Theme Song Thursday: ‘Perfect Strangers’ touts a perfect theme song

Posted on July 28, 2011 by Ryan Johnson

Much of my childhood, at least on Friday nights, revolved around ABC’s TGIF lineup in the early 1990s. Everyone had a favorite sitcom during the two-hour weekly programming block, whether it was “Full House,” “Family Matters” or “Step by Step.”

Cousin Larry and Cousin Balki

But my favorite, then and now, is “Perfect Strangers,” a perfect sitcom for its odd couple pairing of Larry Appleton (Mark Linn-Baker) and his previously unknown distant cousin Balki Bartokomous (Bronson Pinchot), who hailed from the Mediterranean island of Mypos.

The show revolves around Balki’s failures and successes as he tries to adapt to the American way of life while living in his cousin’s Chicago apartment. When things went right, Balki would bust out his signature “Dance of Joy”; when things went wrong, it usually turned out Balki was more right than his stressed-out, neurotic cousin Larry when it come down to being a good guy and doing the right thing.

“Perfect Strangers” came from the production dream team Miller-Boyett, who also were behind pretty much every other good sitcom at the time, including “Full House,” “Perfect Strangers” spinoff “Family Matters” and “Step by Step.” And these guys really knew the value of having an awesome theme song, which explains why they relied on songwriting duo Jesse Frederick and Bennett Salvay to write the themdes for all the shows I just mentioned (and that explains why they all have somewhat similar themes).

But for whatever reason, I think it all came together perfectly in the minute or so of awesomeness in “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Me Now,” an optimistic song about not giving up that’s a great intro to each episode of “Perfect Strangers.” The song, performed by David Pomeranz, went through several small edits and cuts through the show’s eight-season run from 1986 to 1993 but always kept the focus on the original theme’s inspiring lyrics:

Standing tall, on the wings of my dream.
Rise and fall, on the wings of my dream.
The rain and thunder
The wind and haze
I’m bound for better days.
It’s my life and my dream,
Nothing’s gonna stop me now.

Don’t get me wrong, “Full House” and “Family Matters” have classic theme songs, and I have always loved the catchy little ditty that kicked off each episode of “Step by Step.” But “Perfect Strangers” was the most solid sitcom ever developed by Miller-Boyett, and the show’s theme also stands above the rest of a pretty amazing pack of shows and songs that stemmed from these television geniuses.

But you don’t have to take my word for it:

And here’s the infamous “Dance of Joy”:

Awesome.

Theme Song Thursday is a weekly look back at memorable, not-so-influential, nostalgia-inducing theme songs by the Heralds Melinda Lavine and Ryan Johnson. Click here to read previous entries, and feel free to share!

Theme Song Thursday: Who. Is. The Masser?

Posted on July 26, 2011 by Melinda M. Lavine

Bruce Leroy. The Glow. The Sho-Gun of Harlem. Any of these ring a bell? If not, you might be missing out on a cult classic.

“The Last Dragon” came out in 1985 and has been described as a martial arts, dance movie. If you haven’t seen it, it might be too late. It’s pretty campy and one of those movies that gets immediate amnesty if you grew up with it. It features your typical characters: A black belt trying to reach the “Final Level” who eats popcorn with chopsticks; the damsel in distressed played by 80′s seductress Vanity; and the bully in martial arts garb made complete with black Converse sneakers and shoulder pads.

Sho-Nuff discovers who the REAL master is.

Having said that, “The Last Dragon” may be best known for its music, which was supervised by Motown Records founder, Berry Gordon. The soundtrack featured “Rhythm of the Night,” which hit No. 3 on Billboard’s Top 100, Stevie Wonder’s “Upset Stomach,” Vanity’s “7th Heaven” and the immortal theme, “The Last Dragon,” by Dwight David.

All a “Last Dragon” die-hard need do to weed out like-minded people is to sing a couple of words from this theme.

Take life one day at a time
That’s what a wise man said to me.
He said, “Life, in all it’s complexity
Is the ultimate test for you and me.”

When you walk holding your head up high
For the masters watching you from the sky
I know not what trouble lies ahead
Before you fight, use your head.

It’s time to leave my nest where you were born
This journey you must make alone.
(Spread your wings and fly)
There’s a power deep inside you, an inner strength
You’ll find in time of need.
(The Glow)

Like the seasons, love will come and go
If it’s right, you’ll automatically know.
The world of mystery exists only in your head.
When you become one with yourself
The wall will fall

The journey now before you is the final test
You’ve learned your lesson well.
(I can teach you no more)
There’s a power deep inside you, an inner strength
You’ll find in time of need.
(The Glow)

You are the Last Dragon
You posess the power of the Glow

“The Last Dragon,” theme song by Dwight David

“The Glow,” by Willie Hutch

“7th Heaven,” performed by Vanity

Theme Song Thursday extra: The character Sho’Nuff makes a cameo in Busta Rhymes’ 1997 music video for “Dangerous”:

Theme Song Thursday is a weekly look back at memorable, not-so-influential, nostalgia-inducing theme songs by the Herald’s Melinda Lavine and Ryan Johnson. Click here to read other Theme Song Thursday posts and feel free to share!

Theme Song Thursday: Louie Louie you’re gonna cry

Posted on July 14, 2011 by Ryan Johnson

I like plenty of TV show theme songs that are instrumentals – “30 Rock” has a pretty good theme, and the music that kicks off each episode of “MacGyver” gets me pumped up and ready to watch Mac’s practical wisdom save the day.

Louie (Louis C.K.)

But I really prefer a theme that has words because, let’s face it, there’s nothing better than a catchy song to sing along with, especially if you’re loyally watching the show and will be forced to hear the song over and over again.

That’s why I love “Brother Louie,” the 1970s Hot Chocolate song that serves as the theme of the hilariously smart FX comedy “Louie.” The original song is about 4 minutes long, dealing with the topic of interracial romance and a couple faced with racism. That might seem at odds with a comedy stemming from the twisted yet somehow relatable mind of Louis C.K. But mixed into the original song is a repeated chorus that works perfectly for a show about a depressed white dude named Louie:

“Louie Louie Louie, Louie
Louie Louie Lou-i
Louie Louie Louie
Louie Louie you’re gonna cry”

Hot Chocolate didn’t get much attention for this song – you probably know them for “You Sexy Thing,” their 1975 classic. But “Brother Louie” rose to the top of the charts in 1973 when it was expertly covered by one-hit wonder Stories.

Here’s the song, as performed by Stories:

http://youtu.be/exl0oSfTSoY

And here’s a clip from “Louie,” a show you should definitely start watching if you haven’t already:

Theme Song Thursday: Before Big Willie Style, there was The Fresh Prince

Posted on July 7, 2011 by Melinda M. Lavine

In the late ’80′s, Will Smith broke out as the MC in DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince. In 1988, they were the first ever to win a Grammy in the Rap category. His popularity and fame spawned the TV show “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.” It ran six seasons from 1990-1996 and was loosely based on Smith. His character’s named Will and they’re both street smart teens from West Philadelphia.

Nothing says the '90s like a neon green backdrop

The show’s theme is catchy and quintessential Will Smith. Humorous, good-natured and sans swear words, just like his rap career, and it sets up the context of the show.

The theme music was produced by QD3, the son of show executive producer Quincy Jones, with lyrics written by Smith. The full version was cut in the later seasons to allow more time for the show. I was rapping this song in the bathtub as Naughty By Nature and Public Enemy rose the charts.

The theme would later grace “Big Willie Style’s” Greatest Hits album and reach No. 3 on the charts in The Netherlands. If you’re like me, you still remember all the words to this (and Salt N Pepa’s “Shoop”), but if not, here ya go.

Now this is a story all about how
My life got flipped-turned upside down
And I liked to take a minute just sit right there
And tell you how I became the prince of a town called Bel-Air

In west Philadelphia born and raised
On the playground is where I spent most of my days
Chillin out, maxin, relaxing all cool,
And all shooting some b-ball outside of the school
When a couple of guys who were up to no good
Started making trouble in my neighborhood
I got in one lil fight and my mom got scared
And said “You’re moving with your auntie and uncle in Bel-Air”

I whistled for a cab and when it came near
The license plate said FRESH and it had dice in the mirror
If anything I can say this cab was rare
But I thought naw forget it yo homes to Bel-Air

I pulled up to the house about 7 or 8
And I yelled to the cabby “Yo homes smell ya later”
I looked at my kingdom I was finally there
To sit on my throne as the Prince of Bel Air

Studied up? Try your skills during the video.

Click here to watch the video.

Here’s a Theme Song Thursday extra. These moves never go outta style (or so I tell myself on the dance floor).

Theme Song Thursday: Clarissa explains, well, not very much

Posted on June 30, 2011 by Ryan Johnson

“Clarissa Explains It All” gave the world Melissa Joan Hart and was somewhat ahead of its time, being the first Nickelodeon television series to feature a female lead character.

Sam and Clarissa

But this early 1990s show really only made one contribution that matters – its amazingly simple theme song.

Rachel Sweet expertly performs this series of one repeated syllable with an occasional “way cool! or “just do it!” thrown in for good measure. Don’t look for any meaning in this theme; it is, literally, just a series of “na-na-na-na” with a few phrases added to it so there’s at least a few sections with lyrics.

My parent’s cable plan didn’t include Nickelodeon, so it’s not like I closely followed the exploits of Clarissa or grew up learning from her explanations of it all. Still, I seem to randomly think of the theme song once every few months and then spend the next week trying to get the tune out of my head. I don’t always need meaning, or actual words, in my music – sometimes all I look for in a good theme song is a little “na-na-na.”

http://youtu.be/m9gQD6i4htU

Theme Song Thursday: Take a look, it’s in a book

Posted on June 26, 2011 by Ryan Johnson

I might not remember the book reviews, and I’ve long since forgotten the guest stars, but I recently realized that “Reading Rainbow” has stuck with me well into adulthood for one big reason – its highly infectious, yet simple, theme song about the power of reading.

I can go twice as high

Usually I think of the song when I see a “butterfly in the sky,” the first line from the show’s theme performed by Tina Fabrique. The uplifting lyrics and can-do spirit, combined with the message of being able to do “anything” when you read, always take me back to my early grade school days.

I think my love for this show was due to a couple of personality traits I had as a young child – I absolutely loved reading, tearing through pretty much every book I could get my hands on, and I grew up in a house where “Star Trek: The Next Generation” was more likely to be on the TV than pretty much any other show. So I guess it wasn’t surprising that I watched this show all the time, both to learn more about the written word and to see how much more normal LeVar Burton looked when he wasn’t wearing that dorky visor that, apparently, is how blind people will see in the future (at least according to Star Trek).

LeVar Burton getting excited about reading!

My knowledge of “Reading Rainbow” helped me learn how to write the best vague book reports in grade school. I think my closing line in every fifth grade book report was “But you don’t have to take my word for it,” which actually is the exact phrase LeVar Burton would use to introduce kids’ book reviews on the show. With a line like that, it was easy to pretend that I meant my classmates should read the book for themselves to find out how it ends – but it really was just a convenient way of omitting the fact that I usually didn’t know the conclusion because I hadn’t finished the assigned book.

I stopped watching the show sometime in the mid-1990s (somewhere in the middle of the show’s 1983 to 2009 television run) and, eventually, forgot about my love for “Reading Rainbow.” But to this day, the theme song instantly pops into my head whenever I see a butterfly.

And who doesn’t like getting a blast of nostalgia from such a simple sight?

You can also check out a Chaka Khan version of the theme used in the show after 1999 (it’s pretty bad, but maybe you’ll like it better than me). And here’s a funny clip from “Community” when LeVar Burton visits a starstruck Troy:

Theme Song Thursday: Werewolf Bar Mitzvahs and Muffin Tops

Posted on June 16, 2011 by Melinda M. Lavine

NBC’s “30 Rock” has one of those catchy theme songs that highlight the show’s quirkiness. Its music is composed by one of the show’s producers, Jeff Richmond, who’s also married to “30 Rock” creator, writer and star Tina Fey.

The show’s loosely based on Fey’s experiences as head writer of “Saturday Night Live.” It’s hilarious, it stars Alec Baldwin and if you haven’t watched it, you should.

In 2008, “30 Rock” broke the record for most Emmy nominations in a single year with 17. The next year, they outdid themselves with 22. Among them was a nod for Outstanding Main Title Theme Music.

30 ROCK CAST

The show features seven original songs, some performed by Jane Krakowski, Tracy Morgan, Tina Fey and Jason Sudeikis. It’s not free of cover songs, but composer Richmond always adds his touch to contribute comedically. He arranged a version of The Gray Kid’s “Oh My,” for the Source Awards episode. They do a spin on “We Are the World” with cameos from Cyndi Lauper, Nora Jones, Clay Aiken, Mary J. Blige and many more for the “Kidney Now!” episode. There’s also a remix of “Midnight Train to Georgia” with the cast alternating parts by the Pips and Gladys.

“30 Rock’s” pilot aired in 2006, and season 5 finished its run this spring. It’s a show where every element helps conjure a laugh, and the music is no exception.

“30 Rock” theme

Muffin Top

Werewolf Bar Mitvah

As a bonus, for “30 Rock’s” season 4 finale, composer Jeff Richmond turned his Emmy-nominated instrumental theme into a gospel choir arrangement. It’s pretty wonderful.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Txi68L9NwVQ&feature=related

Click here to read about Tina Fey expecting baby No. 2, and here’s a link to samples from the “3o Rock” soundtrack, which was released in 2010. (Think I’m gonna spring for it.)

Theme Song Thursday: ‘My So-Called Life’s’ so-called theme

Posted on June 9, 2011 by Melinda M. Lavine

Claire Danes. Before “Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines.” Before “The Mod Squad” and even “Romeo + Juliet,” there was “My So-Called Life.” Maroon-haired Angela Chase battles angst and adolescence in the suburbs.

Cast sans Tino, who didn't make the shoot.

“My So-Called Life” debuted on ABC in 1994, and in many ways, it was one of the first shows of its kind. It was a teen drama that dealt with drug use, alcoholism, school violence, homophobia, adultery, censorship and even illiteracy. And these themes were ongoing. Conflict didn’t find a quick and easy resolution at the end of the episode. This was also B.D.C. (Before “Dawson’s Creek”) and pre-tween networks UPN or The WB. It only ran one season but ranked on Time magazine’s 100 Best TV Shows of all-TIME in 2007.

“My So-Called Life” featured music from R.E.M., The Ramones, Sonic Youth and Daniel Johnston, but the most memorable scene showcased music from Buffalo Tom. Their song, “Late At Night,” closes an episode at the height of its emotion. Jordan Catalano publicly owns up to his relationship with Angela Chase before all the disapproving, disbelieving eyes. It sounds kinda lame, but to be immersed in the plot at the right time, age and decade, it makes for a joyful couple of seconds.

Buffalo Tom’s song “Soda Jerk” is No. 3 on the soundtrack for “My So-Called Life.” Why “Late At Night” didn’t make the cut, I don’t know. For those of us who grew up watching, we’ll always associate this band and this song with this show. Because of that, I’m deeming it the show’s official theme.

For those who want a look-back at the “historic” scene, here ya go. It’s a two-parter.

Theme Song Thursday is a weekly look back at memorable, not-so-influential, nostalgia-inducing theme songs by the Herald’s Melinda Lavine and Ryan Johnson. Click here to view previous posts and feel free to share!

Theme Song Thursday: How DO you talk to an angel? This band doesn’t know either

Posted on June 2, 2011 by Ryan Johnson

The 1990s were a time of introspection, and every now and then someone would try to answer some of the great existential questions of their time. But one of those mysteries still persists today: “How do you talk to an angel?”

That’s a tough question to answer, especially considering that doing so is like “trying to catch a falling star.”

The Heights at their height of fame (bad pun)

Those are about the only pearls of wisdom in The Heights’ “How Do You Talk to an Angel,” the chart-topping theme song for the 1990s teen drama “The Heights.”

No doubt this is a shallow song — a quick look at the lyrics shows it really is only a few sentences repeated over and over to make sure you understand just how difficult it is to talk to an angel. But the tune actually packs quite a bit of sappy charm into a few minutes, and this is definitely one of my favorite 1990s power ballads. I’d much rather endure The Heights than listen to Poison’s “Every Rose Has its Thorn,” probably the lamest power ballad of all time.

But I didn’t even realize that “How Do You Talk to an Angel” was a TV theme song — every time I heard it was on the radio, and I just assumed it was from some random one-hit wonder.

It was only during a recent conversation with my friend that I found out this classic got its start on the TV airwaves. And I’ve got a feeling most people think of this more as a radio hit than a TV theme. The short-lived series “The Heights” premiered in August 1992 and never gained a substantial audience. While it’s true “How Do You Talk to an Angel” was a huge success, becoming the first song from a TV show to top the Billboard Hot 100 chart in seven years and garnering a 1993 Emmy nomination, Fox canceled the show less than a week after the theme fell from the top of the charts.

We can mourn the passing of this cheesy 1990s drama, which according to Wikipedia is “centered on a fictional band (also called The Heights) made up of mostly middle-class young adults.” Sounds like a compelling plot…

While the show is long forgotten, and probably for good reason, at least we can take comfort in the fact that its theme song will still have a place at high school proms and wedding dances for decades to come.

Theme Song Thursday is a weekly look back at memorable, not-so-influential, nostalgia-inducing theme songs by the Herald’s Melinda Lavine and Ryan Johnson. Click here to read previous entries, and feel free to share!

Theme song Thursday: The dream of the 90′s is alive in Portland

Posted on May 19, 2011 by Melinda M. Lavine

The theme song to IFC’s show “Portlandia” is a comedy bit in itself. It’s all about an era that anyone who’s lived through will remember (with fondness or disdain). The show’s a satire created by SNL’s Fred Armisen and band Sleater-Kinney’s Carrie Brownstein. It’s produced by SNL mastermind Lorne Michaels and co-written by Allison Silverman, a writer for the “The Daily Show.”

“Portlandia” touts cameos from SNL’s Jason Sudeikis, Steve Buscemi, Heather Graham, Selma Blair, Aubrey Plaza (from “Parks and Recreation”), musician Aimee Mann, Sarah McLachlan, Colin Meloy of The Decembrists, director Gus Van Sant and Kyle MacLachlan has a recurring role as Portland’s mayor, and in one episode, Portland’s real mayor, Sam Adams, plays his assistant.

All of these elements make for a hilarious TV show, and they needed to create a theme song that could keep up …. they succeeded.

ARMISEN, BROWNSTEIN, SUDEIKIS

The theme is part song, part conversation. Armisen’s character lists off the wonders of Portland with cuts to him walking down its streets with Portland’s residents in tow. (Oh, so 90′s.) Here’s the breakdown.

————————————————————————–

Do you remember the 90′s, people were talking about getting piercings and tribal tattoos, people were singing about saving the planet and forming bands. There’s a place where that idea still exists as a reality and I’ve been there.

The dream of the 90′s is alive in Portland
The dream of the 90′s is alive in Portland
The tattoo ink never runs dry.

Remember when people were content to be unambitious, sleep til 11 and hang out with their friends. You had no occupation whatsoever, you’d be working a couple hours a week at a coffee shop. Portland’s a city where young people go to retire.

The dream of the 90′s is alive in Portland
All the hot girls wear glasses — yeah!

Remember the 90s when they encouraged you to be weird, it was just an amazing time. You could grow up to wanna be a clown, like people went to clown school.

The dream of the 90′s is alive in Portland
Sleep til 11, you’ll be in heaven
The dream of the 90′s is alive in Portland
The dream is a-liii-ve.

So what I can surmise from what you’re positing, it’s like Portland’s an alternative universe. It’s like Gore won. The Bush administration never happened. In Portland’s, it’s almost like cars don’t exist. People ride bikes or double-decker bikes or unicycles.

The dream of the 90′s is alive in Portland
My flannel shirt still looks fly
The dream of the 90′s is alive in Portland
Turn that dirty clown frown, right upside down

In Portland, you can go to a record store and sell your CDs. You could put a bird on something and call it art.

The dream of the 90′s is alive in Portland
The dream of the 90′s is alive in Portland, Portland, Portland.

————————————————————————–

I’ve heard the how described as one that makes fun of “hipsters,” and here’s one negative review:

Brian Lowry noted the show was “clearly on a shoestring budget”, and said it featured an “array of tiresome characters” that provided “further proof not everyone deserves a sketch comedy showcase — especially when the premise cuts no deeper than vignettes inspired by the wheat-germy, hippie-ish environs of Portland, Ore.”

But I disagree. If you’re down with satire and you like sketch comedy, this show’s for you. And the theme song is just another testament to the caliber of humor the writers and actors bring.

Here’s Portlandia’s website.

According to Wikipedia, Portlandia’s theme song is “Feel it All Around,” by Washed Out, but that’s just the tune that accompanies the credits.

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