Theme music
Theme musicis amusical compositionwhich is often written specifically forradio programming,television shows,video games,orfilmsand is usually played during thetitle sequence,opening credits,closing credits,and in some instances at some point during the program.[1]The purpose of a theme song is often similar to that of aleitmotif.
The phrasetheme songorsignature tunemay also be used to refer to asignature songthat has become especially associated with a particular performer or dignitary, often used as they make an entrance.
Purpose
[edit]From the 1950s onwards, theme music, and especially theme songs also became a valuable source of additional revenue for Hollywood film studios, many of which launched their own recording arms. This period saw the beginning of more methodical cross-promotion of music and movies.[2]One of the first big successes, which proved very influential, was the theme song forHigh Noon(1952).[2]
Types
[edit]Television
[edit]Theme music has been a feature of the majority of television programs since the medium's inception. Programs have used theme music in a large variety of styles, sometimes adapted from existing tunes, and with some composed specifically for the purpose. A few have been released commercially and become popular hits.
Other themes, like the music forThe Young and the Restless,Days of Our Lives,andCoronation Street[3]have become iconic mostly due to the shows' respective longevities. Unlike others, these serials have not strayed from the original theme mix much, if at all, allowing them to be known by multiple generations of television viewers.
In the United Kingdom and Ireland, iconic sports shows have such strong associations with their theme music that the sports themselves are synonymous with the theme tunes, such asassociation football(TheMatch of the Day,GrandstandandThe Big Matchtheme tunes),cricket( "Soul Limbo"byBooker T. & the M.G.'s),motorsport(Roger Barsotti'sMotor Sportand the bassline fromFleetwood Mac's "The Chain"),tennis(Keith Mansfield's "Light and Tuneful" ),snooker( "Drag Racer"by the Doug Wood Band),skiing(Sam Fonteyn's "Pop Looks Bach", the theme toSki Sunday) andgaelic games( "Jägerlatein" byJames Last). Themes in the United States that have become associated with a sport includeJohnny Pearson's "Heavy Action"(used for many years as an intro toMonday Night Football), "Roundball Rock"(composed byJohn Tesh) as the theme for theNBA on NBCduring the 1990s and early 2000s, and forFox College Hoops(from 2018–19 to present) and Jr. NBA Championships (2019–present), "Bugler's Dream"(used in ABC and NBC's coverage of theOlympic Games) and the theme toESPN's sports highlight show,SportsCenter.A notable theme that was once associated with a sport, but because of its popularity, spread network-wide was theNFL on Foxtheme, which was used forMajor League Baseball on Fox(2010–2019) andNASCAR on Fox(2011–2015) andFox UFC(2012–2018) andPremier Bo xing Champions(December 2018 to July/August 2019) and Jr. NBA Championships (unknown-2018) broadcasts, and was regarded as the network's single theme by October 2010. CBS's longtime March Madness theme is considered one of the masterpieces of Americans sports theme music, said to deliver a euphoric feeling to many sports fans. In Canada, the soaring backbeats of theHockey Night in Canadatheme, "The Hockey Theme",became so iconic that the piece was sometimes called Canada's second national anthem. It became something of a national scandal when broadcasterCBC Televisionlost the rights to use the theme in 2008.[4]
Most television shows have specific, melodic theme music, even if just a few notes (such as the clip of music that fades in and out in the title sequence forLost,or the pulsing sound of helicopter blades in the theme music forAirwolf). One exception is60 Minutes,which features only the ticking hand of aTAG Heuerstopwatch.Another recent exception isBody of Proofwhich has no theme song, and barely even has a title sequence.
In most television series, the theme song is played during the opening sequence. One exception to this rule isRegular Show,the theme music of which is played only during its ending credits in most episodes. In lieu of its theme music, its opening sequence instead features a tone played on a synthesizer overlaid with a ticking sound effect.
Remixes
[edit]Notable is the theme for thegame showThe Price Is Right,reimagined asCrystal Waters's "Come On Down"which marked the first time that lyrics were added toThe Price Is Righttheme song and was the first song based on a television theme song (and the first to come from a game show) to reach number 1 on theBillboardHot Dance Club Playchart on the week of December 29, 2001.[5][6]
Radio
[edit]Radio programs with notable theme music includeJust a Minute,which uses a high-speed rendition of theMinute WaltzbyFrédéric Chopin;The Archers,which hasBarwick Green;Desert Island Discswhich hasBy the Sleepy Lagoon,andThe Rush Limbaugh Show,which uses the instrumental from "My City Was Gone."
Intalk radio,a different theme song is often used to introduce each segment, and the music (usually popular music of some sort) will often relate to the topic being discussed.John Batcheloris noted for his use of highly dramatic orchestral scores leading in and out of each segment of his weekly show.
Video games
[edit]Many video games feature a theme song that is distinctive to the series. A popular one to date is the "Prelude Theme"from theFinal Fantasyseries, which is played on most, if not all, of the title screens of the original games, most notablyFinal Fantasy ItoFinal Fantasy IV.The newer ones also feature the theme, albeit usually modernized, and played during the ending credits.[7][8]
See also
[edit]- Bumper music
- Lists of theme songs
- Show tune
- List of signature songs
- Television news music
- Trademark look
- Production music
References
[edit]- ^Reitz, Joan M. (2004–2014)."theme song".Online Dictionary for Library and Information Science.ABC-CLIO.Retrieved3 February2018.
- ^abAllison, Deborah (October 2003).""Do Not Forsake Me: The Ballad of High Noon" and the Rise of the Movie Theme Song ".Senses of Cinema(28).
- ^Are TV theme tunes 'real' music?|Classical Music
- ^"Canada's 'second national anthem' silenced after nearly 40 year run".Canwest News Service.5 June 2008. Archived fromthe originalon 24 March 2016.Retrieved2 July2015.
- ^Pearson Television Music Publishingat Discogs
- ^"Hot Dance Club Songs".Billboard.December 29, 2001.RetrievedMarch 12,2015.
- ^"The History of Final Fantasy".GameSpot.CNET Networks, Inc.Archived fromthe originalon 9 July 2006.Retrieved2 April2019.
Another notable one is the theme music that has played in either the title screen or opening scene of the main seriesPokémongames, which slightly changes with each generation.
- ^Kolan, Patrick (January 19, 2007)."The Evolution of Final Fantasy: From I to XII, we catch you up on the facts".IGN.Australia. Archived fromthe originalon 12 August 2011.Retrieved2 April2019.
External links
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