Entertainment For Lively Minds
Clearly this is the best theme song for a situation comedy....but what comes second?
Posted by David Hepworth on 23 July 2009 - 2:30pm.
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The only thing to look forward to - the past.
Never a truer word.
Yes, a rightful Gold position on the podium.
I liked the Are You Being Served? credits, a kind of early rap wasn't it? "Ground floor perfumery, stationery and leather goods. Going up." Or summat.
And here it is
Who said
it sounds like Money by Pink Floyd well it does sound similar
It's the same
cash register sound effect at the beginning. It's also the one used at the start of Roy Wood & Wizzard's 'I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day'.
I was always
remineded of it when I heard Elastica's 'Connected' - her vocal style was v similar
Can anybody please
tell me the name of this tune and who sings it? I've been looking for it for years... also, am I right in thinking The Lightning Seeds covered it?
I take it you mean the Likely Lads one
And not "Are You Being Served". I think it was Mike Hugg, who used to play drums for Manfred Mann. I remember it getting a good kicking on Rosco's Round Table.
Confirmed.
It's by Mike Hugg, it came out on a single at the time. Rare as hen's teeth these days I suspect.
theme to the film
from the Likely Lads film. sample classic dialogue
Bob - "I know. Lets go to Woolworths. Lots of girls work there" and also by mike manfreds hugg is equally brilliant Called "remember when" but its *not* on youtube or spotify or available to buy as far as i can tell.
but if anyone knows differently!
This
of course
and then this:
Cheers?
Yes!
MTM Theme
Magnificent call by Five-Centres. Written by Sonny Curtis (of "I Fought The Law" fame) and brilliantly covered by Husker Du on the B-side of "Makes No Sense At All". Guaranteed to cheer up anyone in possession of a pulse.
This is pretty ace.
The “vehicle” that propelled John Travolta to stardom
and a big fat juicy US No.1 hit for John Sebastian.
Good Shout
fella.
Interesting fact about the Welcome Back Kotter theme
The show was originally going to be just called "Kotter" When the show was first being made the producers heard John Sebastian's proposed theme and loved it even though it did not mention the name of the show.
They had two choices change the song or change the name of the show. They eventually decided the song "Welcome Back" nailed the essence of the show so completely it would be better to change the title of the program to suit the song rather than the other way round.
Excellent fact!
I know we've been ribbing Noel
elsewhere but his song for credits for "Royle Family" is perfect.
In a similar vein
This from 'Early Doors'
Always in the box whenever I DJ
which isn't frequently. Can't imagine why
remind me again who wrote this theme tune
...
Gerard Kenny wrote the tune
sorry but
Minder wasnt a sit-com really now was it? Great tune though so you are forgiven
Obviously
Bladder is memorable:
and I quite like Red Dwarf's ending ditty:
Now then, Father.
The theme tune itself...
And the original song
Not the theme tune but
this is totally and utterly superb on every level ...
This one's a scre-am
Based on music rather than laughs per minute...
First shown six days after the first ever episode of "The Addams Family", here's "The Munsters":
And from the same era - "Car 54, Where Are You?":
Both star Fred Gwynne, who was mates (and "Cotton Club" co-star) with Tom Waits and was inspiration for the "Frank's Wild Years" song, "Yesterday Is Here". Waits said, "The title was given to me by Fred Gwynne. He had the title, and didn't know what to do with it. He said "It's yours; see what you can make of it.""
for his turn in My Cousin Vinny
Fred Gwynne is a real star.
anyway - as you were...
Addams Family theme ingeniously adapted as a football song
Sung by East Fife fans to taunt local rivals, Cowdenbeath...
They havnae got a telly
They're stupid and they're smelly
The Cowden family
Also to the tune of the Addams Family
Similarly, sung at several English grounds whenever Norwich are in town:
Your sister is your mother,
Your uncle is your brother,
You all fuck one another,
The Norwich family
Or as is sung in primary schools...
There's Sunday and there's Monday,
There's Tuesday and there's Wednesday,
There's Thursday and there's Friday,
And then there's Saturday,
Days of the week (*click, click*)
Days of the week (*click, click*)
Days of the week, days of the week, days of the week (*click, click*)
[Etc. Repeat until home time.]
or this.....
I know the lyrics off by heart; sad childhood watching American sitcoms after school.....
or this.....
I know the lyrics off by heart; sad childhood watching American sitcoms after school.....
oops!
a little too fast with that finger - sorry for duplication.
Soap.
Soap! A brilliant comedy and a super theme:
Errrrr: "You want me to get that?"
You stupid boy!
Who do you think you are kidding?
Hear hear!
Get in line Hepworth!
At ease
Private Vulpes!
and not forgetting the drum and bass remix...
gb
And the ska version...
...by Wild Billy Childish and the Blackhands, from the album "Live In the Netherlands" and the ASDA advert:
http://www.divshare.com/download/5171157-70b
What choo talking about Hepworth?
This is the best.
This is THE one:
seconded the manics verison's good
too.
I beg to differ
Either this...
...or this...
What a difference a theme song makes
From sitcom to distrurbing public information film - this is the 'Different Strokes' titles with different music ... now, would you let your children watch it?
P.S My vote for best ever goes to 'Are You Being Served?'
I certainly
wouldn't have let my children be in it, considering what happened to them all...
If you were a British kid growing up in the grim ’70s . . .
. . . was there a world more desirable and glamorous, and a theme tune more thrilling, than:
Richard.........
I put my replies , below , ( Well...above this reply !!!!!!!!! ) before I'd really had a chance to even glimps this whole line , I see other people mentioned things I mentioned...
I'll say this , whover at YT who said that's the early Happy Days theme would appear to be a bit mistaken...with Scott Baio on it ?????????
And , actually , with the Pratt and McLain theme ?????????
Bill Haley's original recording of " Rock Around The Clock " was used as the theme for Happy Days' first few , original run , seasons ( In the US . I can't speak , of course , for British broadcasts . ) .
I suppose they decided that it was (1) over-familiar and (2) rather showed off overly much the series' common roots with American Graffiti , and that a new " Happy Days Theme " could even help the show's long-term longevity.........
...Well , it was above my
...Well , it was above my earlier replies after all !!!!!!!!!
Now...let's see where this one goes...
It's raining men...
but can you have a great theme
tune for a bobbins programme
We're addicted to this in our house
half hour American sitcoms are a godsend when you've a new baby that doesn't settle for more than half an hour at a time!!!
I'm going straight
I am , staright as an arrrraaa!
Morrissey
Ronnie looks like a gained-weight Morrissey on that clip.
What do you mean?
'Gained' weight? Mozzer's the porker of the two!!
Yes here's Dr John
with a good theme for a crap teen comedy
a great post modern theme
and MST3K
Frasier great show great song
Yes...and Yes
.
Groove on this...
Do you reckon this sounds a bit like Herculean by The Good The Bad and The Queen? Ok - just me then...
That was going to be my choice!
I love the way that tune has no proper beginning or end, but could, potentially, carry on forever.
If I can't have that one I'm going for:
I so wanted to be
Robin Tripp!
and the cover version
updated for the naughties
Winner for me
could get picky
and say it's a tune not a song ! :)
Yeah okay.
:)
If we're in laid back groovesome territory
Excellent shout
Always brings a tear to my eye for some reason
The Word magazine editorial board after going to press
I was delighted to see a review some years ago ...
... for a solo album by Jimmy Pursey (out of Sham 69), except that he'd made it under the name James T Pursey. The entire review was:
"So it's James T. Pursey now, is it, Mr La-Di-Dah Gunner Graham?"
You're all wrong
It's this one...
New episode of New Tricks tonight
So that’s me sorted for the evening .. happy as a pig in shite. Alan Armstrong was James Bolam’s milkman in the Likely Lads film. And there was an episode from the original Likely Lads series on the other week in which Susan Jameson (Alan Armstrong’s fictional wife in New Tricks, James Bolam’s real wife in real life) crops us one of a pair of dolly birds that Bob & Terry chat up in a cafe and entice on a date.
One of life‘s great tragedies is the falling-out between James Bolam and Rodney Bewes. The Likely Lads as “grumpy old men” would have been terrific - our very own Jack Lemmon and Walter Mathau. Dick & Ian are still around and would no doubt be champing at the bit to write it. Come on lads, bury the hatchet. Life’s too short.
You'll be lucky
James Bolam has only recently started doing interviews again. He wouldn't speak to the press for years in case they asked him about said Lads. Even now, you're forbidden to mention Rodney Bewes' name. So don't hold your breath. But you know, Spandau Ballet can overcome their differences...
We've been here before, haven't we?
I can't be bothered to look it up, but the short version was that Rodney Bewes said something in an interview which James Bolam took exception to and they haven't spoken since. Clement & La Frenais have often said they'd love to do another "Likely Lads" series with them, and may have even written a pilot.
What, 47 replies in and no mention of
Whatever your opinion of the show, it's the textbook comedy theme.
And I still like this completely non-PC version
My 3...
Early Doors
The wonderful TMBG
Murphys Mob
From more recent times...
Not sure if this is technically a sitcom,
but it has both situation, and comedy. And a cracking theme song.
What , no his Bobness???
Don't scratch My sofa till the party's over?
Yeeee Haaa, move 'em out!
I thought someone was bound to have posted this by now:
Not the proper credits as they don't seem to be there, but a half decent approximation. It gets very weird at the end though.
anyone else notice...
... the intermittent 9/11 conspiracy propaganda cut into the footage? Weird...
From Mr Will Smith, and Mr Quincy Jones the third
Ok, I'm idiot
I missed the word Comedy.
So to make amends:
I loved this programme when I was 6 or 7.
It's different every time, you know.
.
.
Shame on you all!
Bow down to:
Neither a sitcom...
...nor one of my favourite programs, but a great theme tune nonetheless.
Danny Baker Told Me The Words
Get on board
oof
haven't heard that since the 70s. Fantastic tune. Way to make "some kids on a bus"into the most exciting programme of the week
Uh-oh chungo!
Places new and ladies too …
The Hep's right - but
This is properly good
You've been pipped, mate
'Taxi for Sheev...'
Schoolboy error
Taxi good and proper. All I can say is on hols and not paying proper 'tenshun.
Has anyone mentioned the one that goes "oh what happened to you, whatever happened to me...?"
And talking of schoolboy errors
I always liked this...
Does Monty Python count?
Surely one of the most joyous and rousing theme tunes, although it's debatable how much is the tune itself and how much is the association with the programme content.
John from Cincinnati
OK, not a sit-com, but a fabulous theme tune courtesy of Joe Strummer
So... don't yell...
Love it !
.
It may be a cartoon
but it is at least a sitcom:
Wait Till Your Father Gets Home. Almost like a prototypical 70's Family Guy
'The Odd Couple'....great
'The Odd Couple'....great title sequence as well.
HR Puffnstuff
I can't believe you lot
No one has mentioned the theme tune to one of the best sitcoms ever - Steptoe and Son. Old Ned written by the mighty Ron Grainer. He was also responsible for Doctor Who, Danger Man, The Prisoner, Tales Of The Unexpected, Man In A Suitcase (also used by Chris Evans for TFI) and many other classics.
I Can't believe no one has picked this classis blast from yore.
Green Acres - seemed to run all through my childhood:
My American suggestions......
...for an instrumental...
The Dick Van Dyke Show ( early 60s ) " dat-da-da-da-da-da-da , dadada..." !!!!!
I was reminded of The Patty Duke Show by her recently making an appearance in San Francisco but I don't know if " While Cathy adores the minuet/the Ballet Russe and crepes suzette..." will really cut it in the Oughties...
I suppose animated series are ruled out ????? Flintstones , Josie & The Pussycats , Archie/Archie Comedy Hour or this really obscure animated version of My Favorite Martian , " Our Favorite Martians " ( But only Tim & Katy/really really know for sure/that..." ) ?
The Bewitched theme ? An instro on TV , but Peggy Lee recorded the lyrics .
More embarrasing-to-remember animated spinoffs...Pebbles & Bamm Bamm . " Nothing is as groovy as a boom boom boom/from a band with a Bedrock be-ee-eat !!!!! "
Should I go for Maude , All In The Family , or ( apparently never shown in the UK ) The Jeffersons ?
The mid-70s brought the Welcome Back Kotter , Laverne & Shirley , Happy Days , and Chico And The Man themes to the US singles charts...Perhaps I'm more - perhaps - " perverse " now but Maureen McGovern singing " Different Worlds " ?
REALLY caca...David Naughton , " Makin' It " .
Bilko
It's not particularly known for it's theme music, but the opening and closing tune(s) of "Bilko" are always associated with pure happiness.
Note an early appearance of Danny Kelly...
Sorry - poor audio and poor video - it's the only clip with both tunes.
More USA.........
...I think I remembered the " I Dream Of Jeannie " them , instro-wise , too...And , tho I haven't seen it for decades:-( , George Burns & GracieAllen , and I'm REALLY getting into " older " territory here...The " One Day At A Time " theme needs mentioning , while further into the Norman Lear stable , the " Alice " theme gets...um , not that great .
" The Addams Family "'s theme tended to get remixed into a cruel schoolbus chant...
" The ____ family started/
when______ ______ farted/
They all became retarded/
the ____ family " .
Haven't seen " My Mother The Car " for , again , decades...
I wasn't that wild about " The Mary Tyler Moore Show " , perhaps .
I didn't remember " The Brady Bunch " 'til after the above...
" Get Smart " . " Bullwinkle "'s light-shining theme was pretty fantastic , actually , and I guess I'll mention " Linus The Lionhearted " , " Milton The Monster " and the show I'm told was retitled Boss Cat in the UK , " Top Cat " , tho I don't know that I really liked it all that much...
La la la...
I believe that the presence of "la-la-las" in this, the theme tune to Mary Tyler Moore spin-off "Rhoda", deems it worthy of admission to your list of theme songs. If the pre-Lady Sovereign proto-cockney-white-girl-rap of "Are You Being Served" qualifies as a "song", then surely this does.
Even more funny
is the fact that her sister ended up as Marge Simpson. What a small world.
Worra about them Liver Birds
and actually Nerys Hughes could go on the TV Crushes of Yesteryear thread
Mr Felliciano's..
"Chico and the Man" was a good tune, though I never saw the programme, was it any good?
Ummuhmmm...
...For a one-line answer...Ummmmmmmmn...Ummm...No .
I mean , maybe no " worse " than any other " kidhood-remembered " show here , US or UK .
Briefly summing it up:
Jack Albertson:
" Alright , you bean picker , don't steal the hubcaps off my car and , while you're at it , don't drip water from swimming over the border on my flowers , either ! "
Freddie Prinze:
" Okay , 'mon . I din' do it (pause) Louuooking goodd ! " ( laughtrack likes to pitch a fit ) ( The " LG ! " phrase was FP's trademark as a comic , and actually was fairly/relatively funny . )
Freddie Prinze was , yes , the father of late-90s teen-flick star F. P. , Jr. , and Senior was a textbook example of " getting fucked up by Hollywood " kiling himself early .
After he did C&TM's producers got a little kid to be the new " Chico " for a couple more seasons .
Perhaps the series would be about as foriegn to you guys as I suppose " Love Thy Neighbor " or any of these other early " Moslems/Arabs In Little Britain " or similar shows I've seen reminicied(sp??) over in venues such as this might be to me???