Tomorrow Evening on the $4 Tier (Thursday 7th, 6pm GMT)
It might not surprise you to learn that I love a good theme tune. I'm also a nostalgic bastard. So, I've created a Tier list with all the noteworthy kids TV programs from my childhood, and I'm going to rank their theme tunes in an epic live stream, listening as we go. Most of them are British so many of you won't recognize some of them, but there are some outstanding theme tunes on display here so anyone with an ear for music or nostalgia should be entertained. I've tried to stick to shows that were aired in the 90s on British TV when I was a kid and while some of them are American I never had the posh channels (Nickelodeon, Cartoon network etc) so Dexter's lab and the like aren't on here. That said, feel free to make a request and if I used to watch it or if there's enough demand I'll stick it in here.
Stream will be available for those who can't watch live, unless any of the music get's it blocked which is unlikely.
For those who were thinking of singing up to the $4 Tier anyway this might be the perfect time. If you're still unsure, here's a list of all the videos currently available on the $4 Tier: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1HD8TRZjoU8fCrEOcD_8ks9ao0RuYmy4ExyTx8eQtyLU/edit?gid=0#gid=0
Comments (43)
calling it now, Round the Twist is S tier
Is there going to be a link here?
Where can we watch?
What an excellent idea! Charlie Chalk instantly came to mind (not enough people know about Charlie Chalk) and its intro theme is special, so I'm glad to see it on the list! I do often think about where some of those artists might be now, and how they feel about putting a lot of effort and passion into singing about a clown on an island, or a Welsh fireman. Takes some confidence I think! Also how off their faces some of them might have been when penning those masterpieces...! Edit: Sylvester and Tweety Mysteries is one I constantly get stuck in my head as an adult, if that's one you're familiar with.
Ah, Tom, this is absolute nostalgia crack for me! I’m about 10 years older than you, so my sweet spot is the mid-1980s. I’ll understand if you don’t want to go there, but I’ll highlight a few gems. The Family Ness - https://youtu.be/xaCzbqdFS24?si=m7_yTryCKPZITOXv No Scottish stereotyping whatsoever in this cartoon. Jossy’s Giants – A kids football drama, written by legendary darts commentator Sid Waddel. One episode featured a cameo by Brian Robson, then at Manchester United, giving perhaps the most wooden performance of the decade.: https://youtu.be/0PEveJc8k8E?si=7CKH-eTrKG2eDihO Ulysses 31 – The pinnacle of 1980s cartoons, in my opinion! A Star Wars rip-off retelling of the Odyssey, in space, with a Barry Gibb lookalike main protagonist. Clearly an influence on some of Daft Punk’s aesthetic as well. But, importantly, an absolutely killer theme song, which kicks in at around 50 seconds into this vid: https://youtu.be/N50XnT9206w?si=kT8BaZjIWIHurTcI Mysterious Cities of Gold – The follow-up from the producers of Ulysses 31, with a theme song sung for months in playgrounds across the nation. From about 40 seconds into this vid: https://youtu.be/aw2bE3axkwU?si=LKyj29npqi9wahqh There are videos on YouTube of a young Philip Schofield singing both the Ulysses and Cities of Gold themes with Gordon the Gopher in the BBC Broom Cupboard. I found those extremely heartwarming until a couple of years ago, but they offer a rather different viewing experience these days…
Just saw the Family Ness thumbnail in your pic - good ol’ BBC repeats!
Ohhhhhh my fucking god this is such a good idea I could cry. I’ll see you there. Fireman Sam is THE best kids TV theme there is. Just listen to it, for fuck sake it’s insane. Did you ever watch Spider? I see it on the little images on your thumbnail. The songs on there are actually beautiful for a kids show.
Gargoyles ?
Arthur has to be god tier!
Did you ever see Reboot? That super early but out-there 3D kids show about “The Net”. https://youtu.be/fuEJWmxWkKw Or The Hurricanes? That show about a crime fighting football team lol https://youtu.be/56ofjCI7QmA (Also shoutout here to my wife Cilla who you helped find her mum on geodetective, thanks so much, we both love the channel and plan some of our weekends around straight lines and tenners in pockets)
Aaaah Reboot was mind-blowing back in the day. And its theme is in an odd time signature - 5/4! Thanks for getting Hurricanes back in my head... It's been a couple of decades since that little gem of a song had a place in my mind!
Some absolute bangers there. No power rangers? Or am I just missing it.
Roobarb: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SR_mFRE6qKc
Never actually watched an episode but the theme song from Maid Marian and her Merry Men still comes into my head occasionally. Something good must have been on after it. https://youtu.be/CY7UifBHaGc?si=eoQI2H9sV7Og8CxJ
Can't go wrong with "Fat Albert show". Un-PC named vehicle of a canceled character. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r87cIxZXEME
I made a YouTube video with a bunch of my favourites. Feel free to nick any from my list (almost certainly duplicates so apologies in advance from the paste of my YouTube timestamps!) 0:00 CBBC Ident 0:06 Playdays 0:42 Family Ness 1:19 Penny Crayon 2:05 CITV Ident 2:10 TUGS 3:10 Budgie The Little Helicopter 4:11 Sooty & Co 4:43 Jimbo & The Jet Set 5:28 Poddington Peas 6:01 Stoppit & Tidyup 6:58 Superted 7:45 Rosie & Jim 8:43 Fireman Sam 9:50 Oakie Doke 10:29 Brum 11:35 Thomas The Tank Engine & Friends 12:05 The Animals of Farthing Wood 12:49 Bodger & Badger 13:23 ZZZap! 14:00 Fun House 14:43 SMart 15:10 Art Attack 15:45 Finders Keepers 16:22 Mike and Angelo 16:53 Woof! 18:08 ChuckleVision 18:40 The Queen's Nose 19:05 Why Don't You? 19:22 How 2 20:02 Bad Influence 20:26 GamesMaster 20:56 CBBC Ident 21:02 Newsround 21:29 Blue Peter 21:59 Byker Grove 21:26 Grange Hill 23:02 Live & Kicking 23:29 Diggit 23:50 CITV Ident 24:00 SM:TV Live
Link not showing for me?
As a Swede born in '92 I recognized 10 of these, not that bad tbh
Also oakie doke that weird little acorn fella, terrible show great tune
Great looking list so far, can I suggest Bertha?
And raggy dolls?
Think it was more my younger brother and sisters era but the mona the vampire tune was great
Just saw round the twist. Forgot about that show. Love the song so much. Rugrats my fav of those though
And Inspector Gadget
🎶McToot blows on his bagpipes…
What year were you born?
1990
Raggy Dolls needs to be on there. Banger of a tune
Will TMNT be the shit uk version? I was appalled as a young child moving to England-don't make me relive that!
Don't remember any British version, always seemed American to me!
I thought it was a singalong at first.
Can't think of a better way to use your platform mate. This is A+ content!
Same goes for The Renford Rejects
If Poddington Peas isn’t on there, I’m not watching another video.
Oh they're on there Mike and they'll score highly
Are the Poddington Peas and Trap Door too 80’s?? Surely they got some early 90’s airplay
Don't remember trap door!
If Okie Doke is any less than S tier I’m unsubbing 😤
you're going nowhere then
If you watch TikTok have you seen the guy that has started doing all the popular theme tunes on guitar it’s so good. Look forward to this video 😀👍
Considering subscribing for this. But will immediately revert if Round the Twist is not masterpiece tier
I'll save you the $4 now. Nah it'll be up there, can't promise masterpiece tier though
To be added: -The Moomins -Superted -Blue peter -Animals of farthing wood -Inspector gadget