Television show theme songs come in a colorful spectrum of styles, from forgettable to downright works of art. But they all have one thing in common: they’re short. At least when they play during the opening credits of the show.
But what you hear in that minute or so while you go grab some chips and dip from the kitchen isn’t always the whole story. Lurking behind many of the songs introducing the show and its actors is a more developed piece of music that you rarely or never get to hear.
Stanley Kubrick did it. Stephen King hated it. The rest of the world loved it. Shelley Duvall had a nervous breakdown from it.
What was it? Kubrick’s film The Shining, of course.
But we’re not here today to talk about the film. We’re here to talk about the music that overlays the opening title sequence from it. That deep, disturbing horn. Those wailing damned souls.
Continue reading What Shakespeare, Stephen King, and a Lovelorn French Composer Have In Common
In The Sound of Music are two beautiful songs that represent themselves as originating from Austrian folk culture. One is sung as if it were a national song celebrating Austrian pride, and the other is purportedly music for an Austrian folk dance.
So are they?
Continue reading “Edelweiss” and “The Laendler”: Authentic Austrian?
In 1965 the Righteous Brothers recorded a love song that became a blockbuster and a staple of pop music culture ever since: “Unchained Melody.” It was released on their album Just Once In My Life and, amazingly, as the B-side of a 45 rpm single, with the song “Hung On You” as the A-side selection.
