Debate: The best ITV F1 title theme tune
A light-hearted debate this afternoon, I thought.
ITV have been bringing F1 races to us in Britain live for over a decade. From the original funky Jamiroquai theme, to the Bachman Turner Overdrive remix, to today’s Moby tune, which is the best?
Check out the videos below and pick your favourite.
ITV F1 theme 1997-9
ITV F1 theme 2000-2
ITV F1 theme 2003-5
ITV F1 theme 2006-present
I like the second one most which is “Blackbeat” by Apollo 440. But I also liked the original Jamiroquai tune (and what an excellent choice petrolhead musician to compose it).
I’m a big fan of Moby’s early work, but the current theme “Lift Me Up” only reminds just how far downhill he’s gone. I never liked the Bachman Turner Overdrive version.
But here’s the crucial question – are any of them better than the BBC’s classic theme, “The Chain” by Fleetwood Mac?
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Tags: f1 / formula one / formula 1 / grand prix / motor sport
Clive said on 7th June 2007, 18:37
Nothing beats the old BBC intro – trust Auntie to get it right first time. ITV seem to be trying to transform F1 into James Bond; they just don’t get it, do they?
Simon Stiel said on 7th June 2007, 19:05
Out of ITV’s output, the title sequence of 1997-99 really encapsulated the build-up of a start of a Formula One race. The darkness also added mystique.
It does not however, beat The Chain. Another great piece of F1 music was used in the very first F1 game for Playstation which covered the 1995 season: “Formula 1″. When one entered the menu, it made an impact. That should be used in the title sequence for ITV.
Laura said on 7th June 2007, 19:09
Hey, wich is the one of jamiroquai?
Can you mail me the answer?
Thank you!
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine) said on 7th June 2007, 19:12
The first one is Jamiroquai, then Apollo 440, then Bachman Turner Overdrive, then Moby.
James B said on 7th June 2007, 19:23
I definately don’t like the latest one by Moby. Its just not right for F1. So out of the other three, I think it’ll have to be the first one by Jamiroquai.
Laura said on 7th June 2007, 20:25
Thanks guy!
Chris said on 7th June 2007, 21:25
I like the Bachman one, but I think that’s because that’s when I started watching. I’m a relative newbie and it’s probably one of those things where you like the one that you first saw?
In that respect, kind of like James Bond or Doctor Who.
Having said that, I heard that bit of The Chain once, late at night, on radio, and recognised it immediately, even though I didn’t know the rest of the song.
M Smith said on 7th June 2007, 21:59
The BBC one blows them all away, but the first ITV tune by Jamiroquai is my favorite by a long shot ! :D
Alianora La Canta said on 7th June 2007, 23:07
I liked both the Jamaroquai and the Bachman Overdrive (with the latter being my favourite). My opinion of Apollo 440 is very low, though their F1 tune isn’t too bad. And Moby’s tune would have worked well without the lyrics (F1 theme tunes should be simple, and complicating it with words doesn’t help).
Naturally, I also think “The Chain” is better than any of these.
doctorvee said on 8th June 2007, 1:27
The Bachman one is definitely my favourite. The current one is a load of rubbish, but it is let down by the dire images that accompany it. Eagles… scary Chinese women… casino tables… David Coulthard in a tuxedo. WHY?
And to top it all off, the title sequence culminates with an F1 car being launched from an infeasibly giant helmet. What a load of rubbish!
Journeyer said on 8th June 2007, 7:45
I’ll go against the flow here. I like the current song by Moby… it’s rather catchy, actually. But the video it goes with needs some work.
But it’s still planets away from The Chain, that’s for sure. :)
sidepodcast.com said on 8th June 2007, 8:09
you know the only thing i kept thinking whilst watching all of these is:
“ITV used to put so much more effort into their titles”
and when i think about it, the same is probably true of the whole program.
Richard C said on 8th June 2007, 9:58
The Chain undoubtedly…an inspired choice.
Jean said on 8th June 2007, 12:14
The 1997-9 theme really got the spirit of Formula 1. I feel that since then the slide into ‘fashionable’ themes has brought the level of the coverage from the opening titles to the end credits down.
Where did Tony and co go to – did anyone ever say anything? Did I miss a throw away comment – or do the producers of the ITV coverage think we are all morons who don’t care about people and just sit there going vroom vroom like maniacs!!
Clive said on 8th June 2007, 12:34
Jean makes an excellent point – I suspect that the TV producers do indeed see us as idiots. But the real tragedy is that the FIA seem to be of the same opinion…