All: Best Soap Opera Theme Songs

[MarkH]

Okay, Mr. Provocateur, why "all wrong"?

Me...I loved the red porn opening because it was sumptuous, over-produced...just like the show. But it also paid appropriate homage to the classic theme.

[detroitpiston]

I also loved The City's Opening

And the second Port Charles Opening

[RobynIsHere]

I would hold the hand of the one who could lead me places

And kiss the lips of the one who could sing so sweet

And I would fly on a wings of a bird I knew could take me highest

Breathe in, breathe out

You keep me alive

You are the fire burning inside of me

You are my passion for life

[David V]

Days of Our Lives, because the opening is considered to be one of the classic openings.

Another World, both the 70s version and the 1981-87 version.

Guiding Light, the 1989-90 version of "My Guiding Light"

As The World Turns, 1981-93

[Sylph]

Because it is so melancholic and depressing. I mean, even the title doesn't match the show and its setting. This one should also be a sassy, restless drama.

The best way is to develop a theme that has 3 sections - somewhat fast opening, slower, melancholic 2nd section and a tour-de-force finale.

All soaps should organise a competition for a theme song and the winner gets to have his composition on the show. Plus a money prize.

[Cat]

You say melancholic and depressing, I say moving and romantic. That theme is Y&R.

Just because a couple of fly-by-night EPs and HWs over the past couple of years have made a big deal about jazzing up the show so that "the kidz" would tune in (and by "jazz up," I mean tack on some forgettable college rock in background at Crimson Lights)? Their sweaty imprint on the show is gradually being erased. Thank goodness LML never got her hands on that beautiful piece of music... she probably would have replaced it with some sub-OLTL rubbish banged out on a child's Texas Instruments keyboard.

Who knows? Perhaps Y&R will move back to the very ambiance that Nadia's Theme symbolized not so long ago. I think it is on its way.

[Sylph]

What? What? What? What? What? Who's talking about jazzy? Who's talking about awful electric guitars and hip, trendy music? No one.

To you, it might be Y&R. To me - it isn't. It just doesn't match. To sappy for it.

[Cat]

LOL @ too sappy.

What are some of the soap opera themes you love?

[SFK]

-AMC "Falling Pictures"... I also liked the updated version of these credits that lasted all of a minute with the characters' signatures at the bottom of their pics. I felt that the updated version of the theme fell a little flat though. But I loved how Erica got different shots in the two versions. As for the current opening, I really like the falling/scattering/flying pics effect that they use towards the beginning, but they could use it even more instead of all that bumper footage.

-OLTL "Tour of Llanview"... You know, I was more than a little disappointed when I realized the Peabo opening was gone, and I couldn't wait for the new opening to debut, but I am glad that Gottlieb's champagne/"stages of love/life" opening is a part of OLTL's history. I look back on it fondly (even if it would have been a better opening for Loving). I especially liked the closing theme as it played over those billowing satin sheets. It really fit the darker, more sophisticated feel of the show at the time. I liked the visuals of the "blue" opening with cast pictures, especially the color shots of "Llanview" in the closing credits, but that theme has never been a favorite. The current opening is a joke (and why the hell are Dorian and Viki seperated by Rex and Gigi?).

-Loving with Jeffey Osbourne and the caged lovebirds and The City with Morgan in that red Versace suit, and those notes from 0:19-0:26!

-GH "Faces of the Heart"... I liked both the upbeat and slower version used for the closing credits (and I believe once for the opening credits when Rosalind Cash passed).

-AW... the final black and white opening before it was truncated. Plus, that wonderfully sexy sax solo Summer of Desire opening theme. It was like AW's own version of the theme Knots Landing did in the Sandy Dvore opening credits.

-And speaking of Sandy Dvore, Y&R. The original theme (which had a much nicer thumping bassline) against those charcoal drawings... so much drama out of such simplicity. And Dvore's iconic YR logo... his awesome "font" would be used again for Knots.

-B&B (the original... especially the pic of Lauren Fenmore in the silver dress). Capitol's final opening was cool too.

-GL's "My Guiding Light" (the original and the slow final version, not necessarily the upbeat "popcorn/bubblegum" version) and "Hold On To Love" (also love the slower, jazzier version).

-Santa Barbara (that bass!)

-Sunset Beach's original opening (dark, slow, and sexy... would have been better for a soap airing at 5pm though).

Honestly, I don't think there's a primetime soap theme I haven't liked. Of course the two definitive themes, Dallas and Dynasty (my favorite versions of the opening credits are the extra long ones where the Colbys are introduced)... but also the lush, sweeping Falcon Crest theme, the slow, sexy Knots Landing theme of season 8 and the peppier season 9 version, the sultry (even tawdry) season 1 Flamingo Road theme and its more sophisticated season 2 makeover. As for the '90s, it's Central Park West for me, from those first few beats on the congos over that shot of the Brooklyn Bridge with downtown in the distance, I LOVE it. It has two of my favorite qualities of '80s soap themes which usually aren't seen in the same opening which are grandeur and sexiness. And as much as I love the original, I also took to the austere (dare I say cheap) new opening they made for the CPW revamp. It was quite tasteful and attractive for a "downgrade."

Can you tell it's super busy here in the office?

[Cat]

^^ Oh, yeah, The Colbys had a great riff on the original Dynasty theme.

[detroitpiston]

If were talking primetime soaps, then nothing beats the Melrose Place fast pace and dark season 4 opening.

But I like the 90210 rip-off Season 1 Opening

Or the kickass 90210 season 4 remix

And I know most hate this version, but I love the Knots Landings painting opening(TURN YOUR VOLUME DOWN WHEN WATCHING THIS!)

[MarkH]

Again, I think I agree with you...because I preferred the sexier, sumptuous version that matched red-porn. That was grown up, romantic...that WAS Y&R.

But remember that Bill Bell picked Nadia's theme (then, Cotton's Theme)...and also liked the title song from the same film (Bless the Beasts and Children) and used it too. Which tells me that he intended that melancholy. I have found it part of the appeal...young love is NOT all happy. And that was how the very first day of Y&R was presented...Chris sad about her less-than-fulfilling love with Snapper; Sally wanting more than just sex from Snapper; Mr. Brooks interfering with Snapper; Brad Elliot trying to run away from his past...

If you think of the grand moments on Y&R when Nadia's theme has actually featured as background music, it is moments like: major deaths, when Danny and Cricket rescued newly-pregnant Traci from trying to kill herself in Danny's apartment (the garage apartment at the Williams house), and Danny hugged her to comfort her. The song has been used to underscore big, melancholy moments.

I think Y&R was always meant to make you _feel_, and the song was meant to set that up in the opening minutes. This was not a happy show...this was a show that sucked you in with love and pain all bound together. That's how I always interpreted it.

Remember, too, that Young and Restless has LYRICS. I have always assumed these were written for Kay :-). It is written from the perspective of recollection...squandered pasts...urging the pursuit of passion because it is fleeting, and the youthful ability to love and feel grand stirrings of passions will not last. It is about living in the moment--even impulsively and recklessly--because a wiser, less interesting future beckons. Ohhh, how I love this!! But, as EricMontreal and I have established, I am also a Sondheim fan, and my favorite song is Send in the Clowns...so this fits me to a "t". Kay says a version of this every time someone dies (from another famous song): Live till you die! Live for the moment, because this moment shall pass.

Gone, dreams of the past

Gone, with a love that moved too fast

Gone, bright shiny days

Gone, in a young and restless haze

Why did we love, then run away

So little time, so much left to say

And now, it’s gone

Young and restless friend

You’ll never pass this way again

So drink the summer wine

Reach for the stars

While you have time

Your restless heart

It will lead the way

So dream your dreams and live for each day

While you are young, while you are young

While you are young

ETA: While I am at it, why not also list one of Y&R's other signature songs. Most memorably, it was played when Snapper said a permanent goodbye to son Chuckie. Chuckie had just received Snapper's kidney...without ever learning that Snapper was his daddy.

Bless the beasts and the children

For in this world they have no voice

They have no choice

Bless the beasts and the children

For the world can never be

The world they see

Light their way

When the darkness surrounds them

Give them love

Let it shine all around them

Bless the beasts and the children

Give them shelter from a storm

Keep them safe

Keep them warm

Light their way

When the darkness surrounds them

Give them love

Let it shine all around them

Bless the beasts and the children

Give them shelter from a storm

Keep them safe

Keep them warm

The children

The children

[Cat]

^^ See, now you have just proved why the theme(s) fit Y&R so well.

And you are right, those first lyrics have Kay's "voice" in them. Very Send in the Clowns!

Obviously, it was all Old Skool Y&R before the Abbotts and Newmans took over the show... the Y&R of the Fosters and Brooks and Chancellors. But still, you can't fight that historical connection... and for me personally, that theme is like Y&R's fingerprint. Perhaps it will inspire the new HWing team to imbue a little passion and romantic struggle into the current set of pairings.

[All My Shadows]

I agree. Just watching one episode from that era (the 1975 episode that everybody's seen) made me believe that the Y&R theme fit that time of the show perfectly. It just worked extremely well at portraying the show's angst.

Since someone upthread mentioned primetime soaps, here are some of my favorites:

"Flamingo Road" - Season 2 (with hilarious Spanish voiceover).

Aw, it can't be embedded: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZMrWfVCNWA

"Dynasty" - Season 6. This opening includes many cast members from "The Colbys" as special guest stars. It runs well over two minutes, as well. My favorite part is the very end when that classic high-pitched note is played just as Barbara Stanwyck opens the doors. It's Constance Colby time, bitches!

"Dynasty" - The ultimate opening. This thing is EPIC. EPIC. Somebody awesome edited together every credit for every person ever credited in the show's opening, including the special appearances by "The Colbys." If you EVER feel like you're not in the mood for "Dynasty," watching this will SO get you in the mood.