Strong Songs

Our Favorite TV Themes, with Leigh Sales

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Key takeaways

  • TV theme songs are a vital part of a show's identity, conveying tone, setting, and emotion.
  • Music in TV themes has evolved from elaborate, lengthy sequences to minimal or absent intros, influenced by changing viewer habits and streaming services.
  • Iconic themes often reflect the show's mood, humor, or social commentary—examples include the melancholic 'Suicide is Painless' from M*A*S*H and the energetic 'The Office' US theme.
  • Creative variations and trends like musical numbers or thematic reinterpretations continue to keep TV themes fresh and engaging.
  • A well-crafted theme can evoke nostalgia, generate emotional responses, and even become culturally iconic.

Summary

Introduction and Guest Background

Kirk introduces the episode with excitement about having Leigh Sales, a renowned Australian TV personality, podcast host, and musician, as a guest. They discuss her influence in Australia, her work on the popular podcast 'Chat 10 Looks 3', and the reason for this episode—focusing on TV theme songs. Leigh shares her musical background, highlighting her early interest in the organ, her experience learning the cello later in life, and her career in television journalism in Australia. They also talk about her voice roles in the beloved children’s show 'Bluey', emphasizing how she finds joy in the process of voice acting and the significance of small parts in such productions.

Discussion of TV Theme Songs and Trends

The core of the episode is a lively discussion on various TV theme songs, their composition, and their relation to the shows' themes and tone. Kirk and Leigh analyze iconic themes including 'The Office', contrasting the UK and US versions, highlighting how music reflects their distinct humor and mood—melancholy versus energetic. They explore the emotional impact of theme songs, such as the suspenseful yet melancholic 'Suicide is Painless' for M*A*S*H, and discuss how certain themes explain the show’s premise or set the tone, like 'Gilligan’s Island' and 'The Brady Bunch'. The conversation covers the evolution of theme music, from elaborate, long sequences to minimalist or absent ones, and how streaming platforms have transformed viewers’ relationships with titles. They also highlight recent trends, such as musical sequences, dance numbers, and thematic variations, exemplified by shows like 'Peacemaker' and 'The Perfect Couple'.

Notable Themes and Personal Favorites

Kirk and Leigh share their admiration for specific themes, including the haunting 'Woke Up This Morning' from 'The Sopranos', the sophisticated 'Mad Men' theme, and the tense, dissonant music of 'The Americans'. They delve into the storytelling power of music in framing narratives, such as the symbolism in the 'Succession' theme with its descending chords and the visual of a man falling from a building. The discussion also touches on how older recording technologies and production styles give these themes a nostalgic or timeless quality. Leigh recommends musical albums that evoke the vibe of classic themes—such as Frank Sinatra’s live recordings, the Australian band INXS’s 'Kick', and the modern band The Villagers—and emphasizes their emotional and musical significance. The conversation underscores how themes can define a show’s identity and evoke strong emotional responses from viewers.

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Show notes

It's fun to talk about TV theme songs, so that's what Kirk and special guest Leigh Sales did. Does this episode need any more introduction than that? Probably not.

Check out Leigh's wonderful podcast Chat 10 Looks 3

A YouTube Playlist of many of the themes discussed (and some they didn't get to)

DISCUSSED/REFERENCED:

  • The Office Theme - “Handbags and Gladrags” - 1967 by Mike D’Abo, perf. Big George Webley -
  • US theme 2005 by Jay Ferguson
  • Parks & Recreation - 2009, by Gaby Moreno and Vincent Jones
  • Welcome Back Kotter - by John Sebastian (1974 - 1979)
  • “Suicide is Painless” by Johnny Mandel, from MA_S_H
  • The Nanny Theme by Ann Hampton Callaway
  • The Brady Bunch theme by Frank De Vol & Sherwood Schwartz
  • Gilligan’s Island theme by Sherwood Schwartz (lyrics) & George Wyle (music)
  • Beverley Hillbillies theme by Paul Hennig feat. Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs
  • Money For Nothing/Beverley Hillbillies by Weird Al Yankovic from UHF, 1988
  • "Money For Nothing" by Dire Straits from Brothers in Arms, 1985
  • The Americans theme by Nathan Barr
  • "Do Ya Wanna Taste It" by Wig Wam from Peacemaker, 2021
  • The Pi Song from AsapSCIENCE
  • Symphony No. 8 in B Minor, D. 759 by Franz Schubert
  • “Green Acres Theme” by Vic Mizzy
  • “Woke Up This Morning” by Alabama 3, from The Sopranos
  • "A Beautiful Mine" from Mad Men by RJD2
  • “Sex and the City Theme” by Douglas J. Cuomo
  • Six Feet Under theme by Thomas Newman
  • Breaking Bad theme by Dave Porter
  • House of Cards Theme by Jeff Beal
  • Tank! by Yoko Kanno and Seatbelts

LEIGH'S MUSIC PICKS:

  1. Frank Sinatra Live at the Sands, ‘66 with the Count Basie Orchestra conducted by Quincy Jones
  2. INXS - Kick, 1987
  3. The Villagers - Becoming a Jackal, 2010

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