Theme music

Theme music is a special song.

It plays on TV and in movies. You hear it at the start. It can play at the end, too.

This music helps you know the show. It can be a song with words. It can be played by an orchestra.

Some music is for video games. It plays when you start a game. This helps the game feel real.

Theme music can even be for sports. It makes fans feel excited. It is a fun way to start a show.

Theme music is a special song made for a show.

It plays on TV, in movies, and in video games. You often hear it during the opening credits. Some shows play it during the closing credits, too. A show like Regular Show plays its theme at the end. Most shows use it at the start to help you know the program.

In movies, the music is called a main title. It can be a song sung by a star. One example is Moon River from Breakfast at Tiffany's. It can also be played by a large orchestra. In some films, an overture plays before the movie starts. This music is heard while the lights are still up.

Theme music can also be for sports. It can make fans feel great. In Canada, a hockey theme is very famous. Some people even call it a second national anthem. In the US, music like Roundball Rock is used for basketball. These songs help people feel the spirit of the game.

Theme music is a special kind of musical composition. It is often written just for a specific program. You can find it in radio shows, television, video games, or films. Most of the time, it plays during the opening credits. Sometimes, it plays during the closing credits instead. It can even play at different points during a show. People often use a theme song to help identify a performer. It can act as a signature tune for a famous person.

There are many different ways theme music works. In movies, the music during the opening credits is called a main title. This music is often put on soundtrack albums later. A main title might be a song sung by a lead actor. For example, Audrey Hepburn sang "Moon River" in Breakfast at Tiffany's. It can also be played by a large orchestra. The Pink Panther Theme is a famous orchestral example. Some movies use a medley of different themes. The 1959 film Ben-Hur used many themes together.

Some movies use a special type of music called an overture. In a roadshow release, an overture plays before the film starts. You hear it while the house lights are still up. The main title only begins when the movie actually starts. The film The Sound of Music is a unique case. In that movie, the main title served as an overture. It had a pre-credits sequence with a song first. Then, the main title music followed right after.

Theme music has been on television since the medium began. Many shows use styles that were made just for them. Some shows use tunes that already existed. Long-running shows like Coronation Street have very iconic themes. These songs stay the same for many generations of viewers. In sports, theme music is very important too. In the United States, "Roundball Rock" was the NBA theme. In Canada, "The Hockey Theme" is so famous that people call it a second national anthem.

Theme music even reaches into the world of video games. Many games have a theme that is easy to recognize. The "Prelude Theme" from the Final Fantasy series is a great example. It plays on the title screens of the first four games. Newer games still use the theme in a modern way. It often plays during the ending credits of the game. Music can even be a way to make extra money. Hollywood studios began making money from music in the 1950s. One early success was the theme for High Noon in 1952.

Theme music is a specific musical composition designed for a particular medium. It is often written for radio programs, television shows, video games, or films. These compositions typically play during title sequences or opening credits. They also appear during closing credits or at specific moments throughout a program. A theme song can function similarly to a leitmotif, which is a recurring musical phrase. Sometimes, the term "signature tune" refers to a song associated with a specific performer or dignitary. This music often plays to signal their entrance.

In the film industry, the music heard during opening credits is called the main title. This music is frequently recorded later for soundtrack albums. A main title can take several forms. It might be a song performed by a lead character, such as Audrey Hepburn singing "Moon River" in Breakfast at Tiffany's. It can also be an orchestral theme, like the famous "The Pink Panther Theme." Some films use a medley, which is a collection of different themes played together. For example, the 1959 film Ben-Hur used a medley of themes.

There is a technical distinction between a main title and an overture. In a roadshow theatrical release, an overture plays on pre-recorded tape or film. This happens before the movie begins, while the house lights are still up. The main title only begins once the film actually starts. However, some films blur these lines. In The Sound of Music, the main title served as an overture. These films featured pre-credits sequences where a song was performed first. The main title music followed immediately after.

Theme music has been a staple of television since the medium began. Most programs use a specific style, sometimes adapting existing tunes. Some themes are composed specifically for the show. Long-running series like Coronation Street become iconic because they remain consistent. This allows multiple generations of viewers to recognize them. In the United States, certain themes become deeply linked to specific sports. "Roundball Rock" was the theme for the NBA on NBC during the 1990s and early 2000s. Another example is "Bugler's Dream," used for Olympic Games coverage on ABC and NBC.

Sports broadcasting relies heavily on these musical associations. In the United Kingdom and Ireland, some themes are synonymous with the sports themselves. For instance, "Soul Limbo" by Booker T. & the M.G.'s is associated with cricket. In Canada, "The Hockey Theme" is so famous it is sometimes called the nation's second national anthem. This became a matter of national scandal in 2008 when CBC Television lost the rights to use it. In the U.S., the CBS March Madness theme is considered a masterpiece. It is noted for delivering a euphoric feeling to sports fans.

Theme music also plays a vital role in the video game industry. Many series use a distinctive theme to build brand identity. The "Prelude Theme" from the Final Fantasy series is a notable example. It plays on the title screens of the original games, specifically from Final Fantasy I to IV. Modern versions of the game often use a modernized version of this theme. It is frequently played during the ending credits of the game.

Beyond entertainment, theme music serves economic and cultural purposes. Starting in the 1950s, theme songs became a source of revenue for Hollywood studios. This led to the creation of recording arms within film companies. This era marked the start of methodical cross-promotion between music and movies. One of the first major successes was the theme for the 1952 film High Noon. Music can even cross over into popular music charts. In 2001, Crystal Waters' "Come On Down" reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. This song was a remix of The Price Is Right theme and was the first song based on a game show theme to reach that height.