"Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale" of a time when television shows began with awesome TV Theme Songs. "Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name" and sometimes you want to go back to when TV Theme songs were special. "Here's a story... of a lovely" time when TV Theme Songs served to identify, distinguish and set the stage for the television program that followed. "You take the good, take the bad, take them both and there you have" what unfortunately has become a lost artform. "Believe it or not", sadly it seems no effort or pride is taken in the TV Theme Song ever since Seinfeld proved a short synth-bass riff could be used instead. “Schlemiel! Schlimazel! Hasenpfeffer Incorporated!” This regular feature may not "make all our dreams come true", but it will remember some of the best TV Theme Songs from years past (with a focus on the '80s decade). "Come aboard, we're expecting you."
This time we will cover the theme song for Star Wars: Droids. "Steppin' softly in a danger zone. No weapon in my hand. It's just this brain, designed by man. It's got me in trouble again." Droids was an animated series following the exploits of droids R2-D2 and C-3PO prior to when we meet them in the original Star Wars (A New Hope). The show debuted on Saturday mornings on ABC in September of 1985 and surprisingly only last one season and 14 episodes. I absolutely loved Star Wars and wanted to consume it any way possible with a Saturday morning cartoon being right up my alley. Droids even featured the unmistakable voice of Anthony Daniels as C-3PO. It was paired with Ewoks to provide a whole hour of Star Wars programming, but Droids lasted just one season while Ewoks received two.
The opening theme for Droids titled "In Trouble Again" was co-written by Stewart Copeland and Derek Holt. Stewart Copeland is best known as drummer of The Police, but he also has composed the music for the television series The Equalizer along with dozens of film scores including Rumble Fish (1983), Wall Street (1987), She's Having a Baby (1988) and See No Evil, Hear No Evil (1989) from the '80s. Derek Holt is best known as a founding member of The Climax Blues Band and wrote their 1981 hit single "I Love You" which has always been a personal favorite.
I had the pleasure of an interview with Derek Holt and here is what he said about how he ended up working with Copeland:
I'd known Stewart Copeland for many years. His brother, Miles, managed us for a few good years. He got in touch with me about collaborating on Lucasfilm's animated shows. He'd already had success writing the music for 'The Equalizer' [1985-1989 TV series] and 'Rumble Fish' [1983 film], so was well respected.
Though they co-wrote the song, it was Copeland who performed lead vocals. Here is the opening for Star Wars: Droids featuring the theme song "In Trouble Again" by Stewart Copeland...
I am still a little shocked that Droids wasn't able to last longer back in the '80s, but I sure enjoyed it while it lasted. "I put my life in jeopardy. In the service of my friends. I wouldn't care but it's a dangerous affair. 'Cause I'm in trouble again, trouble again."
Hope you enjoyed tuning in for another "episode" of TV Theme Songs!