The Addams Family Theme
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The theme for the 1964 TV series The Addams Family was written and arranged by longtime Hollywood film and television composer Vic Mizzy. The song's arrangement was dominated by a harpsichord and a bass clarinet, and featured finger-snaps as percussive accompaniment.[1] Actor Ted Cassidy, reprising his "Lurch" voice, punctuated the lyrics with the words "neat", "sweet", and "petite". Mizzy's theme was popular enough to enjoy a single release, though it failed to make the national charts.
The closing theme was similar, but was instrumental only and featured such instruments as a triangle, a wooden block, a siren whistle, and a duck call.
See also
[edit]- Addams Groove - a single performed by hip-hop artist Hammer that was released as the theme song to the 1991 film The Addams Family.
- Black No. 1 (Little Miss Scare-All) - a single by goth metal band Type O Negative that includes a short reference of the theme.
Legacy
[edit]Charles Addams loved the show's theme more than the show itself.[2] The song has become popular as a staple of the Addams Family. In 2007, it was used as the theme for an advert for Tetley Tea.[3] In May 2012, Horrible Histories parodied the Addams Family theme, singing about the Borgia family[4]
In the 2022 series Wednesday the code to enter the sanctum of the secret society of the Nightshades is to snap twice (similar to how snapping twice is part of the song). Christina Aguilera recorded her own version of the song for The Addams Family 2 soundtrack in 2021.[5]
References
[edit]- ^ McLellan, Dennis (October 20, 2009). "Vic Mizzy dies at 93; film and TV composer wrote 'Addams Family' theme song". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
- ^ Sauer, Patrick J. (2019-10-11). "The Cultural History of 'The Addams Family'". Smithsonian. Retrieved 2024-09-28.
- ^ Delaney, Sam (19 May 2007). "The Hard Sell". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
- ^ Horrible Histories (2019-11-09). The Borgia Family Song 🎶 | Radical Renaissance | Horrible Histories. Retrieved 2024-12-14 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Megan Thee Stallion and Snoop Dogg join 'The Addams Family 2' soundtrack". NME. September 28, 2021. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
External links
[edit]- The Addams Family Theme on YouTube from the original television series.
- Composer Vic Mizzy plays "The Addams Family" theme on YouTube
- Vic Mizzy, His Orchestra and Chorus - Discography at 45cat.com
- The Addams Family Theme at Discogs (list of releases)
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