The Dr Who Dilemma

This is about the inverse relationship between the progress of the Dr Who theme music and the general production and special effects used in the show.

Over the 40 years or so Dr Who has been on air, it's bloody obvious that the visual effects have improved beyond imagination. Compared to the hokey visual effects of the set designs and creatures from the 60s, 70s and 80s, the quality of today's productions are aeons ahead.


But what happened to the theme music recently?!

When originally aired in 1963 it was a ground breaking composition from BBC's Radiophonic Workshop. I urge you to start your learning journey about this vital institution by clicking this link here.

A total oddity for its time, this wholly electronic piece of music has earned a place in history and in people's hearts and minds. It was (and still is) a unique piece of music ... an electronic theme for a TV show that premiered when rock and pop were to be ruled by guitars for a long time still. Here's the original version. And here's a more detailed insight into its composition and production.


Its legacy looms large. It's been covered by EMD icons, Orbital (to be honest, i don't particularly like this version). Dub Syndicate dubbed it out in fine style. Pink Floyd give it an unambiguous nod in their instrumental "One of These Days", and of course the KLF mashed it together with Gary Glitter's Rock n Roll to forge their No. 1 hit under the guide of "The Timelords".

It got tweaked a handful of times in its life span, and here's a great (and nerdy) insight into one of those reworkings in the 80s : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OWMGAiaNeQ


But now .... well now it's puss. A watered down rehash of a classic and well loved, innovative piece of music. Verging on formulaic and borrowing on the more pedestrian aspects of contemporary electronic (read: dance) music, it now lacks the spark and impressiveness it premiered with. It doesn't inspire awe ... it inspires a yawn.

So whilst the visual effects have improved beyond imagination, the theme music has gone backwards, and is now occupying a stagnant pool of musical mediocrity.