MovieChat Forums > Hey Arnold! (1996) Discussion > Character Themes

Character Themes

posted 9 years ago by comicman117
8 replies | jump to latest

So I really like Jim Lang's score for this score, so I decided to make this topic.

Rewatching certain episodes, I've taken note of several different character leitmotif throughout.

Helga’s theme is obviously the most prominent. A very lovely violin tune that gets a lot of variations throughout, and you can hear a bunch of them online thankful. My favorite is probably the Helga on The Couch credit music.

Grandpa’s is probably the most second prominent. A very old-school style tune, that is of course commonly played in episodes where Grandpa is heavily featured. It’s great.

Rhonda has a very eloquent “rich” theme, which is used in her spotlight episodes such as Polishing Rhonda, Rhonda Goes Broke, and Curly’s Girl.

Oskar has polka-sounding sorta Russian in style music, which is used in most of his spotlight episode, particularly at the end of each, and whenever he's sneaking around in an episode.

Country sounding very simple music for Stinky. Used in his spotlight episodes. It especially gets some nice more “serious” variations throughout the episode of Stinky’s Pumpkin.

Ernie has his own construction-like theme, rarely used, but it gets a nice and wonderful variation in Ernie In Love.

Am I missing any others? I’m sure I am. If anyone would be willing to point them out, I’d really appreciate that. This show had some really great music, and it’s a shame that not all of it is available online.

Jamie-O has his own metal sounding theme in both of his spotlight episodes.

Sid seems to have his own theme which can be heard in Sid The Vampire Slayer, Big Gino, and Arnold's Room. It's chaotic and very paranoid sounding just like him.

"You're dead if you aim only for kids. Adults are only kids grown up, anyway". - Walt Disney

[–] 9 years ago

[deleted]

[–] comicman117 9 years ago

Yeah, it's a dreamy-like cue, that usually appears whenever Arnold was thinking about Ruth in the first season, which mind you was only about three times, but it's noticeable.

Some other noticeable themes, I just thought of.

Phoebe has her own theme. It's basically a much more faster sounding version of Helga's. Again, it's usually only played in her spotlight episodes.

Harold has his own sad music, which plays whenever he has a breakdown, and is trying to convince someone to trust him again. It first appeared in What's Opera Arnold (I'm a big fat clown), and is a take on Ridi Pagliaccio.

Coach Wittenberg has his own inspirational raw-raw sports theme, that usually plays about fifteen seconds after his character is introduced and is giving a speech or something, in his episodes.

If there's any other character themes anyone notices, I'd much appreciate if people would point it out. I just love spotting character themes and leitmotifs. Tends to make me appreciate a music score, a bit more.

"You're dead if you aim only for kids. Adults are only kids grown up, anyway". - Walt Disney

[–] JayEnAr 9 years ago

Whenever Eugene pops up, there's kind of a bouncy, spring-sproingy beat.

And I feel like there's a cool, piano-esque riff for Gerald, but I'm not positive.

Also, I totally agree-- Jim Lang is brilliant. I really hope he returns to do music for the Jungle Movie...

[–] comicman117 9 years ago

Eugene's theme is a bit hard to point out. It is a boning sound, but I would assume that it appears in the tracks Eugene Paints It Black https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSzEUR7h-Ew, and Invisible Hippo may be his own theme as well https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBCpEO0Pua0. I believe it was used in two Eugene episodes at least.

There is a piano jazz-riff for Gerald I believe, but like most of the themes, it's rather inconsistent in it's use.

I also remember reading an interview where Jim Lang described Miriam's theme as house-sitcomish and Big Bob's theme being his beeper music. I also believe Olga had her own sad and ominous theme whenever she's unhappy and crying, I remember hearing it Olga Comes Home, and Olga Gets engaged. Even Jamie-O has his own heavy metal pounding theme which can be heard in Jamie-O In Love, and Gerald Vs. Jamie-O.

Man, do I wish the complete score for this was released.

"You're dead if you aim only for kids. Adults are only kids grown up, anyway". - Walt Disney

[–] SelenaQP 8 years ago

I also believe Olga had her own sad and ominous theme whenever she's unhappy and crying, I remember hearing it Olga Comes Home, and Olga Gets engaged.

Yeah, I do notice that in the episodes that feature her. It's usually like a drumroll sound. 

"Arnold, my love, why must I worship you...and NEVER EVER tell?" 

[–] 8 years ago

[deleted]

[–] SelenaQP 8 years ago

Helga’s theme is obviously the most prominent. A very lovely violin tune that gets a lot of variations throughout, and you can hear a bunch of them online thankful. My favorite is probably the Helga on The Couch credit music.

Awww...I love hearing Helga's theme whenever she has her personal, intimate moments to herself in private. 

Grandpa’s is probably the most second prominent. A very old-school style tune, that is of course commonly played in episodes where Grandpa is heavily featured. It’s great.

Yes, when he talks about the old days and we then see flashbacks. 

Oskar has polka-sounding sorta Russian in style music, which is used in most of his spotlight episode, particularly at the end of each, and whenever he's sneaking around in an episode.

That's true. 

I don't know about the rest. I'm gonna have to re-watch those episodes that feature them.

"Arnold, my love, why must I worship you...and NEVER EVER tell?" 

[–] comicman117 8 years ago

It's hard to tell which theme belongs to certain characters or if there is a theme for any of the characters. while some are more obvious. For example, in both of Mr. Simmons's spotlight episodes, you can hear music that sounds like it's from New Teacher, yet I'm unclear if that's supposed to be Simmons theme or not. It's why I'd love a complete score release with liner notes and everything, though I know that's probably never gonna happen.

"You're dead if you aim only for kids. Adults are only kids grown up, anyway". - Walt Disney