Author Topic: "Mismatched" Themes. (Read 21791 times)

Don Howard · « **Reply #30 on:** August 31, 2008, 09:02:52 AM »

[quote name=\'davemackey\' post=\'195553\' date=\'Aug 30 2008, 02:33 PM\']
Women don't sweat, either.
[/quote]
Pat O'Brien does. Yet he glistens at the same time.
From 1983-89, I found the Wheel Of Fortune theme out of place. To me, the Alan Thicke music was perfect for that show. Some of those Griffin prize description cues (Frisco Disco and a couple of others being exceptions) created a mental mismatch for me also.

TimK2003 · « **Reply #31 on:** August 31, 2008, 10:10:58 AM »

[quote name=\'fishbulb\' post=\'195575\' date=\'Aug 30 2008, 09:43 PM\']
I agree that the ABC theme was better. My first reaction, on seeing the CBS version, was "What the heck did they do to the theme?!!" Tuning Up fit the show perfectly. The 25K theme always sounded insubstantial and sing-songy to me.
[/quote]

Simple:

The 70's Pyramid sounded better because it sounded like a real group of serious studio musicians, while the 80s version sounded like a high school marching band playing impromptu,.

Count me in as one who thinks Pyramid is the the least favorite of the Cobert compositions.

EDIT: I see that said band has taken this tune on tour:

Version 2
Version 3
Version 4

Ian Wallis · « **Reply #32 on:** August 31, 2008, 12:04:12 PM »

Although I liked the theme to the short-lived show Time Machine, to me it didn't sound like it should be a game-show theme. It sounded more like prime-time awards special music than daytime game show music.

Also, I really didn't think the Go theme fit at all. Firstly, I don't really like the theme as it's 3 minutes of an intro in search of a melody, but as other people here have said in the past, it would probably be more fitting for a newscast.

tyshaun1 · « **Reply #33 on:** August 31, 2008, 12:17:22 PM »

While we're talking about bad remakes of themes (although I completely disagree about 20K vs. 25K), how 'bout the remake of the Family Feud theme in 1988? Score took a theme that was high energy and fit the show perfectly and sucked the soul out of it, making it mechanical and cold...... also didn't help that Ray Combs was pretty similar.

Tyshaun

BrandonFG · « **Reply #34 on:** August 31, 2008, 12:53:04 PM »

I'm kinda indifferent on the Pyramids themes; liked both but wished the Cobert version was much longer (loved the rarely-heard bass at the end). Someone mentioned a different atmosphere in the 80s version, and that might be the one thing I liked so much more about the NYC version. When someone won the big money, the NY crowd went bats**t insane, and I loved it.

Back to Pyramid themes, both were better than Donnymid's (retch).

And I also agree on the 1988 Feud remix...the live instruments of Dawson's version gave it a better groove. The synthesized drums and splash cymbals just had no feel to it.

GameShowGuru · « **Reply #35 on:** August 31, 2008, 05:43:10 PM »

Lemme think:

TTD '90: Definately sounds like something for a kiddy show.

Joker's Wild '90: While it doesn't fit the caliber of The Jokers Wild in way of the nature of the show, it did fit the "watered down" presentation of the show compared to the 70s/80s format.

Trump Card: That theme sounds like something that belongs in a multi-level marketing video presentation (or any other similar charletan type video), especially that opening fanfare.

Regarding the Pyramid theme music debate, I don't care what anybody says, "Tuning Up" was the shnit! It's in my top 3 favorite game show themes, yeah the bridge portion of the song does get a little psychedelic, but that's part of the charm. It's high energy and extremely krunk, just like the excitement when someone won the winner's circle on the show during that period.

The CBS $25K theme, while it wasn't quite as exciting, I respected it for what it was and the time period it was presented (a little more "sanitized" version of the original, but still exciting in its own right. Then again, the music fit the 1980s overall "theme" as a whole).

Jeopardy and WOF (both 80s versions) I respected their original theme songs, but when they started getting jazzed up and "fancified", I began to lose respect for the theme music, because consistent with the rest of the show, the modified music only helped reduce J! and WOF to looking like pop culture gimmicks instead of respectable game shows.

Winning Streak, Jackpot, and unsold pilot Get Rich Quick: They all sounded terribly stereotypical game show music. In other words, when I heard the theme music, I thought I was watching an SNL/Mad TV skit.

I'll have more later.

JackSpader · « **Reply #36 on:** August 31, 2008, 06:57:14 PM »

There are a number exceptions to this, but I think that the reason some themes work where others don't is because you can sing the title at a certain point of the melody. A good case in point is the Wheel of Fortune theme from 1975 vs. the one from 1983. Comparing the two, I think the 1983 version of the theme were better than the 1975 theme because it has a theme that works with the title of the show.

clemon79 · « **Reply #37 on:** August 31, 2008, 11:12:04 PM »

[quote name=\'JackSpader\' post=\'195642\' date=\'Aug 31 2008, 03:57 PM\']
Comparing the two, I think the 1983 version of the theme were better than the 1975 theme because it has a theme that works with the title of the show.
[/quote]
By that argument, the theme from Go is brilliant.

Eric Paddon · « **Reply #38 on:** September 01, 2008, 02:24:22 AM »

I hated the theme change on WOF in 83. The opening of it was so slow compared to the fast-paced beginning of "Big Wheels" that it just seemed very out of place.

Craig Karlberg · « **Reply #39 on:** September 01, 2008, 04:11:26 AM »

I always thought Big Wheels was a good fit for WoF back in the 70's. When Changing Keys was used as the 80's theme, it was decent enough as it was. The jazzier version was OK. The big band version in the mid 90's didn't seem to click with me. When they completely changed it up around 2001, I lost all respect for that theme. I'm beginning to dred what the Million Dollar WoF music will be like this comming season.

joshg · « **Reply #40 on:** September 01, 2008, 06:55:40 AM »

[quote name=\'Eric Paddon\' post=\'195681\' date=\'Aug 31 2008, 11:24 PM\']
I hated the theme change on WOF in 83. The opening of it was so slow compared to the fast-paced beginning of "Big Wheels" that it just seemed very out of place.
[/quote]
But Merv loved the money it put in his pockets.

Offshored2007 · « **Reply #41 on:** September 02, 2008, 12:59:09 PM »

The Closing theme of Treasure Hunt 1970s version, sedate compared to all the hecticness of the show.

Jimmy Owen · « **Reply #42 on:** September 02, 2008, 01:13:58 PM »

[quote name=\'Offshored2007\' post=\'195839\' date=\'Sep 2 2008, 12:59 PM\']
The Closing theme of Treasure Hunt 1970s version, sedate compared to all the hecticness of the show.
[/quote]

I thought that was brilliant, it gave us a chance to bask in the glow of what we have just seen and to gaze in the eyes of Nomi, Jane, etc. with the lights down low.

Don Howard · « **Reply #43 on:** September 02, 2008, 02:56:09 PM »

[quote name=\'Jimmy Owen\' post=\'195841\' date=\'Sep 2 2008, 01:13 PM\']
[quote name=\'Offshored2007\' post=\'195839\' date=\'Sep 2 2008, 12:59 PM\']
The Closing theme of Treasure Hunt 1970s version, sedate compared to all the hecticness of the show.
[/quote]
I thought that was brilliant, it gave us a chance to bask in the glow of what we have just seen and to gaze in the eyes of Nomi, Jane, etc. with the lights down low.
[/quote]
And a baggie in our hands.

TimK2003 · « **Reply #44 on:** September 02, 2008, 07:47:42 PM »

[quote name=\'Don Howard\' post=\'195865\' date=\'Sep 2 2008, 02:56 PM\']
[quote name=\'Jimmy Owen\' post=\'195841\' date=\'Sep 2 2008, 01:13 PM\']
[quote name=\'Offshored2007\' post=\'195839\' date=\'Sep 2 2008, 12:59 PM\']
The Closing theme of Treasure Hunt 1970s version, sedate compared to all the hecticness of the show.
[/quote]
I thought that was brilliant, it gave us a chance to bask in the glow of what we have just seen and to gaze in the eyes of Nomi, Jane, etc. with the lights down low.
[/quote]
And a baggie in our hands.
[/quote]

How many more days, Don, before your permanent retirement from the forum???