Chicken Man (theme tune)
Encyclopedia
Chicken Man is a tune composed by Alan Hawkshaw
which is notable for its use in two popular British TV series since the 1970s.
It was recorded in Munich
and was part of the Themes International music library. Hawkshaw composed the tune in less than an hour, claiming he 'didn't really know what [he] was doing' and that 'he just wanted to do something quirky'.
It became well known as the theme to long-running children's series Grange Hill
. In its original version it was used as the main title music between 1978 and 1988, when it was replaced by a re-recorded version. After being replaced by a completely different theme tune, it made a reappearance in the final series of Grange Hill in 2008.
Chicken Man was then also used as the theme to early series of quiz show Give Us A Clue
, despite the fact that it was already being used on Grange Hill. It lasted as the theme tune from 1979 until 1982, when new producer/director commissioned an entirely new theme tune.
Most recently, the tune has been used as a jingle
in the El Árbol supermarket
chain in Spain
throughout 2010.
Alan Hawkshaw
Alan Hawkshaw is a British composer and performer, particularly of themes for movies and television programmes...
which is notable for its use in two popular British TV series since the 1970s.
It was recorded in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
and was part of the Themes International music library. Hawkshaw composed the tune in less than an hour, claiming he 'didn't really know what [he] was doing' and that 'he just wanted to do something quirky'.
It became well known as the theme to long-running children's series Grange Hill
Grange Hill
Grange Hill is a British television drama series originally made by the BBC. The show began in 1978 on BBC1 and was one of the longest running programmes on British television...
. In its original version it was used as the main title music between 1978 and 1988, when it was replaced by a re-recorded version. After being replaced by a completely different theme tune, it made a reappearance in the final series of Grange Hill in 2008.
Chicken Man was then also used as the theme to early series of quiz show Give Us A Clue
Give Us A Clue
Give Us a Clue is a British televised game show version of charades which was broadcast on ITV from 1979 to 1992. The original host was Michael Aspel from 1979 to 1983, followed by Michael Parkinson from 1984 to 1992. The show featured two teams, one captained by Lionel Blair and the other by Una...
, despite the fact that it was already being used on Grange Hill. It lasted as the theme tune from 1979 until 1982, when new producer/director commissioned an entirely new theme tune.
Most recently, the tune has been used as a jingle
Jingle
A jingle is a short tune used in advertising and for other commercial uses. The jingle contains one or more hooks and lyrics that explicitly promote the product being advertised, usually through the use of one or more advertising slogans. Ad buyers use jingles in radio and television...
in the El Árbol supermarket
Supermarket
A supermarket, a form of grocery store, is a self-service store offering a wide variety of food and household merchandise, organized into departments...
chain in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
throughout 2010.