The Unofficial JL/JLU Musical Theme Thread

[batmanbeyond13]

It would be great if W B would release a C D with all this music. Tracks I would like on the C D would be: 1- Superman's Theme, 2- Wonder Woman's Theme, 3- Green Lantern's Theme, 4- Flash's Theme, 5- Martian Manhunter's Theme, 6- Hawkgirl's Theme, 7- Aquaman's Theme ( if there is one ), 8- The Justice League Theme, 9- The J L U Theme, and maybe some other ones worth listening to like the Hawkgirl/ Green Lantern Love Theme. Notice I did not mention Batman's Theme. That one is by Danny Elfman and you can get it on the Batman movie score C D. On a side note, Elfman also created the theme for the Flash back in the early 90's show. That was a great theme song.

 

[Crow]

Ah TBalena if I could see you right now I'd shower you with affection.

There's two themes which still are confusing me. In Fearful Symmetry, Hardcastle's fireplace story to the three Leaguers, there's a cue that sends shivers down my spine - I've discussed it with you and others before.

Is this the Cadmus theme?

I think it also plays when the Bald Dude answers his phone and gets the order to blow Galatea up.

DAH DAAAAH, DAH DAH, DA-DAH, DAH DAH, DAAAAAAAAAAAH.

What leads me to believe that this wonderful music isn't the theme for Cadmus is in Ultimatum - Waller's first appearance, there's a big evil sounding fanfare. Then again when she and the cavalry shows up to collect the Ultimen.

DUN DUN, DUN DUN DUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUN.

In Dark Heart, as Diana rushes to get Atom into the alien machine and does that lasso trick, there's another good theme there. Is it hers?

This is a great thread.

 

[dlb]

Wow...there are so many themes in JL/JLU that I've never noticed, I've gotten lazy.

b.t., I know you're a busy man, but if you have the time could you possibly provide us with a list of the various themes used in JL/JLU, and good examples of when they're played so we can pinpoint them?

I hate to sound like I'm making demands (and believe me, that's not my intent), but I've always been a great admirer of the DCAU music (my recent grips about the synthesisers notwithstanding), and have always been impressed with the use of leitmotif throughout the extended series, and having a comprehsive list of these themes would be great.

BTW (if I'm not pushing it), there's a question that's been bugging me for almost ten years. Why was the awesome Joker theme from BTAS not carried over into TNBA? Sure, it was the tune of the music box Harley used in "The World's Finest," and the Joker himself whistled it in "Mad Love," but it never (to my recollection, please correct me if I'm wrong) showed up in a score. Most of the other BTAS villian themes made the transition, why not that one?

(BTW, thanks for bringing Grodd back. )

 

[RONDC20]

WOW!!! This is cool. I thought I was the only one who followed and paid attention to the music and the themes played in JL and JLU.


In tonight's second new JLU Episode "To Another Shore" Wonder Woman's theme is played prominetly several times as well as Green Arrow's theme. He even sings it at one point, when he's boarding the Submarine. This was a theme heavy episode as both Wonder Woman's and Green Arrow's theme were played a lot.

I look forward to hearing Green Lantern's theme again in future episodes. I would also love to hear Superman's and Batman's themes. I agree Flash needs his own theme.

Ronald C

 

[Alba Aulbath]

Man, I have a hard time finding themes in JLU. Except for the obvious (Batman and Superman), I can't spot them that well without a full orchestra, I guess. I mean, I can hear Q's easily. It's got a creepy tone and I'm obsessive anyhow.

And to note, Q's theme appears variously in "Question Authority". I don't remember all the spots, but I do remember one point specifically when he speaks to Huntress right after he's gotten the info from Cadmus.

 

[Trevor Balena]

Updated the list to include both of this weekend's episodes.

However, I was unable to detect any of the standard themes in "Chaos At The Earth's Core". One would expect Supergirl's theme to be in there, but I didn't hear it. I've always been bad at picking out her theme, for some reason.

Did anyone hear it (or any other theme... Green Lantern's, perhaps?), and if so, where?

Also, I would be surprised if J'onn's theme is not present in "To Another Shore"... did anyone hear it?


Edit: Updated the list to include "The Return", a very musically rich episode. Perhaps I missed something here, as well; did anyone notice a Dr. Fate theme or an AMAZO theme, for instance?

 

[Trevor Balena]

Updated the list to include the rest of Season 3. Now we're entering the area where I might need more help from you guys, since I haven't watched the Season 4 episodes as many times as I have the earlier ones.

So keep that input coming, folks!
...And b.t., I'd love to know if Kin Shriner improvised that great moment in "To Another Shore", where G.A. sings his own theme song.

 

[dlb]

...And b.t., I'd love to know if Kin Shriner improvised that great moment in "To Another Shore", where G.A. sings his own theme song.

Aaarrrgh....SPOILER!!!! Oh well, no big deal I guess. Just don't post the lyrics here. But since it's out of the bag, was it set to his JLU theme?

 

[Trevor Balena]

Aaarrrgh....SPOILER!!!! Oh well, no big deal I guess. Just don't post the lyrics here. But since it's out of the bag, was it set to his JLU theme?

Sorry, man. But the stated purpose of this thread is to examine the music of each new episode as it airs, so you really should've expected something like this to happen.

But, since you asked...

Spoiler

yes, it's his JLU theme, but there aren't any lyrics; it's kind of like DAH-duh-duh-DAH DAH-duh-duh-DAH. Well, you know what I mean.

 

[dlb]

Sorry, man. But the stated purpose of this thread is to examine the music of each new episode as it airs, so you really should've expected something like this to happen.

But, since you asked...

Spoiler

yes, it's his JLU theme, but there aren't any lyrics; it's kind of like DAH-duh-duh-DAH DAH-duh-duh-DAH. Well, you know what I mean.

Eh, I was only half serious in my complaint anyway. No biggie. I'll look out for that moment when I finally see the episode, sounds great.

 

[Redemption]

Galatea has her theme at the end of Flashpoint and when she enters the Watchtower in Panic in the Sky, just so you know.

 

[Trevor Balena]

Updated with three more Season 4 episodes... even though two of them don't seem to have much going on in terms of themes.

Has anyone noticed maybe a Mr. Miracle theme in "The Ties That Bind", or any theme in "The Doomsday Sanction"?


Edit: also updated with "Task Force X" and "The Balance".

 

[b.t.]

Updated

...And b.t., I'd love to know if Kin Shriner improvised that great moment in "To Another Shore", where G.A. sings his own theme song.

nope, it was dwayne's idea, written into the script...it then took three actors to realise the gag.....kin took a shot, but couldn't quite get the tune right; i sang it, and that's what the overseas guys animated to; in post we decided my vocal quality didn't match kin's enough, so lex lang pitched in and looped the final version....

 

[Trevor Balena]

nope, it was dwayne's idea, written into the script...it then took three actors to realise the gag.....kin took a shot, but couldn't quite get the tune right; i sang it, and that's what the overseas guys animated to; in post we decided my vocal quality didn't match kin's enough, so lex lang pitched in and looped the final version....

Cool info. Never would have guessed that it wasn't Shriner doing the singing. I don't know why that moment works so well... it doesn't make any logical sense if you think about it. I mean, what, did GA make up a song about himself? Is he aware he's on a television show? But for some reason, it's just perfectly in character for Ollie. Maybe because, more than any other character, he's completely aware of how absurd these kinds of situations are, and because of that he's able to poke fun at superhero conventions a bit without it seeming forced.

Anyway, lest I forget, the list has been updated all the way up to the beginning of the Cadmus four-parter. More to come later, probably.

 

[Crow]

There aren't any character themes I could detect in "The Doomsday Sanction" but there's a recurring Superman fights Doomsday cue, which first appears after Doomsday says "It's what I am, I don't care why." [\QUOTE]

DUN-DUN DUN DUUUUN.

Repeats.

 

[Trevor Balena]

DUN-DUN DUN DUUUUN.

Repeats.

I can only half-remember the cue you're talking about, but seeing it written down like that, it strikes me as being quite similar to Galatea's theme. Perhaps the music associated with the two characters is linked due to the near-identical origins of Doomsy and Tea?


Also, updated the list with "Question Authority", "Flashpoint", and "Panic In The Sky". While "Flashpoint" contains some of my favourite JLU music, these episode are light on character themes...

 

[Trevor Balena]

Here's something that's been bugging me for a while. Does Wonder Woman have two themes?

Listen to the music when Diana flies off to rescue Superman in "Doomsday Sanction". Listen to the music when she fights past the nanobots to get The Atom to where he needs to go in "Dark Heart". Listen to the music when she hurls the Javelin at Brainthor in "Divided We Fall".

It's the same music. But it's not the theme that was introduced waaaaay back in "Paradise Lost" and is used frequently to this day... it's a different theme entirely. What's going on? Are the composers trying to screw with the, like, four of us who actually pay attention to this stuff?

 

[Crow]

I would agree with GMahler that the two cues aren't really linked at all - don't take too much from my rendtions boys, I'm tone deaf.

See I was thinking that other Diana theme was a theme for the lasso, but it can't be.

 

[Trevor Balena]

See I was thinking that other Diana theme was a theme for the lasso, but it can't be.

Yeah, that seems like a longshot. Maybe b.t. will fill us in.

Soooo... the list has been updated with "Divided We Fall" and "Epilogue", and is therefore now complete. I may or may not go back and tackle the first two seasons at some later date; right now, the thought of dissecting fifty-two more episodes isn't a pleasant one. Maybe I'll tackle it in pieces, as the mood strikes me.

A minor thing: b.t. mentioned that the Green Lantern and Wonder Woman themes were used in "Divided..." but I wasn't able to detect them. Has anyone else been able to pick them out?

Lastly, along those same lines, a general request: I've now compiled all of the themes I'm aware of. If it's not on the list, I don't know about it. So if you know of an instance of a recurring cue that isn't listed, please speak up so I can add it. As I say, I've done all I can at this point. The rest is up to you guys.

 

[b.t.]

Yeah, that seems like a longshot. Maybe b.t. will fill us in.


A minor thing: b.t. mentioned that the Green Lantern and Wonder Woman themes were used in "Divided..." but I wasn't able to detect them. Has anyone else been able to pick them out?

actually, i might have had a brain-fart, the gl theme might not be in
"divided" after all, i'll have to go back and check...but the music that plays when diana is throwing the javelin definitely is her standard theme....dunno if this has been mentioned yet, but her theme is also in "the balance" as she goes to town with shayera's mace....

gmahler: how could you forget the ultra-dark version of the superman theme that plays as superman gives doomsday his ultimate smackdown in "doomsday sanction"? right after "guess i'll need a bigger fire"....