How to tell the five seasons apart...by the theme

The theme was re-recorded every season. Not only can you hear differences in the length of intro, the instrumentation, and the improvised sax solos, but even the length of some phrases. The easiest way to identify each season’s theme is by the lick played over the closing chord (or in the case of season one, the sound effect).

Season #1 – Classic “bird/newspaper” opening with cast names/faces inserted in the montage. Theme has long intro to cover opening montage. No instrumental “lick” over final chord, in order to hear the bird (in the cage) tweeting. The closing theme ends with a high piano lick (replacing the bird).

Season #2 – New opening starts without music, as camera dollies left to right past three reporters (Billie/Joe/Adam) who are on the phone, finishing with a shot of a typewriter. The newly-recorded theme then kicks in, with guitar fills after every melodic phrase, and guitar more prominent in mix. All cast members are introduced. Theme ends with bluesy guitar lick (opening theme only; closing theme fades before final guitar tag).

Season #3 - Opening is similar to season 2 (including the wording of the reporters’ phone calls), but now the dolly moves right to left, and after we hear the three reporters talk, we get a close-up on one of the new electronic keyboards which have replaced typewriters in the newsroom. The theme, re-recorded without the annoying guitar licks from season 2, starts immediately with the dolly shot (not later as in season 2). Opening theme ends with a different, more “pop” guitar lick than season 2 (which is also used on the closing theme).

Season #4 – Visually, the opening is identical to season #3, and the theme sounds almost the same, but
if you pay attention to the electric guitar, you’ll hear there are slight differences in the chord inversions. There are also slight differences in the sax licks played while the cast is being introduced. The guitar lick over the last chord is almost the same as season 3, but includes fourths under the “melody.”

Season #5 – The visuals stay the same as seasons 3 and 4, but the theme is clearly different from the first bar: there’s a new fast-picking guitar part that drives the rhythm a lot “hotter” than previous versions (and the tempo seems to be a couple of clicks faster). The bass and drums are now also funkier, with an almost disco influence. The sax fills are mixed lower than in season 4, but they are now harmonized and played by a full sax section (very cool, listen closely). There are slight differences in the horn scoring, and the closing guitar fill, though similar to seasons #3 and 4, is again modified. The guitar fill is missing from the end of the closing theme, but the saxes seem to be mixed a little hotter.