Big Show Theme Song Mp3 Download
Annalisa Vanzanten
"Johnny's Theme" is an instrumental jazz song played as the opening theme of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson from the show's inception in 1962 through its finale in 1992. The piece was composed by Paul Anka and Johnny Carson, based on a previous composition by Anka. It was performed by The Tonight Show Band, which released an arrangement by Tommy Newsom in 1986 as part of its Grammy Award-winning debut album. The single release also earned a Grammy nomination.
"Tutti" Camarata, who was Annette Funicello's producer at the time, asked Anka to write some songs for Funicello's first album to follow her work on The Mickey Mouse Club.[2] Anka added lyrics to "Toot Sweet" and published them under the title "It's Really Love",[4] and the song was released as part of Annette Sings Anka. He recorded his own version of "It's Really Love" that same year for the French film Faibles Femmes;[2] it was released on seven-inch EPs in France, Italy and Spain.[5]
When Johnny Carson, a fan of jazz music, was preparing to take over as the permanent host of The Tonight Show starting in October 1962, he recognized that he would need a theme song.[2] Carson and Anka had worked together in England on the television special An Evening with Paul Anka in 1961;[6] when they happened to meet up again in New York City the following year, Carson manager Al Bruno mentioned needing a theme.[7]
Shortly after sending the demo, Anka received a telephone call and was told that Tonight Show bandleader Skitch Henderson was angry because Carson wanted to use a theme song written by a "20-year-old kid."[7] Anka said he then offered to let Carson write and publish new lyrics in order to claim a songwriter's credit along with half of the royalties every time the song was played[2] which would earn each man an average of about US$200,000 per year.[7] Orange Coast estimated in 1999 that "Johnny's Theme" had been played more than 1,400,000 times.[10]
The song was retired along with Carson in 1992;[11] his iteration of The Tonight Show was called "the last widely public big-band forum."[12] Incoming bandleader Branford Marsalis composed a more "funky" theme for successor Jay Leno because "a swing tune doesn't reflect Jay at all [and] jazz doesn't come to mind either."[13]
Henry Mancini and his orchestra recorded a 2:44 arrangement of "Johnny's Theme" in 1972 for the German EP Theme from Nicholas and Alexandra.[14] A version also appeared as part of Mancini's 2010 compilation Big Screen, Little Screen.[15] Paul Anka produced a recording by Top Brass for Buddah Records in 1973.[16] Lawrence Welk and his orchestra performed the song for their 1976 album Nadia's Theme.[17]
Doc Severinsen and the band recorded "Johnny's Theme" and 12 other tracks for their album The Tonight Show Band, released in 1986.[18] Amherst Records also released the track as a single, titled "Johnny's Theme (The Tonight Show Theme)",[19] which debuted at #27 on the Radio & Records Jazz Top 30 chart.[20] The song has been released on compilations of television themes,[21] the 1995 compilation 25 Years of Chrysalis Music,[22] and The Very Best of Doc Severinsen (1998).[23]
In 2005, Doc Severinsen, Carson's bandleader starting in 1967,[26] said the song worked so well because it was "accessible. People could understand what it was, and it was associated with Johnny." Larry King called it "one of the most familiar themes in American television history."[7] Paul Anka said the song was played for only a short time each night, "but everybody knows it. Simplicity is indeed royal."[27]
The Washington Post in 2008 said the days of the television theme song were fading into nostalgia, though they "used to abound" with or without lyrics. For example, "Anka's Tonight Show theme was inseparable from late night and Johnny Carson."[28]
"Johnny's Theme" has been included in numerous films including This Is My Life, Isn't She Great and Talk to Me.[29] The song has been performed live by musicians at varying skill levels from student to professional.[30] Iowa State Cyclones men's basketball coach Johnny Orr came onto the court pumping his fist as the pep band played "Johnny's Theme" before games at the Hilton Coliseum. Orr's tenure ran from 1980 to 1994.[31]
Doc Severinsen has kept the song alive on tour. His Big Band opened its shows by playing the theme in its entirety, "just to let you know who we are."[32] Severinsen and The Roots played "Johnny's Theme" during a 2015 episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.[33]
Entertainment lawyer Josh Grier has represented the B-52s, Elvis Costello, Diana Krall and others. He says writing one theme song for a hit show that plays over and over again can basically fund your retirement.
Quick note on the criteria for this list... Obviously we couldn't include every cartoon ever, so we just stuck to animated ones, i.e not shows like The Teletubbies or Bear in the Big Blue House. We've also only included theme songs with lyrics (not purely instrumental themes like Recess) and songs which feature at the start of a cartoon, not songs from episodes like "Library Card" from Arthur. Enjoy!!
Sepi: Okay, it's not up there in terms of the greatest cartoon theme songs per se, but is it one I would sing at the top of my lungs when I was younger? Yes. So it's decent. Seven-year-old Sepi would approve. 6/10
Tori: I never realised there are more lyrics than just, "Flintstones, meet The Flintstones". And maybe this is of-the-time, but did they use the same vocalists as The Jetsons theme song? 3/10
Tori: As a child, I grew to HATE this show and this song because whenever I was sick and had to miss school (which was often) it was always on. I'll mosh extra aggressively to it now, but that's it. 2/10
Sam: I used to adore this show, and I remember liking the theme tune a lot too. Upon listening to it again, I've retained it pretty well, which I guess means it's memorable. Unfortunately, I don't think it's quite as good as I remember. 6.5/10
Sam: Awww, this is super nostalgic for me! My youngest sister loved this show. I do love a theme tune that tells a story, and this song has a chill catchy sound to it, but it's far from my fav. A solid good-tier theme song. 7/10
Sepi: Doug was my "safe space" cartoon growing up. The theme song is nothing extravagant, however, I think it's a really special one. I really would smile so hard as a kid when this came on TV, and I still smile watching it now. 9.5/10
Sam: I am reliably informed by my mother that I loved Postman Pat when I was really young. So for that reason, and the fact that this is a sweet enough theme song, I'm going to be quite generous. 7/10
Sepi: I've probably watched every single episode of Rugrats, and I'm not even kidding when I say that. I have to admit the theme song was never one of my favourites, but it's incredibly memorable. 5/10
Sam: SOMEHOW, Sailor Moon passed me by as a kid, which makes NO sense because I was a gay boy who loved hair and clothes and makeup. Anyhow, this theme tune is a little bland to me now, but I do appreciate the *pure gay* of it. Also, without this series, I imagine we wouldn't have had shows in the UK like W.I.T.C.H. or Trollz, which I was obsessed with, so... 5/10
Tori: LOVING THIS SONG IS WHAT HAVING CULTURE IS. It's the way I would have my mum rent as many tapes of this show as possible from Blockbuster as a child to fawn over the song, the outfits, and the hair. 10/10
Sepi: This theme song has a special place in my heart! I always laugh whenever I hear it, because people used to point at me when the song went, "and the last one's Georgina, she's incredibly taaaalllll" hahaha. 6.5/10
Sam: Many people might not know this one, but this is another theme song that gives a lot of helpful exposition. I think it's funny and catchy, and I used to love singing along to it as a kid. "Deeeeeeeefrosted for you and for meeee!" 9/10
Sepi: Oh, this show, this show! As Told By Ginger is so underrated. I find Macy Gray's voice delightful, and I always found this theme song a great source of comfort somehow. In my top five, easy. 9/10
Sam: I mean, Macy is a queen, but I don't remember this show. For me, there's no nostalgic allure here, but I do like the song! But isn't this the cartoon where that girl sings that song about seals? Cos that's a tune... 7/10
Sepi: I was very invested in The Simpsons growing up. I would go over to my cousin's house and play Hit & Run till goodness knows what hour! The theme tune went hard then, and it still goes hard now. 8.5/10
Tori: I'm sorry... I didn't grow up with The Simpsons. Honestly, there's a chance I've only seen the movie and never an actual episode. Subjectively, this song means nothing to me, but objectively... 7/10
Sam: HOW HAVE I NEVER HEARD OF THIS SHOW BEFORE?!?! I listened to this theme song for the first time writing this, and I was moved... MOVED TO FITS OF LAUGHTER. Utterly absurd, stupid AF. This is my new favourite thing. 10/10
Sam: You wanna talk about quality theme tunes? This is the one right here. It has clever and riveting animation, stellar vocals, and an indelible hook. Anyone remember the time they changed it to include "Larry"? 10/10
Sepi: I rate this song SO MUCH... This is definitely in my top 5, easy. A true masterpiece. The way I still sing, "you can't stop me, cos I'm Kim Poss-i-ble!" Fun fact, Christina Milian sang this one. 8.5/10
Sam: This theme song is a classic, and has a fabulous of-the-era pop sound. My ONLY criticism is, all most people know are those last nine words! To get a perfect score from me, a theme song needs to be iconic throughout. 8/10
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