BLOGBUSTERS Greatest Sci-Fi Music

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The “Call To Adventure In Five Bars or Less” Edition, presented by Alasdair Stuart

What in your opinion is the greatest piece of science fiction theme music ever produced?

This week though, I added a caveat. If someone wanted to choose the Doctor Who theme tune they could, but they had to choose something else as well. So, let’s see who’s humming what tune, shall we?

Star Trek Alternate Title Intro from The Quintek Group on Vimeo .

Kell Harker: The theme music I most often catch myself humming in the shower is Chuck's instrumental version of "Short Skirt/Long Jacket" by Cake. Na, na-na-na-nah... I love you Chuck Bartowski! Marry me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=675fl3vyG84

Now with added lyrics!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7aDstrDMf0

Matt Risley: Sure, it may not have been the most sophisticated score ever created, but I've always had a soft spot for Red Dwarf 's jaunty, jingly, trumpet-y theme tune. It's silly, it's catchy and it reflects the show perfectly – getting you in the mood for yet another ridiculous Dwarf -ian adventure.

Opening

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rzjee-Ugqc

Metal opening

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSxN1souf2U

Closing song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZFLKXINNns

Elvis closing song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aj1-uSeOm6k

It’s Wednesday night! It’s amateur Hammond Organ recital night!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Lr1co5r-vE

Dave Golder: Nothing sends shivers down my spine more than the theme to The Prisoner . Practically a mini-symphony in four movements, it kicks off with an overture of ominous bongos, before moving to the main section, where horns and strings are engaged in an ongoing-argument of overalapping musical phrases (somewhat apt considering the voice-over to come). Then it slows right, down, to a creepy mysterious vibe as Number Six wakes up in the Village, before finally welling up to a short, sharp explosive crescendo. (Ian’s just read this over my shoulder and said he’s going to send it to pseuds’ corner in Private Eye ).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sv813f2Xtrg

On the other hand, that choice' like many others here, could partially be driven by nostalgia. There is one theme I adore, however, even though I'm no great fan of the show itself. And that’s Earth: Final Conflict. Many telefantasy shows have gone down the slightly-ethnic-sounding-wailing route since (yes, that includes you, Heroes), but none have ever done it quite so majestically.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=EpMaEPlCvWI

Lee Harris: The Space Pirates theme. It's not difficult. It has singalong, it has space, it has scurvy pirates, it has a shanty instrumental, and it has shouting, too.

http://youtu.be/JN3l3G4_M0o

Alasdair Stuart: No one else has played the wild card huh? Sounds like my cue! The Doctor Who theme is an extraordinary piece of music because of the decades of memories so many people have associated with it and also how mutable it is. This is a show, fundamentally, about change (That sound you can hear is people frantically typing what the show is really about. Hi everyone! Your mileage may vary!) and I love how the theme tune has evolved and changed with the show. Plus I really love the series five arrangement of it, so that’s my freebie:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCD_Aw9RXxU

But even with that, even with the fact I grew up around Doctor Who ? I’m a Sunnydale boy. The Buffy theme is utterly, utterly perfect, a crunchy guitared punky distillation of the show’s themes; horror, the actual horror of growing up and funny, complicated people fighting monsters. I love it to tiny tiny pieces and always will:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pp_uS59WmQs

So there you go, our all time greatest hits. And speaking of hits, next week’s question is a little… punchier.

What’s your favourite genre fiction fight scene?

So wrap your hands and get ready for that long training montage. We’ll see you in seven.