Top Gear/TMBG

[Xander]

I may be exceedingly uncultured, or just plain dumb or dozy tonight, but where does the theme tune for "Top Gear" come from? I don't know if it's still the theme tune, but it was the classic one, you know, "Der der duh der der deh der der, deh deh deh derrrrrrrrrr", if that helps. The reason I ask is that I've just been listening to They Might Be Giants clockradio, and a song came on, entitled "Jessica", that was exactly the same as the Top Gear theme tune. Is it a popular tune? Am I being stupid? I genuinely can't remember.

It'll probably be one of those "...ahhhh, of course!" answers.

[gazzyk1ns]

It's a Fleetwood Mac tune... lemme Google... yep, the intro from a song of theirs called "The Chain" apparently.

[Xander]

It's a Fleetwood Mac tune... lemme Google... yep, the intro from a song of theirs called "The Chain" apparently.

Aaaahhh....of course. I presumed it was a Led Zeppelin/White Snake/Thin Lizzy/some random band riff. Thanks for placing it for me.

[gazzyk1ns]

Hehe no probs, for me it was one of those questions I'd heard the answer to many times but couldn't quite remember it, so it placed it for me too.

[Lady Beany]

Fuckit!  I now have the theme tune in my head!  Damn my fingers for clicking me into this thread!

[Hypnotoad.]

Sorry for interjecting with a Daily Mail letters page-esque comment, but the old BBC themes were the best ever, and I'm gutted they were either gotten rid of altogether, or "modernised"

Formula 1 - Ace or what???
Snooker - Modernised - yuck
Golf - Modernised - yuck

[Hypnotoad.]

blue canary in the outlet by the lightswitch, who watches over you, make a little birdhouse in your soul, not to put too finer point on it, say, i'm the only bee in your bonnet

I am shocked I can still remember that lyric

[peet]

Formula 1 - Ace or what???

Hmm I always thought that one was from 'The Chain' not the Top Gear music? Maybe they were both from the same song.

[WoShade]

Shurely the Allman Bros?

Ski Sunday was always pleasant.

[Xander]

blue canary in the outlet by the lightswitch, who watches over you, make a little birdhouse in your soul, not to put too finer point on it, say, i'm the only bee in your bonnet

I am shocked I can still remember that lyric

You shouldn't be, and you should seek out more TMBG forthwith! I can (probably very sadly) sing along with the vast majority of their songs.

[gazzyk1ns]

Change of plan, as WoShade said, it appears to be "Jessica" by The Allman Brothers, whoever they are. I did Google before as I said but a stupid ringtone site told me wrongly, The Chain was indeed from the F1 when it was on BBC, it seems. Apologies for that.

Hehe and before anyone asks, the theme from the old Vauxhall ads was Layla by Eric Clapton.

[Xander]

That does infinitely make more sense. It explains why a TMBG cover was called, shockingly, the same as the original. It's fine. I get them all mixed up in my head anyway. It was not as much of a "aaahhh....of course" than I thought it'd be, then!

[Frinky]

The Allman Brothers, whoever they are.

Gah!

[weekender]

"Jessica" by The Allman Brothers.

Confirmed.  I won't bother you with the details of how I know, because they're very uninteresting, but that tune/artist combo is definitely correct.

[gazzyk1ns]

Yup, also Frinky, Ghostbusters 2 was better than the original, DeLoreans are rubbish, and Sophie Ellis Bextor is ugly.


Hehe I can't say that without confirming that I don't genuinely believe any of that...

[the hum]

Snooker - Modernised - yuck

It is indeed now cack.  Does anyone know who did this tune (originally)?  I sort of half assumed it might have been a piece of library music, but the riff is surely too good for it to have been done by any old somebody.

Similarly I recall the theme for the BBC's bowls coverage was rather good (indeed the only interesting thing about it's bowls coverage).  Sort of acousticy number.  Nice.

[Rats]

http://www.zen26454.zen.co.uk/thunderbird.mp3
there's a newer giants song for homer, rock the hell out

[Frinky]

Nah, I find the Allmans deadly dull, but they are tremendously well known... 60's/70's stoner blues, I guess.

The only reason I actually know much about them is becuase I've had to a couple of articles on Duane Allman's Les Pauls.

I don't rate them, but I am very suprised you'd never heard of them. I'd assumed that they were one of those bands that, regardless of your tastes, you knew of.

[gazzyk1ns]

My dad, who is 54, hasn't heard of them either! He knows the Top Gear theme though.

EDIT: Neither have 3 mates, was just on the phone and got the opportunity to ask. I daren't tell them "someone on the internet asked" though.

[Frinky]

Hmmm, maybe they were never big here, then.

As a guitarist (ha!) I guess I was more likely to be exposed to them.

[easytarget]

It is indeed now cack.  Does anyone know who did this tune (originally)?

Popular comedian Bill Bailey claims it was Nirvana (if memory serves), then goes on to demonstrate how the rest of the tune goes.
However, this may be a joke.

[Gazeuse]

I sort of half assumed it might have been a piece of library music, but the riff is surely too good for it to have been done by any old somebody.

Hey...Watch it!!! Some very distinguished composers have written library music...Brian Eno, for example.

[gazzyk1ns]

Hmmm, maybe they were never big here, then.

As a guitarist (ha!) I guess I was more likely to be exposed to them.

Nah maybe it's just us lot being ignorant, hehe might be one for the "Obvious things you've just realised" thread!

[qki]

The BBC snooker theme is called "Drag Racer", by the Doug Wood Band.


Guitarists amongst you can get the tab for it here

[Frinky]

Duane Allman (dead), the Cherryburst 1958 Les Paul, and the Darkburst 1959 Les Paul known to him as Hot 'Lanta. Bane of my life.

[Bogey]

blue canary in the outlet by the lightswitch, who watches over you, make a little birdhouse in your soul, not to put too finer point on it, say, i'm the only bee in your bonnet

I am shocked I can still remember that lyric

You shouldn't be, and you should seek out more TMBG forthwith! I can (probably very sadly) sing along with the vast majority of their songs.

A They Might Be Giants music video.
"Experimental Film"
Watch it with your eyes.

[Morrisfan82]

The BBC snooker theme is called "Drag Racer", by the Doug Wood Band.

All they've done to 'remix' it is to plonk the fat tambouriney breakbeat from Hot Pants by Bobby Byrd over it.

[the hum]

The BBC snooker theme is called "Drag Racer", by the Doug Wood Band.


Guitarists amongst you can get the tab for it here

Cool, cheers.