The Game Show Forum
The Game Show Forum => The Big Board => Topic started by: BMaurice06 on March 06, 2007, 03:39:12 PM
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Do you ever notice that some game show themes of the past resemble past Top 40 pop hits? The reason I start this thread is that after viewing an episode of Pitfall, I have come to the conclusion that its theme is almost reminicent of "Peg", a Steely Dan Top 10 hit from 1977. Can anyone out there chime in on this subject?
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A lot of people said Nelly's song "Dilemma" sounded like the '86 Hollywood Squares theme. Personally, when I first heard "Dilemma" I didn't pick up on that at all. However, whenever it comes on the radio now I always change it. I don't want the song's lyrics going through my head when I'm thinking about the Hollywood Squares theme! :)
...and why is it that the theme from Love Experts reminded me of a top 40 hit...
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For some reason whenever I hear Chaka Khan's "I Feel For You", I always think of the original Feud 99 theme song.
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You know, because I sometimes like massive amounts of mental pain, I went to allmusic.com (shout-out to Mike Burger!) to see if the OP was even close.
I can _almost_ see it. But you have to REALLY WANT TO see it.
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Portions of the theme to Body Language sound a bit like Michael Jackson's Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'.
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[quote name=\'clemon79\' post=\'147532\' date=\'Mar 6 2007, 04:17 PM\']
You know, because I sometimes like massive amounts of mental pain, I went to allmusic.com (shout-out to Mike Burger!) to see if the OP was even close.
I can _almost_ see it. But you have to REALLY WANT TO see it.
[/quote]
You know, I've heard this song a million times, and never knew what it was called (love when that happens). I would've thought it was Doobie Brothers.
I can see the resemblance too...an instrumental of the song could've made for a nice prize or contestant cue.
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[quote name=\'Ian Wallis\' post=\'147527\' date=\'Mar 6 2007, 04:07 PM\']
...and why is it that the theme from Love Experts reminded me of a top 40 hit...
[/quote]
Maybe becuase "The Love Experts" theme WAS a top 40 hit (albeit barley). The name of the tune is "Spring Rain" by Argentine composer and producer Bebu Silvetti, known simply by just his last name. He is best known for this beautiful disco instrumental that peaked at #39 on the Billboard charts back in 1977. Just thought I'd share this piece of music trivia.
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[quote name=\'gamed121683\' post=\'147545\' date=\'Mar 6 2007, 03:04 PM\']
beautiful disco
[/quote]
Ladies and gentlemen, the first time these two words have ever been seen next to each other. :)
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Although not a Top 40 hit, the opening to The Who's "Join Together" sounds very similar to the opening of the fee plug cue from Gambit.
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In the early days, Wheel of Fortune used a cue which sounded very much like (or may have actually been) Temptation Eyes (http://\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Grass_Roots\") by The Grass Roots which hit #15.
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[quote name=\'fostergray82\' post=\'147536\' date=\'Mar 6 2007, 03:35 PM\']
You know, I've heard this song a million times, and never knew what it was called (love when that happens). I would've thought it was Doobie Brothers.
[/quote]
Pretty good reason for that--Michael McDonald did background vocals on the tune.
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[quote name=\'Modor\' post=\'147555\' date=\'Mar 6 2007, 07:12 PM\']
In the early days, Wheel of Fortune used a cue which sounded very much like (or may have actually been) Temptation Eyes (http://\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Grass_Roots\") by The Grass Roots which hit #15.
[/quote]
It did sound very much like "Temptation Eyes," but it wasn't.
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To me, the theme to "High Chaparral" sounded a lot like the Tornadoes hit "Telstar."...oops, sorry, wrong forum.
I'll throw out some I thought were similar:
"Hit Man"-"Livin' it Up (Friday Night)"
"Super Password"-"If the Love Fits"
"Bullseye"-"Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" (Santa Esmeralda version)
"Treasure Hunt" closing theme-"True Grit"
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The theme from Bonanza was a top-40 hit for Al Caiola. (I think he actually wrote it, but I won't swear to it.) When GSN added Blockbusters back in 2002 or '03, I thought the theme song, especially the Gold run music, sounded similar to it.
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[quote name=\'Jimmy Owen\' post=\'147572\' date=\'Mar 6 2007, 09:35 PM\']
"Bullseye"-"Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" (Santa Esmeralda version)
[/quote]
That's because "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" (actually, the instrumental track) was used as the theme to the pilot episode.
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[quote name=\'Jay Temple\' post=\'147573\' date=\'Mar 7 2007, 12:31 AM\']
The theme from Bonanza was a top-40 hit for Al Caiola. (I think he actually wrote it, but I won't swear to it.) When GSN added Blockbusters back in 2002 or '03, I thought the theme song, especially the Gold run music, sounded similar to it.
[/quote]
Maybe it's just you...but I don't see any sort of similarity in either Blockbusters theme. Maybe the second one, but it's minimal at that.
(Not really related to the topic at hand, but every time I hear the 70s Concentration theme I think someone would be able to use it as instrumental backing for a techno song...don't know why, but I do)
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[quote name=\'SRIV94\' post=\'147558\' date=\'Mar 6 2007, 09:17 PM\']
[quote name=\'fostergray82\' post=\'147536\' date=\'Mar 6 2007, 03:35 PM\']
You know, I've heard this song a million times, and never knew what it was called (love when that happens). I would've thought it was Doobie Brothers.
[/quote]
Pretty good reason for that--Michael McDonald did background vocals on the tune.
[/quote]
And there it is. :-)
/whatever that means
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[quote name=\'Jay Temple\' post=\'147573\' date=\'Mar 6 2007, 09:31 PM\']
The theme from Bonanza was a top-40 hit for Al Caiola. (I think he actually wrote it, but I won't swear to it.)...[/quote]
Better not. The theme from BONANZA was written by the fabulous team of by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans. And I was so surprised to learn that it has lyrics, that I asked Ray for an autographed copy. Ask me in a couple of days and I'll dig them out and post the words, if anyone is interested.
Another rock riff in a game show theme: The "Chopsticks" musical phrase from a rock song that I can't now remember was borrowed for "Trivial Pursuit". Anyone remember the hit song? Was it "Blinded By The Light"? My head hurts from trying to remember.
Randy
tvrandywest.com
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[quote name=\'Jimmy Owen\' post=\'147572\' date=\'Mar 6 2007, 11:35 PM\']
To me, the theme to "High Chaparral" sounded a lot like the Tornadoes hit "Telstar."...oops, sorry, wrong forum.
I'll throw out some I thought were similar:
"Hit Man"-"Livin' it Up (Friday Night)"
"Super Password"-"If the Love Fits"
"Bullseye"-"Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" (Santa Esmeralda version)
"Treasure Hunt" closing theme-"True Grit"
[/quote]
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[quote name=\'Jimmy Owen\' post=\'147572\' date=\'Mar 6 2007, 11:35 PM\']
To me, the theme to "High Chaparral" sounded a lot like the Tornadoes hit "Telstar."...oops, sorry, wrong forum.
I'll throw out some I thought were similar:
"Hit Man"-"Livin' it Up (Friday Night)"
"Super Password"-"If the Love Fits"
"Bullseye"-"Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" (Santa Esmeralda version)
"Treasure Hunt" closing theme-"True Grit"
[/quote]
Sorry about my "empty reply", I hit the wrong button... anyway, I listened to samples of these through iTunes...
I don't really hear any similarity with Livin it Up to Hitman, If the Love Fits I guess kind of sounds like a slowed down version of the SP theme, and most of us know that the pilot Bullseye theme was indeed inspired by the Santa Esmerelda song and that the TH closing theme was basically an instrumental of True Grit.
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[quote name=\'tvrandywest\' post=\'147581\' date=\'Mar 7 2007, 02:21 AM\']
Another rock riff in a game show theme: The "Chopsticks" musical phrase from a rock song that I can't now remember was borrowed for "Trivial Pursuit". Anyone remember the hit song? Was it "Blinded By The Light"? My head hurts from trying to remember.
[/quote]
Cut loose like a deuce... it was the Manfred Mann version of "Blinded By The Light" that had that Chopsticks interlude that Bruce Springsteen could never have dreamed of.
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Maybe becuase "The Love Experts" theme WAS a top 40 hit (albeit barley). The name of the tune is "Spring Rain" by Argentine composer and producer Bebu Silvetti, known simply by just his last name. He is best known for this beautiful disco instrumental that peaked at #39 on the Billboard charts back in 1977. Just thought I'd share this piece of music trivia.
Forgot to put the little "winkie" in my last message :) Anyway, I really like that tune and it got a lot of use back then; from background music to sports highlights, to being a game show theme, to even being used as a traffic bed on a radio station, as I think someone previously mentioned. For those of you who haven't seen Love Experts, you've most likely heard the tune at some point. Bob Stewart also used it on his 1984 pilot of a new version of Jackpot.
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Here's a few harder-to-find relations
Wordplay -- "Love's Been A Little Bit Hard On Me" by Juice Newton. (1981-ish)
Break The Bank '76 -- "Why Cant I Touch You" by Ronnie Dyson. (1969)
Better not. The theme from BONANZA was written by the fabulous team of by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans. And I was so surprised to learn that it has lyrics, that I asked Ray for an autographed copy. Ask me in a couple of days and I'll dig them out and post the words, if anyone is interested.
I can help you a bit on that Randy:
We chased lady luck till we finally struck..Bonanza,
With a gun and a rope and a hat full of hope we planted our family tree.
We got a hold of a pot full of gold... Bonanza,
With a horse and a saddle and a ranch full of cattle, how rich could a fella be.
Lorne Greene also did a version of the song (how fitting!)
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[quote name=\'davemackey\' post=\'147587\' date=\'Mar 7 2007, 06:05 AM\']
[quote name=\'tvrandywest\' post=\'147581\' date=\'Mar 7 2007, 02:21 AM\']
Another rock riff in a game show theme: The "Chopsticks" musical phrase from a rock song that I can't now remember was borrowed for "Trivial Pursuit". Anyone remember the hit song? Was it "Blinded By The Light"? My head hurts from trying to remember.
[/quote]
Cut loose like a deuce... it was the Manfred Mann version of "Blinded By The Light" that had that Chopsticks interlude that Bruce Springsteen could never have dreamed of.
[/quote]
Yes, but you need the LP version to get it. The 45 edited it all out.
/Not that I'm old enough to remember 45s.
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Duplicate post of below which I can't delete for some reason.
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If "London Bridge" was ever a top 40 hit, you could add "Child's Play."
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[quote name=\'Jimmy Owen\' post=\'147600\' date=\'Mar 7 2007, 08:32 AM\']
If "London Bridge" was ever a top 40 hit, you could add "Child's Play."
[/quote]
"London Bridge" _was_ a Top 40 hit. Just not the one you're thinking of. (http://\"http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=33:lpjxlfhegc0o\") ;)
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Isn't there a Bruce Springsteen song that had an instrumental bridge that was VERY much like the Wordplay theme?
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[quote name=\'whewfan\' post=\'147614\' date=\'Mar 7 2007, 02:15 PM\']
Isn't there a Bruce Springsteen song that had an instrumental bridge that was VERY much like the Wordplay theme?
[/quote]
Don't know about that, but the instrumental bridge to Jungleland was used as the closing theme to the 1980-81 season of Saturday Night Live.
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/Not that I'm old enough to remember 45s.
They were still making them on some hits as recently as a couple of years ago; but you could only get them through the small number of stores that still carried vinyl.
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Y'know, I've always thought "Come On Down" by Crystal Waters sounds like...oh, never mind.
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[quote name=\'rigsby\' post=\'147658\' date=\'Mar 8 2007, 07:18 AM\']
Y'know, I've always thought "Come On Down" by Crystal Waters sounds like...oh, never mind.
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I can't believe I didn't think of this joke. Bravo. Bravissimo.
/is it too late to invoke "My Definition Of A Boombastic Jazz Style" by Dream Warriors?
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[quote name=\'davemackey\' post=\'147587\' date=\'Mar 7 2007, 07:05 AM\']
Cut loose like a deuce... it was the Manfred Mann version of "Blinded By The Light" that had that Chopsticks interlude that Bruce Springsteen could never have dreamed of.
[/quote]
To me, I can spot similarities betweeen the Starcade theme and the keyboard arrangement in "Blinded by the Light". Just listen to them back to back and tell me you don't see any similarities.
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I know I'm 13 years late, but I really didn't want to make a new thread for this.
Now that Caesar's Challenge's music is on the TVPMM, parts of the main theme remind me of the Black Eyed Peas I Gotta Feeling.
A few years ago, I thought the Classic Concentration theme reminded me a bit of Sussudio by Phil Collins.
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[quote name=\'Jimmy Owen\' post=\'147572\' date=\'Mar 6 2007, 11:35 PM\']
To me, the theme to "High Chaparral" sounded a lot like the Tornadoes hit "Telstar."...oops, sorry, wrong forum.
I'll throw out some I thought were similar:
"Hit Man"-"Livin' it Up (Friday Night)"
"Super Password"-"If the Love Fits"
"Bullseye"-"Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" (Santa Esmeralda version)
"Treasure Hunt" closing theme-"True Grit"
Sorry about my "empty reply", I hit the wrong button... anyway, I listened to samples of these through iTunes...
I don't really hear any similarity with Livin it Up to Hitman, If the Love Fits I guess kind of sounds like a slowed down version of the SP theme, and most of us know that the pilot Bullseye theme was indeed inspired by the Santa Esmerelda song and that the TH closing theme was basically an instrumental of True Grit.
[/quote]
Hitman was far closer to World's Away by Pablo Cruise
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Hitman was far closer to World's Away by Pablo Cruise
Pretty sure they outright used "Worlds Away" in the pilot episode.
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Hitman was far closer to World's Away by Pablo Cruise
It wasn't just far closer, the show's pilot (per Winc.'s Youtube (http://youtube.com/watch?v=udnDrG146hk)) literally uses World's Away as its theme.
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I know I'm 13 years late, but I really didn't want to make a new thread for this.
A few years ago, I thought the Classic Concentration theme reminded me a bit of Sussudio by Phil Collins.
Funny, I've always heard the bass line from "Second Time Around" by Shalamar in the CC theme.
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I know I'm 13 years late, but I really didn't want to make a new thread for this.
A few years ago, I thought the Classic Concentration theme reminded me a bit of Sussudio by Phil Collins.
Funny, I've always heard the bass line from "Second Time Around" by Shalamar in the CC theme.
I can hear this too, esp. during the chorus of "Second Time Around".
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I know I'm 13 years late, but I really didn't want to make a new thread for this.
A few years ago, I thought the Classic Concentration theme reminded me a bit of Sussudio by Phil Collins.
Funny, I've always heard the bass line from "Second Time Around" by Shalamar in the CC theme.
This makes a lot more sense, especially since "Sussudio" (and the song's parent album, No Jacket Required) came out about six months after Classic Concentration's theme was first used as ticket plug music on Body Language. "The Second Time Around" came out in 1980.