Theme Songs » Movies

Ponyo Theme Song

admin — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 12:57:26 +0000

2008

This sure does look a lot like Finding Nemo; even the American poster is Nemo-inspired.

What the heck. Ponyo is an award-winning Japanese animated film released in 2008. The original title is Gake no Ue no Ponyo which literally means “Ponyo on the Cliff.” In North America, Ponyo was released in 2009.

Now for the theme song. In Japan, the theme song title is the same as the film’s—”Gake no Ue no Ponyo.” It was performed by the duo Fujioka Fujimaki, which consists of Takaaki Fujioka and Naoya Fujimaki. Them and eight-year-old Nozomi Ōhashi. Below is the Japanese theme song.

An English version of the theme song was of course created. The song was performed by Frankie Jonas and Noah Cyrus, who voiced the characters Sōsuke and Ponyo respectively. Below, the lyrics and the song.

Ponyo, ponyo, ponyo, fishy in the sea
tiny little fishy, who could you really be?
Ponyo, ponyo, ponyo, magic set’s you free;
oh she’s a little girl with a round tummy.
tip-tippie-toe, jump-jump and hop, now that I’ve got my legs, I cannot stop
pat-pattie-pat waving ‘hello!’
come and hold hands with me, dancing we go
my feet are skipping, my heart too
happy-happy are we all
maybe I might love you, maybe I might love you
so hold on tight and hold me close,
you’re my hero!
Ponyo, ponyo, ponyo, fishy in the sea
tiny little fishy, who could you really be?
Ponyo, ponyo, ponyo, magic set’s you free,
oh pretty little girl will you swim back to me?

Yum yummy yum I smell a treat
Let’s fill our tummies now good things to eat
Peak peak-a-boo that’s what we’ll do
I see my favorite boy he sees me too.
My cheeks are rosy from smiling
Laughing, laughing are we all
Maybe I might love you, maybe I might love you
So hold on tight and hold me close,
you’re my hero!
Ponyo, ponyo, ponyo, fishy in the sea
tiny little fishy, who could you really be?
Ponyo, ponyo, ponyo, magic set’s you free,
Oh she’s a little girl with a round tummy.

There is also a remix version of the theme song, used in the first half of the closing credits. Below is the remix version.

The Time Traveler’s Wife Theme Song

admin — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 13:57:09 +0000

Let’s do movies for a change

Movies are tricky, not unless of course you’re thinking of something like Titanic, in which only Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On” comes to mind.

In The Time Traveler’s Wife (which I just watched last night), I came across two songs which could be given “theme song” status. I checked out the official soundtrack, and lo and behold, “Broken” by Lifehouse, originally from the album Who We Are, comes at the very last of the disc. I also found out that a second music video was made especially for the promotion of the film.

Special “Broken” video for The Time Traveler’s Wife

The second song which we can consider is the one at the very last scene—the one where the movie transitions from the last meadow scene to the end credits. By the way, all original music for The Time Traveler’s Wife was done by Canadian composer, Mychael Danna. The song is not that distinct though, and I doubt that it will beat “Broken” for theme song status. Anyway, below is the said tune.

By the way, Rachel McAdams rules all.

Shaft Theme Song

admin — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 13:05:54 +0000

First, a brief history…

Shaft started out as a 1971 film directed by Gordon Parks. It revolves around the life of private detective John Shaft—portrayed by Richard Roundtree—as he travels and battles thorugh Harlem and the Italian mob neighborhoods.

After the film, a series of television movies of the the same name were made and aired during the 1973-1974 television season. It was sequenced on the original film, and also starred Richard Roundtree as detective John Shaft. There were seven episodes and it originally aired on CBS.

In 2001, Shaft starring Samuel L. Jackson was released. Technically, it was not a remake, but rather a sequel, as even though Samuel L. Jackson’s character was named John Shaft, it was depicted in the film that he was already the nephew of the original John Shaft.

The Shaft theme song

In all three installments mentioned above, one original theme song was retained. “Theme from Shaft,” as it is officially credited, is a song written, performed and recorded by the late, great Isaac Hayes. “Theme from Shaft” garnered Isaac Hayes the Academy Award for Best Original Song in the 44th (1971) Academy Awards. It was also a significant moment in Academy Award history, for he became the first African American to win an award in a non-acting category.

“Theme from Shaft” made way for two albums. In 1971, Isaac Hayes released an album of the same name under Stax Records. In 2000, a new soundtrack for the Samuel L. Jackson movie was released, and featured other artists such as R. Kelly, Alicia Keys and Outkast.

Download “Theme from Shaft.”

Shaft theme song lyrics

Who’s the black private dick that’s a sex machine to all the chicks?
Shaft!
Ya damn right!

Who is the man that would risk his neck for his brother man?
Shaft!
Can you dig it?

Who’s the cat that won’t cop out when there’s danger all about?
Shaft!
Right on!

They say this cat Shaft is a bad mother…
Shut your mouth!
I’m talkin’ ’bout Shaft.
Then we can dig it!

He’s a complicated man but no one understands him but his woman
John Shaft!

Listen (album version)

Crazy Heart Theme Song

admin — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 13:23:27 +0000

Oscar fever alert

Boy, this film has got to have a lot of songs in it—case in point, Crazy Heart: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack. However, the song known as the “Theme from Crazy Heart” raised the film to new levels of appreciation.

“The Weary Kind” (full title “The Weary Kind (Theme from Crazy Heart)”) won the Academy Award for Best Original Song at the 82nd (2010) Academy Awards. In the film, you get renditions of the song by Jeff Bridges and Colin Farrell. In real life, and in the soundtrack, it was performed (and partly composed) by Ryan Bingham, a former rodeo bull rider turned singer/songwriter. “The Weary Kind” is credited to (composers) T-Bone Burnett and Ryan Bingham.

Crazy Heart theme song lyrics

Your heart’s on the loose
You rolled them seven’s with nothing lose
And this ain’t no place for the weary kind

You called all your shots
Shooting 8 ball at the corner truck stop
Somehow this don’t feel like home anymore

And this ain’t no place for the weary kind
And this ain’t no place to lose your mind
And this ain’t no place to fall behind
Pick up your crazy heart and give it one more try

Your body aches
Playing your guitar and sweating out the hate
The days and the nights all feel the same

Whiskey has been a thorn in your side
and it doesn’t forget
the highway that calls for your heart inside

And this ain’t no place for the weary kind
And this ain’t no place to lose your mind
And this ain’t no place to fall behind
Pick up your crazy heart and give it one more try

Your lovers won’t kiss
It’s too damn far from your fingertips
You are the man that ruined her world

Your heart’s on the loose
You rolled them seven’s with nothing lose
And this ain’t no place for the weary kind

Watch & Listen to Ryan Bingham perform “The Weary Kind”

Rad Theme Song

admin — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 17:47:28 +0000

The cult classic BMX movie

Yeah, Rad! Definitely one of my favorites. If you were not part of the generation, then I urge you to check the movie out. I’m sure you’ll find it cheesy, but it meant the world to us back then.

Anyway, for the sake of it having a “theme song,” we’ll go back to probably the most powerful part of the movie—one that could’ve made it or broken it—the opening credits. As far as Rad is concerned, you couldn’t have asked for something better.

Break the Ice

“Getting ready to break the ice!” That was so cool. The song, obviously, is entitled “Break the Ice.” It was performed by a guy named John Farnham. Farnham, born July 1, 1949 (he is now 60 years old!), is an Australian pop singer. Research could not find which album “Break the Ice” came from, so for now we’d assume that it was made for the movie. The song was written by Sue Shifrin and Bob Marlette.

Break the Ice lyrics (opening credits edit)

Frozen in silence
Facing it alone
Gotta keep my cool
Make ‘em think I’m made of stone

It’s a game of wills we’re playin’
A love two made of steel
Balanced on the edges of everything we feel

It’s gonna take all we got
Just to make it through this night
Gotta feel it right through my skin
And it’s cuttin’ like a knife

Get ready to break the ice
Feels like time is standing still
Aiming right for you heart
Ready to take another spill
Only you can make it right
You can break the ice inside of me

A single minded passion
A solitary stand
I thought I was alone
Left out in the cold again
So I’m givin’ you all I’ve got
I’m gonna make it through this night
And even though I could fall
I’m prepared to loose the fight

Get ready to break the ice
Feels like time is standing still
Aiming right for you heart
Ready to take another spill

Get ready to break the ice
Feels like time is standing still
Aiming right for you heart
Ready to take another spill

Only you can make it right
You can break the ice

Get ready to break the ice
Feels like time is standing still
Aiming right for you heart
Ready to take another spill

Get ready to break the ice
Feels like time is standing still
Aiming right for you heart
Ready to take another spill

Get ready to break the ice

Relive Rad

Cars Theme Song

admin — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 14:00:24 +0000

Cars, the movie

The theme song for Cars—the 2006 animated film by Pixar, considered for this post’s sake, will be the one with an actual video made entirely for the movie—”Life Is A Highway” by the band, Rascal Flatts. There is an official soundtrack for the film which includes a number of songs used throughout the move. It includes artists such as Sheryl Crow, Brad Paisley, John Mayer and Chuck Berry among others.

About “Life Is A Highway”

“Life Is A Highway” was originally written by Tom Cochrane, and was included in his 1991 album, Mad Mad World.

“Life Is A Highway” lyrics

Well, life’s like a road that you travel on
There’s one day here and the next day gone
Sometimes you bend, sometimes you stand
Sometimes you turn your back to the wind

There’s a world outside every darkened door
Where Blues won’t haunt you anymore
For the brave are free and lovers soar
Come ride with me to the distant shore

We won’t hesitate
To break down the guarding gate
There’s not much time left today, yeay

Life is a highway, I wanna ride it
All night long
If you’re going my way, I wanna drive it
All night long

Through all these cities and all these towns
It’s in my blood and it’s all around
I love now like I loved you then
This is the road and these are the hands
From Mozambique to those Memphis nights
The Khyber Pass to Vancouver’s lights

They knock me down
And back up again
You’re in my blood
I’m not a lonely man
There’s no load I can’t hold
The road’s so rough this I know
I’ll be there when the light comes in
Just tell ‘em we’re survivors

Life is a highway, I wanna ride it
All night long
If your going my way, I wanna drive it
All night long

Gimme, Gimme, Gimme, Gimme, yeah

Life is a highway, I wanna ride it
All night long (mmmm yeah)
If your going my way, I wanna drive it
All night long

There was a distance between you and I
(between you and I)
A misunderstanding once
But now, we look it in the eye

Ooooo…Yeah!

There ain’t no load that I can’t hold
The road’s so rough this I know
I’ll be there when the light comes in
Just tell ‘em we’re survivors

Life is a highway, I wanna ride it
All night long (all night long, yeah hey)
If your going my way, I wanna drive it
All night long

Life is a highway, I wanna ride it
All night long
If your going my way, I wanna drive it
All night long

Life is a highway, I wanna ride it
All night long
If your going my way, I wanna drive it
All night long

Gimme, Gimme, Gimme, Gimme, yeah

Watch & Listen

S.W.A.T. Theme Song

admin — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 19:11:02 +0000

This post covers the 1970s television series and the 2003 movie

The instrumental theme song from the television series S.W.A.T. is entitled, well, “Theme from S.W.A.T.” It was performed by a 1970s American funk band called Rhythm Heritage and was composed by Barry De Vorzon, an American producer, singer and songwriter.

In the 2003 movie, the theme song was carried on. There were several variations of the theme song in the movie, and if you’re looking for that rap version, it’s entitled “Samuel Jackson.” Yes, that’s the title (“Samuel Jackson”), as in the same as the guy in the movie. It was performed by American rock band Hot Action Cop and is part of the S.W.A.T. Original Motion Picture Soundtrack.

Additional

“Theme from S.W.A.T” by Rhythm Heritage reached #1 on the Billboard Magazine Hot 100 singles chart in 1976. It was part of Rhythm Heritage’s album Disco-fied. The song in the album is a slightly different recording of the one used in the series.

S.W.A.T. ran only for two seasons from 1975 to 1976 on ABC. It starred Steve Forrest, Rod Perry and Robert Urich. It is said that the show’s early cancellation was partly because it was too violent at that time (1970s).

Listen to “Theme from S.W.A.T.” by Rhythm Heritage

By the way, you can watch the real intro to the television series in YouTube, but the dude who uploaded it disabled embedding, so, whatever.

Listen to “Samuel Jackson” by Hot Action Cop

Pineapple Express Theme Song

admin — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 05:34:17 +0000

About Pineapple Express

Pineapple Express is an American comedy film released in 2008 starring Seth Rogen, James Franco, Gary Cole and Rosie Perez among others. It was directed by David Gordon Green and was written by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg.

“Pineapple Express,” as depicted in the film, is a rare strain of marijuana.

The theme song

The theme song for Pinepple Express, entitled “Pineapple Express,” was written and performed by Huey Lewis and the News. It was a special request by Seth Rogen to Huey Lewis back in 2007. The song is part of the official Pineapple Express Soundtrack.

Lyrics

Brother, grab your chillum
And get all your gear, we got problems
We gotta get out of here
Well, I got you and you got me
We’re as high as we could be
So it’s all right
Oh yeah it’s all right
It’s not your fault and it’s not mine
I was just in the wrong place and time, now there’s trouble
Oh yeah trouble
And how did we, get into this mess?
Pineapple Express, Pineapple Express
Totally gone cause’ we’re on Pineapple Express
Gotta keep your head down
And be as cool as you can
No i got us ohh no evacuation plan
Just stay low, follow me
They can’t see what we can see
Cause’ we’re on it, yeah it’s the chronic
Don’t get excited, just get your head right and we’ll stick together if it takes all night
And, it’s all right
Yeah it’s all right
And how did we get into this mess, Pineapple Express
Not use to this stress
Righteously fine to dine, Pineapple Express
We’re on the express, the best in the west
The hell with the rest, it’s the best, Pineapple Express
(Cough, cough, “that’s good weed”)
And how will we get out of this mess, Pineapple Express
Can’t deal with this stress
Totally gone cause’ we’re on Pineapple Express
Get on the express, Pineapple Express
Yeah it’s the best in the west, Pineapple Express
So fine, it’s the kind
Pineapple Express

Listen