I have a thing for soundtracks. Whether it be the music of tv or film, it doesn’t matter. I just love ’em.
My fondness for soundtracks also covers the theme songs for cartoons.
Yeah, yeah. It may sound weird, but I lived for my Saturday morning cartoons when I was a kid. ‘Astro Boy’, ‘Heman’, ‘Robotech’, ‘Sailor Moon’, ‘Scooby Doo’. I was a huge fan of ’em all.
Hell, who am I kidding about the ‘was’.
When I was in my late teens I even went to the cinema to see The Little Mermaid by myself. And, today, my collection of Disney and Pixar animation as well as anime *Studio Ghibli, how I heart thee* is pretty awesome, even if I do say so myself. 😉
My love of cartoons is shared by my 4 year old Goddaughter, who, I am happy to say, is being properly educated by her Dad. *Her Dad and I have this thing where we both recite the opening of ‘Heman’ and, no, I’m pretty sure there’s no drinking involved. Not that I can remember anyway. ;)*
A couple of weeks ago when I went to get my b’day pressie from them visit them, my Goddaughter all of a sudden began singing the ‘Josie and the Pussycats’ song.
It reminded me of this fantastic soundtrack I have which has some of the great cartoon theme songs. On this, musicians like Liz Phair, The Ramones, the Violent Femmes and the Butthole Surfers cover the songs of ‘Josie’, ‘Speed Racer’, ‘Spiderman’, ‘Popeye’ and ‘Fat Albert’. It’s t-riffic!
To make my dorkiness completely and utterly apparent – in case any of you had any doubts – let me share with you one of my all time fave theme songs:
What about you? Did you have a favourite cartoon or theme song as a kid?
C’mon. Fess up.
I mean, seriously… can it really be any less nerdy than this?? *g*
Kris + Books = Good. *Sometimes*. 
OMG, we get the Banana Splits on the Teletoon Retro channel. They've just improved it and we now get Smurfs and a few other good shows.
My all time fave cartoon theme song is Spider Man. We get that too, 9:00 I think. 🙂 I grew up in the country with no cable so we didn't get many cartoons but I remember the classics like Quick Draw McGraw (just remembered that's one of the new retro shows), Yogi Bear, Bugs Bunny and Mr. Magoo. As a little gaffer I was TOTALLY into Popeye and could tune out the world and I used to call Woody Woodpecker “Woody Woody Peckerhead” apparently. LOL Filthy mouthed child.
We have the sound track to Scooby Doo and the Witch's Ghost and as I type this we are watching Ratatouille but it's not a musical. I have to break out the Nightmare before Christmas soon and it's Glee tonight (I've downloaded some Glee songs) and Gilligan's Island? I have the Bowling for Soup version on my ipod. I am a child of TV despite only having 2 channels growing up.
Great Space Coaster! Greatest Theme Song Ever!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dddm5bQeKvg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSKBBxxUXqg
(Speed Racer)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_C2HJvtRDY
(Scooby Doo – and I've gotten my kids to be huge fans as well)
This isn't a song but… from more recently – Monsters Inc. I just love that movie (Mike Wazowski). The little movies at the end was just friggin hilarious as well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYpEq9mMkRQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJzQiemCIuY&feature=fvw
I loved that Banana Splits song! Also liked Spider-Man, Batman, and all the songs from Mr. Rogers.
I'm embarrassed to say I STILL have Spider-Man, the Adams Family theme song, and the Brady Bunch theme song in my itunes. *hangs head in shame*
And my favorite Christmas song is still the Snow Miser/ Heat Miser song from “The Year Without a Santa Claus”.
Tam: Yogi Bear! I haven't thought about that cartoon for years, but it's one that I also watched and loved as a kid.
The Nightmare Before Christmas is one of the best EVER Christmas movies. I adore it so.
Katiebabs chook: I haven't come across that cartoon before, but the song is terrific. I'm going to see if I can find some episodes online. 🙂
Tracy: I'm listening to the 'Go Speed Racer Go' cover right now. It's freaking awesome. The theme song just lends itself to some terrific guitar riffs.
The shorts that Pixar do before and after their films are always funny as hell. That bird one made me laugh my arse off.
Richelle: I know! The Tra La La La song is tops. *g* Liz Phair does the cover of it and I'm pretty sure it's available at iTunes if you're interested.
Another great one is the 'Sugar Sugar' song which features on 'The Archies'. *Team Betty all the way, baby!*
Oh yay, I found the Snow Miser/ Heat Miser song on youtube. If you haven't heard it, it's teh awesome. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yon2YuXssvo
Hmm, couldn't find the Liz Phair version of The Tra La La song on itunes, but I did find the orignal version.
LOL! That's cool/hot. That's another show I haven't come across before.
Bugger. I thought I saw the Liz Phair song on iTunes. I know I saw her version on youtube.
Speaking of theme songs… check out this one and see if it conjures up any memories: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-yLYz6ejqw
O_O
(ok, I have the entire Little Mermaid movie memorized)
but still…
O_O
Under da sea….
Damn it! Ear worm song. *looks evilly at Kri*
Jen: *snort* How the hell you can keep a straight face after admitting that is beyond me.
BTW, I'm the same with Mulan. That's my fave of the Disney movies. 🙂
KBC: LOL. What about 'Kiss Da Girl'…
sha la la la la la
my oh my
I can show you the world, shining, shimmering, splendid…
Tell me, Kris, now when did you last let your heart decide?
way up here
it's crystal clear
That, Katiebabs chook, I'm in a whole new world with you. *bats eyelashes*
Want to come for a ride on my magic carpet? *wiggles eyebrows*
I don't know.
*peeks through eyelashes*
Will it involve soaring and tumbling through an endless diamond shy??
Oh yes, and way up here it's crystal clear that now I'm in you… erm I mean I'm in a whole new world with you.
Okay, I won't close my eyes *and think of England*, but I'll hold my breath and hope that you last longer than a shooting star.
Puffnstuff!
Richelle: Cool, right. *GRIN*
Very cool! Loved Puffnstuff. And Witchy Poo! We went to the World of Sid and Marty Croft when I was a kid once, and I got to meet them. 😛
Sigmund and the sea monsters and the bugaloos. Why do I always remember them?
Yes the Go Speed Racer Go is fabo. Love it.
Oh, my fav. disney are Monster's Inc and Finding Nemo.
Mine, mine, mine, mine, mine. Wait – sounds like an alpha hero in a romance! lol
Richelle: *sigh* I'm sooo jealous.
Tracy: Here's a link to the soundtrack I mentioned in the post: http://www.amazon.com/Saturday-Morning-Cartoons-Greatest-Hits/dp/B000002OYG.
It's got both the songs for Sigmund & the Sea Monsters and the Bugaloos on it so I figure it's kismet. LOL.
Saturday Morning's Greatest Hits! I have that album as well, I love it so much and it gets a hell of a lot of airplay. But my fave on it is the Sigmund and the Seamonsters songs.
Really!? I think I heard about it on Triple J back when it was first released and ran posthaste to be nearest music store to get it. 🙂
My faves are (obviously) the Tra La La La song, Go Speed Racer Go and Josie and Pussy Cats.
How can none of you mention Jem? I mean, come on! lol
We didn't have a TV until I was 14, but I still grew up around TV. Jem is the only one I can think of at the moment. I loved Voltron and GI Joe. Oh and X-Men! I hear the theme to that & I get all excited. heh
Jem is my name
No one else is the same
Jem is my name
Jem!!
Do you mean that one, Bridget?? 😉
Yes, the X-men!!! Gambit. *squee* To this day, I have such a girl crush on him. Pfft to Wolverine and Cyclops!
My all time favorite is “Sugar Sugar” by the Archies. I loved watching that show. Also, I liked the theme song to the Flintstones and Speed Racer.
Lily, I dont blame you. 'Sugar Sugar' is such a terrific song. 🙂
The them song from Nils Holgersson and Candy Candy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qo9f_c6wRd0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjVNL0rT7d0
We didn't get cable tv till '93
Ingrid, the theme song for Nils Holgersson reminds me of another song, but, for the life of me, I can't think of what it is.
It's going to drive me crazy trying to work it out.
Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers. Just found it on Youtube. Brings back memories…. 🙂
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZB5cM_6Ru8
I remember that show!
But I also remember this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-0cemrpLQc&feature=related, as one of the first Chip 'n' Dale features I ever watched.
Have you seen this, Merwan??
My favourites were always 'Jamie and the Magic Torch' and 'Dangermouse' but I bet most of you have never heard of those British kiddy classics.
I went to see Beauty and the Beast at the pics with my equally sad friend when I was about 20. We also went to see Free Willy together and both cried at the end.
My son is always going round singing the Pokemon theme tune. Perhaps that will be on a CD in a few years – if it isn't already.
“Here I come to save the day!!!”
Did I get it right, Jen? 🙂 Dangermouse I recognise, but not the other show.
By the time B&B was out my cousin was old enough to drag along so that I could pretend I wasn't a total dork. LOL.
Pokemon is awesome. I went and saw that at the movies too. *g*
Tell me, if I said to you 'underground, over ground, wombling free', would you have insta-recognition??
*singing*
'Hong Kong Foohey, number one super guy'
And although it's not actually a cartoon, but puppets, my favourite theme song is Star Fleet! Not sure if this will work (I can't watch YouTube on dial-up):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExC6OEQazrc
I'm going to have to find this on DVD…
Here we go Kris. For your 70's enjoying splendour: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-B_FQKHQDYk and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cw2TDna9NYg
My cousin had a stuffed womble. I was so jealous that I only had a barnaby bear.
Orannia 🙂
Star Fleet reminded me of the Thunderbirds, which I did watch occasionally as a kid.
Oh, it worked, in case you hadn't already guessed.
Jen, now I remember Dangermouse properly! He was very 007. Hmm, no wonder you remembered him. LOL.
The tag line I mentioned before was from Mighty Mouse (I think).
I loved the Wombles. Here's another show that I enjoyed too: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LiP0j-LHv88
Don't get me started on The Wombles! My absolute favourite – my father was so happy when I was a kid because I would happily go out and pick up the rubbish from the garden. Orinoco and Tomsk were my favourites – so much so that many years later when Enya came out with “Orinoco Flow” I used to pretend it was a song about him. And, yes, I was thirteen at that time.
And I still watch the movie and get a little teary at the end when all the rubbish blows over the common and all the kids come running out to help pick it up.
A sap, Sean, and a naive one at that. *snort*
I don't know why I talk to you sometimes.
Does it help that I thought you were pretty cute with your sapiness, etc in a pinch-you-on-the-cheek-and-not-that-one kind of a way??
Tell me I'm pretty.
You're pretty.
Especially when you wear blue mesh.
I still have a plastic Wombles mug – it must be a collector's item by now 🙂 And I loved Dangermouse!
Kris – it's all your fault that I went looking for Star Fleet and discovered that it has been released on DVD…as I've just ordered it!
Let me get this straight.
You're blaming me for something that you pimped.
*scratching head*
And how'd you work that one out, my dearest Orannia?? 🙂
Kris,
Not about subject sorry. Just found your blog… saw you like yaoi and noticed you didn't have sensitive pornography. I didn't know it came in book form. I have the film. (XXX) If you ever find it in book form can you let me know. I'm in london but use to live in Perth. Sean Kennedy is a great author and he promised me a signed postcard. (not so subtle hint to pass on to him)
cheers tish
Can I saw that I am so excited about the possibility of there being a Smurfs movie?
Faa laa laa laa laaa!!!
Oh I forgot… favorite theme song is 'What's new Scooby Doo' I have it on my ipod. Also Mona the vampire. I gave up being embarressed by my taste in music… I have tigerland sitting next to MCR and The Misfits project 1950 so what do I know!
tish