Wednesday 12 October 2011

TV Theme Retrospective: Ye Olde England

Not many historical dramas on TV are much cop, the (relatively recent) demand for such things as ‘Downton Abbey’ and the like notwithstanding. Growing up, it seemed Richard Carpenter was cornering the market in this sort of thing with ‘Smuggler’ and ‘Dick Turpin’ for younger viewers.

With the exception of ‘The Onedin Line’, very few had a good memorable theme tune (and that one not written specially for it, of course).

But that all changed when the aforementioned Richard Carpenter hit his stride with ’Robin of Sherwood’



A smash hit, it catapulted Clannad to the top of the pop charts and the TV series itself sold well around the world, introducing a whole new audience to the rather odd melding of Celtic myth and classic storytelling.

It got Ray Winstone his big break too!

Next month’s theme: Anything But A PI

23 comments:

staybryte said...

Ray Winstone's big break? I'm pretty sure "Scum" and "Minder" featured his talents before that?

SBC said...

Probably the best adaptation of Robin Hood ever....miles better than that recent BBC sherwood-in-the-Matrix abortion.

NickM said...

I used to really like it as a kid. The other thing it did was introduce a character from the East (that guy with two swords - forget his name) which was shamelessly ripped off as an idea by the 1991(?) movie which has Morgan Freeman cast as the noble Moor or whatever it was. Gods that were a terrible film and talking of soundtracks how long was Sir Bian deAdam's ditty at #1.

PS. My favourite "arrgh!" from "Prince of thieves" was the land back in England at Dover and Costner says they'll be feasting in his halls in Nottingham by nightfall. They achieve this by walking and part of the path involves Hadrian's Wall. Epic Fail!

Anonymous said...

How did English folklore become a 'Celtic myth'?

This anti-English age we live in is utterly weird. I'm glad my grandparents passed on before it became fashionable to abuse English identity.

We've got maybe two generations left before no one knows who any one was in these islands. You'll get your way soon enough so give it a rest for those of us who are still here - and still English enough to weep about our end.

Steve

IanPJ said...

How did English folklore become a 'Celtic myth'?

The Robin Hood myth/folk lore was the social & political clash between Norman and Saxon. Absolutely nothing to do with Celts.

Such TV and Film adaptations are way off the mark. Time our schools taught our youngsters this land's real and proper history again.

Kevin said...

Eeek. Nostalgia overload. Thanks for the reminder of how much I loved Clannad (and still do sometimes).

Captain Haddock said...

@ NickM ..

I think the character to whom you refer was called "Nazir" or "Nasir" ..

Whilst on the subject of Robin Hood, for me, the funniest reference ever was when Del, Rodney & Uncle Albert were aboard a small boat & "lost" somewhere in the channel .. and Del decides to sing a "stirring" English song to buck them all up .. and then launches into the theme of the 1950's series, starring Richard Greene in the title role ..

Pure brilliance ...

James Higham said...

Funny you should run that because I've a best TV series thingy coming up on Monday. Nostalgia?

Ringmer said...

'The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe' - a time machine in a theme tune.

Wolfers said...

The Clannad album 'Legend' is the complete collection of the music from this series. I used to have the tape as a kid.

I've got the Michael Praed series on DVD, but not the Jason Connery series, not a patch on his old man is Jason.

petem130 said...

The theme tune from Robin of Sherwood was "The Hooded Man" by Clannad.

Their first real hit which got to number 5 in the charts was the theme from Harrys Game a series about the troubles in Ireland. This predated Robin of Sherwood by a year or two.

They also did the theme to The Last of the Mohicans - I will find you.

Their music is fabulous.

Roue le Jour said...

Was this the start of the tendency for all history to become Celtic? Seems to crop up all over, the recent Robin with Rusty, Xena of course, and lets not forget Alexander...

JuliaM said...

"Ray Winstone's big break? I'm pretty sure "Scum" and "Minder" featured his talents before that?"

It's his first in a TV leading role - 'Minder' was just a bit part.

"...miles better than that recent BBC sherwood-in-the-Matrix abortion."

Ah, but that one brought us Richard Armitage in black leather, so it can be forgiven! :)

"...which was shamelessly ripped off as an idea by the 1991(?) movie which has Morgan Freeman cast as the noble Moor .."

Yup, that one definitely was not the finest. Haven't seen the Russell Crowe version yet, though.

"How did English folklore become a 'Celtic myth'?"

Gawd knows. Perhaps the influence of Clannad?

JuliaM said...

"I think the character to whom you refer was called "Nazir" or "Nasir" .."

Yup!

"Funny you should run that because I've a best TV series thingy coming up on Monday. Nostalgia?"

Nostalgia is always popular! :)

"'The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe' - a time machine in a theme tune."

Yes, I used to love that one too.

"The Clannad album 'Legend' is the complete collection of the music from this series. I used to have the tape as a kid."

I've got it on CD & digital. Still play it...

JuliaM said...

"Their first real hit which got to number 5 in the charts was the theme from Harrys Game a series about the troubles in Ireland. "

Ahh, I loved that one too. Once saw the Vulcan introduced to that at an airshow - it was quickly drowned out, of course! But it was rather fitting...

"Was this the start of the tendency for all history to become Celtic? "

You know, I think it might have been...

Anonymous said...

The castle on the cover of the "Legend" album is Rochester (you can tell by the three square towers and one round one - the result of a falling out with King John).

Not very near Nottingham but never mind :) Nice to see what was my local castle on something other than tourist brochures.

Great album and a great series - Ray Winstone running round a Mediaeval Sherwood Forest in his Dr Martins brings it all back :)

JuliaM said...

"The castle on the cover of the "Legend" album is Rochester..."

That (and Alnwick) gets used a lot. It must be on a list of 'Photogenic Castles'... ;)

petem130 said...

Slighty off topic.

I was at the last Grand Prix at Brands Hatch, a much better experience all round from Silverstone which is dull.

Anyway at lunch an air display took place. At one point in this a Vulcan cam overhead pretty low. The pilot then stood it on end directly above the circuit. Ths Noise!!! Loads of people were sleeping as you're there pretty early if you don't have a seat booked. Lots of people getting a massive fright! Spillages and the like.

Fabulous plane.

Foxy Brown said...

I had a major crush on Michael Praed, and was gutted when he left to play a Ruritanian prince in "Dynasty". Jason Connery just didn't cut the mustard.

Lerxst said...

Still think I prefer the theme from the original Adventures of Robin Hood..or even better, the Python send up, Dennis Moore!

JuliaM said...

"Fabulous plane."

One of my favourites at airshows. I'm so pleased they got it up in the air again.

David Gillies said...

Not written specially for "The Onedin Line"? Errm, quite. It is indeed correct in the strictest fashion that Aram Khachaturian did not write the overture to Spartacus for a 70's soap opera about a shipping company.

JuliaM said...

If only he'd known how it would have been used... ;)