Today's TV theme, at #7 in our list,
belongs to a show that needs no introduction. You all watch it, or at least
have heard of it, unless you're under a rock somewhere. It's currently in its
6th season, it's the most pirated TV series in the world and at #4 on imdb Top
TV shows of all-time.
We are, of course, taking about Game Of
Thrones. A show with production standards that belong more to a big blockbuster
film than a TV show. It's set on the fictional continents of Westeros and Essos
in a unidentified time that looks like early medieval. It interweaves several
plot lines and boasts a large ensemble cast of great actors. Based on G.R.R.
Martin's A Song Of Fire And Ice series of books, it occasionally strays from
the books' plot and presents its own story developments. It is a show that
doesn't hesitate to kill a protagonist or two, when least expected. A tale of
heroic fantasy with historical references that extend to today. Also, a show with
the largest and most dedicated fan base.
The characters with the most biting
one-liners are: audience surrogate Tyrion (Peter Dinklage), Cersei (Lena
Headey), Varys (Conleth Hill) and personal favorite Olenna (Diana Rigg). The
characters with the most heroic arc, since Ned's (Sean Bean) life was cut
short, are Jon (Kit Harington) and personal favorite Danerys (Emilia Clarke).
The characters with the most Dickensian suffering are the Stark girls, Sansa
(Sophie Turner) and Arya (Maisie Williams). The most abhorrent villain used to
be Joffrey (Jack Gleeson). After his death he was rightfully replaced by Ramsay
(Iwan Rheon). We shouldn't forget devious schemer Littlefinger (Aidan Gillen).
The worst fathers are many, definitely Craster (Robert Pugh), Roose (Michael
McElhatton), Tarly (James Faulkner) and as far as Tyrion is concerned, Tywin
(Charles Dance). Finally, there's a special category of the heroes' helpers and
enablers. Top among them are Brienne (Gwendoline Christie), Jorah (Iain Glen),
Bron (Jerome Flynn), Davos ( Liam Cunningham), Samwell (John Bradley), Hodor
(Kristian Nairn) and Podrick (Daniel Portman). Characters with magic powers
include Jaqen (Tom Wlaschiha) and Melisandre (Carice Van Houten). A character
that showed promise, but went nowhere was Gendry (Joe Dempsie). Finally, a
storyline that showed promise but didn't really deliver was the Dorne
storyline.
The title sequence changes depending on
the locations visited in that particular episode. It received the 2011 Emmy
award for outstanding main title design. The impressive theme is written by
Ramin Djawadi, an Iranian-German composer born in 1974. He composed music for
such films as Blade: Trinity, Open Season, Iron Man and Pacific Rim. Also,
among his TV work, except for GoT we find Prison Break, Person Of Interest and
The Strain.
Now, to this week's statistics: there were
a few minor surprises in the lists. Certainly not in positions #1 & #2,
the US and Greece are solid as a rock. Germany, Russia and France occupy positions
3, 4 & 5, while Portugal, having a very good presence for a 3d week in a
row, is at #6. A couple more weeks like these and we'll get to see it in the
all-time Top 10. In a tie at #7 two countries which, despite their ups and
downs, have always had a strong presence: Cyprus and the United Arab Emirates.
The Netherlands are at #9, while at #10 there's a 3-way tie between Canada, the
UK and Latvia. Also gracing us with their presence are Argentina, Australia,
Belgium, Bulgaria, China, Egypt, Italy, Norway, Romania, Spain, Sweden,
Thailand and Turkey. Nice to see you all!
Small changes appear in the all-time list
as well: again the US is the unchallenged champion, Greece is sitting
comfortably at #2 and Germany and Russia have solidified their positions #3
& #4 respectively. The UK sits alone at #5, having overtaken Ireland (#6),
which is going through a long period of inactivity. Canada from #7 is now
threatening to displace Ireland. France is quite stable and is still sitting
pretty at #8. Also no change at #9 (Cyprus) and at #10 (Spain).
The random song choice for today is a song
that will not fail to move you, unless your heart is made of stone. It belongs
to an excellent singer-songwriter called Suzanne Vega (born in 1959 in Santa
Monica, Ca) and it's called Luka. It deals with the sad and infuriating issue
of child abuse, which is examined from the point of view of the child. It was
her biggest hit in the US at #3 (1987).
Last minute addition:
Another great has left us a couple of days
ago. A lot has been written about him, so let me just say this: he was the
boxer that everybody knew, even those who had no idea what boxing was.
Here are three songs written about him,
all during his lifetime:
Cassius Clay by Dennis Alcapone:
Cassius Clay by Tabu Ley Rochereau:
And the UK hit Black Superman by Johnny
Wakelin:
Yet the was one more important loss: David
Swarbrick was one of the core members of Britain's most celebrated folk group,
Fairport Convention. He composed, arranged, sung, played the fiddle, the viola,
the mandolin and other instruments. RIP.
Here are Fairport Convention in a
traditional song that he arranged, Tam Lin:
And here is a song that he co-wrote with
another great, Richard Thompson, called Sloth:
I'm not surprised you enjoy GOT yianang, after all it does mirror your country's history does it not? I'm particularly happy to see you shine a light on the theme song as it fits the show to a t. It really sets the mood for what's to come and is definitely one of the best show openers in a time where producers don't give as much weight to such things as they once did. However, were you aware that their are lyrics to the theme? Here's a taste:
ReplyDeleteCome ye,
On a journey
A game of thrones.
O'er the verdant valleys
Legends roam.
Nobles and their quest
For power grows.
Maidens pure as winter's
Driven snow.
Dragons cast a shadow
As they soar.
Breathing flames of glory
Devil's roar.
Through the gates and portals
Conquer all.
Honor not the living
Til they fall.
Okay, I'm just having a giggle, I made the whole thing up.
You had me for a while RM! I mean, these are good lyrics. I particularly like the last line "Honor not the living Til they fall." After all, there are lyrics to "The Rains Of Castamere": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECewrAld3zw
DeleteThanks y, I tried. There are also lyrics to The Dick Van Dyke Show but try as I may, I can't get them to fit the song properly. I'm talking about actual lyrics here, not something I made up. I miss the days when a show's opening was as memorable as the show itself. According to what I've read, producers decided to abbreviate opening themes so the they could squeeze in more commercials. Effing Capitalists!
ReplyDeleteAs a young boy, I tried to fake my own lyrics to The Patty Duke Show: I couldn't catch what the actual lyrics were saying, so I used my imagination.
DeleteDo you know them now? Cause if you don't, here they are right off the top of my head:
DeleteMeet Cathy who's been most everywhere
From Zanzibar to Barkley Square
But Patty's only seen the sights
A girl can see from Brooklyn Heights
What a crazy pair
But they're cousins
Identical cousins all the way
One pair of matching bookends
Different as night & day.
Where Cathy adores a minuet
The Ballet Russe and Crepes Suzette
Our Patty loves her rock & roll
A hotdog makes her lose control
What a wild duet.
Still they're cousins
Identical cousins and you'll find
They laugh alike
They walk alike
At times they even talk alike
You can lose your mind
When cousins are two of a kind!
Yes sir, useless shit stuck in my head. Maybe another time I'll give you the lyrics to That Girl.
Thanks RM! Man, I can see the concept of identical twin sisters, but identical twin cousins... Wasn't that a stretch even for the 60s?
DeleteA stretch for the 60s? Er...Bewitched, I Dream Of Jeannie, The Munsters, Green Acres, Get Smart, My Favorite Martian, The Beverly Hillbillies, Dark Shadows, the list is endless. I think spandex was invented just to accommodate all that stretching! Har-dee-har har!
DeleteLOL! I guess you're right, RM. People were always looking for escapism then. If we take into account all the fantasy/superhero movies & TV shows that we have today, they still do.
DeleteGame Of Thrones is one of the great TV themes of all time, and yes, Recordman had me going too with those lyrics. :)
ReplyDeleteSo great to read your comments, Phoenix! I think we should designate Record Man to be the official lyricist of all the TV themes that are presented here. Feeling up to it, RM?
Delete