# Dr Who "theme", old vs new **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 11, 2009, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-who-theme-old-vs-new/499497 "2009-06-11T22:28:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2009, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-who-theme-old-vs-new/499497/1 "2009-06-11T22:28:37Z")
A fairly simple question. How similiar is the new Dr Who intro music compared to the old stuff. I havent seen the old stuff since it was new stuff, but when the new Dr Who came out the music/sound seemed a bit different. Obviously the wormhole thingy got updated. thanks ---
**Author:** ![Scruff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Scruff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scruff)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2009, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-who-theme-old-vs-new/499497/2 "2009-06-11T22:31:11Z")
Well, the “new” Doctor Who theme has changed a couple of times since “Rose” (episode 1 of teh reboot). The melody and underlying bass line are the same, but the new one is more orchestral. Personally, I found the new theme to be reminiscent/indicative of the old one, but better. ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2009, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-who-theme-old-vs-new/499497/3 "2009-06-11T22:40:11Z")
You also have to consider which “old” one. There’s been about a million of them. The classic version is Delia Derbyshire’s, but some of the later ones did (IIRC) horrible things like 80s guitar. ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2009, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-who-theme-old-vs-new/499497/4 "2009-06-11T22:47:22Z")
I just checked my collection and Peter Howell’s is the one with the 80s guitar. It was used from 1980-1985 apparently. Hear it here: [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/g4On0uLqH_I/hqdefault.jpg "Doctor Who Theme Tune 1980-1985 by Peter Howell") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4On0uLqH_I) The classic Delia Derbyshire: [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/3dEHeWWE10g/hqdefault.jpg "Doctor Who Theme 1 - "Televised" Version (1963-1967)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dEHeWWE10g) ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2009, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-who-theme-old-vs-new/499497/5 "2009-06-11T22:55:10Z")
thanks guys, trying to “remember” sounds aint that easy for me, particularly when my level of expertise and sophistication tops out at “different sounds sound different” thanks again. ---
**Author:** ![Kal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de053/32.png) [@Kal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kal)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2009, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-who-theme-old-vs-new/499497/6 "2009-06-11T23:06:28Z")
Good a place as any to drop this Youtube link: [The Ultimate Doctor Who title mix](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnKNupdSH8g) ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2009, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-who-theme-old-vs-new/499497/7 "2009-06-11T23:24:57Z")
Did several posts just get removed from this thread? ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2009, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-who-theme-old-vs-new/499497/8 "2009-06-12T02:30:52Z")
> [@amanset](#): > > You also have to consider which “old” one. There’s been about a million of them. > > The classic version is Delia Derbyshire’s, but some of the later ones did (IIRC) horrible things like 80s guitar. :eek: Blasphemer! I think that the Peter Davison era music is the best, so there! And I also think that he’s the best doctor…at least of of the classic '63 to '89 run of the show. I think that the current music is the second best. The worse of course was the music used when Sylvester McCoy was the doctor \. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2009, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-who-theme-old-vs-new/499497/9 "2009-06-12T02:33:31Z")
I have to say that [this version](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdTELokKfCk) is my favorite of Doctor Who themes. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2009, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-who-theme-old-vs-new/499497/10 "2009-06-12T03:28:22Z")
> [@Nobody](#): > > :eek: Blasphemer! I think that the Peter Davison era music is the best, so there! > > And I also think that he’s the best doctor…at least of of the classic '63 to '89 run of the show. Oh, HELL no! Tom Baker WAS the Doctor. Davison was good, but he couldn’t hold a candle to Baker. ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2009, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-who-theme-old-vs-new/499497/11 "2009-06-12T03:40:30Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Oh, HELL no! Tom Baker WAS the Doctor. Davison was good, but he couldn’t hold a candle to Baker. Yeah, I keep hearing the vast majority of Dr. Who viewers saying Baker was the best, so that puts me in the minority of people who liked somebody else better. It could very well be that Davison’s my favorite because he was the Doctor when I first started watching the show on PBS way back when. I think that the one thing that keeps me from thinking that Baker was the best was that he was too laid back for my tastes. ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2009, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-who-theme-old-vs-new/499497/12 "2009-06-12T04:05:28Z")
[Tom Baker](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdVivT0ShC4&feature=related) was The Doctor while I was growing up, and the standard by which I measure all Doctor Who actors playing the role I liked Eccelston’s take on the character, but was initially hesitant about Tennant’s take on the character, mainly because I watched the Tennant eps out of sequence (started with The Rise of the Cybermen / The Age Of Steel, and was a little put off by Tennant’s “I’m Brilliant!!” mannerisms watching in sequence, Tennant’s become my second favourite Doctor, Tom Baker cannot be displaced from #1 in my mind ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2009, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-who-theme-old-vs-new/499497/13 "2009-06-12T04:16:58Z")
> [@MacTech](#): > > watching in sequence, Tennant’s become my second favourite Doctor, Tom Baker cannot be displaced from #1 in my mind This is exactly me, as well. Tom Baker IS the Doctor, but Tennant made an adorably geeky one. ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2009, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-who-theme-old-vs-new/499497/14 "2009-06-12T04:17:53Z")
> [@MacTech](#): > > and was a little put off by Tennant’s “I’m Brilliant!!” mannerisms McCoy was like this, but a lot worse. One of the many reasons I hated his portrayal of the Doctor. I love Tennant’s portrayal. He seems like a cross between Peter Davison’s and John Pertwee’s Doctors. He has the youth and energy of Davison, with the love and passion for science and technology that Pertwee had. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2009, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-who-theme-old-vs-new/499497/15 "2009-06-12T05:31:36Z")
I like the Pink Floyd version of the theme that sometimes makes a hint of an appearance during the middle section of “One of These Days.” ---
**Author:** ![Kal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de053/32.png) [@Kal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kal)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2009, 8:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-who-theme-old-vs-new/499497/16 "2009-06-12T08:43:43Z")
> [@Frylock](#): > > Did several posts just get removed from this thread? No, matey. You posted your links in a different Who [thread.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=520701) ---
**Author:** ![duality72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duality72/32/3910_2.png) [@duality72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duality72)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2009, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-who-theme-old-vs-new/499497/17 "2009-06-12T16:44:14Z")
> [@Nobody](#): > > Yeah, I keep hearing the vast majority of Dr. Who viewers saying Baker was the best, so that puts me in the minority of people who liked somebody else better. It could very well be that Davison’s my favorite because he was the Doctor when I first started watching the show on PBS way back when. I think that the one thing that keeps me from thinking that Baker was the best was that he was too laid back for my tastes. [You never forget your first Doctor.](http://www.thinkgeek.com/tshirts-apparel/unisex/popculture/988c/) ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2009, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-who-theme-old-vs-new/499497/18 "2009-06-12T17:49:16Z")
> [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](#): > > I have to say that [this version](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdTELokKfCk) is my favorite of Doctor Who themes. The Dean Grey version where Greenday’s Holiday is put over the top… ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2009, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-who-theme-old-vs-new/499497/19 "2009-06-12T18:15:49Z")
> [@Kal](#): > > Good a place as any to drop this Youtube link: > > [The Ultimate Doctor Who title mix](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnKNupdSH8g) Awesome! thanks Brian ---
**Author:** ![Cumberdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@Cumberdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cumberdale)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2009, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-who-theme-old-vs-new/499497/20 "2009-06-12T19:09:50Z")
> [@Kal](#): > > Good a place as any to drop this Youtube link: > > [The Ultimate Doctor Who title mix](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnKNupdSH8g) Very cool. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-who-theme-old-vs-new/499497.md?page=2)