Theme Songs Anyone?

[cody420]

Anyone else here cover any theme songs? The band I've been sitting in with plays Mario Bros, the Pink panther, and Curb Your Enthusiasm. Personally, I love to hear a band do a good theme song, or even a soloist quote one. Danny Gatton doing the Simpsons has got to be one of my favorites.

 

[Chris S.]

I do the theme from American Bandstand (I believe the actual name is "Bandstand Boogie") as an instrumental with the country band I play with. It's a good up-tempo swing tune, and always seems to get a good response.

As far as quoting in solos, I throw various TV and movie theme quotes in all the time (too much of the time, if you ask some former bandmates...). ;-) Flintstones, Andy Griffith, Woody Woodpecker, Lawrence of Arabia, Peter Gunn, Twilight Zone, Bonanza, Addams Family, Alfred Hitchcock, Happy Trails (Roy Rogers), Star Trek, Close Encounters, Secret Agent Man, MASH, the Lone Ranger (William Tell overture)... geez, anything's liable to pop out... at any time. ;-) CS

 

[Mr_Max]

I like to quote other tunes in solos too. I remember a two week stand-in/dep job with a covers band, in which the other guitarist and I almost got into a competition - to play quotes at every opportunity (and not always thinking of musical taste...)

I can only think of a few TV themes I ever played instrumental versions of; one was from a show called 'White Horses' and I remember playing the theme from the Munsters as part of a medley with something else. I also recorded the end theme from a British childrens show called 'Mary, Mungo and Midge'.

This is a good topic, because I think there are a lot of great TV themes which lend themselves to being expanded further than we usually hear them.


Max.

 

[Mr_Max]

As far as quoting in solos, I throw various TV and movie theme quotes in all the time (too much of the time, if you ask some former bandmates...). ;-)

I think I know the feeling...you just can't help yourself, right? - There's a nice tune, and it really needs that tasteful quote from the theme of The Flintstones...


Max.

 

[maestrovert]

We use the theme from the Andy Griffith Show as a play off for breaks occassionally.....sometimes we run it through whistles and all, and once in a while we even get a "whistle along" goin ! it's comical....just picture a whole bar full of tipsy whistlers......it cracks EVERYBODY up....

Also "If i only had a brain/heart/da noive" from the Wizard of Oz, and Sailor's Hornpipe/Popeye Theme....

we also USED to do the 007 James Bond Theme until we caught Brian Setzer's show....he opened with it...."yup, THAT'S out ! "

 

[tweedman]

Hawaii Five-O
It is easily recognizeable and fun.

 

[jaimed]

Rawhide

Always enjoyed the Blues Bros doing Rawhide at "Bob's Country Bunker" in the movie.

"...both kinds of music. Country & Western."

(link removed)

 

[Chris S.]

Taste-free zone

As far as quoting in solos, I throw various TV and movie theme quotes in all the time (too much of the time, if you ask some former bandmates...). ;-)

I think I know the feeling...you just can't help yourself, right? - There's a nice tune, and it really needs that tasteful quote from the theme of The Flintstones...

Hee. ;-) Egg-ZACKly. Heck, sometimes it's not even music that comes out, it's sound effects. Like that soft, poignant line in "Silver Wings" where the singer gently intones, "...roaring engines... ?" Sometimes it just <u>needs</u> a good teeth-rattling JET ROAR to add that perfect *hint* of subtlety. [Roll the volume off, pre-bend the doo-dah outta the lower three strings down around the 2nd fret, hit 'em hard, and then s-l-o-w-l-y release them for that Doppler effect as you roll the volume up... ] Oh, yeah – it's a nice touch. Hee. CS

 

[jericho60]

The Munsters Theme

Very fun to play.

Sorry to admit I have this one going through my head lately:

"We've got a gorilla, gorilla for sale
Magilla Gorilla for sale
Won't you buy him, take him home and try him
Gorilla for sale
Handsome, elegant, intelligent, sweet
Gorilla for sale

Don't you want a little gorilla you can call your own..."

 

[Mr_Max]

Re: Taste-free zone

Hee. ;-) Egg-ZACKly. Heck, sometimes it's not even music that comes out, it's sound effects. Like that soft, poignant line in "Silver Wings" where the singer gently intones, "...roaring engines... ?" Sometimes it just <u>needs</u> a good teeth-rattling JET ROAR to add that perfect *hint* of subtlety. [Roll the volume off, pre-bend the doo-dah outta the lower three strings down around the 2nd fret, hit 'em hard, and then s-l-o-w-l-y release them for that Doppler effect as you roll the volume up... ] Oh, yeah – it's a nice touch. Hee. CS

<Makes note: expand sound effects repertoire from cars and trains, to further include all other forms of transport - and plan setlist with this in mind>



Max.

 

[Mr_Max]

Re: The Munsters Theme

Very fun to play.

Sorry to admit I have this one going through my head lately:

"We've got a gorilla, gorilla for sale
Magilla Gorilla for sale
Won't you buy him, take him home and try him
Gorilla for sale
Handsome, elegant, intelligent, sweet
Gorilla for sale

Don't you want a little gorilla you can call your own..."

Don't be sorry! That's another good one!

Ahhhh...the TDPRI - educational on so many levels, including helping to stretch those musical boundaries...


Max.

 

[Brad Miller]

I always wanted to do a surf guitar version of "Gilligan's Island". Can anyone else hear it played to the drums from "Apache"?

 

[Paul in Colorado]

I always wanted to do a surf guitar version of "Gilligan's Island". Can anyone else hear it played to the drums from "Apache"?

Our local Hawaiian Swing band, "Book'em Danno" plays a reggae version of Gilligan's Island. My celtic band throws it into a set of Irish Fiddle tunes.

 

[Paul in Colorado]

We use the theme from the Andy Griffith Show as a play off for breaks occassionally.....sometimes we run it through whistles and all, and once in a while we even get a "whistle along" goin ! it's comical....just picture a whole bar full of tipsy whistlers......it cracks EVERYBODY up....

Also "If i only had a brain/heart/da noive" from the Wizard of Oz, and Sailor's Hornpipe/Popeye Theme....

we also USED to do the 007 James Bond Theme until we caught Brian Setzer's show....he opened with it...."yup, THAT'S out ! "

Wow! I also play those. We used to throw in the 007 theme in the middle of Secret Agent Man.

 

[jericho60]

I always wanted to do a surf guitar version of "Gilligan's Island". Can anyone else hear it played to the drums from "Apache"?

Actually...YES


mang...that's beautiful

*closes eyes*

well, sit right down and you'll hear a tale, a tale of a fateful trip

Ever heard "Pinball Wizard" sung to the melody of "Folsom Prison Blues"?

 

[simonc]

I used to drop in a bit of Beverly Hills 90210 or Melrose place theme songs into the mix every now n then (much to the dismay of my bandmates).

 

[Tele295]

Peter Gunn
Hawaii 5-0
Perry Mason
Green Acres
Munsters
Bonanza
Magnificent 7
Woody Woodpecker
Batman
Bewitched
and the list goes on.............

The sickest thing I did was accept a bet that I couldn't sneak Linus & Lucy (the Charlie Brown song) into every song we played one night.

I won.

 

[Teletwang]

Barney Miller

I've never publicly played any theme songs but I have always wanted to do the Barney Miller theme. Just that bass line intro alone got me hooked on it, as a kid.

 

[Rob Rent]

I have a cd of "tv music"

which includes commercials as well as themes...I try to shove something in every now and then....when I do my solo gig....I play those few notes that they play when Dr. Phil goes to break....EVERY woman in the place (whatever place it is) immediately turns their undivided attention to the stage....

 

[Mr_Max]

The sickest thing I did was accept a bet that I couldn't sneak Linus & Lucy (the Charlie Brown song) into every song we played one night.

I won.

I wouldn't consider that 'sick' - I'd look on it more as a 'Great Musical Achievement' 8)


Max.