Are the HiT Themes THAT Bad? | Thomas and Friends
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- Опубліковано 29 вер 2024
- Is the HiT era's music truly worse than the classic era's? Let's pit them against each other to find out!
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📝 Show Notes:
Oliver11GWR (A lot of the instrumentals came from this channel)
• / oliver11gwr
"Percy's Chocolate Crunch • Stereo Instrumental" by Oliver11GWR
• • Percy's Chocolate Crash
"Thomas' S8-12 Theme [Full HQ Stereo) [50p]" by Oliver11GWR
• • Thomas' S8-12 Theme [H...
"Henry's Theme (S3 & S4 Remastered) by Mavis M
• • Henry's Theme (S3 & S4...
"Henry's Theme Season 8" by Reilly Cornwall's Orchestral Orchestra
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"Gordon the Big Express Engine's Theme (Series 3)" by S.A. Music
• • Gordon the Big Express...
"James The Red Engine's Theme (Series 2 - Extended) by S.A. Music
• • Video
"Percy the Small Engine's Theme (Series 1)" by S.A. Music
• • Percy the Small Engine...
"Toby the Tram Engine's Theme (Series 1)" by S.A. Music
• • Toby the Tram Engine's...
"Emily's Theme" by Mavis M
• • Emily's Theme
ThomasSeby MG
• / thomassebymg
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ThomasFan2016
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Shunting Yard Studios
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Credits:
🎵 Music 🎵
/0:00-2:15, 27:57-29:03 (Intro & Outro)
"Night Train - Sing-Along Instrumental" by Mavis M
• • Night Train - Sing-Alo...
/2:17-6:28 (Thomas' BGM)
"Returning Home: B-Side Mix" by S.A. Music
• • Returning Home: B-Side...
/6:29- 8:46 (Edward's BGM)
"Cosmic Highway: Extended Cut" by S.A. Music
• • Cosmic Highway: Extend...
/8:48-11:42 (Henry's BGM)
"Moonlight City ムーンライトシティ" by S.A. Music
• • Moonlight City ムーンライトシ...
/11:42-14:25 (Gordon's BGM)
"Starlight Journey: Remastered" by S.A. Music
• • Starlight Journey: Rem...
/14:27- 18:10 (James' BGM)
"Coconut Paradise" by S.A. Music
• • Coconut Paradise - An ...
/18:10-21:00 (Percy's BGM)
"Cityline Cruiser" by S.A. Music
• • Cityline Cruiser - An ...
/21:02-24:07 (Toby's BGM)
"Scarlett Avenue" by S.A. Music
• • Scarlett Avenue - An S...
/24:08-27:55 (Emily's BGM)
"Summertime: Remastered" by S.A. Music
• • Summertime: Remastered...
🎥 Footage 🎥
Junction Malfunction Podcast
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• All Audio and footage used from the Thomas and Friends TV Series
is Copyrighted to Mattel, Inc.
• This video is made for a general audience.
Timecodes:
0:00 Intro
2:15 Thomas
6:29 Edward
8:48 Henry
11:42 Gordon
14:27 James
18:10 Percy
21:01 Toby
24:08 Emily
27:56 Outro
For me, I would never call the Hit era music bad, I just prefer the classic ones
Me too
There are some really good HiT music tracks especially the character themes from Season 8-12
AGREED
They got creative with both eras
SAME! 😊FINALLY SOMEONE WITH A BRAIN!
For me, I enjoy and appreciate the Hit Era Music just as much as the classic ones, if not even more. The Hit Era Music is absolutely hated on too much more than it deserves, I don't mind the Tubas, Violins and all of the excuses people make up to dislike the themes from Season 8-12 just because they're so attached to the classic ones. The Classic Themes were more groovy and active, which is fitting to the Classic Era as a whole being a little bit chaotic and productive, and it's the most memorable and iconic ones. The Hit Themes were more calm, relaxing, chill, and peaceful, which really fits the description of the Hit Era which actually makes me wanna sit down and watch the hit seasons because of how much it makes me feel comfortable with it's simplistic music, themes and stories, I still agree that the Stories from the Hit Era has been toned and calmed down a bit, but I am not complaining though, I appreciate that it has because I'm actually getting tired with how chaotic the episodes has been getting in the latest classic episodes. Tbh, I actually enjoyed the Hit Era's Themes more than the Classic Ones even though I loved both equally, just because the Tuba is overused in the Hit Music, doesn't make it worse, in fact I could say the same thing with Classic Themes with its overused Train Sounds Instrument that everyone always hears in the iconic Thomas Intro from the classic season, but it doesn't make it bad, it actually fits, just like the music from the Hit Era, and it's actually nice to hear some musical change in the show with more Orchestral Instruments like the Tuba, Trumpet, Violin, and even the Flute. Either way, both the Classic and Hit Era Music has some pretty catchy melodies that makes me easily remember and vibe with the themes, and at least with the Hit Era, it still has given each of the steam engines their own themes like the classic did, and unlike the CGI and onwards, none of the the engines had any themes of their own anymore, and I couldn't enjoy the CGI Era as much as the Model Eras. The Theme Songs is one of the things the made the show so memorable and iconic, not just the seasons and its stories. It just isn't the same without the theme songs from both the Classic and Hit Era.
Also, I don't care if this is too much for you to read, I swear I didn't mean to say this much, ok? This is just my defense for the Hit Era and what thoughts and feelings including opinions that I wanted to express about it.
For me, I would never call the Hit era music bad, I just prefer the classic ones
14:48 James had 2 variations, yes, but It was his triumphant theme and jazzy theme. The variation of James's theme you mentioned second was the same one as the first you mentioned. James's jazzy theme was more upbeat.
Toby's season 1 theme is a straight up banger.
23 years later it still plays in my head when I walk anywhere.
HELL YEAH
I think the main issue a lot of people have with the Hit Era was the overuse of Tubas making a lot of the tracks sound similar. But like, a lot of the model series was composed on a synthesizer too. (I always had a soft spot for season eight onwards though, since I grew up with that era of the show.) But I'll always prefer Mike and Junior's themes for the characters, cause they're the most nostalgic to me. Only topped by Hummie Mann's orchestral score in TATMR, imo.
OMG the "tubas" in the HIT era were absolutely awful! I hated the narrow gauge theme. The bland music combined with the absolutely sterile scenery made the narrow gauge eps quite soporific
@@carminaburanafan ironically the hit era rebrand released close to the gen 3 pokemon gba game pokemon emerald and those used a heavy amount of trumpets.
Seems the mid 2000s were a funny time for trumpets and tubes in select popular media
@@Thomasmemoryscentral There was an odd push for brass immediately post-Y2K, wasn't there? Makes me wonder if there's a connection or it's just a weird coincidence...
The difference is that the synths were varied and because of technological and budget limitations, the instruments all stood out and if they were live orchestrated would’ve been peak
I think the Season 1 Jazz variant beats the HIT era one. The one you be compared to was an expansion of an incidental theme from Break Van.
That’s exactly what I said. James’ HIT theme IS one of if not the best HIT theme, but he compared it to the most boring version of the classic theme which isn’t really his main theme but his slower “triumphant” variant.
I actually like the hit era’s themes they felt nice to me
No hate to the classic themes ofc
I love the Hit Era. So nostalgic to me.
Dumb
The HiT music isn't bad and I got a few favorites from that era. HOWEVER.
...when you're accustomed to the absolute magnificence and sonic beauty that Mike and Junior whipped up for the classic era, the HiT era music is such a downgrade. Even feeling that way, you can still find some enjoyment in it.
I think the reason the show changed orchestrators was because they thought listening to the same music over and over again was boring and they thought people would begin to lose interest so they decided to make new music to change things up.
The classic era was gold yes
But some HIT era songs have some silver and maybe some bronze here and there
But I love ode to Gordon
I love patience
I love calling all engines
Same
I have to agree, going back and watching some of the Hit era episodes recently I very much enjoyed a lot of themes but I think they get so overshadowed because of the episodes they are attached to.
Thomas: Both
Edward: Both (but leaning more towards Original)
Henry: *Original*
Gordon: Both (but leaning more towards Original)
James: Both
Percy: Both
Toby: *Original*
Emily: *HiT*
Thomas: classic.
Edward: hit
Henry: classic
Gordon: both
James: classic
Percy: both
Toby: both
Emily: Hit
I totally agree with you
Emily’s hit theme I do agree is better
I agree with you
The music from the Hit-Era (Along with the TATMR music) is so overhated and underrated!
It is featured in half hour blocks of Thomas airings specifically in the US on the educational channel PBS Kids
There was the spooky music and chase soundtrack from the eighth series episode Halloween and those were actually really good.
TATMAR music I think everyone loves
Emily’s Season 8 theme actually sounded better than their season 7 theme. I kinda found her season 7 theme to be a little sappy. Only if her Season 8 theme was used in Season 7, in the style of Classic era.
Emily's theme also kind of includes the busy theme from season 1 lol
While I adore some of his CGI era work, Hartshorne's Model Era work never really meshed with me. It often feels too slow, the composition tends to be aimless with no clear direction or structure, like the auditory equivalent of tiptoeing around eggshells, and anytime there's brass it sounds flat at best and like flatulence at worst. Even if he can produce a good theme, the character it's ascribed to is often so out of character it doesn't even fit them outside the context of that era or, depending on the episode, might not even suit their characterization or actions in that same episode.
I'm glad he gradually worked the bugs out by the CGI series though. Themes like Toby and Bash, Wayward Winston, Henry's Hero or his The Adventure Begins reworks of the O'Donnell and Campbell compositions are some of his best work.
I'm sorry, but the HIT-era themes just sound so bland and generic to me, like they could've come from any other show at the time they came out.
I don't mind it for the most part, but I genuinely don't understand why they changed the intro music. The opening music was so iconic and I really don't understand why they chose to change it.
I do miss the character themes, especially Gordon's theme
There are definitely certain music pieces in the HIT era that are much better than their classic counterparts. Emily's theme in the HIT era in particular is so much better in my opinion. The one in season 7 wasn't bad by any means, but the ones in season 8 through 12 just has so much more character to it.
Another to point out is the theme used for danger or suspense. I love the runway theme as much as the next guy, but that one theme from Thomas's New Trucks is fantastic. It really gets your heart pumping and puts you on the edge of your seat.
I think it also helps that Emily herself just had so much more character in S8-12. Plus her classic theme was only around for one season so didn't have the opportunity to become as nostalgic as the others. It's a nice theme and it suits Emily's initial 'sweet mom friend' vibe well, but nowadays it's near impossible to associate it with her. Not only is Emily's Hit era theme one of the just nicest pieces of music of that era, but I also think it matches perfectly the kind of character she eventually became, especially in that era = kind and sweet yes, but also with an air of arrogance and (admittedly usually somewhat justified) sense of importance.
I love the runaway theme but personally I choose the season 5 remix in terms of the classic series as my favourite rendition
I'll always have a preference for Edward's classic theme. He's always been one of my most favourite characters, and classic era treats him so greatly. But the HiT theme for Edward is definitely one I enjoy more than most HiT music
The characters in hit enteirnament ar better but classic themes are the best
HiT music gets overhated, just like everything else HiT era related. I personally think HiT had the best engine themes and music. Surprises and Determination are beyond amazing.
I like the hit era themes
Me too.
I prefer hit era music to be honest
I kinda like the Hit Entertainment era themes but the classic era Mike & Junior themes are the superior and definitive themes
James’ Hit Era theme has always been my favorite out of the other character themes.
The Tuba gets too much in the HiT era.
Aggreed.. to much violin,flute, and tuba. But, it's ok I guess
For the narrow gauge engines especially yes
While nothing quite tops the classics for me, I do like several of the Hartshorne themes from this era. I think Thomas and Gordon's themes are easily the best it had to offer, and Percy's is pretty good as well. I also think the Skarloey Hit Era theme perfectly suites the RWS book New Little Engine.
For how boring it was I suppose
@@Playeraazul precisely
Emily's S7 theme is fine, but I've got a lot more nostalgia for Emily's 8-12 theme. It generally feels a lot more focused. 8-12 FEELS like Emily, y'know?
I'd say most of the bad music came from when they were still using models, I don't think they're as bad as people make them out to be, but most of them are pretty forgettable. The switch to full CGI is when the HiT eras music was at it's best (if you count the Sharon Miller era as part of the HiT era). This is if we're only taking music into consideration, and not songs, because the songs that were made while they still used models were almost always superior. Of course, when it comes to both music and songs, not a single era of the show can compete with the classic era.
I agree with everything you said
Hit era styled season 6 is SO FRICKING CURSED
For me tbh
The season 8 - 12 sounds more like video game soundracks
Thomas one sounds like loading screen
most HiT era themes, ESPECIALLY emily and edaward's themes are sooo under rated
My favourite theme of the HiT era was Thomas' Branchline theme and is the one that gets stuck in my head the most. Not as catchy and bouncy as the original, but it gives me a happy feeling and is still quite a nice simple tune
I also love Gordon's HiT era theme as it works really well in the context of Gordon. May not be the best theme out there, but it definitely sounds very big, very grand and very proud. Much like Gordon!
Ngl the point switching sound effect in Gordon’s hit theme is addictive
You can just tell Robert had a good time composing for the HiT Era, Was just trying things to see what stuck, Which is debatable at times, Nonetheless, Nostalgia hits like a truck
Well you deserve a sub and I think some people should encorperate some of Robert's music into there own compositions.
I Guess it depends on which era of Thomas you grew up I'm from the classic seasons 1-5 and all the classic music I just happened to see this video while I was listening to the Viaduct theme from season 2 but the hit music is fine just not my happy place.
The reason why Thomas’ theme in the classic era is because in season 3 - 7 they used different instruments compared to season 1 and 2
Thomas and Friends HiT themes are not that bad. It’s just the classic model series ones that hit hard
I honestly like the hit era themes better but classic themes are as good as the hit era themes
hit entertainment had a strange obsession with brass music
As for me, I think the Hit-Era music sounds too much like Leapfrog music compared with the Classic Series music. Coincidentally, there have been a number of Thomas Leapfrogs, so it's not surprising. I kinda find Percy's theme a bit too much like a lullaby rendition of Indiana Jones' theme
Haha I agree about Indiana Jones' theme. It also sounds like a lullaby version of Oliver's theme. Henry's theme kinda reminds me of the CHristmas song It Came Upon a Midnight Clear.
Hit music is good but does not fit the overall theme of a train show. Where they work. more of a medieval theme for hit.
One sentence... Too much tuba.
Don't hate HiT Era music but with all that tuba it makes each theme less distinct.
James's series 8 theme sounds a bit like the Reds vs blues theme.
How about the nitrogen era themes
.
I don’t hate the Hit era music… it’s just… not good… not as lively… even in Seasons 3-7, the soundtracks did mellow out as the show went on, but they still had that feel. A pep in their step if you will.
I don’t think they’re too bad, but the classic series music shows how two heads are better than one.
Nice to see some love given to the HiT era themes - I know the music as a whole was a downgrade from the classic series but I do feel the character themes are the best pieces of music in that era. Something else I noticed, to give credit to the HiT era's themes is across the board even when the music was better in the classic series, the HiT era themes still sounded more true to the characters, The classic themes, though that may just be because by the time of the HiT era these were pretty well defined character's - I think James, Edward, Gordon and Emily's themes all suit their character more than the classic themes, even if I do like Edward and Gordon's original themes more.
Nice to see some more love for James' S8 theme though - it's proud and grandiose but also energetic and fun with an air of dogged determination - I love how it encompasses his positive aspects rather than negative ones, and Emily's HiT theme I just find really nice and mellow, but also has this air of self importance and confidence that suits her perfectly (plus it's kinda hard to have a nostalgic attatchment to Emily's barely existent S7 theme). For the most part I do prefer the classic era as pieces of music and themes, but I think the HiT era does a better job at capturing the essense of the characters, and I genuinely think James and Emily's HiT themes are criminally underrated, and even better than their original themes.
A good video. Shedding light on some of the HiT themes.
Shame you didnt include Donald and Douglas's theme
That's because they didn't have a HiT era theme
@@STA4UA-cam They did, it appeared in the US version of Season 6 (i think) and 7
@@Nicolas-zw5ex Oh.
Sorry if I didn't know anything about that, I'm from the UK so I don't really watch a lot of US TTTE material
Edward's Theme looks good.
Thomas: Classic
Edward: Classic
Henry: *CLASSIC*
Gordon: Both
James: HiT
Percy: Both (Slightly leaning towards Classic)
Toby: *CLASSIC*
Emily: *HiT*
Engine Roll Call sounds like it was composed by a two years old boy!
I definitely prefer the classic themes.
Same for me mostly
I prefer the hit era music it just sounds so good. But i do love tge s1 and 2 soundtrack. But like in things like the great discovery the Hartshorne music is just amazing.
I love Emily's season 7 theme and it fits her season 7 persona.
The season 8 theme is okay, but it doesn't fit the HiT era Emily who is pretty rude and selfish.
I don’t hate the hit era (That’s my opinion)
I don't hate the HiT-Era either.
@@stuartbarclay7940 Me neither
The Hit music is ok but its just the Stories from 8 to 16 which season 10 had the worst of all (not the themes for Edward but How Edward Strikes Out is played of the story is ABSOLUTELY OUTRAGEOUS!!!!!!!!)
Twight is more powerful then straight she was holding back
Aren't there ways to merge both characters' themes into ONE big theme?
Toby's series 5 theme (mixed with Oliver's theme)
I love James's theme song in the series 1 episode James and the troublesome trucks.
I really like Mike and Junior's music and it's memorable. When Robert Hartshorne took over his music is fine, and he has good character themes which I do like, but they are a hit and miss.
I personally liked hearthshorne's music, but the classic themes tend to be more varied and come out on top.
I wonder if the newer characters should have Classic Themes.
What I found as a consistent in the Classic era, was the music had a rhythmic, almost mechanical, backing beat to them, since they are to portray Machines, and that's why I do prefer them to the HIT era.
Hit era music isn't bad, but I dont remember it at all, unlike the classic series where almost every song seems to be distinct and very memorable.
While I do prefer the classic themes, my favourite theme ever is Percy’s Hit theme
The HiT era Thomas theme is good but not as iconic as that of the classic series
To me I prefer Gordon’s hit era theme more than his classic theme. It sounds more grand.
I really love seasons 8-12 Thomas’ theme❤️
thats james classic traveling theme not his main theme
I’m down for either theme, in my opinion, James’ hit theme is better than his original one
Henrys theme hits hard as hell in the original seasons (specifically season one and two)
hit era music aint bad but it does not match classic series
James has grumpy theme and a happy theme
Who the fudge made the hit era music
Not at all
Yes
14:28 song?
5:19 i recently rewatched the great discovery and was literally just thinking this!! definitely my favorite use of thomas’ hit theme in the series by a mile, it feels so triumphant and fits the scene perfectly
(edit) 17:36 I’VE ALSO ALWAYS THOUGHT THIS EXACT SAME THING!!!!!
Thomas: Classic
Edward: Classic
Henry: Classic
Gordon: Classic
James: Classic
Percy: Classic
Toby: Classic
Emily: I really don't know, both are similar and quite good. I say the HiT theme sounds better but Emily is more suited to her classic theme. Classic
Percy season eight theme kind of reminds me of Oliver’s theme
Do salty diesel and Mavis if they had one from season 8-12.
Duck Oliver and Donald Douglas should of gotten one.
My guess is that Mike & Junior's themes are more popular to recreate because the instruments (Jupiter/Proteus) are readily available on top of being more recognizable and nostalgic.
Honestly I think the biggest issue with Hartshorne's HIT era music was the instrumentation, as some people have pointed out. The instruments don't fit the engines.
Let's take thomas' theme. Why is the melody being played on a lonely clarinet and backed by a clumsy piano? Many themes are just so empty. Classic Thomas' theme in all it's variants has had strings chugging in the backing or playing the main theme , with playful flutes.
HIT Thomas' theme sounds like a secondary character. It kinda fits Percy more than Thomas to be honest.
I should disclaimer though, I grew up with season 4 Thomas, so obviously the HIT era is very foreign to me. But if you hear fan classic remixes of the HIT era themes you'l see what I mean.
I also don't blame the composer. The show was having a huge, sudden reworking and I imagine he was just thrown in there as a replacement, unlike the classic composers who were there when the show was created. Besides, the music got way better much later on (interestingly when the writing did)
Remember there's also the Alec Baldwin version for that scene tho
My favorite hit era songs Surprises , world around you , ode of Gordon , brave , buffer up and share , strength
Wouldn't say they are bad but I Can only Remember thomas season 8 theme fully and the Crash theme I believe(If it is called like that) But everything else I forgot, when it comes to classic theme I remember almost every single one of them even tho I grow up 50% With Classic and hit era(Born 2005).
I actually prefer the hit era Emily theme it just sounds better
To me the music in Thomas is comparing Spider-Man movie or tv soundtracks.
Wait wait wait. When did that Edward episode from season 6 get a dubbing using the narrator from the US hit era?
I love how James' Hit theme starts with a fart
i grew up with this so to me hit era music is my shit
Coming from a someone who does music theory on the side, there was definitely a lot of good points you made, considering you stated at the beginning that you have no knowledge of music.
There's a lot of thing I can say about some characters themes you mentioned that are a bit off the mark, but I'll boil it down to the two that I found that you completely missed:
James: He actually does have more variants to his theme in Mike and Junior's tenure: His triumphant theme, which became his normal theme from season 3 onwards, and his fire theme from season 5, to name a few. I would choose Mike and Junior's theme for James, and specifically the jazz variant, over Robert's version simply because the original theme shows the kind of upbeat and snobby type of engine that James is. Also, saying that the triumphant and jazz themes are the exact same is like saying Henry and the flying kipper are the exact same; Yes they have the same melodic notation, but the variants are shown completely differently, especially with context. Speaking of which,
Henry: specifically his Hit theme. I listened to it through this video for the first time, and it actually does fit Henry's character thanks to the Bassoon followed by the Oboe. If anything, I think Robert should've stuck to woodwinds and replace the strings with Saxes in the second section. Granted, I'll always prefer Mike and Junior's theme over Robert's, but Robert's theme for Henry is actually really good for him, and fits him perfectly.
But overall, I do agree that some of the Hit era themes are underutilised, Rosie and Molly's themes especially, and feel like some of them should get some recognition aside from some of the songs that were made.
Gonna be honest,all the hit era music sound the same to me,maybe bcuz of the constant tuba?it doesn't really help that the tuba makes it feel too bittersweat