Some of My Favorite TV Theme Songs

They can hum outside the house as well.

This week I posted my first advance album review over at FDRMX for Humming House's upcoming album. Exciting stuff for me and I did feel a little pressure when writing it. It helps that I genuinely like the band and the album is great. I wouldn't fake a review, so I'm not sure I would do it if after getting asked by the publicist, it turned out I didn't like it. How do you put out a negative review at that point unless the material is downright offensive?  Anyway, go read that review and go check out some Humming House, especially if they are playing near you.

This was the alter I grew up in front of.

Anyway, TV themes, because fuck segues. I don't know what I would say makes a good or bad one. I guess it somehow has to reflect what the show is, but that may not be all that necessary. I think at the end of the day, it reflects the show if you are into the show. If not, it's just a song and there may not be any association in your mind. But these are some of my favorites.



I'm writing this on the fly without any planning and this was just the first one that came to mind, but I bet it's only the first one to feature a badass bass line. A good friend once told me that the reason so many of us in our generation loved soul music was because we grew up in the 70s when all the music in the best movies and TV was basically soul and jazz. This is a prime example of that. I'm sure this has been sampled at some point, if not, I've lost a bit of respect for the RZAs of the world. And it does capture the spirit of the show somewhat. That beaten down feel but somehow finding humor in it. I was too young to watch this show but back then, nobody cared what we watched.



I used to love this show when I was 5. I have no memory of the show, at all, though. But the theme song? It plays in my head anytime I have to do something badass and dangerous like waking up Shayera in the morning or giving Zoey that last spoonful of yogurt before she starts screaming her had off for more (seriously, this kid has developed an insane appetite.) Funny how I'm staying in the 70s so far.



Who am I kidding, this is the theme that plays in my head whenever I have to get the girls to do anything. I once programmed this theme into my Commodore 128 computer. Years later, I'd rediscover this and the rest of the awesome Mission Impossible soundtrack work of Lalo Shiffrin, thanks to Portishead sampling part of it in "Sour Times."



I never actually watched this show, but come on, it had to be on the list, right? Surfs up. And I think that's it for the 70s.



The 80s' futuristic version of soul, really. That bass line is just awesome. And there's some Kraftwerk sounding stuff in there too. Honestly, there are tons of others from the 80s that are memorable, but I wouldn't say go beyond just being cheesy. I know some of you might be thinking Miami Vice, but I think this is a better theme and if you don't like it, too bad. So on from the 80s.



Chills. Still get them from this one. The drama of that opening is so perfect for the show. The way he yells that last line is so Goliath. Such an awesome theme and show.



I need to watch this show again. But more than that, it's here for a reason which will become apparent further down the list. Exotic sounds. Keep that in mind.



Fuck it, why make you wait. One leads to the other pretty well, though this is obviously much more dramatic and exotic. This has hints of being ancient and forlorn. It's just a perfect fit and not what you'd expect from a space opera.



This might be my favorite theme of all time at this point. Yeah, there are theme songs out there that tell you exactly what's going on in the lyrics, but this somehow captures every bit of intrigue, plotting, betrayal, fear, death, heartbreak and dread in this piece. I hear echoes of Xena and BSG in here, too. Anyway, one more.



This takes us right back up to the top of the list and it's really what inspired the post in the first place. Bass, bongos, horns. Jazz. Just awesome. Everything about this is perfect and it's the only anime I've ever really loved.

Obviously, there are tons of of other good themes, but look how long this post wound up being anyway, and I'm sure the one person reading won't get this far anyway. Let's just call these instrumental favorites So there you have it.

Twist of Kane

We should always make time for this.

I recently posted a review of Tanya Donelly’s “Manna” over at FDRMX which resulted in Tanya herself reading it and commenting on it. It made my year. In that review I talked about the preciousness of of life and how every moment we’re dying so we should appreciate life. A week later, my dog, Kane died, because that’s how it works, I guess. He was 12 and would have been 13 in a month. I found him peacefully gone in his bed. He was the first pet I ever had and likely the last because I'm not sure I can do it again. It was heartbreaking, but that’s life/death.

Young and shiny.

When I took his body to the vet for cremation, there was a lady there who I guess had just dropped off her dog to be boarded or something. When she heard my dog had just died she said she was sorry and then asked if I had any pictures. When I said I didn't, she proceeded to show me pictures of her dog on her phone. They weren't even the same breed. It’s the oddest thing I've ever seen anyone do in a situation like that and it made me wonder if this is something she does when people pass. “Sorry about your grandpa. Here’s a picture of mine, though.” It makes no sense. But the more I think about it, what does in that situation, really? “I’m sorry”? For what? You didn't do anything wrong. Unless you killed them which if so, the conversation is not likely going to go well. “Is there anything I can do” is always said by the best people and I don’t say that with any sarcasm, but really, there’s never anything you can do. And I think we all know that. I won’t go into the whole “they’re in a better place” nonsense because that I honestly find insulting. But the truth is, the things we say, none of them are for the benefit of the grieving. These things are only said to make the person saying them feel better. And it’s understandable. Death affects everybody and when we reach out to a grieving loved one, we want to assure ourselves that they’ll be alright, because if they aren't alright, we might not be either. That’s not selfish, that’s the give and take of love.

I know, Kane. I know.

The greatest professor I ever had, for many reasons, not just the one I’m about to mention, once said that he had reached a point where his phrase for the grieving was simply “I don’t know what to say,” because he really didn't. This was coming from a man who was not only incredibly intelligent but was a student of the human condition through literature and culture. If he didn't know what to say, what are the odds there was anything to say at all. He said this before I ever lost anyone, so I didn't fully understand how correct he was, but it has stayed with me all these years later and being on the other end of that when my dad passed away was the first time I learned how right he was. And ever since then I've taken it as my own, but gone a step further. I generally don’t say anything and just offer a hug. The only comfort is living, really.

Anyway, this is a music blog. When we first got Kane, one of my favorite things to do was ride around in my car with him, windows down, blasting metal. Usually Danzig. He was named for Citizen Kane, but still, “Twist of Cain” was kind of the song. He was my devil dog.

Goodbye, Devil Dog.

My 2014 Spotify Breakdown

My time on Spotify 2014

It's been an interesting year in music for me. There were several great shows and tons of new music. I was invited and have been contributing to a site other than my own where people are actually reading my shit. I only wish I had more time to be able to contribute more. In the past 2 and a half months, I've had 19 articles published at FDRMX with about 160k views so far, which I'm sure is not really a big deal in internet numbers, but it seems like it to me. Shit, if even half of that is people actually reading my words, that's a huge boost.

Everyone knows how much I love Spotify. My year in music on there is interesting because apparently, Zoey hijacked some of my top 5 breakdowns, but none the less, the rest is pretty accurate.

I've been working through the Tom Waits discography much slower than I thought I would, but his position on the list is proof I'm taking this shit seriously. Right now, I'm on an Elvis Costello kick since I just got a ticket to see him in March on his Solo tour. I've always liked him more or less, but have never gone deep into his catalog. I've been meaning to for a a long time, though. This is the moment. It's no surprise seeing The Black Keys, Arctic Monkeys or Zeppelin on my list either. But I gotta wonder what number 6 was. My guess might be Brownout, but who the hell knows. I wish this gave me the option to see a top 10. Then there's albums and it looks like Zoey wasn't the only to hijack the top 5 since Frozen is in the middle of it, as it was in the middle of everything this year. Nothing against it, but damn. Can't complain too much about a 5 year old who is into Hozier,though, can you?

Going Pro

So, I'm currently trying out writing for FDRMX.com.  I've now been published twice, and expect to have something up there daily. For now it's a trial run, but go check it out. Today's piece was my next one in the Tom Wait's Discog.  Even without me, there's good stuff over there. Do it!

http://fdrmx.com/tom-waits-foreign-affairs-album-review/