MovieChat Forums > Yes Minister (1980) Discussion > Yes Minister - To the Manner Born Theme

Yes Minister - To the Manner Born Theme

posted 14 years ago by Jack_1515
8 replies | jump to latest

I always thought it odd how the BBC/Ronnie Hazelhurst recycled essentially the same theme music for both series Yes Minister - To the Manner Born. They add the chimes of Big Ben for Yes Minister, but its largely the same theme. I've seen this noted on other web sites as well, but never an explanation. Seems rather "cheeky" that they would use the same theme. Was the BBC really that cheap?

[–] laurence01 13 years ago

Firstly you can hardly call the BBC cheap when you consider the fact that the first episode had a completely different theme tune which they disliked so much that they through it out (after having payed for it) and secondly you will never convince me that the themes are the same, basically because they are not.

[–] jonathan-m-stone 13 years ago

That is amazing. I have enjoyed both series for years and never noticed the similarity. You are dead on! They are nearly identical :-)

[–] laurence01 13 years ago

Yes but my point is that the melody lines are different. The OP is totally convinced that they are the same recording, and has posted so on both this and the 'To The Manor Born' boards.

[–] zingzangspillip 9 years ago

Just listened to the To the Manor Born music, and they are *very* similar. I don't think the OP is arguing that the themes are the same.

[–] laurence01 8 years ago

Just listened to the To the Manor Born music, and they are *very* similar. I don't think the OP is arguing that the themes are the same.

You should read the "Theme Music" thread on "To The Manor Born", because that is exactly what he is saying.

Let Zygons Be Zygons.

[–] louiseculmer 9 years ago

they are very much alike. it is odd. i can remember that happening with another programme - a children's series called Grange Hill - the theme turned up as the theme of an entirely different programme, but i cannot now remember which one.

[–] 9 years ago

[deleted]

[–] grendelkhan 8 years ago

There are strong similarities; but, you find that in a lot of entertainment composers' work. They each have their styles and their go-to elements. I can tell a Basil Poledouris or James Horner theme pretty quickly, same with Hans Zimmer. Mike Post's themes, from the late 70s and 80s, sounded pretty much the same.

Fortunately, Ah keep mah feathers numbered for just such an emergency!