Kids' TV - themes ain't what they used to be

scarletpeaches · Feb 10, 2009

Inspired by my pootling in another thread and IdiotsRUs reminding me of The Flumps having a wonderful theme tune, I thought we could use a thread for the shows we grew up with.

Thundercats was around in the mid-80s as I recall when I was about 8 or 9 years old and I still say it had the baddest feem toon ever.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rDLRsKDLAQ&feature=related

What shows did you grow up with and which theme tunes do you still remember, even now?

Jamie! Jamie! No two nights are the same...

thethinker42 · Feb 10, 2009

I can still get the Silverhawks theme stuck in my head with very little prompting.

In fact...

Damn it...

Calla Lily · Feb 10, 2009

Babies. Yer all babies. :tongue

Scooby-Doo (yes, I was 8 years old when the first ep *premiered*.
The Banana Splits
H.R. Pufnstuf

Mr Flibble · Feb 10, 2009

scarletpeaches said:
Jamie! Jamie! No two nights are the same...

Lol I sing that at my nephew alll the time.

And the Clangers....Was it just me, or when you were a kid could you understand what they were saying?

Oh and Willow the Wisp! With Mavis the Fat Fairy! My poor mother in law....*snickers*

firedrake · Feb 10, 2009

The Monkees
The Double Deckers

*shuffles off with zimmer frame*

scarletpeaches · Feb 10, 2009

Anyone remember Dr Snuggles?

No? Just me then...

Dammit. They don't write 'em like they used to.

Mr Flibble · Feb 10, 2009

If it helps, when I was pregnant I used to cry at the end of Bagpuss

He was just a saggy old cloth cat
But Emily loved him.

*WAHHH!!!!*

scarletpeaches · Feb 10, 2009

My dad bought me two DVDs the other week, EVERY Bagpuss ever made and EVERY Camberwick Green.

I asked, "Is that the one with Hugh, Pugh, Barney McGrew, Cuthbert, Dibble, Grubb?" but no. I got CG mixed up with Trumpton.

Wavy_Blue · Feb 10, 2009

Oh man. I love old school cartoons. Darkwing Duck, DuckTales, Inspector Gadget, Chip n Dale: Rescue Rangers, Garfield and Friends, Transformers...and of course, Gummi Bears, which I still know all the words to:

Dashing and daring,
courageous and caring,
Faithfully and friendly,
with stories to share.
All through the forest,
they sing out in chorus,
marching a long as their song fills the air...

And while more recent, I think this theme song fits the bill of awesomeness:

I wanna be the very best,
like no one ever was,
to catch them is my real test,
to train them is my cause.
I will battle everyday,
searching far and wide,
teach Pokemon to understand
the power that's inside.

Pokemon, it's you and me,
I know it's our destiny.
Pokemon, oh, you're my best friend,
in a world we must defend.
Pokemon, our heart's so true,
our courage will pull us through,

You teach me and I'll teach you,
Pokemon
Gotta catch 'em all,
Pokemon!

Mr Flibble · Feb 10, 2009

scarletpeaches said:
I asked, "Is that the one with Hugh, Pugh, Barney McGrew, Cuthbert, Dibble, Grubb?" but no. I got CG mixed up with Trumpton.

Is that the one with:

Time flies by when you're the driver of the train
And you stand on the footplate, there and back again?

I always get those two mixed up

James81 · Feb 10, 2009

Tailspin, Ducktales, Gummi Bears, and Darkwing Duck immediately come to mind. Man those were great 'toons with great theme music.

Although I'll say that Spongebob Squarepants (a more modern cartoon) gives those old toons a run for their money.

Wavy_Blue · Feb 10, 2009

James81 said:
Although I'll say that Spongebob Squarepants (a more modern cartoon) gives those old toons a run for their money.

That theme song has some of the greatest rhymes of any cartoon theme song.

Sophia · Feb 10, 2009

I went on a cartoon theme tune binge on YouTube last year - you can get lost for hours!

Faves include He-Man, She-Ra (I MAKE NO APOLOGIES!!!), Thundercats, Jamie and the Magic Torch, Trapdoor, Inspector Gadget, Bagpuss, Trumpton, Camberwick Green, Bod, Willo the Wisp, The Family-Ness and Roobarb and Custard. To name a few.

dpaterso · Feb 10, 2009

All the Gerry Anderson themes of course (see older thread). I play them all the time.

I find myself humming the theme from Frankenstein Junior and the Impossibles to this day, it's just stuck in my head forever: One of many links - theme starts playing right away.

Oh, and Star Fleet, from Saturday mornings. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zf--YjsVcY Sad really how some jingles get hold of you.

-Derek

Mr Flibble · Feb 10, 2009

Rhubarb and Custard! Bod!

I'm going to be singing those songs all bloody night now

selkn.asrai · Feb 10, 2009

David the Gnome.
Inspector Gadget.
Ducktales.
Tailspin.
Winnie the Pooh.
Gummi Bears.
Rugrats.
Doug.
Hey Arnold.
Hey Dude.
Salute Your Shorts.
Are You Afraid of the Dark? Music's still pretty haunting.

Ah... memories.

Omg, does anyone else remember Stick Stickley? "Write to me, Stick Stickley, PO Box 963. New York City, New York State, 10108!"

Sophia · Feb 10, 2009

Oh, and the best of all, for me, is:

Danger Mouse!

(Goes to watch the DVDs again...)

eyeblink · Feb 10, 2009

Roobarb is of my era. That deliberately crude animation and theme tune... It probably looks like something from another planet now.

And the original Captain Pugwash, the Clangers, Crystal Tips and Alastair (which looks very psychedelic nowadays and we had a ruder version of the title in school)...

Kathleen42 · Feb 10, 2009

Gummi Bears
The Edison Twins
Earthworm Jim

And, of course, Animaniacs and Degrassi

maxmordon · Feb 10, 2009

Beetlejuice
Animaniacs
Pinky And The Brain (Pinky y Cerebro)
Toonsylvania (couldn't find a vid, just the song)
Ed, Edd & Eddy
Batman: The Animated Series
El Zorro
El Chavo del 8 (what an earworm!)

Kitty Pryde · Feb 10, 2009

Can I ask a quasi-related theme tune question? Can someone explain to me that one sketch they always do on Little Britain, where the tiny little man says to the agent, 'So, they want me to star in it, write the theme tune, and sing the theme tune?' and then he sings a really lousy theme song for whatever show he's been asked to audition for? It's the only part of the show that poor ole american me doesn't understand. BTW my sweetie used to be a professional actor in the UK and she doesn't get either...

BTW My favorite childhood theme song:

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Heroes in a half-shell
Turtle power!

They're the world's most fearsome fighting team (We're really hip!)
They're heroes in a half-shell and they're green (Hey - get a grip!)
When the evil Shredder attacks
These Turtle boys don't cut him no slack!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Splinter taught them to be ninja teens (He's a radical rat!)
Leonardo leads, Donatello does machines (That's a fact, Jack!)
Raphael is cool but crude (Gimme a break!)
Michaelangelo is a party dude (Party!)

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Heroes in a half shell
Turtle power!

SirOtter · Feb 10, 2009

dpaterso said:
I find myself humming the theme from Frankenstein Junior and the Impossibles to this day, it's just stuck in my head forever: One of many links - theme starts playing right away.

Glad I'm not the only Auld Phart here. That was one of my favorite shows, but the best, absolutely best cartoon theme song is Underdog.

Cyia · Feb 10, 2009

ElaraSophia said:
Oh, and the best of all, for me, is:

Danger Mouse!

(Goes to watch the DVDs again...)

YES!!!!! (Oh 'eck; I love Penfold, chief!)

He's the greatest
He's fantastic
Wherever there's danger he'll be there
He's the ace
He's amazing
He's the strongest he's the quickest he's the best
Danger Mouse
Danger Mouse
DANGER MOUSE

He's the greatest
He's fantastic
Wherever there's danger he'll be there
He's the ace
He's amazing
He's the strongest he's the quickest he's the best
Danger Mouse

He's terrific
He's magnific
He's the greatest secret agent in the world
Danger Mouse
Power House
He's the fastest he's the greatest he's the best
Danger Mouse
Danger Mouse
DANGER MOUSE

Calla Lily · Feb 10, 2009

Speed of lightning, Power of thunder
Fighting all who rob or plunder
Underdog! Ooh--ahh-ahh-ahh-ahh
Underdog--Underdog!

Stuck inmy mind now.

SirOtter · Feb 10, 2009

callalily61 said:
Speed of lightning, Power of thunder
Fighting all who rob or plunder
Underdog! Ooh--ahh-ahh-ahh-ahh
Underdog--Underdog!

Stuck inmy mind now.

It's been stuck in mine for over forty years.

I ain't complaining, though. It's a great tune.

Kids' TV - themes ain't what they used to be

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