I ran through the list of episodes and found that I had almost no memory of the theme music for most of the movies. I guess, being mostly low-budget affairs, the themes were forgettable, But I did come up with five that jumped out at me. I’m sure you guys will remember others I’ve overlooked.
Here’s my list:
• Episode 111- MOON ZERO TWO: The credits theme is full of insane brass and wild screaming. Great stuff.
• Episode 204- CATALINA CAPER: “Never Steal Anything Wet” sung by Motown great Mary Wells. Though this is not the catchiest tune.
• Episode 321- SANTA CLAUS CONQUERS THE MARTIANS: “Hurray for Santy Claus” A song guaranteed to get a theater full of sugared-up kids even more excited.
• Episode 508- OPERATION DOUBLE 007: “The Man for Me” song by an Ennio Morricone regular Khristy. Great additional lyrics by Joel and Bots, but already a bombastic wonder.
• Episode 601- GIRLS TOWN: “Girls Town Blues” sung by Paul and Mamie. Sets the tone for the zaniness to come.
Honorable mention: “Mah, mah, mah, mah, Mitchell” from episode 512- MITCHELL. Oh Hoyt, how could you!
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Weekend Discussion Thread: Most Memorable Movie Theme Songs73 Replies to “Weekend Discussion Thread: Most Memorable Movie Theme Songs”Commenting at Satellite News
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[209] ‘The Hellcats’ ‘Heh-eh-ell Cats- la la la la la lah’- sorry, forgot the rest. love the acid reverb-y guitar. let’s shoot up and frug!
[312] ‘Gamera Vs. Guiron’ does this one count? ‘Gam-er-a… Gam-er-aaa… Gamera is really neat- he is filled with turtle meat- we’ve been eating Gamera!’ it reaches out to you and ‘boo!’ it says.
[523] ‘Village of the Giants’ [instrumental at beginning, etc.] reverb-y acid guitars and slo-mo gigantic frugging this time. quite a groovy little tune.
[606] ‘The Creeping Terror’ I’m rather partial to the staccato, weirdly arranged opening theme. I love when Tom Servo says ‘I’m getting ready to get SO SCARED!!’ in a cute anticipatory voice while the drums rattle and the horns toot.
[1005] ‘The Bloodwaters of Dr. Z’ the incongruous moody folk song at the beginning is quite poignant in its way.
[1012] ‘Squirm’ Evil Little Kid Music as beginning credits roll. how well I remember this scary singing toddler genre from the 1970’s. a bit irritating, but far less annoying than the closing music, with the endless questions.
I think my Gamera entry is incorrect. apologies. my, but that’s a catchy little ditty!
Some of my favorite theme songs from MSTed movies:
#111 Moon Zero Two
[“Moooooon…Zero Twoooooooo…” Spacey theme for a spaced-out space flick]
#321 Santa Claus Conquers the Martians
[“S-A-N-T-A C-L-A-U-S, Hooray for Santy Claus” The kids had a ball with this one, but “Santy??”]
#508 Operation Double 007
[“HEEEEEEEEEEEEE..” All I have to say for the singer is SHEEEEEEEEEE’s got a voice that’s like dynamite!]
#512 Mitchell
[“My, my, my, my Mitchell” Sung by Hoyt Axton, who also wrote “The Pusher”]
#619 Red Zone Cuba
{“Night Train to Mundo Fine, Night Train to the End…” John Carradine not only haunts with his “acting” but also with his crooning.]
Wow. This is a toughie. I just went back through the Episode Guide, and apart from the ones already mentioned, there are only 3 theme songs I remember, so I guess they’re the most memorable:
908 – The Touch of Satan – such a jazzy number for the Prince of Darkness: “What do you get when you fall from grace? You only get cast into perdition.”
910 – The Final Sacrifice – Okay, I just remember this one because of Tom’s lyrics: “Danny Elfman Danny Elfman This song sounds like Danny Elfman Danny Elfman He’s the father of Janet Elfman…”
And, of course,
424 – Manos: The Hands of Fate – who could forget that haunting melody?
boom-chh, boom boom boom boom boom boom-chh
waaka chikka waaka chikka waaka chikka waaka chikka
bah bah bah bah bahbah baaaaah
MASTER NINJA THEME SONG!
And how’s about, “They all laughed when I accused my parents so I killed them. Let’s see if they’ll be laughing noooooooooowwwwwww.”
Jeez, people!
I also like the theme from “Beginning Of The End” which is so long that they had to use it over a car drving from a mile away.
boom-chh, boom boom boom boom boom boom-chh
waaka chikka waaka chikka waaka chikka waaka chikka
bah bah bah bah bahbah baaaaah
MASTER NINJA THEME SONG!
And how’s about, “They all laughed when I accused my parents so I killed them. Let’s see if they’ll be laughing noooooooooowwwwwww.”
Jeez, people!
I also like the theme from “Beginning Of The End” which is so long that they had to use it over a car driving from a mile away.
If were doing instrumental peices then The ultra depressing music theme from Laserblast/Robot Holocaust. I have the mp3 on my computer.
Oh man! The one I love the most is…. “Space Mutiny”! The best MST3k I ever saw of course has the best theme song ever!!!! I listen to it all the time!! I’m sure thsoe other themes dont match up to “Space Mutiny”!!! I can’t believe no one has said it yet!!!!
The strange scatting in Eegah with the heavy guitar cords really send me.
I like the song from Dr. Z so much I’d put it on my ipod.
Come on, what about “Girl in Gold Boots”?? Hey girl, keep your gold boots movin’. And the theme song is immediatly followed by the song “Everything I Touch Turns to Gold”. It’s a musical one two punch that cannot be matched!… jes kiddin! :mrgreen:
Can’t believe no one’s mentioned Danger! Death Ray yet.
620 – Danger! Death Ray! – No idea what it’s called, but it’s one of the most catchy pieces of music I’ve ever heard. It’ll be in my head for weeks everytime I watch this one.
619 – Red Zone Cuba – “Night Train to Mundo Fine” is actually a good song in it’s own right, while still being hilarious.
My friends, this list clearly begins and ends with the wondrous “Bah-bah-dah-dah-dah-dah” from Danger!! Death Ray. Ooh, here it comes again…
Honorable mentions for the themes from Mitchell (“My-my-my-MY GOD!”), Red Zone Cuba (“Ho now, I’m rocking!”), and Secret Agent Super Dragon (“With boats!”).
1008 Final Justice closing theme w/new lyrics and a guitar solo by Eric Clap!
609 The Sky Divers “Ha So” by Jimmy Bryant. I actually remember this tune when it was on the music charts with “Wipe-Out!” and other surf songs.
Memorable movie themes:
– Moon Zero Two
– Catalina Caper
– Red Zone Cuba (Night Train to Mundo Fine)
– Monster A-Go Go
– Wild Rebels
– Hell Cats
I’m a bit surprised no one has mentioned either the Native American version of “Jingle Bells” from Werewolf, or “Deep Deep Down” from Diabolik.
I also think the Evil Little Kid Music from Squirm and the Prozac Lady from It Lives by Night were effective in setting up an eerie mood, which the movies didn’t sustain.
For my favorite theme song (as opposed to theme music), I think I’ll have to go with either the theme to Operation Double 007 or “Hooray for Santy Clause” from Santa Claus Conquers the Martians.
J&TB’s take on “Super Agent, Super Dragon.”
Can’t…get…it..out..of…my…head…
Yes, ‘Night Train to Mundo Fine’ is memorable on so many levels, one more reason Red Zone Cuba is my all time favorite.
I’ll also third or fourth the Mitchell and Blood Waters of Dr. Z themes. And as a child of the ’80s, I’d gladly put ‘Here I Stand’ from Space Mutiny on my Ipod…if I owned one.
But the end music from Time Chasers must be just as memorable, since I can’t hear “Walkin’ on Broken Glass” without thinking of it. Too bad Overdrawn at the Memory Bank didn’t continue the streak.
And Agent for H.A.R.M.’s theme, even though I only remember the part where the brass section started beating up the bots.
Yes, I genuinely wish I could find the soundtrack to Manos…and Hobgoblins.
Fish – Knickers (Let me tell you ’bout our drink specials…)
Pig – Liquor (Don’t park in the alley or you’ll get tow-ow-oweddddd…)
All the ones I find myself singing now and again have already been mentioned:
Moon Zero Two
The Hellcats
Red Zone Cuba (“Night Train to Mundo Fine”)
Girl in Gold Boots
Blood Waters of Dr. Z
Honorable Mention (because it’s not a “song,” per se): Riding with Death. I made a DVD of this episode for myself a few years ago, including the unriffed movie. For the menu, I applied a stereo filter to the theme, which makes it even more fun to listen to.
I enthusiastically second “Hooray for Santy Claus” from “Sant Claus Conquers the Martians”, if only becauase it was written by Milton Delugg, who went on to great fame as the bandleader on “The Gong Show”.
I would also add the wheezy organ riff from “The Incredibly Strange Creatures Who Stopped Living and Became Mixed-Up Zombies”, and the groovy folk song from “The Blood Waters of Dr. Z”, which was an early role for the guy who became the CEO of Daimler Chrysler.
No, wait…, that was another Dr. Z….
I already mentioned “World War II Boy” (Blood Waters of Dr. Z) and “OK Connery” (Operation Double 007) in the Memorable Songs topic. And now that I think about it, I dig the “Undersea Kingdom Love Theme”. Big and brassy, just like 1930s’ serials should be.
Here’s my tops!
204 – Catalina Caper – “Never Steal Anything Wet” – I find myself whistling this for quite awhile after I watch this episode. The funny cartoon makes it better! Plus, Frank singing it before the film always gets me.
508 – Operation Double 007 – “The Man For Me” – There’s no way the guy they’re singing about could live up to that song; he’s probably just an accountant named Wallace.
619 – Red Zone Cuba – “Night Train To Mundo Fine” – Night train, go to the basketball game, hang out under the bleachers….
620 – Danger: Death Ray! – “Bup Ba Dup Ba Daa Daa!” That was Bup Ba Dup Ba Daa Daa by the Doodletown Pipers! Watermelon Man!
903 – Puma Man – “Puma Man’s Floor Routine Music” – Puuuma Maaaan, when will he find love, Puma man….
1005 – Blood Waters of Dr. Z – “Planning Revenge… on my Friends!” Speaks for itself.
Honorable Mentions:
521 – Mitchell!
601 – Girls Town
612 – The Starfighters
703 – Deathstalker and the Warriors from Hell
905 – The Deadly Bees (just the end credits, with the Bowler Hat guy)
1002 – Girl In Gold Boots
1013 – Diabolik
Danger Death Ray :lol:
1. the band tuning up for Eegah. Seriously, it sounds like they’re just first-year students…
2. the Girl in Gold Boots…or the silver ones.
3. Dr. Z – I’m planning revenge on my friends, too.
4. Manos, the hands of Fate – Uh! Uhh! Jazz flute, baby.
5. Space Mutiny simply for the Ba-Babababum! That’s REAL film music.
How could you not mention “You Better Run” from Final Justice? Actually, a pretty decent song…
“You’d better run…”
“Or he’ll steal your lunch”
“You’d better hide…”
“Your lunch”
“You’d better run…”
“‘Cause he’s got the runs”
“‘Cause he won’t stop ’til he gets his man…”
“Or your lunch!”
Oh how could i forget the end theme from Escape 2000
“Leave bronx”
Have to agree with mentions of the themes from Catalina Caper, Santa Claus Conquers the Martians, Village of the Giants, Red Zone Cuba and Operation Double 007.
And I’ll add the very painfully 70s instrumental music from Riding with Death, and the ubiquitous “Yipe Stripes” from Teenage Strangler…the twangy version during the opening sequence certainly sets the mood.
Are we counting character themes, as well?
-The Torgo theme from Manos. It’s worse than one of those Youtube loops the kids are all into these days.
-Hooray for Santy Claus, or “How to ruin Christmas through song”.
-Servo’s take off Danny Boy in Gorgo.
-The left over Miami Vice music from Time Chasers.
I don’t recall if it had a spiffy main theme but The Starfighters most certainly had the best soundtrack i’ve heard on MST. Full of Ray Coniff-esqe easy-listening tunes set to…planes re-fueling. Classy.
Village of the Giants gets the nod for me, although it may be cheating because I associate the song (“The Last Race”, by Jack Nietzsche) with Quentin Tarantino’s Grindhouse feature Death Proof a lot more.
That endlessly repeating marching music in BEGINNING OF THE END: “ba ba ba ba BAAA baaa . . . “
I gotta go with “Night Train to Mundo Fine”, too.
Oh, and “Master Ninja Theme Song.”
I can’t remember – did the Fugitive Alien episodes actually use the “Forklift” song as a title theme?
California Lady in Track of the Moon Beast.
I actually liked that song, but I liked the host segment following it even more.
Jet Jaguar’s theme from Godzilla vs. Megalon!
Now, I can’t say if it really qualifies as a true “theme song.” But I’ve got to nominate the opening rock song from “Zombie Nightmare”. I often find myself singing “lick your voices up.” Or along those same lines, the Esperanto inspired song during the credits; while I’m at it, John Mikl Thor and Thorkestra just made that movie with that soundtrack. There, I said it.
I think my favorite theme song is the Century 21 Calling theme. “Someday, you will ache like I ache!”
The most memorable movie ***theme songs*** are:
Sampo pretty much nailed it, plus the addition of “ba-ba-da-ba-da-da” from Danger!! Death Ray!
Honorable mention to “Five the Hard Way” and “Girl in Gold Boots”.
The dance music from “The Creeping Terror” and “Idoit Control” from “Pod People”.
Danger! Death Ray! – catchy, though weird stuff. I hum this for hours after the show.
Girls Town – cheesy little song.
Daddy-O – Oh no, John Williams before he heard stravinsky!
Catalina Caper – never steal anything wet!
Untamed Youth – catchy sax playing. Mamie sings this later in the movie.
as perhaps a spinoff of #32, Ace of spades by Motorhead from Zombie Nightmare is pretty killer too.
The end theme from Final Justice is great.
“tusk!” from Werewolf (i dunno, you had him first)gets stuck in my head a lot.
the “hike your pants up”‘d song from Daddy-Ois darn catchy.
the twangy Munster’s-esque tune from giant gila monster is pretty jaunty as well.
I actually enjoyed all of the music from “City Limits.” I thought Mitchell Froom’s score was haunting and atmospheric…in a synth heavy, mid-1980s, New Wave sorta way.
as perhaps a spinoff of #32, Ace of spades by Motorhead from Zombie Nightmare is pretty killer too.
Crow: “Oh, why must they scream so?!”
Servo: “Well it’s rage, honey!”
1) Diabolik: Dee Dee, Da! (aka Deep Deep Tongue)
2) Squirm: Evil Little Kid Music. The movie didn’t really live up to the creepiness that was established by the song.
3) Red Zone Cuba: Night Train to Mundo Fine. It’s not a good sign when the best thing in your movie is a song sung by an elderly actor who needs a paycheck.
4) Girl in Gold Boots: Girl in Gold Boots. :???:
5) Girl’s Town: Girl’s Town (again :???: )
I got the Diabolik theme stuck in my head, then spent $30 on a Ennio Morricone collection CD to get it. Happily the other songs on the CD made the price justified!
Now if only I can get the English lyrics, so I can sing along properly . . .
Red Zone Cuba beginning credits and Final Justice ending credits for the win.
I like it when they add their own lyrics to the theme music like “Wild Rebels, crunchy fruity rebels. Pouring milk on them is like shooting off a gun”
Also, I now like the song On The Wings of a Dove by Ferlin Husky since they sang it to the tune of the Boggy Creek II theme.
Also, does anyone know where I can find some of this music on MP3??? Are there any archive sites or other resources for MST3K movie music?
No love for I Accuse My Parents? Not only do the songs from this film show you “the kiss way to the promised land” … they help you be “happy in your work”.
well, those aren’t theme songs, that’s why 46. there’s been a thread for songs in general.
top themes:
Moon Zero Two
Agent for H.A.R.M.-oh those triangles
Catalina Caper
Santa Claus Vs. The Martians (of course)
Girls Town
Agent for H.A.R.M – OW! we’re getting beat up by the music.
Riding with Death – aaaaand skip ball change go!
Blood Waters of Dr. Z – it’s just so mellow for a killer manfish movie.
Operation Double 007 – HEEEEEEEEEEE WANTS MEEEEE!
also, does The Green Slime Count?: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSgyXUl3HII
yes, you may envy me .. my ring tone is the haunting Torgo’s theme and it creeps everyone out every time I get a call.
now what gets me is the closing credits theme song for “Soultaker” — being a child of the 1970s, everything Crow and Tom say is TRUUUE!
“OK Connery” from “operation Double 007″ ..”HE gets his hair cut on Tuesdays….HE prefers stuffing to potatoes…HIS favorite movie is Turner and Hooch” -of course that episode aired 15 years ago – what would HE do now in today’s world?
Ms. Mary