I like this theme tune and Ronnie hazlehurst was brilliant at writing them but I completely understand why sullivan changed it, the only bummer is that he wanted chaz and dave to sing it but they were touring Australia off the back of there recent success with " ain't no pleasin you" shame that would have been awesome and we would have had 2 sitcoms with chaz and dave singing the theme tune :)
The BBC DVD had the original theme for "Big Brother". The rest of series 1 had the revised theme. The original theme can still be heard when Dell is walking around the market trying to sell the briefcases. Personally, I like it and wish the original theme wasn't revised for series 1 on repeat transmissions.
In 1982, after the viewing figures had been bad for Only Fools and Horses, John Sullivan wanted to revamp the theme tune and explained what the phase 'Only Fools and Horses' actually meant. He asked Rockney style band Chas and Dave to record the new theme tune for Only Fools and Horses, which he had wrote. They were in Australia, after the success of their romantic ballad ‘Ain't No Pleasing You' had stayed in the charts for eleven weeks and they were not available to record it. John Sullivan recorded the new opening and closing (Hooky Street) theme tune himself instead.
Only because you are use to it, all original episodes when rebroadcast used the later them. Grange hills original theme was also changed early on. Can't see why anyone would or wouldn't watch something based on a 60 second piece of music at the start when the credits roll
The first series actually did poorly because it was up against some pretty stiff opposition from ITV, who generally had the edge over the BBC in the early 80s.
Oh no! I mean, it is very sitcomy, and it definitely reminds me of intros to sitcoms like The Good Life, with that very jazzy and comical feel to it. But this is not good! It sounds almost too upbeat and comical for OFAH! Especially if you look at the Big Brother pilot, it's very sad at times, especially the argument scene between Del and Rodney, but then we have this annoying ass saxophone blowing away loudly. Now can you imagine that in the later series? I, as with many others, will always prefer Hooky Street and the main theme song compared to whatever THIS was! Many other 70s and 80s sitcoms had better theme songs than this! Dad's Army, Porridge's Closing Theme, On The Buses, etc. 😂😂😂😂😂
@@OnlyFoolsHorses yep if there wasn't a strike at the bbc OFAH would have bitten the dust it only became popular when they repeated it and that only happened because there was nothing being made, mad to think that a strike is the only reason that one of the best shows ever got a second chance.
We have tried so may times to get this. Seems no one has given the green light. I do know there is a lot of stuff recorded though that's yet to see the light of day
I don't agree, Ronnie Hazlehurst's theme is much better in my opinion. Better than that stolid thing sung by John Sullivan who can't articulate his words properly and nicks the opening riff from the Small Faces 'The Universal' song!!!!!
Sorry, please stop.
Good idea, stop interrupting the music. It's rude.
Funny how the intro can really change your perception of what's about to come. glad they changed it.
I like this theme tune and Ronnie hazlehurst was brilliant at writing them but I completely understand why sullivan changed it, the only bummer is that he wanted chaz and dave to sing it but they were touring Australia off the back of there recent success with " ain't no pleasin you" shame that would have been awesome and we would have had 2 sitcoms with chaz and dave singing the theme tune :)
The BBC DVD had the original theme for "Big Brother". The rest of series 1 had the revised theme. The original theme can still be heard when Dell is walking around the market trying to sell the briefcases. Personally, I like it and wish the original theme wasn't revised for series 1 on repeat transmissions.
Illegal move 😂
@@realdeal8225 "I can't play chess, why can't they invent a talkin' draughts game?"
In 1982, after the viewing figures had been bad for Only Fools and Horses, John Sullivan wanted to revamp the theme tune and explained what the phase 'Only Fools and Horses' actually meant. He asked Rockney style band Chas and Dave to record the new theme tune for Only Fools and Horses, which he had wrote. They were in Australia, after the success of their romantic ballad ‘Ain't No Pleasing You' had stayed in the charts for eleven weeks and they were not available to record it. John Sullivan recorded the new opening and closing (Hooky Street) theme tune himself instead.
Only because you are use to it, all original episodes when rebroadcast used the later them.
Grange hills original theme was also changed early on.
Can't see why anyone would or wouldn't watch something based on a 60 second piece of music at the start when the credits roll
Sounds like something from a Laurel and Hardy film.
it would really help if you didnt break it up with stupid titles and actually let people have a damn listen
Thank goodness they changed it to the well known theme tune
Absolutely right there
I’m sure they also used this in the cash and curry episode when Del was selling all his stuff to buy the statue
Though the normal theme song is great and iconic, I love this theme because it’s pretty catchy
Both are very "80s"
@@OnlyFoolsHorses the theme tune is not 80s it is iconic and one of the best theme tunes ever, it’s in the EastEnders and Friends category.
Sounds like a mid 80s game show tune 🤔
The first series actually did poorly because it was up against some pretty stiff opposition from ITV, who generally had the edge over the BBC in the early 80s.
I think this was used in another episode other than the pilot
Yes it was used for the whole of series one from what I remember
Oh no! I mean, it is very sitcomy, and it definitely reminds me of intros to sitcoms like The Good Life, with that very jazzy and comical feel to it. But this is not good! It sounds almost too upbeat and comical for OFAH! Especially if you look at the Big Brother pilot, it's very sad at times, especially the argument scene between Del and Rodney, but then we have this annoying ass saxophone blowing away loudly. Now can you imagine that in the later series?
I, as with many others, will always prefer Hooky Street and the main theme song compared to whatever THIS was! Many other 70s and 80s sitcoms had better theme songs than this! Dad's Army, Porridge's Closing Theme, On The Buses, etc.
😂😂😂😂😂
When did only fools and horses have a bad number of viewings? I actually quite like the original theme song as it was unique.
Yes it was certainly unique, nothing really got going until they repeated Only fools and Horses a few years after the initial broadcast
@@OnlyFoolsHorses yep if there wasn't a strike at the bbc OFAH would have bitten the dust it only became popular when they repeated it and that only happened because there was nothing being made, mad to think that a strike is the only reason that one of the best shows ever got a second chance.
wasn't this also used on Licensed To Drill🤔
Do you know iDo you know if in the future there will be a remastering of this magnificent series?
We have tried so may times to get this. Seems no one has given the green light. I do know there is a lot of stuff recorded though that's yet to see the light of day
Torture on the ears!
Absolutely right there
@@OnlyFoolsHorses thank fuck they changed it
Sounds like the big break theme
I don't agree, Ronnie Hazlehurst's theme is much better in my opinion. Better than that stolid thing sung by John Sullivan who can't articulate his words properly and nicks the opening riff from the Small Faces 'The Universal' song!!!!!