RTL Today - Show Tunes

Even if you have never seen the show, you know the tune, you know the names and you want to believe

The iconic theme song for cult sci-fi show, The X-Files was composed by Mark Snow, an American composer best known for his work in television and film. Instantly recognizable for its eerie, atmospheric sound, it became synonymous with the show’s mysterious, supernatural tone.

The theme song for The Sopranos, Woke Up This Morning is written by the criminally underrated, Brixton band, Alabama 3.

The track, for which, Alabama 3, rightly or wrongly, are perhaps best known, perfectly captures the essence of the series. Its blend of blues, rock, and electronic elements creates a gritty, atmospheric sound that mirrors the classic show’s exploration of the American mob life.

Unless this is all a fevered slip in the shower dream sequence we are uncovering one of the biggest and best themes ever: the iconic tune for Dallas.

This is episode four of our run, where, assuming we don’t get cancelled, like some of the shows we will go on to mention, we are looking at some of the best gosh darned TV themes of all time. The theme for this unmissable slice of 80s prime time TV was composed by Jerrold Immel, capturing the show's supposed essence of drama and intrigue. Immel's composition features a distinctive blend of orchestral and contemporary elements. That’s a polite way of saying it is overblown and pompous. Not unlike some of the shoulder pads on offer, eh?

Let’s dig our leggings out, back comb the shizz out of our perms, and get on point as we are well and truly in classic territory here.

Premiering in January 1982, Fame followed the lives of students at a performing arts high school, blending drama, music, and dance in a groundbreaking way. Running for six seasons and 136 episodes, the show was based on the 1980 film of the same name, following students and faculty at a fictional New York City High School for the Performing Arts.

If you’ve never talked into your watch or done the sound effects to Knight Rider’s KITT, then have you ever lived?

The theme tune for "Knight Rider," composed by Stu Phillips and featured in the show’s opening credits, is iconic for its synthesizer-heavy sound that perfectly captures the 1980s vibe. Phillips wanted to create a sound that matched the futuristic feel of the show, which centered around a talking car, KITT.

The Simpsons - Danny Elfman

Welcome to the first episode of Show Tunes, where much like its distant cousin Song 2, we are setting about finding hidden gems behind the recording of our most beloved TV Show theme tunes.

It’s taken us a while to get here…we will just say for reasons but now we are, we are very excited in what we are going to be bringing you.

Show Tunes is all about the stories behind well known TV theme songs and, each week, we will be looking at a new one, its story and impact.

The Trailer

"In the TV shows you know and love, music doesn't just play pivotal roles in introducing the episodes, they shape your memory of them. Here, Stephen Steps Lowe takes a look at the stories behind the best and most-loved TV theme tunes of all time." Show Tunes is a brand new Podcast about the story behind the most famous TV Show Themes. Coming soon to Today Radio and to this channel.