How to write a TV theme tune - BBC Newsnight
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- Опубліковано 1 вер 2019
- How do you write music for a story that changes every day?
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George Fenton has composed for numerous BBC news programmes and ahead of Newsnight’s 40th birthday he let us into his studio to explain how you write the ultimate television theme tune.
Newsnight is the BBC's flagship news and current affairs TV programme - with analysis, debate, exclusives, and robust interviews.
Website: www.bbc.co.uk/newsnight
Twitter: / bbcnewsnight
Facebook: / bbcnewsnight
1:34 My favorite news theme ever.
1988
It was used in 80's and 90's. Is a superb piece. Wished they still used it sometimes, maybe for 10PM news
@DoubleDS9 agreed
IT IS SUPERB
Same. Superior to the shite they use today. For me it sounds very British.
I am absolutely overwhelmed with this. I never knew that one man wrote all those BBC News themes. They are so incredibly powerful and noble. I can't express how impressive his composing is. I remember these pieces of music from when I was very young. I'd also love to know who created the visuals for the introductions. They need to commission Mr Fenton again and ditch the drumming and bleeps that they currently use. The Bergerac theme is cool as too. The bass and percussion!!
Amazing composer! The 9 o'clock News theme is just brilliant. It's also fascinating to know that he has scored many a Hollywood film including Groundhog Day and You've Got Mail, two of my favourite films!
Had no idea the same person had written all those iconic themes. His BBC news theme (particularly the first version of it) is the greatest news theme of all time, IMHO
Very good point. I did know, but sadly with his news themes, he never gets an on screen credit.
You may be referring to the 1988 one, the one that is very MARTIAL!
1:34 Stationed at RAF Welford June 1991 - Jan 1993. This theme blew me away. I'd try to hear it every evening. Scary powerful, so dramatic. And the graphics hearken back to an earlier era. Unforgettable.
"compressing it all into 9 seconds" - that says it all - George Fenton, another genius along with David Lowe and Alan Hawshaw. To think that most modern TV has done away with theme tunes...
Indeed, we live in the world where Tv themes have been replaced by 'sound' rather than music per say. Inane Marc Sylvan type 'sound' is what producers want now.
@@Clavinovaman I don't mind that, but what really gets me is BBC using about 10 variants of one news theme.
The 90s 9 'o clock news theme was unbeatable. I also like George's work for KPM. 'Computer Crime' for example.
A great composer - George Fenton. I didn't realise he'd done sooo many of the news programme themes!
Love the dramatic tune from the 9 o'clock news
Fenton is a legend. Bergerac - one of the greatest tv themes ever.
Agreed. But was rearranged later in the shows run, which didn't have quite the same appeal.
@@Clavinovaman Very true. The original (with Jack Emblow on the accordion, afaik) is definitely the best.
The one that sounds like Thor throwing thunderbolts, the 1988 bbc news theme is my favourite! A master at work.
1:33 is still one of my all time favourites, the percussion hits in the first half of the theme reminded me of a heartbeat to add to the feeling of 'immediacy' he mentions in this video. Either that was intentional, or I'm thinking too much into it 😂
Is awesome
1990's BBC News Theme were utterly bombastic and powerful!
This man has wrote so many themes to the history of television he is a genius. My favourite of all time is BBC Breakfast from the early beginnings it was almost like the tv was waking up. Thank you so much Mr Fenton
Somewhere there is a daytime TV schools programme where he talks about where he started out by writing for plays at college and then approaching local amateur theatre companies and then is given a task to write a song around a single line of music. A most interesting man.
9oclock news at 1:33 still gives me goosebumps
From 1988, remixed in 1991 in parts.
its awesome
George also wrote the PM theme used from 1988-1997 for Radio 4. It reappeared on Leap Day 2016, along with calls for it to be reinstated.
Thank you very much indeed for sharing the behind the music story.
I love this piece. It kind of rounds off the day.
Cheers for this guys awesome.
Extraordinary talent
George & David, the Goat in BBC news composition. Fantastic 🎉🎉
Legendary George Fenton
George's music is lit 💪😎...The A major phrasing and the calypso feel on "On the Record " , memories ...
Fenton's score for the 1984 film 'Company of wolves' is a masterpiece.
Initially George Fenton did a demo track for the editor of Newsnight in 1982, subsequently he was commissioned to produce 5 tracks, there have been six versions preceding this 2019 version, which in my opinion was too fast and now running out steam on previous versions. 1993 was my favourite. The 1986 version was as fast as the 2019 version.
1982 - 1986 original version
1986 - 1993
1993 - 1998
1998 - 2006
2006 - 2010
2010 - 2019
2019 -
They should have kept the 1993 theme. That was the best one up there with the 2006 version.
Longer History, More Serious but More Vibrant than David Lowe's theme, I prefer NewsNight as my personal favourite - You know it will be something serious when you hear it (not an ordinary news bulletin). Look forward to 28 January 2020 - 40th Anniversary for NewsNight.
Can't help but will say "Good Evening" every time after the tune ends. The most standard way to pronounce these two words.
Absolute legend 😊 so many theme tunes wow
Not enough current affairs
Awesome
I'm a huge fan of Mr Fenton (particularly his Alan Bennett connections!) But sorry that there are so many 'Kindovs/Sortovs'! ("A Kindov like a flash; Sortov like as it were; Kindov Rock; Kindov moves; Kindov give; Kindov sense; Sortov trippy; Sortov evoke; Kindov a gumshoe; Kindov image; kindov down at heel") Kindov interesting!
They should collaborate with David Lowe and make a Fusion of Past and Present BBC News Themes
One of the most talented composers. Super chap. Like the update of the theme, but the new logo is naff - looks like a neon sign from a dodgy nightclub or 'British Rail meets Newsround'. Pity the Producer who has an ear for music doesn't have an eye for a good brand.
_Now lets have a full programme about George's music..._
i highly disagree.
Me too about the new arrangement, as time for a change with a new sense of direction, how many times can we reinvent the wheel....
Think this new arrangement, now time for a change with a new sense of direction, how many times can we reinvent the wheel....
One of the best news themes I've ever heard, same with the themes from the 90s (my early childhood). Great work, George! 👍
Which one?.
Yes, Newsnight and Channel 4 News (Alan Hawshaw) are the best news themes. David Lowe's current BBC News music has long outlived its welcome.
@@jacksugden8190 1993-1997
@@AndrewHsieh96 What do you mean please?.
wow like the new newsnight branding it needed an update tbh, I'm a big theme tune nerd haha
12 versions so far since 1981. Latest was in 2010.
Shorter is always more difficult. It's true in any media, writing, music, video...
The theme for the Tom Bell series Out was fantastic.
Howard Goodalls red dwarf them kicks ass too
Newsnight sounds like a Thomas Tallis Medieval madrigal at first ...
And now I press the replay icon...
The theme is the only good thing about Newsnight since Jeremy Paxman left.
Great to see papaer & pencil instead of Sibelius.
Bergerac!
Interesting
Newsnight. Don't fix it if it ain't broken.
Make a documentary about or interview Danny Elfman, the greatest theme composer in history.
Anyone know the notes for the nine o’clock news?
Wow, this guy is a genius. Love the BBC News theme for the past 20 years. One of the best is 1980’s BBC Breakfast News intro.
Hellowfrommexico
As long overdue new management is ushered into the BBC, please please please can the new Director-General recommission George Fenton to replace the utter banal dross of a so-called theme tune that has plagued the BBC news output since around 1997.
The news theme tunes of the 1980s from 1:16 to 1:42 still send me into goosebumps. Strong, impactful melodies that accurately convey the drama and reality of a news broadcast. The One O’Clock and Six O’Clock news themes from that era are particularly excellent. Much much more please of that genre!
What an achievement: to create memorable, attention-grabbing news themes that are stand out on their own.
Now submitting #CIAFF2020 peace and love ❤️ Colorado Intl. Activism Film Festival #Denver
When the BBC was the trusted source of non-sensationalist real journalism until John (Lord!) Birt came in under Thatcher and ruined it by introducing the internal market, which over 30 years turned the BBC into a strange organisation. Now BBC News is full of a very odd minority demographic of activists which is why the news bears little resemblance to most of the audience's real existence.
Fenton' 1984 Six O'Clock news theme was epic and signified that the REAL news was coming in. I did my work experience at the BBC in November 1988 and remember sitting in the viewing gallery above the Six O'Clock news studio going live and when the countdown starts and you were sat above the set and you heard the first few bars of the theme, it really was very exciting.
His 1988 9'O Clock News theme was the second epic one to my mind. Hearing the Berlin Wall coming down with its underscore were defining moments in life:
tvark.org/?page=media&mediaid=123658
MUG MUG MUGS
Does he get paid every time it's used? That's the key question. 🙂
Yes, all composers receive a royalty each time their music is broadcast, even if for a few seconds. Meaning in the 1980s and 90s, Mr Fenton would have done very well indeed as his music virtually wall-papered the TV schedules.
am i the only non-british 15 year old? all i see are rambling british boomers just non-stop talking about the past. calm tf down.