# Question about the Mary Tyler Moore Show **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 29, 2018, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-mary-tyler-moore-show/811438 "2018-03-29T22:11:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2018, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-mary-tyler-moore-show/811438/1 "2018-03-29T22:11:19Z")
The episode “Menage a Lou”: Does anyone recognize the tune the orchestra starts playing at 20:26? I’m assuming it was written specifically for this show, but maybe not. https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZTYWV_QV_7A?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque&list=PLrzOug9xwKSDA0y22V5YY1JfwU9YTt-g2&start=1183 ---
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2018, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-mary-tyler-moore-show/811438/2 "2018-03-29T22:31:36Z")
Kinda sorta Moonlight Sonata? ---
**Author:** ![DooWahDiddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9bcb4/32.png) [@DooWahDiddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DooWahDiddy)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2018, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-mary-tyler-moore-show/811438/3 "2018-03-29T22:39:32Z")
Nah, this is in a major key. It sounds kind of like “Unchained Melody”, but my guess is it’s just some vague chords that they used to sound like something you might know, but they don’t have to pay royalties for. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2018, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-mary-tyler-moore-show/811438/4 "2018-03-29T23:15:08Z")
It sounds remarkably like this song to me: [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/aaMEgI211Pg/hqdefault.jpg "Colour My World - Chicago (1970)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aaMEgI211Pg) ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2018, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-mary-tyler-moore-show/811438/5 "2018-03-29T23:22:38Z")
Another vote for, “Unchained Melody.” ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2018, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-mary-tyler-moore-show/811438/6 "2018-03-29T23:23:29Z")
[quote=“terentii, post:4, topic:811438”] It sounds remarkably like this song to me: [/QUOTE] That's what it reminded me of too. I think \*\*DooWahDiddy \*\*is correct - it’s just some piano arpeggios that make passable, royalty-free background slow dance music. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2018, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-mary-tyler-moore-show/811438/7 "2018-03-29T23:39:18Z")
[quote=“terentii, post:4, topic:811438”] It sounds remarkably like this song to me: [/QUOTE] No, the fourth note of the arpeggiated chord in that example makes the first chord a Major 7th. The Lou Grant example has all major and minor triads, no Major 7ths. The only thing similar is the arpeggiation. > [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > Another vote for, “Unchained Melody.” Very similar chord changes. Starts out I-vi-IV-V (cf. “four-chord rock”) and continues similarly. But my WAG is the music was written to sound like a generic pop ballad and deliberately avoided anything that needed to have royalty payments. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2018, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-mary-tyler-moore-show/811438/8 "2018-03-30T00:09:33Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > No, the fourth note of the arpeggiated chord in that example makes the first chord a Major 7th. The Lou Grant example has all major and minor triads, no Major 7ths. The only thing similar is the arpeggiation. > > Very similar chord changes. Starts out I-vi-IV-V (cf. “four-chord rock”) and continues similarly. But my WAG is the music was written to sound like a generic pop ballad and deliberately avoided anything that needed to have royalty payments. I would normally agree with that, except the bridge begins at 21:28 and if you listen closely you’ll hear the E chord thrown in there (F# G# F# E etc) which is very distinctive for that type of song; I can’t think of another that has that progression (but I’m sure if there is, one of you SDMBers will know it). If it’s not UM, Alex North/Hy Zaret should have sued.