Hill Street Blues was a popular American police drama series that aired from 1981 to 1987. It revolutionized the television landscape by introducing a more realistic and character-driven approach to police procedural dramas.
And, it had a very nice theme song.
Continue reading Hill Street Blues Theme Song2010–present; also “Law & Order: LA theme song”
The faith of this series hangs in the balance.
This post may well be about our disgust in the lack thereof—a proper theme song and opening for Law & Order: Los Angeles. The series actually started with one of those ten-second titles, which still stands as an appalling trend for new shows.
Below is the disappointing ten-second stint.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iy6XERTjhw
It does have a short background tune and all series original music is credited to Icelandic composer Atli Örvarsson. However, Wikipedia credits Mike Post for the “theme,” which kind of makes sense because it does resemble the melody of the original theme (which was composed by Mike Post). It does not even matter, really.
Also, I’m not 100% sure but I think this already-short non-theme was even entirely removed after like the sixth episode.
Seriously though, Mr. Dick Wolf, true Law & Order fans expect nothing short of a proper and memorable opening theme and narration. You owe it to the originals.
Check out how this guy even made a video just to vent out his frustration.
1991–1995
So, where is Mayim Bialik these days? Actually, I do know because I watch The Big Bang Theory.
The theme song for Blossom, that 1990s NBC sitcom about a motherless family, is entitled “My Opinionation”. It was written by composers Mike Post and Steve Geyer, and was performed by American musician Dr. John. Yes, “Dr. John,” the stage name of Malcolm John Rebennack, Jr.
The only available commercial release of the song is through the compilation album, NBC: A Soundtrack of Must See TV.
Below are the correct lyrics of the song.
Blossom theme song lyrics
Don’t know about the future, that’s anybody’s guess
Ain’t no good reason for getting all depressed
Buy up your pad and pencil, I’ll give you a piece of my mind
In my opinionation, the sun is gonna surely shineStop all your fussin’
Slap on a smile
Come out and walk in the sun for awhileDon’t fight the felling, you know you want to have a good time
And in my opinionation, the sun is gonna surely shine
Although the theme theme song did not change in the show’s five-season run, the video clip sequences changed substantially. Below are some official versions of the opening sequence.
1983-1987
Trailers from the last movie I saw reminded me of this post, and, I think The A-Team 2010 will rock.
Tan-taran-tan tan-tan-tan! This theme song was composed by two great television music composers—Mike Post and the late Pete Carpenter of Bewitched and Magnun, P.I. fame. Back then, Emmy Awards for title themes did not exist yet, but this sure would have blown away the competition.
So, what else is there to say about this theme? As important as the melody itself is the opening narration, and below is the complete transcript. It was narrated by John Ashley, one of the show’s producers.
“In 1972, a crack commando unit was sent to prison by a military court for a crime they didn’t commit. They promptly escaped from a maximum security stockade to the Los Angeles underground. Today, still wanted by the government, they survive as soldiers of fortune. If you have a problem, if no-one else can help, and if you can find them, maybe you can hire the A-Team.”
Watch & listen
1991-1999
Silk Stalkings was a crime drama series originally shown on CBS that portrayed the daily lives of two detectives who solved sexual crimes of passion. Sounds exciting.
Its theme song was composed by renowned television composer, Mike Post, which garnered it a nomination for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Main Title Theme Music in 1992.
Below is the theme song and original opening sequence.
I don’t care what everybody thinks, Neil Patrick Harris is an amiable fella. The theme song from Doogie Howser, M.D. is as “legendary” as the show itself. Those opening five notes…
That song is credited to Mike Post, a Grammy and Emmy award-winning composer. He is responsible for such legendary themes as those from The Greatest American Hero, Hardcastle and McCormick, and NYPD Blue (Jesus, those are the holy grail of themes) among others.
Watch and reminisce the Doogie Howser, M.D. opening sequence
There are two theme songs associated with Hardcastle and McCormick—“Drive” by David Morgan, and “Back to Back” by Joey Scarbury. “Drive” was used in season one; “Back to Back” was used on the first part of the second season, but was reverted back to “Drive” on the latter parts (second season) because of viewer criticism. “Drive” was then used in the third and last season of the series.
Both “Drive” and “Back to Back” were composed by Mike Post and Pete Carpenter.
Additional
Joey Scarbury who sang “Back to Back” also performed the theme from The Greatest American Hero.
The Coyote X, the car which McCormick drove, was based on the McLaren M6BGT.
“Drive” lyrics
Drive!
Push it to the floor till the engine screams.
Drive!
Drivin’ like the demon that drives your beat.You’re on a hard road, nobody cares
If you hit the breaks.
You gotta think fast, keep it in gear,
One slip is all it takes.
You gotta keep your wheels on the straight and narrow,
If you wanna survive.Drive!
Push it to the floor till the engine screams.
Drive!
Drivin’ like the demon that drives the beat.
Drive!
Watch & Listen to “Drive”
Watch & Listen to “Back to Back”
Believe it or not
Not that many television theme songs surpass the fame of the show itself. This can be said about the theme from The Greatest American Hero, which receives airplay until present day.
The theme song, entitled “Theme from The Greatest American Hero (Believe It or Not),” was co-written, performed and recorded by Joey Scarbury. Record producer and composer Mike Post, along with Stephen Geyer were his co-writers.
Post and Scarburry collaborated once again in the mid 1980s to record the theme for television series Hardcastle and McCormick.
The Theme from The Greatest American Hero (Believe It or Not), was also played in one scene of Michael Moore’s Fahrenheit 9/11.
About The Greatest American Hero
The Greatest American Hero aired for three seasons from 1981 to 1983 on ABC. It starred William Katt as professor Ralph Hinkley, and revolves around his adventures after he was given a red suit from a group of aliens that gave him superhuman capabilities. The series was created by Stephen J. Cannell.
Lyrics
Look at what’s happened to me,
I can’t believe it myself.
Suddenly I’m up on top of the world,
It should’ve been somebody else.Believe it or not,
I’m walking on air.
I never thought I could feel so free.
Flying away on a wing and a prayer.
Who could it be?
Believe it or not it’s just me.It’s like a light of a new day,
It came from out of the blue.
Breaking me out of the spell I was in,
Making all of my wishes come true.Believe it or not,
I’m walking on air.
I never thought I could feel so free.
Flying away on a wing and a prayer.
Who could it be?
Believe it or not it’s just me.
Watch & Listen