Help me - Early 90's TV trivia
 

At work today we were talking about the early 1990s, aka The Greatest Era in TV History™. One of the shows that came up was In Living Color, and I casually mentioned that the show had two separate and distinct theme songs in the various seasons. Nobody knew what I was talking about, so I looked it up online. But all I can find is reference to the "all aboard" version that's in most of the reruns.

Have I lost my mind? Did I imagine this? Is it possible that my warped little high school mind has created a fictional memory? And if not, why is this second theme song being covered up?

There were certainly two versions of the theme song, but I don't think there were two separate theme songs. There was the original one that any frequent viewers of the show would remember, and then there was an "updated" version that added record scratching noises in the middle of the lyrics. I believe the newer version coincided with the opening in which they showed the cast members on billboards during the credits. This was around the time that Anne-Marie Johnson joined the cast.

I really don't remember a completely different theme song. Enjoy this for now:

No!

That's what they all say. There was another verison of the theme that was essentially the same as the original but with a slight remix. That's not the one I mean. The one I'm referring to was definetely different, with a few similar lyrics but clearly distinct.

Who got to you, Pumpy? Who?

I think you're mistaking In Living Color with The Edge or something.

Man, that Jennifer Anniston kid was hot. Whatever happened to her?

She was in that movie Leprechaun, but I think she hasn't worked much since.

If you can find evidence of this mystery theme song to In Living Color, please let me know. I'm all curious now.

mmmmm....

Jennifer Aniston... my one true love :)

I only remember one for In Living Color though. And the theme was updated, much like the theme from Different Strokes sucked ass when Dixie Carter joined the cast and they gave the theme an 80's sound.

Then there are shows that changed the theme slightly, like Gilligan's Island. It still sounds wierd to hear the first season theme where they just say "And the rest!" instead of "The Professor & Mary Ann."

About the only shows that actually changed their themes completely that I can think of are Magnum P.I. & The Facts of Life, both of which changed after the 1st season. Drew Carey changed his theme more than his underwear, but unlike Magnum & Facts, his themes got progressively worse (like his show.)

Im 99% sure that Heavy D's version was in one mix or another the only theme song they ever used.

There definately was 2 different verions, maybe just used in the last season?

More of a Brandy/Monica feel with a higher pitch and more uptempo with all female vocals.

Before reading this thread, I would have said that the show had two very different performance of the same lyrics -- and that the revised, much slowed-down version was only used for a season or two (maybe season #2 and perhaps #3).

But now, the only version I can get into my head is the all-female version that is most common on reruns. I still think that in its first season there was a more masculine, staccato, hiphop version used. However, the strong feelings of the other speakers here have me doubting my own recollection.

I do not, however, have any memory of a completely different song, with different lyrics.


edit: Does this ring a bell?

"You see you hop [walk?] on the moon, shaped like a balloon, you see it's never too late and it's never too soon..." -- is that from the old version or the new? Just came to me as I submitted my original reply...

Well, all the usual resources (TV Tome, IMDB, various review sites, Jump the Shark) all make reference to only one song. And as far as I can tell this thread is the only reference on the entire Internet to there being two versions, except for one other guy on a message board who, several years ago, mentioned the theme and then cryptically added "(1 and 2)" after it.

But after further digging I think I have it figured out.

First of all, if you go Kazaa and do a search for the theme song you get only one result, which I think is the version people here remember. My guess is this is ripped off of a TV theme song CD somewhere. This is also the version that plays during reruns up here on the comedy channel. Starts of with female voices singing "You can do what you want to do, anything at all it's up to you, you for me and me for you", etc, before the rapper comes in.

I think the name of this song is "That's the way you're living when you're living in living color", which is hard to type. I have the MP3 if anyone wants it.

But... I also found this page, which references the different version (the one that came back to Quik, and the one I actually remember as the original version):
hxxp://www.cfhf.net/lyrics/in-living.htm

Looking at the lyrics to one version while listening to the other, they're clearly different songs. The only similarily is a.) they're both rap, b.) they both mention the name of the show, c.) they may both be the same artist (Heavy D). They can't even be two parts of the same song, unless the whole song does a Queen-inspired tempo change halfway through.

No, they're different. I have been redeemed.

Now the bigger question... why is this being covered up?

I got nothing at the link... but am glad that the lyrics matched up. I think we're redeemed. (You more than me, I was awfully jumbled)

From the page above:

By the way, do I get some sort of FOFC lifetime achievement award for getting Quik to rap in a thread?

I'll have to hear the version that can be found on Kazaa, but I clearly remember the lyrics in the link Maple Leafs posted. I just remember the female voices being a bit of a chorus within those lyrics. Even after all this, I'm still not convinced that there are two different songs, but I'm only David Alan Grier.

I'm with you, I need more convincing. Hearing an MP3 of Quicksand rap the song would certainly convince me. :D

Two years later, I am vindicated:
hxxp://www.retrojunk.com/details_tvshows/388-in-living-color/

This page now has both versions of the themesong. Scroll down to "Show Intros" and check out Intros 1 and 2 (one version), and Intro 3 (the other version).

Screw you Pumpy! Screw you!

moved to GD and bumped...

Um, unless I'm missing something, these songs really do sound very similar to me, as if they're just different parts of the same song. Ultimately, I recognize that there are differences in the lyrics between the two intros, but I'm still not convinced that this new evidence completely backs up the original notion that Maple Leafs represented.

I challenge this "vindication" claim!

Interesting... Little did I know when I made reference to that idol guy being the lovechild of that pumpy and david alan grier that Pumpy had already made the connection to his resemblence to dag...

I remember when you said that, and I thought you had known about it. Wow, that's eerie.

Didn't one of the Wayan brothers act as some kind of DJ before joing the cast?

autograph pls, k thx.

You're insane.

Intros 1 and 3 are completely different songs. Other than them both being rap, what do they have in common? I think they both use the word "the" at some point, but that's about it.

I think you're referring to Shawn Wayans who co-starred with one of his brothers in a movie.

I'll admit that I listened to them at a pretty low volume because I was too lazy to get up and close my office door, but on my lunch break, I'll listen to them again.

That's correct. He was called SW1 when he was the DJ, then he joined the cast.

Shawn and Marlon have co-starred in several classic films, such as Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood, Scary Movie, Scary Movie 2, White Chicks, and the recent film Little Man. Then, of course, there was their WB TV show which lasted for a few seasons.

Strangely, while Shawn seems to play the straight man to Marlon's goofy characters when they're together, Marlon has had serious film roles that don't involve the Wayans family, and Shawn seems to only do comedies that include his family in some capacity.

And why do I even think about this kind of stuff?

Marlon did a very good job in Requiem for a Dream.

If you have not heard, Wayans Brothers Productions will be writing, directing, and staring in a remake of The Munsters.

I wonder which brother will be playing Herman?

I'm impressed that you found this after 2 years...

And disturbed that you remembered this after 2 years..

I try to stay focused on the things that are important in life.

You're not getting off the hook here Pumpy. Tell me what I want to hear.

OK, I suppose they're different enough to be considered two different songs.

Still, even if that's the case, I would imagine that a musician of Heavy D's extraordinary caliber could bridge those two together and make them into a single song... assuming that he hasn't done so already. :p

What a crock. Like they had color photography back in 1867 when the Leafs last won a playoff series.

(editing due to Maple Leafs' edit)

It's amazing you guys can remember theme songs from older shows like this. I don't think I can recall any theme songs from most shows from the 80s on up (unless it's a cover/rendition of a famous song). It's something I never paid any attention to.

I think the older shows are easier to remember.. 3's Company, Facts of Life, Diff'rent Strokes, Good Times.. shit I could probably sing Family Ties if someone put a gun to my head but, I don't think I could come up with any of the new ones personally...

I recently downloaded the full (three minute) version of the Fresh Prince theme song.

That's interesting because I didn't even know those (except GT) had a theme song! I think the earlier shows of the 60s and 70s are more recognizable to me. I think it's perhaps that by the mid 80s, I was taping a lot of shows (like the Thursday Night NBC lineup) and just zipped through the beginning credits and stuff. So even though I probably watched nearly all of Family Ties, I don't think I would recognize it if I heard it again. Fresh Prince I would easily recognize, I think. Just funny, that's all.

Wait a minute...I thought of something. Maybe one remembers theme songs better as a kid than as an adult?

I really dont think there is any grand theory here. I would say more likely there used to be distinct, original themes written specifically for the show. We see much less of that these days.

I used to love TV theme songs. Well, I guess I still do love the old ones.

And if anyone needs any...
hxxp://www.80stvthemes.com/

I could have cleared all of this up if I had seen the thread two years ago. Homey don't play dat.

Didn't like it when they used a different Bosum Buddies them song when it was on USA.

Funny how many of those that they have spoofed on Family Guy.. (A-Team, Family Ties, Mr. Belvedere, Land of the Lost..)

Trivia question: what's the longest running TV show (still on the air today, actually) that has no theme song at all?

I'd have to imagine '60 minutes' would be the answer...

If you don't count news programs, I would say America's Most Wanted.

60 minutes was the show I was looking for.