Tomorrow, I return to Employment Place, after three days on the sick, as last week I came down with some dreadful flu thing. Once again. Unfrotunately, this time, instead of it just affecting my nose and throat, this time it decided to take my left ear and chest with it. I’m still not right. My ear still feels like there’s a bowling ball stuck in it, and my throat is once again making it difficult to swallow.

Oh, the joys of being poorly.

The time off, however, has allowed me to get some of the things I meant to do ages ago out of the way. Firstly, I upgraded Beastbits, my main machine. You may remember on 31st March, I tried to install Windows XP onto a SATA drive, with absolutely no success at all.

Yesterday, I tried a different approach, which I didn’t think would work. I backed up my installation of Windows XP onto 2 bootable DVDs with the help of Nero BackItUp (or whatever it’s called). I then put in the new hard drive, and restored the image back to the hard drive.

It only bloody worked.

Not only did this bypass the rigmarole of having to restore everything, it means that I know this method actually works. Unfortunately, the whole process seemed to take forever. Sooo, now I have XP installed on a SATA drive. Wooty.

On the subject of upgrades, the amount of free space I have on mercuryvapour.co.uk has increased too! It WAS 800Mb, it’s now 2Gb. Unfortunately, as of yet, there has not been any bandwidth increase, so basically they’ve gave me a larger bucket, but the same amount of water to keep in it…

Yeah, that analogy works.

So, onto the theme music bit. None of you will remember a show that aired on the Disney channel (and at come point Channel 5) named “Okavango”. It was one of those awful Sunday afternoon things, about a family who moved from the city to… er, “Okavango” to look after all the wildlife. Or something. I didn’t really watch it. It did have one good thing about it. The theme music. I loved it.

Eventually, the show fizzled off the airwaves, and was never seen again. No DVD release, no repeat, nothing.

A few years ago, I tried to locate the theme music, with absolutely no success. in fact, I was amazed by the amount of information I DIDN’T find.

Following on from a thread about “best theme music“, on Glen’s forum, I suddenly had a recollection of Okavango, and how much I liked the theme tune.

I tried to find the video on Youtube, with no luck. I had to resort to a google search which turned up this low quality video.

I didn’t expect anyone to have heard of the show, and indeed, they didn’t. Glen said…

“Never heard of it, but I recognised the bird off of Alien Nation. Do I win a prize?”

To, which, I replied, jokingly…

“Only if you can find a better copy of that theme music.”

At this point, if I had a sound effect for a jaw dropping, I’d be playing it right now. I do have this picture, however.

Within two hours, Glen had tracked down a 2-minute long MP3 of it. Oh my! But, it was just a preview, thetrefore low quality and no ID3 information at all. Unbelieveable.

He titled the email “I rock”, and he certainly does rock. Not stopping there, however, I badger him for some further information, and his response….

“It’s Invent Yourself by Julian Laxton”

In the posting was the link where he got the preview from, and also a link to where it can be purchased. Turns out the full track is just under 6 minutes long. Awesome!

So, I purchased it. The site was located in South Africa, which means the cost of getting the track was 8.74 Rand. And that works out at roughly 60p. Bonus!

I shall be back at work in 7 hours time. Apparently there’s a new phone system. This WILL be fun.

Technorati Tags: backup, beastbits, disk, hard drive, hdd, julian laxton, okavango, theme music, upgrade, website space increase

Strangely, the most popular post I ever wrote on here (according to the statistics), is my review of ”The Great Sporting Experience”. At the time I thought everyone hated them, but apparently not. Therefore, I’m going to repeat it with a Cd I’ve just picked up from ebay…

Alledgedly, these tracks are “official”, as in, the original ones used on the particular programmes featured, but I do know some of them are almost impossible to get hold of. So the question is, is this CD the real deal, or have I just spent £3 on yet another “remake” CD?

Well, firstly, the back cover is a little void of information, giving only the show title, and no information about composers or anything. That’s never a good sign. It’s time to break the cellophane and take a peek inside…

Well, firstly, it’s looking promising… all but two tracks state “From the BBC production” or whichever company produced the show, and the composers are also listed. However, the CD doesn’t list the artists anywhere, except for two tracks, so I’ve taken a guess with the performers…

Right, so, let’s get down to it.

(01) Casualty / Ken Freeman (3:00)
Never mind. This does indeed seem to be the Casualty theme. Well, the original and best one. Moody synths. Brings back images of slowly breaking glass, and of course, that terrible Oxide/Neutrino record.

(02) Wycliffe / Nigel Hess (2:52)

I loved this theme when it was on the show. Unfortunately, it’s so long since I heard it properly, I’m not sure if this is the proper version or not. If this is the genuine version, it’s got a guitar solo which was never used on the show. What I do know, however, is that it’s really good. The last 40 seconds are probably what was used on the end credits. Great stuff.

(03) Play Your Cards Right / Alyn Ainsworth (02:25)

This is the mid 90’s theme. Utter cheese, and therefore strangely brilliant. Reminds me of Friday nights at about 7PM. Probably that’s when the show was on.

The first 26 seconds are the opening titles. The next minute is the dodgy piano bit they always played at the end of the show when someone won the car. At 1:45, it repeats the main theme, and at 2:09, it has a shorter version of the theme used for the commercial breaks.

(04) Blind Date / Laurie Holloway (3:12)

Again, it’s the mid 90’s remake, with the dodgy saxophone bits. My initial reaction was “This isn’t the proper theme!”, however, it appears they never actually used the starting bit. The part they used on the show doesn’t begin until 1:45 into the track. I couldn’t stand this show anyway.

(05) Heart of the Matter / Justin Nicholls (3:29)

Ahhh, the first show I’m not familiar with.

(06) GMTV / David Arch (4:35)

Hard to explain, this one, as for the first two minutes, it’s the main GMTV theme, played several times, but with different introductions and endings. After two minutes, there’s a long instrumental bit, and the track finishes again with the main GMTV theme, but without the lead sax. It’s all very strange, and it proves that, just like “Play Your Cards Right”, these TV themes were never meant to be heard in their entirity.

(07) Bottom (BB’s Blues / Last Night) / The Bum Notes (2:21)

It’s the Bottom theme tunes. Both of them. On the show, it was credited to “The Bum Notes”, though there’s no mention of it on this CD. The first 70 seconds are the opening credits, with the bit they always faded. The next 14 seconds is the little bit of music they played between scenes which sounded like a drumkit being assaulted, and the next minute is the famous end credits theme, Incidentally, it’s the first time I’ve heard it properly except for on the programme.

(08) Dial Midnight / Phil Binding + Simon Moore (2:27)

Not familiar with this programme. The BFI list it as “Late-night live ‘phone-in series. GB. LWT Tx 1992/02/14 - 1993/12/17″. Crap theme if I’m honest anyway.

(09) Littlejohn (House of Fun) / Phil Binding + Simon Moore (2:57)

I don’t know if I can sit through the almost three minutes of this theme. It’s an insult to Madness. It’s a remake of their hit “House of Fun”, and it is toe-curling. Agan, the show itself is totally missing from my radar, which is just as well. I gave up with 30 seconds of this theme remaining. Absolutely terrible.

(10) Gladiators / Muff Murfin (3:36)

This will bring back memories for anyone who, like me, went through puberty at the same time this show was on the air. It’s also the first theme on this disc to have “lyrics”, presumably written by Muff Murfin. I just had to get that name in there somewhere, as it’s the best name ever. I’m pretty sure this was released as a single at some point.

(11) You Bet / Jonathan Sorrell (2:56)

This is the entire reason I bought this CD. I absolutely adored this theme. It was used for years, during the Matthew Kelly Era. In fact, I loved all of the music from the show… that is, until Darren Day took over, and they “revamped” the music. Jonathan Sorrell composed all of the music for the show, including the music used during the challenges.

This theme is clearly longer than the version used on the show, and it includes a few bits never aired, but it’s the original. And I can imagine this being played full-blast through headphones next time I’m drunk.

(12) Girl Friday / Simon Brint (2:10)

Wikipedia lists this as “Girl Friday was a 1994 BBC reality television series starring Joanna Lumley in which she spends nine days on the desert island of Tsarabanjina near Madagascar.” Sounds about as dull as this theme.

(13)Johnny and the Dead / Stefan Giradet (2:44)

A Childrens ITV remake of the Terry Pratchett novel. That’s all I know. And I only found that out through Wikipedia again. Another dire theme. Very quiet and uninspiring.

(14) Dangerfield / Nigel Hess (2:59)

Hmmm. We seem to have hit a bit of a dry sport for themes I actually know here. Although I’ve heard of the show, I’ve never watched it. It’s another Nigel Hess composition, just like Wycliffe, listed above. In fact, he features four times on this CD. Actually, that’s not a bad theme.

(15) ITV Sport (You Are the Number One) / Union (3:56)

Absolute quality in every way, shape and form, however, this is the version with lyrics, so technically it’s NOT the theme. The version they used as the ITV Sport theme was known as the “Sax In Sweden Mix”, which basically had saxophones in place of the lyrics. It featured as the B side of this theme, which was also released as a single. The vocals are sung by the late Paul Young, of Mike And The Mechanics.

(16) This is Your Life / Laurie Holloway (2:28)

This doesn’t come anywhere near to being the proper theme. Not even close. If you’re interested in buying the CD for this theme, please don’t. It’s not the version from the programme.

(17) Schofield’s Quest / Toby Jarvis (3:15)

I think they’re stringing the phrase “Best of British Television” out a bit much now. I suppose it passes for a TV theme, but I wouldn’t pay money for it. Oh, wait, I just have. Bugger.

(18) Just William / Nigel Hess (2:08)

Nigel Hess is at it again. This show isn’t my cup of tea, and neither is this horribly twee theme, though I guess it fits in well with the programme. And, it’s finished. Phew.

(19) The Bill (Overkill) (3:06)

As Roy Walker would say… “It’s close, but it’s not the one”. though, I wasn’t expecting it to be. It’s a remake of the late 80’s / 90’s theme. Presumably, they can’t have had the rights to use the original theme, so it was re-recorded for CD’s such as this.

(20) Emmerdale (2:19)

Again, not the proper theme. It’s a re-recording based on the original 1970’s theme. The incorrect note 52 secs in, gives it away. The beginning also sounds incorrect. I was never a great fan of the theme, so I can live without a proper version of it.

(21) Heartbeat / Nick Berry (2:16)

Phew. Back to the genuine themes, though, considering this was released as a single, it’s hardly difficult to get hold of.

(22) The New Avengers

I don’t think this is the proper theme. I’m not a fan of the show, but it sounds too modern. It’s also one of the two tracks with no mention of where it’s from.

(23) Hetty Wainthrop Investigates / Nigel Hess 2:46

Nigel Hess makes his final appearance on this CD. Considering it’s the penultimate track, that’s not surprising. Er. Not a lot I can say about this track. It’s genuine enough from what I can remember.

(24) Theme From Coronation Street 1:49

Oh boy! I’m looking forward to this one! Not because I like the theme, it because I want to hear just how distant it is from the original. This is the other track which doesn’t state where it’s from, and is listed as being performed by the “Powerpack Orchestra”. Right. There’s the formalities out of the way. Now let’s hit “Play”.

Oh dear.

Oh dear, oh dear.

I don’t think I can finish it. I can taste the music. It tastes of burning. That’s the worst ending to any CD in the whole history of anything ever.

Well, there you have it. 24 mixed tracks. Some excellent, some rather mainstream, some which are truly painful. Definitely worth the £3 I paid.

Technorati Tags: Alyn Ainsworth, british, CD, David Arch, Jonathan Sorrell, Justin Nicholls, ken freeman, Laurie Holloway, Muff Murfin, Music, Nick Berry, nigel hess, Phil Binding + Simon Moore, Simon Brint, television, The Bum Notes, themes, Toby Jarvis

The music from the current Marks + Spncers advert, “This isn’t Christmas, this is M+S christmas”, with the sexy-voiced Dervla Kirwan, is “Samba Pa Ti” by Santana, from the album “Beyond Good And Evil”.

I’ll write a proper post later, don’t worry.

Technorati Tags: advert, marks and spencer, Music, santana

Well, I’ve moved desks again at work. I’m now sat on a desk, with a crap Dell keyboard, that’s had more to eat than I have. You shake it, there’s about 6 bags of crisps falling out. I can”t be arsed to type about that place any more, as every time I mention it, it seems to be getting worse.

Moving on swiftly, I’m going to be adding a new section to the gallery in the very near future. Yes, I’m finally going to be adding a streetlighting section - something which I’ve been promising since I started this site off. I’ve had more time than usual thanks to my work shifts, so I’ve had change to sort through 5Gbs of photos and get the best images, etc. I’m sure you’ll all be gripped.

Anyway. I managed to get “Invincible” by Carola. I did one of my good old drunken postings on this particular song the other night…

It’s another drunken theme music post! God, it’s not as if these occur every time Halley’s Comet appears, or anything.

There’s not been one of these posts for a good few months. Which is great, considering they used to be every week or so. Anyway. I thought I’d btter write about the song I’m lstening to at the minute.

Back in May sometime the Eurovision Song Contest went ahead. One song stood out. The Swedish entry. I loved it, and as I’ve already mentioned before, I mentioned on here that is was fantasic. Alas, the song I loved disappeared compeletely out of my radar. As Soon as the song contest finishes, if you don’t win, your song disappears without trace. Ironically, so have Lordi, considering they won the 2006 contest. Either way, they did, and the whole contest was over, never to be heard of again.

Let’s move forward three months. The start of August coincided with the start of the 2006 European Athletics Chamionship, hosted in Gothenburg. Some know it as Goteburg. But I don’t.

I switched to the BBC1 coverage after finishing a nighshift, and remembered being utterly captivated by 48 seconds of the greatest sporting theme music since…. er, that big long “Great Sporting Experience” post I did a few months ago.

Anywyay, I was seriously hooked by this music. I loved it, and didn’t recognise it. I even posted to the BBC website, hoping that they’d be able to clear up my mystery.

No, was the simple answer to that question. Five days (or at least something close), went by with no response. I assumed it was a specially composed tune.

That is, until the Saturday. I’d have been at work for 12 hours, and had missed most of the championships for that day. Except for the six hours I’d set the video to record. After about one and a half hours, I was lying there, and chortled at Steve Cram, and his commentary during a particularly dull section of the women’s Marathon. They went past a building which hosted the 1985 Eurovision Song Contest. Their “Statistician, Mark Butler” announced, on the subject of Eurovision, that BBC’s theme was Sweden’s entry for this year’s contest… and there was me, remembering, loving it!!!!

I paused the video, rushed upstairs, and indeed, confirmed that it was the same song I loved. Delighted, I instantly consulted ebay, and bid for a version of the single which contained the instrumental verson.

It arrived this morning, just in the nick of time. Literally. Yoy can’t have failed to notice that we have two dogs who love to digest anythihg that falls through our letterbox. No sooner had I placed the dogs in the front room with the door closed, I’d returned upstairs to hear them barking. Yes, the postman had turned up. If I’d have not bothered with the dogs, that CD single would have been a chewed, devastaed mess on the floor. Luckily, it didn’t get chewed, therefore it wasn’t.

Ok, so I never finished it, but you get the general idea. Played it, loved it. Got some beer, got headphones, loved it more, and so on.

Technorati Tags: athletics, carola, eurovision, evighet, invincible, Music, television, theme

Well, I got an answer from The Beeb, courtesy of Steve Cram, of all people. The theme music was an instrumental version of “Invincible” by Carola. which was, I’m sure you’ll remember, Sweden’s entry in theis years’ Eurovision Song Contest. And, just in case you don’t remember it, here it is (removed as link is dead)

It’s hardly surprising to read that I also liked it at the time too.

Technorati Tags: 2006, athletics, bbc, carola, eurovision, evighet, theme