Movie and TV Themes - #MusicMovesMe

Happy dance - I'm the spotlight dancer on today's edition of #MusicMoves Me!

But, first, a confession.

I picked as my theme "theme songs of movie or TV shows".  But last week, I realized the "something" in my subconscious that had caused me to think of that theme.

I have a friend who lives in Brooklyn, a man heavily involved in music in his retirement.  I've known him for almost 50 years.  He's a moderator on a Facebook group I belong to, and don't pay enough attention to, because I've been trying to limit my online time.

But I was subconsciously paying attention to him - because, for the last several weeks, he's been posting daily TV theme shows at the beginning of each day.

"Gulp" I think I plagiarized my friend, sort of.  I didn't mean to.  Honest!  But it's true - there are so many great TV and movie themes out there.

I hope you all had as much fun thinking of your post today as I did.

So, with that in mind, shall we begin?  I should have created a You Tube playlist, but I know a couple of my regular readers have trouble with them, so I have posted individual videos.

Let's start with the rousing theme song of the movie "The Magnificent Seven" from 1960, composed by Elmer Bernstein, who received an Oscar nomination.  Just thinking of the famous actors who starred in this movie - Steve McQueen, Yul Brenner, Charles Bronson....  how can you not be ready for adventure after listening to this?  (And some of my readers may even remember the use of this theme in Marlboro cigarette commercials, back when it was legal to advertise cigarettes on TV in the United States).

Interested in more information?  You can find some here.

John Williams really knows how to write movie themes (Star Wars, anyone?).  Here is the theme from Jurassic Park, which, for me, was an instant earworm.

And, speaking of John Williams, the first few notes of this movie theme from "Jaws" must be the most recognizable notes in history, next to the opening of Beethovan's Fifth Symphony.

Switching to other favorites of my childhood,I am going to take some liberties here.  Yes, I am aware that the song "Moon River" (written by Henry Mancini with lyrics by the incomparable Johnny Mercer) was not the theme of the 1961 movie "Breakfast at Tiffany's".  But I am going to include it, anyway.

Now that you are all relaxed and asleep, it's time for some James Bond music.  This was a hard one, picking between A View to a Kill, Goldfinger, and this one, by Paul McCartney and Wings - Live and Let Die.  "Live and Let Die" won out.

But "Goldfinger" was close, and I am going to feature it, too.
"Goldfinger" as sung by Shirley Bassey.  Pure 60's, and yes, I owned the 45.

A favorite of mine when I was going to college - Isaac Hayes and the theme from "Shaft" from 1971.

One last movie theme - Chariots of Fire by Vangelis.  Last week I promised you an Olympic theme song of many countries, and this is it.

Turning to TV shows, there are so many to choose from, and I only have so much room on my blog.

My first choice is The Sopranos theme song.  The song and the group have an interesting history.  Here in the United States this British band is known as A3, while in Great Britain they can use their true name, Alabama 3.

Next, I switch to a classic United States TV show that ran from 1959 to 1965, to be exact.  The show starred a young Clint Eastwood, and the theme song sung by Frankie Laine:  Rawhide.

I can't mention Rawhide without mentioning another Western theme song, one that became a hit, covered by many artists including Johnny Cash - Bonanza.  This program lasted 14 seasons on TV, and was a pioneering (no pun intended) TV show in many ways.


Although many think the Ventures performed the original theme song to the hit TV show (now in its second incarnation) Hawaii 5-O, it was actually performed on the original 60's show by the CBS Orchestra.

Miami Vice, composed and performed by Jan Hammer.  This is NOT the original version from the TV show but...heck, I love the music.

I will close with the theme for a long running TV show of the 80's and early 90's - Thank You for Being a Friend, the theme of Golden Girls.

Thank YOU for being my musical friend.

And so, there you have it.  I ran a little long this week, but it was my theme, and I could do what I wanted.  Thank you for singing or listening along!

Join the 4Mers every week for some great music (even when I'm not the spotlight dancer).

The Head 4M'er is XmasDolly.  Her co-4Mers are:  Callie of JAmerican Spice, and ♥Stacy of Stacy Uncorked♥   And last but certainly not least, Cathy from Curious as a Cathy.