Wasn’t sure where else to put this, so I made a new thread; hopefully other people have stuff to add.
MrTao was just blasting a song from another room. Within 15 seconds of hearing the music, which I hadn’t heard before, I shouted “That’s a great song; sounds like it should have been a James Bond song!”
Apparantly, it is! From the new movie, out in a couple of weeks.
I am impressed, especially as I’m not a Bond fan at ALL. But whoever came up with that did an excellent job of packaging, that’s all I can say. (and no, I can guarantee I haven’t seen any Bond trailer; I had no idea there was a new movie coming out at all.)
I can’t wait to see the new Bond. I hope it’s as good as Casino Royale and not so much like Quantum of Solace. A perk will be that I’ll finally get to hear what Adele sounds like.
Regrettably I now can recognize the theme from Two and a Half Men almost instantly because I’ve been staying with my folks and my mother watches it every God-damn time it comes on. The reruns are syndicated on 3 different channels and she know the schedules by heart. I hear that shit in my sleep now.
There is a very good reason Bond songs sound like they do. It’s a very clever mixture of harmony and orchestration, and in pretty much every Bond song (except maybe abominations like License to Kill or Die Another Day) you will find that familiar chord progression from the beginning of the Dr. No Theme (before the guitar melody starts). Sometimes it’s hidden, but it’s almost always there.
For example, in You Know My Name from Casino Royale, listen to the core notes at the beginning of the refrain - “ARM yourself because NO one else here will SAVE you”. The harmonies change, but those notes make up the exact chord progression I’m talking about, hidden in typical Grunge harmonies - Bm-G-E. Fascinating stuff!
That sweeping horn thing from Jurassic Park. Instant recognition.
The Close Encounters zylophone melody. It’s been shouted out in God-only-knows how many other alien-invading-earth movies since then, and I always hear it.
I would argue for the classic Star Trek opening theme. Between the original season, Next Generation, and DS9, especially with all the syndicated runs, it’s pretty familiar, and very recognizable in all the incarnations as “Star Trek” themed.
Likewise Twilight Zone. That’s practically a cliche, it’s so well-known, and well-used.
After eight movies, John William’s Harry Potter theme is pretty recognizable.
I would also argue the themes that the major movie production companies use at the beginning of a movie are all quite recognizable these days. I can tell a Fox picture from a Universal from a Disney just from the music. They haven’t changed those in decades for that reason.
Having not seen a one of them, I wouldn’t have a clue.
I don’t think a movie theme makes it into the “instantly recognizable” category unless it crosses into other media – mainly radio and/or TV.
This is my “movie/TV theme” music playlist:
Ballad Of Jed Clampett
Beverly Hills Cop
Cheers Theme
Dueling Banjos
Flashdance
Hawaii Five O
High Noon
The James Bond Theme
The Magnificent Seven
Miami Vice Theme
Peter Gunn
The Pink Panther Theme
Secret Agent Man
Theme From “Shaft”
Theme from the Greatest American Hero
(and no, I can guarantee I haven’t seen any Bond trailer; I had no idea there was a new movie coming out at all.)