I never cared much for the show, but the music was bloody cool and those futuristic-yet-80s intros are damn awesome! congrats to baker for compiling this!
A lot of shows of this era blended the ident in to the intro - some stations weren't keen on promoting others and would try to crash into the programme bypassing the producing station's ident, can't do that with intros like this. Yorkshire's 3-2-1 integrated the 'Y' right the way through some versions of its intro.
Thank you very much for posting this. Neat compilation. The Favourite intro is #2 - 1986 - The Classic. Certainly brings back memories from way back then. (Nice touch keeping in the "Central" intro logo and music too 👍👍👍)
Man, it's beautiful how we see the future back then as a laser-tech, Tron-y neon world compared to what the movies are portraying now as dystopian. It was beautiful.
This brings a tear to my eyes as i remember watching blockbusters since it started in 1983 until Bob 2012, as it reminds me of my teenage years that i can't get back
@@ajs41 Deliberate and perfectly timed for the appearance of Beethoven's image in the first set of titles (which coincides with Beethoven's entry in the encyclopaedia in the lower half of the screen)
I didn't realize Blockbusters had been rebooted so many times with different presenters. Original theme music and Bob Holness are the best though. Hated themes four and five. They were the worst out of all of them.
Blockbusters is one of my favourite quiz shows. Of course Bob is the best host. I dont remember the first titles or the 1st sky one series or the bbc 2 version. I didn't mind the 2000 Liza Tarbuck version
- The original theme tune... Epic. One of the greatest pieces of music, ever. - The BBC imposter... Oh, the humanity. - The Sky One Bob Holness version... For one bloke with a £20 Argos keyboard, it's a decent job. - The Lisa Tarbuck era... Interesting. Fairly nice reinterpretation, but the tempo alterations take a bit of getting used to. - The Challenge reboot... Rock and roll, brother. Fantastic. - The Comedy Central reproduction... Groovy, but not a masterpiece.
The one i remember most was the second one. I don't recognise any of the others except the one call all new Blockbusters. The earlier seasons theme was more powerful than the later ones even if the tune was similar
For me, the 1986 intro is the greatest British title sequence ever, with one of the greatest theme tunes ever, by the amazing Ed Welch! His 90s remix was great too. All the 2000s remixes by other people were dreadful (especially the 2012 one with wrong chords). Though the 2019 one was pretty decent, if a bit short.
There is one more version that was on TH-cam for a bit, but disappeared. The titles to 'Champion Blockbusters' used the Blade Runner titles, but added faces of past champions to the flashing board during the middle and I think in place of the polysterene scuptures as the flying hexagons flew through the studio. Be great to see this one again!
The theme was re-recorded in stereo in 1991 for the penultimate 1992 series, as the original had worn out and had not been copied (and subsequently 'lost' or 'destroyed'). The 1994 Central series for Sky One was recorded by Ed Welch because the original master tapes had been destroyed but they had in fact been removed from a skip when Central were decanting from Broad Street - they do exist including the game stings and the extended outro used in the earlier series. The 1983-1993 theme was recorded by musicians for Central and not Ed himself. His version was released as a single in 1988, with his 'New Faces' theme on the B-side, and was actually quite poor.
Beethoven makes his appearance at just the right moment in the original (sorry, just noticed a few people have made the same comment below better than me)...83 wins for me - the sequence I remember as a young teenager, finishing with the Apollo 1 badge
Am I the only one who thinks intro 5 is underrated? Also I love all the intros (except intro 4). This show actually made the hexagon my fave shape. Althogh my faves would be the 2nd intro and the 7th intro.
@@EightThreeEight I can see a reason to change the graphics, but I see no reason for the lacklustre remakes of the music. The original is one of my favourite TV themes of all time.
Ed Welch is just a brilliant composter and they ruined his tune with remixes. They did the same thing to his classic Catchphrase tune, replacing it with inferior versions. They also scrapped all his brilliant in-show tunes for the catchphrases and replaced them with crap. It's annoying!
The 1994 abomination is a total disgrace. Recycled graphics and the music recomposed in to absolute shit. To further add insult, an insecure and infuriating "whoop" was added. So sad.
They may have created it over there, but we made it a legend over here, even foreign versions ended up using the ITV-style version because it was so damned iconic... :D
Simon Mayo was awful, no rapport with the contestants, also when asking the questions on the Gold Run he took so long, watching the re-re-re runs on Challenge at the moment we are shouting at the TV 😂
An absolute banger of a theme tune that has never been surpassed.
Ed Welch also did the theme tune to Knightmare.
RIP bob holness you will be sadly missed by millions of fans who have tune in to watch u host blockbusters
I never cared much for the show, but the music was bloody cool and those futuristic-yet-80s intros are damn awesome! congrats to baker for compiling this!
I love the way it starts with central promo opening up before the titles of blockbusters runs
A lot of shows of this era blended the ident in to the intro - some stations weren't keen on promoting others and would try to crash into the programme bypassing the producing station's ident, can't do that with intros like this. Yorkshire's 3-2-1 integrated the 'Y' right the way through some versions of its intro.
Yeah
Yeah
There was always something very comforting about Blockbusters. I miss it.
Don't worry it has more resurrections than Freddy Krueger.
I love how the 1980s ones look like Blade Runner, the 2000s ones look like The Matrix and 2010s ones look like Tron.
The 90s one its like your flying in a world
Thank you very much for posting this. Neat compilation. The Favourite intro is #2 - 1986 - The Classic. Certainly brings back memories from way back then. (Nice touch keeping in the "Central" intro logo and music too 👍👍👍)
0:30 that's clever synching, there.
Fun fact: Originally started in the 3.30 time slot, sometime replaced by Sons and Daughters, before moving to 5.15.
Man, it's beautiful how we see the future back then as a laser-tech, Tron-y neon world compared to what the movies are portraying now as dystopian. It was beautiful.
More to the point, how on earth did they film that sequence?
This brings a tear to my eyes as i remember watching blockbusters since it started in 1983 until Bob 2012, as it reminds me of my teenage years that i can't get back
Bob Holmes was the king of Blockbusters
Who was he?
Notice how the music goes “de-de-de-duuuuuh” when Beethoven appears
I like it, although I wonder whether it was deliberate. Probably.
@@ajs41 Deliberate and perfectly timed for the appearance of Beethoven's image in the first set of titles (which coincides with Beethoven's entry in the encyclopaedia in the lower half of the screen)
@@ajs41 of course it was.
0:31
I didn't realize Blockbusters had been rebooted so many times with different presenters. Original theme music and Bob Holness are the best though. Hated themes four and five. They were the worst out of all of them.
I totally agree
Bob was the best host
Blockbusters is one of my favourite quiz shows. Of course Bob is the best host. I dont remember the first titles or the 1st sky one series or the bbc 2 version. I didn't mind the 2000 Liza Tarbuck version
Trivia: The 2nd intro sequence was inspired by Blade Runner. 4:21 The 2019 Blockbusters theme is epic.
- The original theme tune... Epic. One of the greatest pieces of music, ever.
- The BBC imposter... Oh, the humanity.
- The Sky One Bob Holness version... For one bloke with a £20 Argos keyboard, it's a decent job.
- The Lisa Tarbuck era... Interesting. Fairly nice reinterpretation, but the tempo alterations take a bit of getting used to.
- The Challenge reboot... Rock and roll, brother. Fantastic.
- The Comedy Central reproduction... Groovy, but not a masterpiece.
The one i remember most was the second one. I don't recognise any of the others except the one call all new Blockbusters. The earlier seasons theme was more powerful than the later ones even if the tune was similar
I hadn't the slightest recollection of the BBC2 version. The theme was clearly a "homage".
Apart from the second mix of the theme, nothing will ever top the original arrangement ever.
You can really see how time constraints cut the opening by quite a bit on later seasons
I think you'd struggle to find another show that has been bounced between five different networks!
I thought it had just been a cancelled ITV game show in the 80s. I didn't know it had been revived, by Sky or even the Beeb.
@@anonUKsky challenge Comedy Central Simon mayo Lisa tarbuck and dara o brien
Because it's easy schedule filler and doesn't cost very much.
For me, the 1986 intro is the greatest British title sequence ever, with one of the greatest theme tunes ever, by the amazing Ed Welch! His 90s remix was great too. All the 2000s remixes by other people were dreadful (especially the 2012 one with wrong chords). Though the 2019 one was pretty decent, if a bit short.
I may be wrong but I think the music for the 1986 titles is pretty much identical to the 1983 version. Can you tell any differences?
There is one more version that was on TH-cam for a bit, but disappeared. The titles to 'Champion Blockbusters' used the Blade Runner titles, but added faces of past champions to the flashing board during the middle and I think in place of the polysterene scuptures as the flying hexagons flew through the studio. Be great to see this one again!
The 1994 theme sounds like what a knockoff of the Ed Welch theme would sounds like.
Ed Welch actually created the 1994 theme as rumour as has it the master tapes for the original theme got lost at Central somewhere along the years.
@@garymcewan868 Oooh that is sad. This man's work needs to be preserved! He's one of my two favourite TV composers (the other is Shuki Levy).
@@garymcewan868 legend has it, they were never found
The theme was re-recorded in stereo in 1991 for the penultimate 1992 series, as the original had worn out and had not been copied (and subsequently 'lost' or 'destroyed'). The 1994 Central series for Sky One was recorded by Ed Welch because the original master tapes had been destroyed but they had in fact been removed from a skip when Central were decanting from Broad Street - they do exist including the game stings and the extended outro used in the earlier series. The 1983-1993 theme was recorded by musicians for Central and not Ed himself. His version was released as a single in 1988, with his 'New Faces' theme on the B-side, and was actually quite poor.
I wish Blockbusters came back with the 2019 theme and the 2012 board and podiums.
The 2019 one is the Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing version of Blockbusters.
1: riveting
2: Best intro ever
3: same
4 its ok
5: its alright
6: return to form
7 love it.
Beethoven makes his appearance at just the right moment in the original (sorry, just noticed a few people have made the same comment below better than me)...83 wins for me - the sequence I remember as a young teenager, finishing with the Apollo 1 badge
4:14 Getting 80s 'Tron' vibes at the beginning of the 2019 version (love it) 🤓
Great as it takes me back to when i watched it as a kid
I'm sorry but that 4th one made me laugh! 🤣
Great memories
The one I remember most vividly is the 1986 theme, although my mother said that I was very interested in the original 1983 intro as a toddler!
There was also an Australian version of Blockbusters with Michael Pope. Maybe you should've added that, too.
3:49 has to be my favourite
i would have to agree with you their dude
I find that version irritating as they changed the chords to stupid ones.
Intros 1 and 2 were the best
I was a kid in 1994 so I watched it on sky one. I like the 1986 version it's a incredible intro.
3:49 - All New Blockbusters 2012 Intro
Nope - 83 intro all the way, the best...
1986 has to be the classic one for me
Never noticed the challenge easter egged filled intro.
Those 90s versions sound like what someone would make for an N64 Blockbusters game
Am I the only one who thinks intro 5 is underrated? Also I love all the intros (except intro 4). This show actually made the hexagon my fave shape. Althogh my faves would be the 2nd intro and the 7th intro.
A LOT fancier that the openings for the US Blockbusters
Comedy Central had the best one. But damn the 1986 intro is amazing to watch - brings back memories...
It is a totally different year in England than it is in the US.
I think the music for the first two titles is either 100% the same or maybe just a few tiny differences. Not sure.
Brings back memories, I thought Bob warman did a version for sky
Are you thinking of The Price Is Right?
Liza tarbuck 🤢 who's idea was that
What makes you say that?
Not mad keen on Dara O’Briain as a host either in the most recent Blockbusters.
How come The Imposter has a "you can make it sound like the Welch version but can't use it" type of feel to it?
The third version from Sky sounded more like the theme to Connections
Why try to improve on perfection that the earlier theme and presenter delivered?
Because showing 1990s animation before a TV show recorded with modern-day cameras and sound equipment may be a bit jarring.
@@EightThreeEight I can see a reason to change the graphics, but I see no reason for the lacklustre remakes of the music. The original is one of my favourite TV themes of all time.
Ed Welch is just a brilliant composter and they ruined his tune with remixes. They did the same thing to his classic Catchphrase tune, replacing it with inferior versions. They also scrapped all his brilliant in-show tunes for the catchphrases and replaced them with crap. It's annoying!
The 1994 abomination is a total disgrace. Recycled graphics and the music recomposed in to absolute shit. To further add insult, an insecure and infuriating "whoop" was added. So sad.
How were Sky able to take the opening sequence from 86 Central?
Central were still making the show for Sky…
Liza Tarbuck version theme sounds like something Gary Numan would have used as a B-side back in 1979 😂
1:06 If it ain't broke don't fix it. 😂 That last one was alright though....
You only forgot the updated Classic music.
I only remember the 1st one!
1:21 best remix ever
Can I have P please Bob? 🤭
Cullen theme is the best
The 1997 theme sounds like a knock off theme use by a sketch comedy show or sitcom.
As usual the first one was the best.........
Why change things
The second version but in Nicam rather than this mono version.
Can I have a P please Bob
What “P” is a term for a word that reads the same backwards and forwards?
@@mallguy8970 Palindrome
The 1997 theme is basically a generic version of Ed Welch's theme
Well and Lisa Tarbuck although in their own right are great presenters, but not on this show.
:-)
Comedy central should of did a strategy where they repeated a month or so later on Channel 5. What they did is essentially buried the success.
,,,should HAVE,,,,
“Should have done” as well.
What about the US original versions? The show originated in the US, and we can thank Mark Goodson and Bill Toddman.
They may have created it over there, but we made it a legend over here, even foreign versions ended up using the ITV-style version because it was so damned iconic... :D
Meh, the show was nothing until Ed Welch and Bob Holness came along! :-)
@@twocvbloke shots fired!
@@Scripture-Manyes it was bill Cullen is a game show legend in the US and his hosting it was why.
@@christopherflowers6583the 1994 theme is full of MIDI goodness.
That last one has some weird Tron Legacy shit going on, but sounds bloody awful
I like the last one!
I think the music is okay, although the dance-backbeat thing really pulls it down a bit.
IMO:
🥇 1986
🥈 2019
🥉 2012
❌ 1997
Second Version is from 1987.,... NOT 1986.
bbc version was awful
Could I credit you and re upload this to one of my own channels with a few tweaks
Of the revival attempts, the 2019 theme is the only one that comes close to the standard of the original.
AGREED! :-)
Definitely
The 1997 theme was terrible. I can smell the MIDI from here.
Simon Mayo was awful, no rapport with the contestants, also when asking the questions on the Gold Run he took so long, watching the re-re-re runs on Challenge at the moment we are shouting at the TV 😂
Lol the imposter one is terrible