Without a doubt, Coronation Street’s theme tune is one of the most recognised in the whole world. The brassy theme tune, consisting of a cornet, brass band, clarinet and double bass, is reminiscent of the brass bands of the North West of England. It was composed by Eric Spear (1908-1966).
The identity of the trumpeter was not public knowledge until 1994 when they were revealed as Ronnie Hunt. Hunt, pictured, said he’d been paid £6 and stated that Spear insisted on having many takes before finding the sound he wanted.
In 2010, a new completely re-recorded version of the theme tune. But for me, this is the theme tune of Coronation Street!
What do you think of the current theme tune? Did you prefer the old one?
Also see: Loads of different versions of the Coronation Street theme tune
Also see: Loads of different versions of the Coronation Street theme tune
All original work on the Coronation Street Blog is covered by a Creative Commons License
18 comments:
I don't like anything about the new theme or opening titles. I'd like to see something a bit like the original tune, a bit more orchestral and a bit faster . I've hated the opening titles from day 1. It's not good for the eyes when it's all blurred. I've never understood the HD concept behind it. Hopefully when they move to the nee site they'll update the titles and the music.
There's a guitar in there, too, comping the chords.
Old one - still hoping they'll see sense and ditch the present one.
I have never liked the new arrangement, hate the opening blurry titles, and always mute the opening and closing now because it irritates me so! Thanks for the link to the final playing of that arrangement, it does stir a nice nostalgia.
The new sig is awful. Completely ineffectual and undramatic. Coupled with the soft-focus, blurred titles, the opening of the programme has no impact whatsoever, nor the halfway junctions. Hopefully with the new set, we'll get some new, striking opening titles and a return to the more meaty, oomphy, previous signature tune that was perfectly fine. Fingers crossed.
I really hate the new homogenized version, and the fuzzy opening credits. Give me the original music any day!
I don't mind the new one, it's relaxing and things can't stay the same forever not even Corrie. Plus you can play spot the location, they filmed outside Urbis and castlefield by the canal....
I've said it since 2010 and Ill keep saying it until they see sense. The new tune is the pits! It sounds cheap and has no gravitas!- Micky
I prefer the new theme. I find the balance better, the separation cleaner, the pitch more accurate, the orchestration slightly more current. The old theme sounded like it was from the 1940's. The new one is less so, although it still feels dated (but then, the show is almost 53 years old). As for the "blurry" soft-focus visuals of the opening, it's not as though it needs to be sharp. (We see it several times a week!) It works to make the contrast with the crisp, high definition digital images of the show itself that much greater. I think the producers were trying to convey a sense of the history of the show, from the distant "hazy memories" of the past to the sharp details of the present.
2 things I've noticed about the visuals of the opening titles:
1) Why promote HD (which is meant to be clear) with blurry images.
2) Why is it that Dev's shop was blown up and re designed in 2004 yet the original look still appeared on the titles up to 2010. Then just as the titles are changed and the new look shop appears in them, they destroy it and refurbish it again?
I love the new titles. I prefer it because it is very modern and I HATED the old one, it is so last century. The blur is artistic and there's colours, I love that. I also love the whole street instead of random house that isn't even on Coronation Street.
I can hardly tell the difference in the music, slightly more muted along with the background "beat" (just played them back to back) is about all really. I don't mind it and i don't mind the visuals either.
I really do wish they would return to the original theme tune - I think the difference in style and quality is significant and it spoils many dramatic moments.
Definitely the OLD TUNE..the new one is too fast and it sounds cheaply done..like on a synthesisor or something..there is an old saying..'if it ain't broke..don't fix it'...that was the situation with the theme..change isn't necessarily better or needed.
the old version is definitely better, I love listening to the full version, but I think the new opening titles are much better for a more modern Corrie.
The opening titles are much better. Years ago I used to lathe that stupid dog bounding down the Street followed by what looked like a bag lady . . .
that should say 'loathe'. Taking a lathe to an innocent dog would be a bit of an overreaction . . .
I'm just so happy that we can watch Corrie here that the theme, although different than the original, still signals to me the start of my most happily anticipated half hour of television.
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