Old No7 Posted July 28, 2021 Share Posted July 28, 2021 OK, let's have some fun with this............ I'm planning to put together a medley or add to my repertoire a group of movie themes (for piano) for friends & family, or for when traveling and there's a convenient piano at the hotel lobby or airport. I'm aiming for the more popular or up tempo tunes, and trying to avoid the main themes or songs from "Titanic", "The Godfather" or "Frozen" (although my granddaughter might override me on that) and others like that. So far, my short list includes, in random order: * "He's a Pirate" (attempting Jarrod Radnich's version) * "Star Wars" (main theme and imperial march) * "James Bond" (main theme) * "Game of Thrones" (main theme) * "Exorcist" (Tubular Bells, intro plus) * "Jaws" (why not, easy to do, everyone knows it) * "Axel F" (Beverly Hills Cop) * "Mission Impossible" * "Harry Potter" (Hedwig's theme) I'm also considering adding "Danger Zone" from Top Gun, now that Top Gun/Maverick will be coming out "soon" (??), if I can make it sound decent on a piano, but I like the Anthem (intro music) a lot too. Everyone has different tastes and movie likes or dislikes, but what would you add to the list? Old No7 Quote Yamaha MODX6 * Hammond SK Pro 73 * Roland Fantom-08 * Crumar Mojo Pedals * Mackie Thump 12As * Tascam DP-24SD * JBL 305 MkIIs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricBarker Posted July 28, 2021 Share Posted July 28, 2021 This is a little off the beaten path but fun as heck if you're playing for a bit more of a "cultured" crowd (raised pinky finger), but the old theme from Masterpiece Theater, which is an 18th century Rondeau. We used to play it for ContraDances, and it was a romping fun time! Some others: - Hawaii Five-O! - Peter Gunn - Star Trek: The Next Generation (after you've played the intro, this has the best combination of iconic + fun) - Indiana Jones - Also, can't go wrong with Zelda, if it's a GenX or younger crowd! Quote Puck Funk! Equipment: Laptop running lots of nerdy software, some keyboards, noise makersâ¦yada yada yadaâ¦maybe a cat? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Docbop Posted July 28, 2021 Share Posted July 28, 2021 Open Studio just did one of their live taping of their podcast on the TV theme topic. [video:youtube] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stokely Posted July 28, 2021 Share Posted July 28, 2021 My old band (from the late 80s) started our show with a rock version of the Jetson's theme song....when it came to the line "Jane, his wife!" we abruptly launched into Jane by Jefferson Starship Some of those old shows had great theme songs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Threadslayer Posted July 28, 2021 Share Posted July 28, 2021 Or you could try "Jane his wife" BGV: "Sweet Jane" "His boy Elroy" Quote Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect. -Mark Twain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rod S Posted July 28, 2021 Share Posted July 28, 2021 If there are kids listening, I'd put in a disney tune - you mentioned you didn't want Frozen, but I like to do "Let it Go" when there are young girls around, they go nuts. The older tunes get the adults excited too. The Lion King - "Can you feel the love tonight" is good too. Pinochio - When you wish upon a star. Some others I like Superman Jurassic Park (I want to say it's the main theme but I'm not sure, but there's one that is recognizable by most people and has a nice peaceful melody). Somewhere over the rainbow I'm not into video games, but somebody mentioned Zelda, there's probably others (Mario?). Quote Korg Kronos X73 / ARP Odyssey / Motif ES Rack / Roland D-05 / JP-08 / SE-05 / Jupiter Xm / Novation Mininova / NL2X / Waldorf Pulse II MBP-LOGIC American Deluxe P-Bass, Yamaha RBX760 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KuruPrionz Posted July 28, 2021 Share Posted July 28, 2021 The Batman television series them, Bonanza and we are learning Rawhide. Edited to add Secret Agent Man by Johnny Rivers, wasn't that used in the Matt Helm movies? Quote It took a chunk of my life to get here and I am still not sure where "here" is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djdisbro Posted July 28, 2021 Share Posted July 28, 2021 I used to play in a blues/swing band(bass) and we did a number we called "Spy Medley" where we segued Peter Gunn, Hawaii 50 and James Bond themes. We always wanted to add a fourth song and some of the top contenders were SWAT and Bat-Man. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobadohshe Posted July 28, 2021 Share Posted July 28, 2021 Kids will dig the Avengers theme from the MCU. Fun March to bang out with a cool modulation to the main theme. Quote Kawai C-60 Grand Piano : Hammond A-100 : Hammond SK2 : Yamaha CP4 : Yamaha Montage 7 : Moog Sub 37 My latest album: Funky organ, huge horn section https://bobbycressey.bandcamp.com/album/cali-native Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Threadslayer Posted July 28, 2021 Share Posted July 28, 2021 Edited to add Secret Agent Man by Johnny Rivers, wasn't that used in the Matt Helm movies? Don't know about that, but it was the theme song for the Secret Agent TV series with Patrick McGoohan back in the '60s Quote Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect. -Mark Twain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Docbop Posted July 28, 2021 Share Posted July 28, 2021 The show I Spy from 1965 was cool like a lot of those Jazzy big band themes then lots of drums and guitar chunking away. [video:youtube] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drawback Posted July 28, 2021 Share Posted July 28, 2021 We used to do Peter Gunn which really went over. Theme From Shaft Live And Let Die The Rockford Files The Sopranos Quote ____________________________________ Rod Here for the gear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill H. Posted July 29, 2021 Share Posted July 29, 2021 Kids will dig the Avengers theme from the MCU. Fun March to bang out with a cool modulation to the main theme. Not just kids. These are the most popular movies of today with everyone. I think a Marvel movie medley would be really cool. Here's an additional two more familiar ones - although they might lose a bit in translation to piano: The first 20 seconds of this one is played practically every time Cap steps onscreen - and he's been in what... three movies of his own, and three Avengers movies? The entire first minute is also played a lot. [video:youtube] This fanfare is played at the beginning of just about every Marvel movie made: [video:youtube] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CEB Posted July 29, 2021 Share Posted July 29, 2021 TV theme, not a movie but ... Area Jazz pianist plays the heck out of the theme to the Flintstones. Its very cool Quote "It doesn't have to be difficult to be cool" - Mitch Towne "A great musician can bring tears to your eyes!!! So can a auto Mechanic." - Stokes Hunt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonglow Posted July 29, 2021 Share Posted July 29, 2021 Theme from Mission Impossible, both movie and television, the latter of which those of us of a certain age can remember. I actually remember learning this tune when I was taking piano lessons in elementary school. Quote "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shamanczarek Posted July 29, 2021 Share Posted July 29, 2021 Theme from Exodus. One of my favorites to play on Piano. Piano duo Ferrante and Teicher had a number one hit with it in 1961. There is a transcription out there based on their version for one Piano. There are also some great orchestral versions, Henry Mancini's being my favorite. https://www.8notes.com/members/7408.asp Quote C3/122, M102A, Vox V301H, Farfisa Compact, Gibson G101, GEM P, RMI 300A, Piano Bass, Pianet , Prophet 5 rev. 2, Pro-One, Matrix 12, OB8, Korg MS20, Jupiter 6, Juno 60, PX-5S, Nord Stage 3 Compact Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lightbg Posted July 29, 2021 Share Posted July 29, 2021 One of the hippest jazz waltzes was penned by Lalo Schffrin. I did a big band arrangement for my college band. Quote 1967 B-3 w/(2) 122's, Nord C1w/Leslie 2101 top, Nord PedalKeys 27, Nord Electro 4D, IK B3X, QSC K12.2, Yamaha reface YC+CS+CP "It needs a Hammond" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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