known theme songs have a unique rhythm and beauty in themselves. As they were produced specifically for the shows, people would recognize the shows as soon as they hear the songs. Theme songs certainly can help people to remember a show for a long time even the show is over for years. They are memorable because they have some kinds of emotional attachment. As well, they allow people to have the nostalgic feeling when they are hearing the famous ones, or the ones that they have heard numerous times. In other words, a familiar and long lasting theme song not only enables people to identity the show immediately but also helps people to think of what was happening in the old days.

    As for the theme songs that have been still playing, if they are beautifully composed, and if they tie to the shows well, then I think that they would definitely help promote the TV programs in a certain aspect. After all, a nice music/song is the best medium to attract people to listen, to see, to feel, and then to form remembrance and emotional attachment to what they have experienced.

    I like the theme songs in this video. I was listening to them even when I was writing this comment.

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