Scott
What happened to theme songs? The WWE used to have amazing theme music that really personified their wrestlers. When I think of guys like Rougeous, Bam Bam, Razor, Demolition, Dusty, etc. So many had theme songs that really gave them a more-rounded character. Like with seemingly everything else nowadays, a lot of the theme songs are so generic. Some are good--AJ's comes to mind off the top of my head--but I can't think of too many. Does the WWE still have that Jim Johnston guy? I remember in Beyond the Mat him explaining how he does people's themes and it made me understand why the themes were so good.
No, sadly Jim Johnston left that position a while back. They've mostly just been relying on outsourced cock rock that they can get good deals on because it's probably cheaper than paying Johnston royalties. Jimmy Hart was also great at theme songs and they could probably utilize him more if they wanted, but again they choose not to. That's why you get generic crap like Zack Ryder's theme or Miz's, where they have nothing to do with the person and just has their catchphrase staple-gunned to the beginning.
Just to clarify as well, Johnston still works for the company, but he does film scores now for the WWE Films division.
ReplyDeleteYou can't nail it every time I guess, but they definitely did a great job with Rusev's music. Fits him perfectly
ReplyDeleteDid Johnston leave on his own or was he run off?
ReplyDeleteWhy would they need to pay Jim Johnston royalties when he's a proper employee paid to do a very specific job?
ReplyDeleteDoesn't that come under work-for-hire laws like comic book creators? Comics pay royalties nowadays of course but they dont HAVE to, it's mostly just a way of keeping talent from jumping ship to the competitors.
Bam Bam'a theme? Wasn't that just a generic guitar riff with him saying "Bam Bam!" a bunch?
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAGaZwVAzFs
ReplyDeleteBecause they release stuff on iTunes and Johnston is often credited as composer for it. Thus, they would have to pay royalties. If they were just releasing the songs a "WWE" composition, then yeah, they could just pay him whatever they wanted.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of staple-gunning catchphrases, few things in wrestling irritated me more than WWE thinking that they had to staple Ric Flair's "WOOOOOO" to the beginning of his entrance. EVERYBODY knows whose entrance theme that is.
ReplyDeleteIt's a valid question concerning the generic nature of entrance themes. What's particularly bad are the new themes for Rollins and Ambrose, which sound like they were written in five minutes by smashing all the buttons on a synthesizer at once.
ReplyDeleteBut a few guys still have good, unique themes that closely identify with their characters, like Cena, Ziggler, Orton, and I'd say Sheamus.
As a kid one of the things that bothered me about WCW was that most of the themes were generic and indistinguishable.
ReplyDeleteI'll always love Luger's '97 theme for some reason, even though it probably falls into that category for many.
It stands out more because the Real Americans theme is AWESOME. I catch myself humming it randomly and my GF had to at one point turn to me and ask, "What song is THAT??"
ReplyDeleteJim Johnson is one of the most unheralded dudes in wrestling.
ReplyDeleteOf course he does.
ReplyDeleteTogi Makabe of NJPW uses a version of Immigrant Song. It's not a good version, but still, great entrance theme.
ReplyDeleteHe works with WWE films now.
ReplyDeleteI was noticing the another night how good and fitting Bo Dallas' theme music is, actually.
ReplyDeleteThey can't all be winners.
ReplyDeleteDespite the genericity of the endless Downstrait themes, the one thing they do is make sure you know who it is right at the top, unlike TNA's fucking-awful music for 90% of its roster. And there's still some great stuff, from in-house stuff (the SHIELD theme) to vocal tracks (Wyatts)
ReplyDeleteI can't think of a TNA theme that I like. I think that Samoa Joe's is annoying as fuck in particular.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to venture to guess you posted a link to New Japan themes.
ReplyDeleteI haven't watched in almost two years now so I'm not up to snuff on their current music, but I did like Samoa Joe's (perfect JOE'S GONNA KILL YOU stuff), James Storm's, and even Jeff's (at least the alarm at the top let you know who it was immediately). But all their Jimmy Hart-esque WWE knock-offs were shit and some just didn't fit at all (Kurt Angle)
ReplyDeleteAgreed. Kurt's music DEFINITELY doesn't fit him. Like almost as bad as Stephanie McMahon's theme.
ReplyDeleteI think that had something to do with trademarking it. Its old enough to be public domain but i think they still had to modify it to make it theirs.
ReplyDeletewow
ReplyDeletemuch inspiration
tj: so apparently rvd turned down the ice bucket challenge b/c he's "a nonconformist." 411 is taking forever to load so i don't know the deets, but i sure hope he honors the stip by donating $100.
ReplyDeletereminds me of when he was the only person who refused to go on the trip to the middle east.
Hey hey hey...Miz's "I Came To Play" is AWESOME! (no pun)
ReplyDeleteIt would probably kill the buzz from his hotboxing
ReplyDeleteBray Wyatt's theme is such a weird case. i wonder what led them to purchase an obscure pre-existing song outright and rename it for their own use? Must be a story behind that. its an awesome song though, the only wrestling theme ill listen to as real music
ReplyDeleteAnd it fits him, has a nice self-absorbing motif to it.
ReplyDeletei just think he's shown himself to be a spoilsport when things are encouraged but not mandated
ReplyDeletehe really is the epitome of minimal effort, maximum gain these days (since nash isn't wrestling)
ARRIVE
ReplyDeleteSPOT MONKEY
LEAVE WITH PAYCHECK
It's the same problem with the PPV themes now. SummerSlam 1998 had Highway to Hell. Now we get generic butt rock and shitty rap like Pitbull.
ReplyDeleteIt fits with the chains to complete the Brody tribute.
ReplyDeleteI love New Japan and you're somehow making me hate that I love it. It's just like how I recently started watching Doctor Who and love it so far, but refuse to tell anyone I know who also watches it because they are weird, cult-like mouth breathers about it.
ReplyDeleteI feel that as over as Luger was during that time, he would have been even more over with that badass theme he had in 89.
ReplyDeleteAmbrose's theme sounds like a cover of Benoit's.
ReplyDeleteListen to it, and imagine it played by a metal band and you'll see what I mean.
I liked the Woooooo! at the start.
ReplyDeleteBest non-tune starting point was the shattering glass, though. That glass break was enough, you didn't even need Austin's music to play.
Cesaro's is truly truly dire, I agree 100%.
ReplyDeleteHe's so old-school in style, he shoulf have gotten something classical but powerful. Like a Shostakovic piece or something.
Shit, Ryder should've switched to the butt rock version of "Oh Radio" that Downstait did.
ReplyDeleteI wish they'd kept Bryan's entrance with the orchestral version, rather than the crappy-by-comparison soft rock version.
ReplyDelete"Shoot for the Stars" is Goddamned glorious. Paige's theme is good too and it's by the same people.
ReplyDeleteJim Johnson should absolutely be inducted into a future HOF class.
ReplyDeleteThe obscurity of the song coming from the side project of a member of the Jesus and Mary Chain, how perfect the theme is for the character...yeah, I'd love to know the story of how that happened.
ReplyDeleteI will always love Kurt Angle coming out to a fucking rap song, lol...it's great.
ReplyDeleteI did like the classic "You are, you are, I am, I am" AJ theme. And I still say The Beautiful People's theme, before they remixed it for no reason, is quite stellar.
ReplyDeleteEasy upvote.
ReplyDeleteChallenge is stupid anyway.
ReplyDeleteIt does suck Rollins and Ambrose have WCW Themes...I'll be damned if Ambrose's isn't catching on just a littttttle bit in my head. Rollins' theme still completely sucks.
ReplyDeleteWhy they fucked up Tyler Breeze's entrance in NXT I have no idea. So he can sing his theme like HBK, great. It was perfect the way it was.
That's who Brock's next feud should be against. RVD gets squashed and then just goes to the pay windah for his money. Then he goes and gets high.
ReplyDeleteJim Johnston is still employed by WWE...
ReplyDeleteHis 89 theme continues to be that deal. How much could it cost to use those anyway?
ReplyDeleteAJs music is not good...sorry.
ReplyDeleteAgreed. As generic as they both are, you know right away that Ambrose or Rollins are coming out. That's why music matters: to get the pop. As long as it does that, it doesn't really matter if it's shitty. If you'd never heard of The Rock or Stone Cold you might be inclined to think their music is just a lame, generic riff. Because they both are.
ReplyDeleteRyder's theme totally personifies him. Hell, if you listen to the lyrics it sounds like something he would write. Plus the guy actually listens to boy band music, which is odd.
ReplyDeleteEveryone's music sounds the same. And I'll ask again, why is Stephanie coming out to rap music? I'm not sure what kind of music overgrown daddies girls listen to but I don't think it's rap.
ReplyDeleteYeah, the examples Scott gave here are kinda odd. Ryder and Miz's themes are two of the better ones in recent years. Just because something is generic buttrock that sucks as a song doesn't mean it sucks as a wrestling themes. The two things that matter with wrestling themes is if it fits the character somehow, and if it can elicit an immediate recognition of that performer.
ReplyDeleteshe's all grown up NOW
ReplyDeleteQueendom, I earned my spot, nah nah nah...God, that theme sucks.
ReplyDeleteAmbrose's theme has started to catch on with me. I remember someone pointing out it's similarity to Benoit's theme.
ReplyDeleteUnderrated theme: The Wolfpac. don't turn your back on the wolfpac *dun dun dun dun dun* You might wind up in a body bag.
ReplyDeleteZack Ryder's had everything to do with his gimmick.
ReplyDeletethat's a terrible example.
Ryder's is really fitting, yes.
ReplyDeleteToo bad they pissed away the theme and intercut tron video entrance on a washout like Drew McIntyre.
ReplyDeleteBenoit's theme had lyrics...and 3 days grace are an alternative metal band so I don't understamd what point you're trying to make here
ReplyDeleteWhen i pimp it to people i always link to the Mark Crozer version and not the WWE version, even though its the same song. I'm sure no one would take it seriously if they thought it was just wrestling music.
ReplyDeleteProbably very little. But at least it's intact on the network.
ReplyDeleteNot originally, just after Our Lady Peace redid it.
ReplyDeleteI once worked with an OLP fanatic (those exist, i live near Canada) who didn't watch wrestling and could not figure on why OLP had this one really heavy song when the rest of their music is light alt rock.
When Swagger started coming out to that song, a buddy of mine nicknamed it "Jack Calibur" because, really, it would fit in the soundtrack to a Soulcalibur game. It really is that good.
ReplyDeleteIt gave Kevin Nash an excuse to act black, so I give this theme song four thumbs up.
ReplyDeleteJimmy Hart wrote "Sexy Boy", Jim Johnston wrote Austin's theme, so it's a wash.
ReplyDeleteWomen shouldn't rap. They should just give fellatio and make guacamole.
ReplyDeleteWhich one did Razor Ramon's theme? Or Mr. Perfect's while we're at it.
ReplyDeleteYeah, on my iPod is the original album version, listed as "Broken Out in Love" by Mark Crozer and the Rels with its album art, lol.
ReplyDeleteThat's gonna sound so weird when she's Vince's age
ReplyDeleteAlways found him boring as fuck
ReplyDeleteI always thought Razor's theme stunk. dun dun ting dun ting ting what the hell is that shit?
ReplyDeleteAll of my instincts and training are telling me to attack you but I will remain calm.
ReplyDeleteIf you listen to it, Razors is a precursor to Stone Colds theme. Just slowed down and with the tires screeching, instead of the glass break.
ReplyDeleteNever knew Brody used it!
ReplyDeleteMichael Hayes must've been pissed!
ReplyDeleteKevin Nash rocking the FUBU...man, the 90s were great.
ReplyDeleteGood for Rob. I'd turn it down, also.
ReplyDeletedun dun, ting, dun, ting ting
ReplyDeleteTheme sucks dude.
Abyss theme back around 2005 was...ok. Agree with Styles "I Am".
ReplyDeleteabout the only WCW theme song that I still enjoy today was Harlem Heat's. agree about the rest though.
ReplyDeleteI was wondering why in 2014 the new guys music has sucked so badly.... apparently Jim is working in WWE's film division now, what a waste of time!
ReplyDeleteI was OK with the Shield members current themes because I thought they'd be temporary before good ole Jim jazzed them up, but they are looking permanent now :(
Though I see a lot of hate for Rollins theme, whilst I do agree overall it isn't great, the main hook when it kicks in is pretty sweet and something they can work with.
I've heard Booker T's WCW theme on odd syndicated tv "clip" shows and, back in the day, on CD-Rom "game show" games... It was, I believe, some generic license-free music...and so, anybody could use it. (Wonder if the WWE bought exclusive license for it when they brought Booker over during the InVasion era?)
ReplyDeleteIt went the same beat as Austin's
ReplyDeleteAh those are dun's and ting's in the song?
ReplyDeletePoint made. That theme song sucks!
You really are Satan :(
ReplyDeleteAJ has good theme music?
ReplyDeleteYeah but Austin's wasn't played with a triangle and a tambourine.
ReplyDeleteNo. That's how men gets jobs for life in WWE.
ReplyDeleteOh God, the omnipresent-for-the-timeframe hat!
ReplyDeleteI prefer the nWo B-team porn music. It was perfect for Buff.
ReplyDeleteAlso, the Rock's late 1998-1999 "Do You Smell What the Rock is cooking" theme is infinitely better than any other theme he used YES including Hollywood Rock.
ReplyDeleteTJ: Was watching Savage/Warrior from 1989 (right after the Megapower Explosion on SNME on the Warrior DVD, and EVERYONE involved in the match (including the ref, the announce team, and Ric Rude [who did a run-in]) is dead now. Pretty depressing once I realized it.
ReplyDeleteWWE's taste in music is ass. This freaking company used Nickelback music as a theme seven years after they peaked.
ReplyDeleteIt's like The Ring. Everyone that watched that match WILL DIE!!!
ReplyDeleteMemorable, at least.
ReplyDeleteAJ's theme has never been good, but it at least worked when she first debuted as a babyface. after her crazy persona came out and her character changed, they should have changed it to something else.
ReplyDeleteYou know who had a great theme song? Kwang.
ReplyDeleteI wanna get massaged by a tiny Asian woman all of a sudden.
ReplyDeleteI'd ask you to apologize for that, but it's not like you to say sorry.
ReplyDeleteWho was the announce team for that?
ReplyDeleteThey DO exist! I used to be one of them, but then I stopped caring about new music.
ReplyDeleteRod Trongard and Lord Al.
ReplyDeleteAh, the Old Glory FUBU shirt
ReplyDeleteI refuse to start watching Doctor Who because of those people.
ReplyDeleteBobby Roode and Joseph Park had good themes
ReplyDeleteSmart of him. He'll have more rights doing film scores
ReplyDeleteIn his first WWF run it was like this weird instrumental jazzy tune with a lot of saxophone.
ReplyDeleteWorks for me
ReplyDelete10/10 entrance on a 3/10 guy.
ReplyDeleteHad me up until the final sentence, because their riffs are memorable IMO
ReplyDeleteYeah, Styles was good to, had the important opening drop of "GET READY TO FLY"
ReplyDeleteHuh...I always thought Oh Radio was one of the more distinct themes of the current era. And wouldn't paying said cock rock bands royalties be more trouble than paying an in-house guy? Or are they that cheaper than the '80s and back acts they cannot use on the Network?
ReplyDeleteSee also; Adam Rose.
ReplyDeleteI'll see your late 1998 and 1999 and raise you the variant of the Nation theme he used from SummerSlam until into his first face turn as The Rock.
ReplyDeleteEven worse than their choices for entrance music are their choices for PPV theme songs. I still want to punch whoever it is that thought Kat Deluna's "Whine Up" was a fitting theme for Summerslam however many years back that was.
ReplyDeleteI THINK Mr. P was Johnston....either way it's a Jimmy Hart Version (ironically enough) of the theme to Exodus.
ReplyDeleteI was watching one of his matches from that time period and I thought to myself "holy crap, I forgot his music used to be this slow."
ReplyDeleteMaybe she can take over "Cult of Personality."
ReplyDeleteDid he turn it down or was it a one shot deal?
ReplyDelete...by making guacamole?
ReplyDelete40 year old white guys Nash, Luger, and Sting actin' all gangsta'. God bless the 90s
ReplyDeleteLuger '97 inferior, Luger 1989-92, superior.
ReplyDeleteVideo games and DVDs did edit it out early on, however...
ReplyDeleteEverything about their film division is a waste of time.
ReplyDeleteAnyone besides me remember his very first theme in JCP? Kind of had a Jaws sound to it.
ReplyDeleteUnlike Benoit...
ReplyDeleteIt would be like putting Ooooooh yeahhhhhhh at the beginning of Pomp and....wait, WCW did that?
ReplyDeleteThe Godzilla remix was okay.
ReplyDeleteI love that one.
ReplyDelete"Do you smell what the Rock is cooking? Ha!....the Rock laying the smackdown..."
Why can they use any previous instance of the music, as heard on JCP, WCW, etc? They don't change it to the WWE-ized version. (Funny thing...on one DVD, they changed the Jimmy Hart Version he used in 1992 to the standard one. And I think the opposite used to be true early on in WWE's DVD dept?)
ReplyDeleteThat mix D-Lo and Mark Henry used during the same time was better. I wish they would have kept it.
ReplyDelete