While I think Dennis McCarthy's theme is fantastic (which quite rightly won an Emmy for best theme), I wonder what Jerry Goldsmith's theme would have been like.
Jerry Goldsmith was approached to write the DS9 theme
- Thread starter DS9forever
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I prefered Voyager's theme, so I imagine his DS9 theme might have been better than the one we got.
Voyager's theme was a bit too... dramatic for me, especially for a series which wasn't all that dramatic. I like the quickened version of the DS9 theme introduced in "The Way of the Warrior", which McCarthy named "No Longer Alone".
I dunno ... I quite like the DS9 theme, especially the uptempo version. I love Goldsmith's work, but I was thrilled with what we got from DS9.
I bet you a million dollars the primary reason why Jerry Goldsmith didn't get the DS9 gig was because he asked for too much money. 
^I'd take that bet, if I had some to spare. Why'd he do the Voyager theme, then?
Voyager was heralded as the flagship show of a new network. Paramount was more than willing to spend the dough for sure.
I always felt that the second version of the DS9 theme, heard in the later seasons, was "Goldsmithed", to a certain extent. It has a character a bit closer to what Maestro Goldsmith produces than McCarthy's original (which I always felt was a bit meek for an adventure show)
I agree completely. While I don't hate the up-tempo version, I prefer the slower one from seasons 1-3.
Of course, the second version is not necessarily out of place the way ENTERPRISE's up-tempo redo was.
It sounds like a shadow of the TNG theme. I assume it would be harmonically daring and dark and gritty ala Aliens or Predator or Damien Omen albeit lighter and more spacey. It would probably be very self contained and figuratively tight motivically ala Stravinsky or Bartok. He would probably mimic the style of Trek composers of old including Courage and Fried and Steiner and channel some of that early Americana of the golden age of tv that he started with and was so much a part of. It would have been more exciting though. He was a giant and legendary. The Voyager theme is haunting. He always seemed to give the producers exactly what they subconsciously wanted. It's just another example of Trek running itself over in it's mad power and glory seeking blind tyrranical approach.
Definitely. On Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, the change in tempo (which was accompanied by a change in the main title visuals) made thematic sense. On Enterprise, as the show was entering a darker period...the music got upbeat, and the visuals stayed exactly the same? I never got that decision (moreover, the season 3-4 version of "Faith of the Heart" is terrible).
I concur, Voyager's is my fave with DS9s theme a close second, but I imagine the theme would be different and I love Goldsmith's work, but I'd rather leave DS9's theme alone.
Eh, it's a passable tune, and the season 1-2 arrangement fits the tone of the series. I can't say that I listen to it much, though.
I agree the singing version is terrible, but the orchestrated version on the end of the pilot wasn't so bad. If they had to use that theme, that's the one they should have gone with.
But yeah, pop tunes do NOT belong in Star Trek.
It must have been an interesting conversation with Rick Berman and Brannon Braga. "Our last two themes won Emmys, so we obviously want a pop song from a Robin Williams film".
Agreed. I just don't get the thinking behind it. The new series wasn't our fathers' Star Trek, and it was to be a bit grittier and edgier, and all this marlarkey. They wanted things different, so they decided to go with a worn out pop song as the theme? 
I do like ENT, though more in the last couple of years, so I can at least see that even though the song was a bit crap, it did fit into Archer's character. The season 3-4 remix, however, was even worse. The cheery, up-tempo bollocks was a bad fit with the darker storyline they were now telling. It killed any rhythm that the teaser may have been building up. So if ever I'm rewatching on DVD, it gets skipped.
As for the DS9 theme, I'm sure Jerry Goldsmith would have done a wonderful job. I just can't imagine the show without Dennis McCarthy's fantastic score. And I agree with those that think the seasons 1-3 version is better. The 4-7 worked very well as the station was in the middle of everything, and they weren't alone anymore. The first, slower version was more simple, but it was more haunting, and set the scene well for those early seasons where we were still learning about everything.
I do like ENT, though more in the last couple of years, so I can at least see that even though the song was a bit crap, it did fit into Archer's character. The season 3-4 remix, however, was even worse. The cheery, up-tempo bollocks was a bad fit with the darker storyline they were now telling. It killed any rhythm that the teaser may have been building up. So if ever I'm rewatching on DVD, it gets skipped.
As for the DS9 theme, I'm sure Jerry Goldsmith would have done a wonderful job. I just can't imagine the show without Dennis McCarthy's fantastic score. And I agree with those that think the seasons 1-3 version is better. The 4-7 worked very well as the station was in the middle of everything, and they weren't alone anymore. The first, slower version was more simple, but it was more haunting, and set the scene well for those early seasons where we were still learning about everything.
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