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Meet the Flintstones

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"Meet the Flintstones", also worded as "(Meet) The Flintstones", is the theme song from the 1960s animated television series The Flintstones. Composed in 1961 by Hoyt Curtin, Joseph Barbera and William Hanna, it is one of the most popular and best known of all theme songs, with its catchy lyrics; "Flintstones, meet the Flintstones, they're the modern Stone Age family".[1][2]

Background

The opening and closing credits theme during the first two seasons was called "Rise and Shine", a lively instrumental underscore accompanying Fred on his drive home from work. The tune resembled "The Bugs Bunny Overture (This Is It!)", the theme song of The Bugs Bunny Show, also airing on ABC at the time, and may have been the reason the theme was changed in the third season.[3]

Prior to being adopted as the TV theme, "Meet the Flintstones" was first released on the Golden Records 78 rpm children's record release Songs of the Flintstones (Golden R680, released 1961), as the A-side to a version of "Rise and Shine" with lyrics. It includes verses related to Barney and Betty Rubble and to Dino that are not heard in the later TV version. The melody of "Meet the Flintstones" can also be heard as incidental music in some episodes of the first two seasons.

Starting in Season 3, Episode 3 ("Barney the Invisible"), "Meet the Flintstones" became the opening and closing credits theme. This version was recorded with a 22-piece big band, and the Randy Van Horne Singers. The melody is believed to have been inspired from part of the 'B' section of Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 17 (The "Tempest"), Movement 2, composed in 1801/02, and reharmonized.[4] The "Meet the Flintstones" opening was later added to the first two seasons for syndication, with "Rise and Shine" restored when the series was re-released to syndication and, later, home video in the 1990s. The musical underscores were credited to Hoyt Curtin for the show's first five seasons; Ted Nichols took over in 1965 for the final season.[3] During the show's final season, "Open Up Your Heart (And Let the Sunshine In)", performed by Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm, in a clip from that season's first episode, was used as alternate close music.

Popularity

In 2010, a PRS for Music survey of 2,000 adults in the UK found that the "Meet the Flintstones" theme tune was the most recognised children's TV theme, ahead of those for Top Cat and Postman Pat.[1][5]

Jazz standard

Recorded in the key of E-flat major, it has since become a jazz standard; in addition, harmonically it conforms to the structure known as rhythm changes, a well known kind of composition for jazz musicians. It is often played for the amusement of audiences as part of a medley, forming what is referred to as "jazz humor".[6] The International Association of Jazz Record Collectors refer to it as "campy" and "cheek by jowl".[7] Often performed at an exhilarating pace, it is technically challenging for some. The song has been performed in the middle of a jazz medley with "It Never Entered My Mind" and "I Love Lucy".[8] In 2015, The Brian Setzer Orchestra recorded a version with Christmas-themed lyrics entitled "Yabba-Dabba-Yuletide" on his Christmas album Rockin’ Rudolph.

The theme song was featured in the sitcom Full House and its successor Fuller House.[9]

The B-52's cover

"(Meet) The Flintstones"
Single by The B.C. 52's
from the album The Flintstones: Music From Bedrock
ReleasedMay 14, 1994
GenreRock
LabelReprise
Songwriter(s)Hoyt Curtin, Joseph Barbera and William Hanna
Producer(s)Kate Pierson, Fred Schneider, Keith Strickland
The B-52's singles chronology
"Hot Pants Explosion"
(1993) 		"(Meet) The Flintstones"
(1994) 		"Debbie"
(1998)

The song was covered by The B-52's, with an additional verse added, as "The B.C. 52's", a fictional band from the film The Flintstones. It was released as a single from the movie's soundtrack, peaking at number 33 on the US Billboard Hot 100. It was the band's joint highest entry on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart at number three, tying with "Summer of Love" from 1986. The song was also the band's second highest-charting single in the United Kingdom (the highest being "Love Shack" at number two), also peaking at number three.

Track listing

7" Single

  1. (Meet) The Flintstones (Original LP Version) (Fred's Edit) - 2:24
  2. (Meet) The Flintstones (Barney's Edit) - 2:28

12" Maxi

  1. (Meet) The Flintstones (Space Cowboy Mix 1) - 6:55
  2. (Meet) The Flintstones (Space Cowboy Mix 2) - 6:55
  3. (Meet) The Flintstones (Instrumental) - 6:55

12" Promo

  1. (Meet) The Flintstones (Quarry Mix) - 8:00
  2. (Meet) The Flintstones (Bam Bam Tribal Beat) - 4:59
  3. (Meet) The Flintstones (Bedrock Dub) - 8:36
  4. (Meet) The Flintstones (Rock Charleston Dub) - 5:19

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1994) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[10] 54
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[11] 11
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[12] 2
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[13] 19
Denmark (IFPI)[14] 9
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[15] 5
Invalid chart entered Germany2 9
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[16] 5
Ireland (IRMA)[17] 5
Italy (Musica e dischi)[18] 10
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[19] 4
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[20] 5
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[21] 15
Norway (VG-lista)[22] 8
Poland (LP3)[23] 18
Scotland (OCC)[24] 2
Spain (AFYVE)[25] 7
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[26] 18
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[27] 12
UK Singles (OCC)[28] 3
US Billboard Hot 100[29] 33
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[30] 3

Year-end charts

Chart (1994) Position
Belgium (Ultratop)[31] 36
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[32] 66
Germany (Official German Charts)[33] 82
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[34] 82
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[35] 58
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[36] 74
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[37] 98
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[38] 21

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
New Zealand (RMNZ)[39] Gold 5,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[40] Silver 200,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Jacob Collier and other covers

On May 1, 2016 Jacob Collier released a multitrack jazz vocal cover of the song as the second single from his debut album In My Room.[41] He won the Grammy Award for Best Arrangement, Instrumental and Vocals for the cover at the 59th Annual Grammy Awards.[42]

In addition, the theme's melody has been featured in numerous remixes and parodies of video game music uploaded to the collaborative YouTube channel SiIvaGunner[43][44][45] which began uploading on January 9, 2016.

References

  1. ^ a b "Flintstones The Most Recognisable Kids' TV Theme". PRS for Music. August 9, 2010. Retrieved April 1, 2012.
  2. ^ Shay, Jack Edward (25 June 2012). Bygone Binghamton. AuthorHouse. p. 283. ISBN 9781467065061.
  3. ^ a b Doll, Pancho (2 June 1994). "REEL LIFE / FILM & VIDEO FILE : Music Helped 'Flintstones' on Way to Fame : In 1960, Hoyt Curtin created the lively theme for the Stone Age family. The show's producers say it may be the most frequently broadcast song on TV". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 25 November 2014.
  4. ^ Julin, Don (3 August 2012). Mandolin For Dummies. John Wiley & Sons. p. 344. ISBN 978-1-119-94397-6.
  5. ^ "The Flintstones: in tune with the kids". London: The Guardian. 10 August 2010. Retrieved 1 April 2012.
  6. ^ Ake, David Andrew; Garrett, Charles Hiroshi; Goldmark, Daniel (2012). Jazz/not Jazz: The Music and Its Boundaries. University of California Press. p. 54. ISBN 978-0-520-27103-6.
  7. ^ IAJRC Journal. International Association of Jazz Record Collectors. 1996. p. 75.
  8. ^ Grimes, Janet (March 1993). Cd Review Digest Annual: Jazz, Popular, Etc, 1992. Schwann Cd Review Digest. p. 279. ISBN 978-1-879796-09-6.
  9. ^ Urquhart-White, Alania (March 8, 2016). "Comparing The 'Fuller House' Pilot With 'Full House's First Episode Shows How Similar The Spinoff Is". www.bustle.com. Retrieved July 22, 2016.
  10. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  11. ^ "The B.C. 52's – (Meet) The Flintstones" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
  12. ^ "The B.C. 52's – (Meet) The Flintstones" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
  13. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 2523." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
  14. ^ "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 11, no. 35. August 27, 1994. p. 18. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
  15. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 11, no. 33. August 13, 1994. p. 8. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
  16. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (02.6.–08.6. '94)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). June 2, 1994. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  17. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Meet The Flinstones". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  18. ^ "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 11, no. 38. September 17, 1994. p. 16. Retrieved November 25, 2019.
  19. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 30, 1994" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
  20. ^ "The B.C. 52's – (Meet) The Flintstones" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
  21. ^ "The B.C. 52's – (Meet) The Flintstones". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
  22. ^ "The B.C. 52's – (Meet) The Flintstones". VG-lista. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
  23. ^ "Notowanie nr654" (in Polish). LP3. August 26, 1994. Retrieved February 18, 2019.
  24. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
  25. ^ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  26. ^ "The B.C. 52's – (Meet) The Flintstones". Singles Top 100. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
  27. ^ "The B.C. 52's – (Meet) The Flintstones". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
  28. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
  29. ^ "The B-52s Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
  30. ^ "The B-52s Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
  31. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1994" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
  32. ^ "1994 in Review – Sales Charts" (PDF). Music & Media. December 24, 1994. p. 24. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
  33. ^ "Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 1994" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
  34. ^ "Árslistinn 1994". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). January 2, 1995. p. 25. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
  35. ^ "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 1994". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
  36. ^ "Jaaroverzichten - Single 1994" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
  37. ^ "Årslista Singlar, 1994" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
  38. ^ "Top 100 Singles 1994". Music Week. 14 January 1995. p. 9.
  39. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – B.C. 52's – Meet The Flintstones". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
  40. ^ "British single certifications – BC-52's – (Meet) The Flintstones". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved February 4, 2019. Select singles in the Format field. Select Silver in the Certification field. Type (Meet) The Flintstones in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  41. ^ King, Jason (July 11, 2016). "With 'In My Room,' Jazz Phenom Jacob Collier Is Bringing Jubilation Back". Retrieved July 22, 2016.
  42. ^ "59th Grammy Winners: Jacob Collier". Retrieved 2017-02-15.
  43. ^ Schreier, Jason (March 9, 2016). "This YouTube Channel Is Definitely The Best Place To Listen To Video Game Music". Retrieved July 22, 2016.
  44. ^ Morris, Tatiana (March 9, 2016). "Someone has taken the art of trolling to a new level with game theme songs". www.gamezone.com. Retrieved July 22, 2016.
  45. ^ McWhertor, Michael (March 9, 2016). "This might be the best video game music channel on YouTube". Polygon. Archived from the original on March 31, 2016. Retrieved December 6, 2016.
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