Okay, its been terrifying children for decades, but the music alone is haunting.
This remarkable music is made by tape looping, white noise, and wave form oscillators titervated by Delia Derbyshire in the BBC's Radiophonic Workshop. Not one note comes from a musical instrument. That someone saw fit to create for a children's programme in 1963 is brilliant. The current version is with a full orchestra but goes to show you can't really improve it.
Delia Derbyshire was later invited by Paul McCartney to collaborate with the Beatles. The BBC nixed it. Gah!
Showing posts with label television. Show all posts
Showing posts with label television. Show all posts
Thursday, 19 November 2009
Wednesday, 18 November 2009
Laurie Johnson - The Avengers
Ah, the Avengers, British television at its campest, funniest and most stylish.
I confess to shamelessly ripping my flirting technique from Diana Rigg and even copying her haircut when I was 16. It worked, I got that higher class of boyfriend who takes you out for a drink before lunging for your bra straps.
The Avengers owes a lot to Johnson's theme, recorded with a full orchestra for ATV. Lush, opulent, strings are undermined utterly rink dink piano. Perfect, atmospheric, and sets you up for both the sublime and the ridiculous.
I confess to shamelessly ripping my flirting technique from Diana Rigg and even copying her haircut when I was 16. It worked, I got that higher class of boyfriend who takes you out for a drink before lunging for your bra straps.
The Avengers owes a lot to Johnson's theme, recorded with a full orchestra for ATV. Lush, opulent, strings are undermined utterly rink dink piano. Perfect, atmospheric, and sets you up for both the sublime and the ridiculous.
Tuesday, 17 November 2009
Bill Bailey - The BBC Apocalypse
A silly one, but shows that the BBC can still style out a great theme when they want to.
Bill gave it a great remix, and when I managed to see him perform it live at the Apollo on Shaftesbury Avenue, the whole crowd got down. Next time the 10 o'clock news comes on, get your glow sticks out.
Bill gave it a great remix, and when I managed to see him perform it live at the Apollo on Shaftesbury Avenue, the whole crowd got down. Next time the 10 o'clock news comes on, get your glow sticks out.
Monday, 16 November 2009
Ronnie Hazelhurst - Are You Being Served?
Ronnie Hazelhurst is the BBC composer. For anyone who grew up in the 1970s and 1980s, his music was ubiquitous.
He dominated the themes of the BBC, writing the funky Yes Minister (listen to that guitar), Last of the Summer Wine, Some Mothers Do Ave Em, Sorry, and arranging countless other tunes. He even managed to do Eurovision. Ronnie is at his height with the big band stylings of the Two Ronnies, but perhaps his most creative with "Are You Being Served?". Since he couldn't afford a percussionist, he disguised the gap with the clanging of tills and change, a full year before Pink Floyd did "Money".
Far out, Ronnie.
He dominated the themes of the BBC, writing the funky Yes Minister (listen to that guitar), Last of the Summer Wine, Some Mothers Do Ave Em, Sorry, and arranging countless other tunes. He even managed to do Eurovision. Ronnie is at his height with the big band stylings of the Two Ronnies, but perhaps his most creative with "Are You Being Served?". Since he couldn't afford a percussionist, he disguised the gap with the clanging of tills and change, a full year before Pink Floyd did "Money".
Far out, Ronnie.
Thursday, 25 June 2009
Keith Prowse - Light and Tuneful
Ah, Wimbledon. Home of the strawberry, sweatband, and sunburn. This year I shall be donning my boater in the centre court and making light clapping noises as Roger Federer's bottom goes past.
The only downside to actually being at Wimbledon and not watching it on the BBC is the lack of the super theme tune of Keith Prowse. So here it is:
The only downside to actually being at Wimbledon and not watching it on the BBC is the lack of the super theme tune of Keith Prowse. So here it is:
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)