Alright, let’s get to it. The opening tune for Portlandia is entitled “Feel It All Around”. It is by “chillwave” musician Washed Out. Yes, Washed Out is a solo act, it is the stage name of a certain Ernest Greene, who made songs from his bedroom studio. He has since released two EPs, both in 2009, the first being Life of Leisure which contains “Feel It All Around”.
The full song lasts an official 3:16. Below is album (EP) version of the song.
The song samples a popular European disco tune from the eighties called “I Want You” by artist Gary Low (I’m sure you know this). Listen below.
And finally, the very cool Portlandia intro/opening sequence.
So, Boston Med was a short medical documentary on ABC last year.
While I haven’t really reviewed the “tapes,” I’m sure about the information on this theme. The theme song for Boston Med, for the longest time, has been credited as “Everything”. I guess we can safely say that its official title is “Everything I Want.” It is by (written and performed) American musician Matthew Puckett.
The song came from his June 2010 release Red Flowers. I think the album is a full digital-download album. It can be bought from his site (with a small discount, iTunes, and I also found a couple of songs on Amazon.com. The full version of the song lasts an official 3 minutes and 12 seconds.
So, who is Matthew Puckett? Well, apparently, a sought-after themes and scores composer. He wrote and performed the themes for the Starz series Gravity, and the other (and older) ABC medical documentary Hopkins.
I guess that’s it. Listen to “Everything I Want” below and check out the lyrics after.
Boston Med theme song lyrics
A thousand miles
It’s hard to hear you
Through the static
Searching for something to say
A time machine
A magic beam of light
I need a miracle
To get you back here tonight
I’ll make you laugh
With shooting stars overhead
Sharing the dreams
That wake you up when you’re sad
I’m tightly holding your hands
You’re everything that I want
I’ll never give up
Been through this before
And it can get rough
You can push me away
I can deal with the pain
I need you to know
You’re everything that I want
In your eyes
There are secrets
I want you here
So i can see them
You know me well
Better than anyone else
I trust your words
The little things that you say
They’re gonna make it okay
You’re everything that i want
I’ll never give up
Been through this before
And it can get rough
You can push me away
I can deal with the pain
Mistakes in the past
Let’s make them again
I need you to know
You’re everything that I want
Friday night
Sunday mornings
Simple days
Funny stories
I take ‘em in and I adore ‘em
All I need
Everything that I want
you’re everything that i want
i’ll never give up
Been through this before
And it can get rough
You can push me away
I can deal with the pain
Mistakes in the past
Let’s make them again
Cause I need your touch
I need this love
I need you to know
You’re everything that I want
I guess it would be hard to discuss everything released in the name of Mortal Kombat—games, films, series—so let’s just stick to what matters.
It all started with Mortal Kombat: The Album, the soundtrack that accompanied the home versions of the popular arcade game series. The soundtrack is by the band The Immortals, a project band consisting of Belgian electronic musicians Maurice Engelen and Oliver Adams. Two tracks from this album would later be regarded as the themes: track 5 entitled “Techno Syndrome (Mortal Kombat)” and track 10 entitled “Hypnotic House (Mortal Kombat)”.
Below are the two songs in its original album form.
However, because of its use in the 1995 film (also made it to the soundtrack), “Techno Syndrome (Mortal Kombat)” became universally-recognized as “the Mortal Kombat theme song.” Plus, the song dates back to 1993 when it was released as part of the original Mortal Kombat single.
Below are the lyrics of the song.
Mortal Kombat theme song lyrics
Test your might
Test your might
Fight
Mortal Kombat
Finish him – Excellent
Kano, Liu Kang, Rayden, Johnny Cage, Scorpion, Sub Zero, Sonya,
Mortal Kombat
Fight – Mortal Kombat
Finish him – Excellent
Kano, Liu Kang, Rayden, Johnny Cage, Scorpion, Sub Zero, Sonya,
Mortal Kombat
Excellent, excellent
Excellent, excellent
Fight, test your might
The official soundtrack of the first film actually had a remixed version of “Techno Syndrome” which they dubbed the “7″ Mix”. Below is the song as it appears in the album.
The sequel film, Mortal Kombat: Annihilation, also released a soundtrack. Yet another remix of the song made its way, this time they dubbed it “Encounter The Ultimate”. Below is the song taken from the second soundtrack.
Really, the differences in the mixes are subtle.
You might also be looking for the themes to the television shows (I doubt it), so let’s include them as well.
First is the animated series Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm from 1996. Below is its intro.
Then the 1998-1999 television series Mortal Kombat: Konquest. Below is its opening sequence.
Mission: Impossible, the original 1966-1973 television series
Mission: Impossible, the 1988-1990 television series revival
Mission: Impossible, the 1996 film starring Tom Cruise
Mission: Impossible II, the 2000 sequel to the film
Mission: Impossible III, the 2006 sequel to the film
Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, a forthcoming sequel announced for 2011
So, to make this post a little more exciting, we’ll try to discuss something from each. But first, something about the song.
The tune of course started life as the opening credits theme for the original television series. It has officially been called “Theme from Mission: Impossible” more so than anything else. It was composed by Lalo Schifrin, an Argentine composer who has received four Grammy Awards and six Oscar nominations, and is also known as the composer of the Dirty Harry theme, the Starsky and Hutch theme, as well as music for the Rush Hour film series.
Just to give you an idea of how legendary Mr. Schifrin and his theme song is, Lipton (the iced tea maker) created a tribute commercial in 2010 that fictionalized how he come up with the tune.
Now, on to the original series. Of course, this started it all. The theme was featured in the opening and closing credits; the opening sequence is legendary in itself—the match and fuse scene that burns from left to right as clips and the show’s stars are featured. The opening lasted 50 seconds. Luckily, this YouTuber compiled everything (opening, intro and closing) in one convenient video. See below.
The original series also gave birth to a soundtrack, but was only released in 1996 (I guess to bank on the success of the first film).
The 1988 television series revival is widely referred to as “The New Mission: Impossible.” Only actor Peter Graves (Jim Phelps) was able to reprise his role. The new series, of course, had a more modernized sequence and theme song. Below is the opening credits.
The tracks from this series, as well as the original one, can be found in an all-in-one soundtrack album called The Best Of Mission: Impossible Then And Now, which (I think) was also released in 1996.
The films
Mission: Impossible
The first film gave birth to a rockin’ soundtrack and remake of the theme by U2 members Adam Clayton (bass) and Larry Mullen, Jr. (drums).
Below is their version (with official video).
The song above peaked at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100, while the soundtrack (album) reached gold status.
The soundtrack also contained a remix (by the same U2 guys) entitled “Mission: Impossible Theme (Mission Accomplished)”. Listen below.
Because the film was scored by composer Danny Elfman, he also had a take on the theme song—featured in the opening of the movie. See below.
Mission: Impossible II
The film was scored by Hans Zimmer, and its soundtrack featured a bunch of rock songs from a bunch of rock bands. It gave birth to Limp Bizkit’s “Take a Look Around” that samples the original theme’s melody. Below is the song.
There’s also track in the Hans Zimmer score called “Mission:Impossible Theme” that lasts 39 seconds. For now I can’t get a hold of this version.
Mission: Impossible III
The second sequel did not do much for the good of the theme song. Official composer was Michael Giacchino. However, this time, the franchise did not release a song compilation album (just Giacchino score album). There is a 51-second version of the theme in the album, I guess a take by Mr. Giacchino but I also can’t find a video of it. Sorry.
Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol
The upcoming film is set to be scored once again by Michael Giacchino. Will update this once more information comes along. Movie is set to be released on December 16, 2011.
1997–2010; also “Hank of the Hill theme song“ and “King Hank theme song”
R.I.P. Brittany Murphy.
The theme song from King of the Hill is officially entitled “Yahoos and Triangles.” It is by the Arizona-based band The Refreshments—known in the nineties for their hit single “Banditos.” It is said that the band often played the theme song at soundchecks for their shows.
Now, while even the band calls their own song “Yahoos and Triangles,” the song is credited as “King Of The Hill Theme” in the official soundtrack of the series. The full version of the song lasts a little more than two minutes.
Below is the full/extended version of the song.
And because FOX is unreasonably (stupidly) strict with copyright issues, below is the only decent official opening sequence we can find—uploader had to make silly modifications.
Which is also why there are hoards of intro parodies for the KOTH intro like the one below.
First, the facts. The theme is an original by W.G. “Snuffy” Walden, whom we have encountered in the themes for The West Wing and My So-Called Life among others. Some also credit Bennett Salvay (alongside) for the theme, but it is hard to confirm this for sure as there are discrepancies in sources.
The confusion is with regards to the Texas-based instrumental band Explosions in the Sky. Although their music was heavily featured in the film and in the series, and their eight-minute song “Your Hand in Mine” sounds awfully a lot like the theme, they had nothing to do with the opening tune (except maybe inspire). Even so, it is said that Mr. Walden took inspiration from Billy Joel’s music while he was still with the band Attila.
The theme song was released in the second official soundtrack of the show. It lasts 46 seconds (same as with opening sequence), and is officially titled as “Friday Night Lights Theme”.
Below is the official opening sequence for Friday Night Lights featuring the theme song.
Below is Explosions in the Sky’s “Your Hand in Mine”. See how the uploader even credited it as the “FNL theme song.”
Alright, let’s start. Technically, and with respect to the show, the theme from Twin Peaks is officially called “Twin Peaks Theme”. It was composed by Italian-American composer Angelo Badalamenti and was released as part of the original soundtrack, which was made public on September 11, 1990. Below is the song (full version, 5:10) as it appears on the disc.
The song won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance in 1991.
However, we all know that dream pop artist Julee Cruise is associated with the theme song. Her song “Falling” is basically the lyric-ed version of the “Twin Peaks Theme”. “Falling” is still credited to Angelo Badalamenti, but the lyrics were written by David Lynch (who also happens to be one of the creators of the show). How Ms. Cruise came into the picture, we don’t know. “Falling” was released as part of Julee Cruise’s album Floating into the Night, which was released on September 8, 1989—so basically, this album came first, but I think (I know) the song was definitely written for the show.
* Apparently, Ms. Cruise also appeared in the series and in the movie (Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me).
Below is “Falling”.
And the lyrics.
Twin Peaks theme song lyrics
Don’t let yourself be hurt this time
Don’t let yourself be hurt this time
Then I saw your face
Then I saw your smile
The sky is still blue
The clouds come and go
Yet something is different
Are we falling in love?
Don’t let yourself be hurt this time
Don’t let yourself be hurt this time
Then your kiss so soft
Then your touch so warm
The stars still
Shine bright
The mountains still right
Yet something is different
Are we falling in love?
Falling
Falling
Are we falling in love?
What else?
In 2007, some 17 years after the fact, a second soundtrack was released for the series—to coincide with the release of a special-edition DVD. It contains more music by Angelo Badalamenti and David Lynch.
Of course there is the less-than-stellar movie (inspired by the series) Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (its soundtrack also contains “Twin Peaks Theme”), but maybe we’ll do a separate post for that, or rather, let’s not ruin this post with that.
And now finally, the classic opening sequence that featured the theme song.
The above was actually uploaded by CBS’ official channel—show was ABC but CBS did some distributing (I think).
Phew, that’s about it. Will update this post if I feel I skipped something.
Also, as far as theme songs are concerned, it probably does not get any better than this.
The theme from Moonlighting is probably common knowledge to many. However, it still pays to have it here in our little blog. The song is of course entitled “Moonlighting” (some credit it as “Moonlighting Theme” or “Moonlighting (Theme)”), and was performed by legendary jazz singer Al Jarreau. Mr. Jarreau also composed the song, but he did it with the help of known television and film composer Lee Holdridge.
* I just found out that Mr. Jarreau wrote the lyrics and Mr. Holdrige, the music.
As far as releases are concerned, I guess the most official would be the official soundtrack of the series. The album version of the song lasts three minutes; it also spent one week on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1987.
Now for the lyrics (album version).
Moonlighting theme song lyrics
Don’t you change
Some walk by night
Some fly by day
Nothing could change you
Set and sure of the way
Charming and bright
Laughing and gay
I’m just a stranger
Love the blues and grays
There is the sun and moon
They sing their own sweet tune
Watch them when dawn is due
Sharing one space
Some walk by night
Some fly by day
Something is sweeter
When you meet along the way
So come walk by night
Come fly by day
Something is sweeter
‘Cause we met along the way
We’ll walk by night
We’ll fly by day
Moonlighting strangers
Who just met on the way
Who just met on the way
Who just met on the way
As we all know, No Ordinary Family has this narration-style opening sequence. It then transitions to the short intertitle that displays the logo and the names of the creators—Greg Berlanti and Jon Harmon Feldman. While all of that is happening, a sort of grand, reminds-me-of-graduation type of theme song is playing in the background.
Not much is known about this tune, however, series original music is credited to Blake Neely. We know Mr. Neely as he has done some impressive work. In this blog alone, we have theme themes from The Mentalist (really jammin’ theme), Everwood, and part of The Pacific team. I can bank on him composing this theme.
As of now, we know of no commercial releases for this tune.
To make the most out of this post, let’s just include the script for the narration.
Every story has a beginning.
We were just an ordinary family until…
Hold on!
Oh, my God!
Something extraordinary has happened.
You can jump just over a quarter mile,
can lift 11,000 pounds.
I’m fast.
I can hear people’s thoughts.
I’ve got, like, the super-brain.
So you turned your garage into…
what every secret
crime-fighter needs… a lair.
Don’t you see? I can
finally make a difference.
I think I liked us better when
we were just dysfunctional.
The above serves the episode below, at least. I think this (narration) changes in some episodes. Anyway, Below is the intro to No Ordinary Family, so listen to the theme song.
For clarity, this post correctly covers the first two series (Brit for “seasons”) of Torchwood. I know for a fact that certain changes were made in series three—where they banner-titled the show Torchwood: Children of Earth—like the removal of the opening narrative. So for now, a separate post for Torchwood: Children of Earth is the plan.
Alright, on to the opening and theme song. The show starts with a monologue by Captain Jack Harkness explaining the premise of the show. Let’s start with that.
The above was taken from series two. The narration changed from series one. See below for the correct narration per series (1 & 2 respectively).
Torchwood: outside the government, beyond the police. Tracking down alien life on Earth, arming the human race against the future. The twenty-first century is when everything changes. And you’ve got to be ready.
Torchwood: outside the government, beyond the police. Fighting for the future on behalf of the human race. The 21st century is when everything changes. And Torchwood is ready.
Now let’s go to the short title that showcases the theme song.
The franchise has released a soundtrack—two already actually, one for Children of Earth—and there is an extended/full version of the theme. Composers for the show are Ben Foster and Murray Gold (their musical scores are featured in the soundtrack), but only Murray Gold is credited for the theme. We know Mr. Gold for the theme from Shameless. In the album, the theme lasts 1:46 and is officially credited as “Torchwood Theme”. Below is the song as it appears in the disc.
I guess that’s pretty much it. Hit the Like button below if this post helped you in any way. Thank you.
