Enterprise theme song
- Thread starter VicMac
- Start date
I like the theme song. It perfectly fit the tone of the show, was a nice departure from the usual orchestral fare and was rendered very nicely by Russel Watson. That so many fans seemed to object to the song simply on the grounds that it was not an orchestral piece like the other shows had, speaks volumes about the missing open-mindedness of the Trek audience back in the day.
And yes, I have always liked the spruced up version of the song from season three more than the original. Somehow it just perfectly fit the change of course of the show in the third season, which for me was the moment when the show was at its best.
It is the greatest theme song ever made.
IrishNero
Commodore
I think that many who had grown accustomed to the look and feel of the other Braga era shows couldn't swing with this one because it was such a departure in terms of just about everything. They tried to deconstruct every premise upon which the other shows were based. Archer was bold, brash and hot-tempered in comparison to Sisko, Janeway and Picard. The Uniforms were like today's flight suits, not the sleek cat suit uniform. The song was just another item with which the creators wanted to take chances.
Moreover, the theme song became a sacrificial pariah of sorts. It seemed to take on a life of its own, and embody everything that detractors hated regarding the show. On those grounds alone, I would speculate that many of the detractors who hated the theme song also hated the show. But to my eye, it wasn't so much about a theme song but that the theme song became the scape goat for all of the focused hatred and ire.
It's absolutely just me, but I've always felt that this show was the closest to TOS. And that's not for the obvious reasons (e.g. Vulcan science officer), but because it somehow seemed more Avant Garde in its approach. They attempted to re-imagine just about everything and create a foundation for the rest of what would come. The crew left spacedock without even the most basic of tools (tractor beams, shields, prime directive, etc.), and build things over time. The theme song was just another thing they wanted to re-think...
Unfortunately, what they should have focused on was cycling in fresh writing talent with new ideas., and by the time they did, it was too late. People wont watch (or avoid) a show because of a theme song. I watched the series in rapid fire and there isn't a theme song that's ever been made through which I don't want to fast-forward after hearing it enough.
Moreover, the theme song became a sacrificial pariah of sorts. It seemed to take on a life of its own, and embody everything that detractors hated regarding the show. On those grounds alone, I would speculate that many of the detractors who hated the theme song also hated the show. But to my eye, it wasn't so much about a theme song but that the theme song became the scape goat for all of the focused hatred and ire.
It's absolutely just me, but I've always felt that this show was the closest to TOS. And that's not for the obvious reasons (e.g. Vulcan science officer), but because it somehow seemed more Avant Garde in its approach. They attempted to re-imagine just about everything and create a foundation for the rest of what would come. The crew left spacedock without even the most basic of tools (tractor beams, shields, prime directive, etc.), and build things over time. The theme song was just another thing they wanted to re-think...
Unfortunately, what they should have focused on was cycling in fresh writing talent with new ideas., and by the time they did, it was too late. People wont watch (or avoid) a show because of a theme song. I watched the series in rapid fire and there isn't a theme song that's ever been made through which I don't want to fast-forward after hearing it enough.
M
marlboro
Guest
I agree with you that a theme song can't make or break a show. But I can't think of a show with a theme that seemed as ill suited as Enterprise's. So it isn't just that it was bad, but it didn't match the show itself imo. And it's a problem that is in every single episode. It's the aural version of the decon chamber scenes.
As for it being a "scapegoat." I'm not sure that is the way I would describe it. I think I would say it is a "shining example" of what the producers were thinking when they made the show. George Lucas really screwed up the Star Wars franchise. Now you could spend days listing all of the ways he F-ed up, or you can just say "Greedo Shot first." When someone chooses a theme song as inappropriate as "Faith in the Heart" and then insists on keeping it for four seasons, it's pretty easy to just say "these guys have lost it and are too stubborn to listen to fans even when it comes to making superficial changes to the show."
I totally agree with you that what the series needed was fresh blood on the writing staff. Good cast, pretty good special effects, but the writing was too often stale and unimaginative.
IrishNero
Commodore
Some good points. Yes, the 'scapegoat' comment was probably a bit strong. I agree that 'Example' would fit better.
I remember that Jolene Blalock was extremely vocal in her disappointment with the scripts. -So much so that she apparently elected for years not to participate in just about anything Star Trek-related. I don't know all of her underlying reasons, but I've read enough cast interviews to know that all was not right on that Starship since 'BrokenBow.' Seems funny to me that so many of the crew and fans weren't pleased with aspects of the show, and yet the producers didn't seem to start answering the mail until season 4; when it was probably too late. When Connor Trinneer was asked recently why the show was cancelled, he said something to the effect that, just like the fans, the cast isn't privy to what goes on in the boardroom, so he doesn't know. The show's execs obviously thought that theme song was appropriate despite the opposition.
In all honesty, the final episode was my one big disappointment. I can live with any other bad episode, but I can't even re-watch that one to this day. I loved TNG, but I could have physically choked Riker and Troi for their involvement in that debacle.
M
marlboro
Guest
Yeah, it's a terrible episode. Some people like to say that Enterprise isn't canon, since the final episode involved the holodeck.
Me, I prefer to think that everything after "Unexpected" - including TOS,TNG,DS9, and Voyager - isn't canon because they are just part of the simulation Trip and that sexy reptile chick were experiencing.
Which means that Trip is alive!
...and he's expecting twins!
Me, I prefer to think that everything after "Unexpected" - including TOS,TNG,DS9, and Voyager - isn't canon because they are just part of the simulation Trip and that sexy reptile chick were experiencing.
Which means that Trip is alive!
...and he's expecting twins!
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The single most horrifying thing I have ever seen here.
I know a lot of people hate the song, but I like it. And not just the song, but the whole opening montage, which was a break from the tired old image of a stately starship zipping across the galaxy while overwrought orchestral music plays. Oh the majesty! The Enterprise credits did the very important task of using real images to show mankind's progression to the Star Trek era. It bridged the gap between the pre and post-warp drive eras. One thing that the Star Trek franchise never did the greatest job of was showing the connection between our present and the Star Trek future. Many times I have been annoyed at dialogue between characters where they talk about 20th century Earth like it's ancient Mesopotamia or something. It was only 400 years ago, sheesh! I read about the Renaissance, it doesn't feel that alien to me. So the opening credits tackle this and sure the light and breezy Bon Jovi-ish song isn't very Trekky, but it's upbeat and fits the mood of the show.
M
marlboro
Guest
I think the montage is great. I just hate the song.
I think it would have been great to have a series of quotes about exploration to accompany the changing images. "One small step for man" and the like. Have it lead up to a shot of the Enterprise with Archer saying "Space the final frontier..."
I think it would have been great to have a series of quotes about exploration to accompany the changing images. "One small step for man" and the like. Have it lead up to a shot of the Enterprise with Archer saying "Space the final frontier..."
I used to watch all of Trek in a big family group, going through every series and some of us used to sing the ENT theme song LOUDLY during the opening music from the other series. This would very much annoy a few people 
I would've thought a group of people getting together and cheerily singing the theme song was the sort of respect for the show the producers dream of.
