Honestly I COULD get the criticism of I am The Doctor, but it feels like coming back home to an old friend. No matter how much time passes, there will always be The Doctor
It feels like saying the Mission Impossible or Indiana Jones theme is overused to me. Sure it shows up a lot but itso dynamic, well crafted and iconic I never tire of it
I always felt that, personally, the Shepherd's Boy became an "unofficial second" theme for the Twelfth Doctor It just appeared so many times when he beat insurmountable odds
@@marionbaggins i mean, yeah, but it's been re-used again and again in one form of another during the whole of tennant's era and even after, and acted as a sort of secondary doctor's theme for all series 3 and 4 ( and even the specials)
How many times did it actually play though? Ignoring the motif's first appearance in The Day of the Doctor, I can only recall three episodes it played in the Capaldi era (Heaven Sent, The Doctor Falls, and Twice Upon a Time). If that's really the only three times it played, I feel like that's just far too few times justify the moniker of 'second theme'.
@@parkoutdoorsthat’s probably why they said “widely” popular. It’s known in the U.S. but doesn’t get nearly enough attention or respect, and I’m sure that translates to many many other countries too where it’s just not as well known.
For a 60+ year old show it definitely seems a bit "underrated". Compare how much talk there is about Doctor Who online to an anime called Dan Da Dan which came out barely a couple months ago and the difference is insane. It's a bit sad :(
My favorite thing about Fifteen’s theme is all the half steps Murray Gold uses in it. During his first stint as Doctor Who composer, he avoided using multiple half steps in his heroic themes like it was the plague. Ncuti’s theme has them all over the place. For me, it really shows him having evolved as a composer while he was away.
@@toalladepapel if we're using big finish as part of the canon then this disproves this theory. But I actually love the idea of this and I haven't heard anyone mention it before
For me "The Doctor Forever" is always linked with Martha's theme as they use alot of the same melodic ideas. (Despite the fact they don't have much to narratively do with each other). Also the rising "plug in baby" style minor scale run-ups are absolutely a Murray Gold classic, they're all over "I am the Doctor" and I ADORE how in The End Of Tirme you can hear little bits of 11s theme peaking through, like he's just bursting through even before 10 regenerates (even tho it may not be intentional)
I’m the same, to the extent that when I was notating The Doctor Forever for this, I accidentally slipped into Martha’s theme with that cheeky little blues note half-step flourish. That’s a really nice reading re: The End of Time, like the spirit of 11 is waiting in the wings ready to take the baton.
I love the opening chimes of Twelve's theme, probably my favorite ever Doctor theme. I love them all, though. This video is awesome btw, you earned a sub.
My favourite thing is the comparison between Fifteen’s theme and the I am the Doctor/Madman with a box motifs. He uses the same format/motif but changes it slightly… It takes the character back to the roots of 11/12 and what made them heroic too!!!
Love this! A musician myself, and life-long fan of the Who. This show is so immersive and it's definitely because of the magical combination of acting, story-telling and music combined together and performed at the highest level. I love how some of the doctors' themes connect to certain companions, to show how much of their character is in part that specific companion. For me, the Ninth (&Tenth) Doctor(s) theme is not only his, but also always come with Rose in mind. She is always there because of her importance to these Doctors, travelling hand in hand. Same with Twelve and Clara. Their relationship is unmatched in its intensity and you hear it in the music as you pointed out. Thanks for this!
Only 21 views? This is really a great video! 4:26 I believe the only time The Doctor's Theme plays in a familiar form in the Matt Smith era is during A Good Man Goes to War, when he asks why a Time Lord would be a weapon. Here's to hope that the 15th doctor's seasons play the theme more! 6:55 Before The Doctor Forever in series 3, I think that the (unreleased) orchestral version of Song For Ten was sort of Ten's theme in series 2 (perhaps it was more like a general companions theme though).
@@Clone3A7 Thank you, really appreciate it! I’d completely forgotten about the use in AGMGTW, that’s a great spot. I agree, I think you definitely make a good argument for Song for Ten being Ten’s theme. It’s interesting that it pops up a lot in scenes that seem to highlight the Doctor/Rose relationship so you could maybe link it more strongly to that. Although, that said, it’s used several times in scenes that don’t really have any reference to Rose (plus, for me, the most memorable use of it after the original is his goodbye to Sarah Jane in School Reunion) so maybe that’s not the case? Interesting to think about, though!
i used to watch doctor who as a kid - now that i'm 20 i decided to give it a rewatch and i'm dumbfounded with how good the soundtrack is! motifs are used almost constantly but it all works so well & is instantly memorable. even if the quality of the episodes are lacking at points, the OST always carries through. great analysis
I love the 11th Doctors theme so much, as much as we all grow up with the series and love it as adults, whats easy to forget is that this is also for children, and hearing that theme starts when an episode is at its darkest, it informs you that the doctor is about to turn the tide and gets you excited.
I love how in the 15th doctors theme, the brass plays this ostinato in a minor key, then the rest of the instrumentation builds up and resolves into the parallel major, with a nice triumphant major third on the top. While the whole time, the brass ostinato is still repeating, with a minor third right in the middle of it. It sort of clashes with the major chord but because the ostinato has been repeating for so long it works anyway!
I absolutely love murray golds music. It’s incredible how it evokes such rich and deep emotion, whilst perfectly mirroring what is happening on the screen. A few of my favourites is his ‘Long song’ and ‘Little Amy’. I would love to see an analysis on those if you could!
If people wanted to see another one, I was thinking of doing an analysis of the companion themes, maybe a few of the other 'big' ones like Doomsday, The Shepherd's Boy and The Long Song too?
The Doctor's Theme sort of appears in Empire of Death as well. When Sutekh is dragged through the vortex, 'Never Tell me the Rules' plays which includes the doctor's series 4 theme which itself is an extension of the doctor's theme
1:58 That part of "The Doctor's Theme", I always felt it like the Theme Song of the entire show. Like a broken shadow of what used to be the Doctor. Remember that, in the Classic Era, the Doctor's Theme actually was the theme song's leitmotif, so it was a very good continuation of what happened in his soul after the Time war
I love this take, and completely agree. I loved the spookiness and restraint of Series 1's score. Would love to see a return to this kind of eerie vibe.
Twelve’s run was when I really started to properly watch the show, and hearing it again when you covered it lowkey gave me chills , I honestly think it’s one of my favourite pieces of music from show/movie
It makes so much sense hearing Murray talk about eanting his music to do more than "Fill in the gaps". Because it's absolutely accurate. His music does so much to, compared to other TV shows, be basically *alongside* the Doctor, rather than just be something that introduces them into a scene and that's it. Excellent analysis video on these tracks and as someone who loves Music theory but always has trouble remembering the theory, you did a brilliant job forming into words exactly what these pieces do and how they do it!
I've watched the Dr grow and change from day one in 1963. I hope my efforts helped bring him back. Murray's music has made the Dr's 21st century experience even more wonderful for me. His music is a character in itself. It tells the story, it is the story. I missed the very first Dr Who Prom but I've been to all the others - despite ill health. I can been seen and heard in the last outing - this year's TV has yet to be transmitted but I was heard on the radio :-) I'm a chanting Prommer. I was in a seat in 2024, not front row of the Prom that time ( twice on the same day I think was it? ). Many thanks for this. Poor Jodie really got a bad deal in so many ways.
Beautiful analysis! Love seeing people breakdown Gold's work on the show. Fun fact for the Doctor's theme, it does appear in Series 6 as well in "A Good Man Goes to War", but much like so many other great pieces from that season, it went unreleased. I have a particular fondness for the Madman With A Box melody as it not only captures the whimsical charm of the Doctor but all an unspoken, deeprooted loneliness. We see it used throughtout Series 5 and 6 when 11 lowers the 'young man' face, and we see the old man come out. It's a lonely, somber melody while also being one of marvel and discovery. An old soul like myself will always carry that melody with me wherever I go.
I'd argue that Ten has three themes. It's not talked about as much as his series 3 and 4 themes, probably because only the initial version ended up on the official soundtrack, but if you pay attention, you can hear "Song For Ten" throughout series 2. One notable example would be a piano rendition during his goodbye scene with Sarah Jane in "School Reunion". Also I never realized how much woodwind cascades were such a staple of Murray Gold's scores until they returned once he did. So hearing them throughout Fifteen's theme makes me really happy.
Thank you thank you thank you for appreciating the more whimsical and sweeping, grand parts of I Am the Doctor! A lot of people overlook them for classic staccato part of the piece that we all know so well, but they are genuinely some of my favorite parts of any doctor’s themes. The song would be way less interesting if those parts weren’t in them. Also I ADORED this video! It’s so thought out and well done, and it made me appreciate these themes even more. Would love to see one for the companions as well!
Murray Gold is my opinion the greatest TV composer of all time (I know that he’s mainly known for his work on Doctor Who), but throughout his time as composer, he’s written such a diverse range of music for each era of the show with elements of fantasy, sci-fi, western, romance, horror and action laced throughout all his pieces of music, creating a unique sound and feel for each series of the show. The fact that he hasn’t been hired to compose the music for a big budget Hollywood film or TV show absolutely astounds me, hopefully he’ll get his chance soon, but we’ll see what happens.
I’ve been waiting for more videos analyzing Gold’s music in dr who. I only just realized very recently a snippet of the doomsday theme song is what plays when rose first enter’s the Tardis. Excellent work!
Brilliant video! Not only for the very good analysis, bringing to light connects and details I hadn't noticed (as it seems you hadn't either!), but also for the celebration, the offering of attention and time to these monumental examples of "TV music" - or what I would argue is a 'Gold' standard example of music, regardless of genre. Fantastic!
I've done panels at a couple different conventions on the music of Murray Gold, and this video does such a fantastic breakdown of why these pieces worked so well at communicating who the Doctor is in any given incarnation. Truly one of my all-time favorite composers!! Thank you for this video!
@@SuddenBiscuit Sadly, no -- they were at Phoenix Comicon (where I didn't think to record) and Gallifrey One (where I'm not allowed to record). I hope to do more in the future, though, and I might make a video essay someday, time allowing!
Honestly, for me the 9th/10th Doctor's theme is just The Doctor's theme. Not any one incarnation, but more so "The Doctor" as a concept, as an entity. If you ask me to look at The Doctor as a character and think of music, that is what I hear. Melancholic, dark, foreboding, but also a sense of awe, mystery and wonder. Something alien.
Loved this analysis, thank you for making it. Genuinely got emotional at certain parts and how much thought there is behind these character themes. Definitely sharing it with my Whovian bestie.
I always connected the ominous beginning with "fairy tale sounds" with a deep dark icy cavern, with the wind in coming through in the background, a cold and dark beginning.
I've never noticed the similarity between 15's theme and Barry Gray themes before! Every time I hear it, I always imagine someone riding a horse in a western
My friend described it as a ✨️yassified thunderbirds march✨️ and honestly I think that's the most perfect description I've heard so far, and definitely helped me notice some of the similarities, especially with some of Gray's groovier stuff, like the Joe 90 theme.
this was such a joy to watch ! An excellent culmination of my biggest interests. The analysis were on point and very well explained. I need a second episode ! And a third, and a fourth, etc…
Smashing dissection of these colourful tracks. We really are spoilt with what Murray Gold has given us considering the kind of cookie cutter stuff you get with other tele. Would have appreciated a close look at the Shepherd's Boy track sometime.
First I should have said this was an amazing video. I listen to a Murray Gold playlist on the regular. Eleven’s regeneration scene blends themes of Trenzalore, The Long Song, Amy’s Theme to accompany a beautiful speech. Lockdown choir sang three tunes. Greatest honor of my life.
Wow this was brilliant. I became a bit obsessed with the shepherds boy song and the music in heavan sent particularly so this was so interesting thank you.
As someone who’s just interested in making music cause I enjoy it. I love these sorts of informative videos as someone who isn’t savy on music theory :) These are brilliant! Thank you for making them.
Ah thank you man, glad you enjoyed it! I’ve only got a very basic grasp on theory myself so a lot of this is just subjective readings. Love your stuff by the way!
The Doctors usually ended up with two themes, an action theme and a soul theme. The Doctor's Theme is the soul theme that acts as a connecting through line for all. Slitheen was the closest the 9th Doctor got to an Action theme. The Doctor Forever became the 10th Doctor's soul theme while All The Strange Strange Creatures became his action theme. I Am The Doctor was 11's action theme, Mad Man With A Box was his soul theme. A Good Man was the 12th Doctor's action theme, The Shepherd's Boy was his soul theme. The 15th Doctor has his action theme and I expect a soul theme will eventually emerge.
Currently for me I am absolutely adoring 15s theme over the rest. I think it is because it was used a lot more sparingly than others like I am The Doctor, so in the scenes it comes blasting it feels so strong. Also the jazziness is just chefs kiss
Thanks for putting this together. I'm usually someone who doesn't notice themes, though I love hearing people talk about their views on the music being used, and interestingly the one I did recognise was 11's.
So for ages I’ve wanted to see Murray Gold to be commissioned to write a theme for each of the classic series Doctors. Just imagine what we’d get for each of them. Just for a few examples, a second doctor theme that shares links with I am the Doctor or a seventh doctor theme dark and mysterious but with a light playful counter balance too it (oh and Ace, Barbra, Susan & Romana themes too please)
See, the real thing with 11's theme being in 7/4 is likely because with an uneven gate, it adds a certain amount of spontaneity and impulsiveness, which matches Matt's characterization quite well. It's a common tempo for action music (that and sometimes 5/4) because of that uneven nature.
Love this video!! Great work. And great spot at 17:05, that melody's been in the show since 2007, when the titanic was falling in the christmas special! Originally a spin on All the Strange Strange Creatures (see End of time pt2 when time lords return), and later a big part of I Am the Doctor. Featured throughout the Capaldi era, and was all over the 60th specials. A true Gold special!
I don’t know what it is but I never got the “overplayed” feeling from I am The Doctor? The fact it has several variants and different parts of it were played along with the fact that it’s got MAIN CHARACTER energy 😤
Great video! Super well done, I have always loved listening to the doctor who sound track (especially a good man) and I really enjoyed hearing someone with more musical knowledge then me talk about it!
This is very specific, but I adore listening to 11 and 12s theme while swinging around in the recent Spider-man games. Especially the madman/idiot with a box.
I love how the 1234 1234 1234 is back with "A Good Man?" You've made me realized so many things about Murray's genius and I was already a big fan before watching your video. GREAT analysis!
Youve barely even touched the surface of Murrays work as well. This is Gallifrey in its many different forms across the show is one of my favourites pieces of music ever
I've always wondered if Murray Gold was inspired by "Tubular Bells" (The theme from "The Exorcist") when he wrote "I Am The Doctor". There are similarities, but there is also a wonderful juxtaposition - "I Am The Doctor" is in no way sinister (as this video points out, it's a bit unsteady on its feet), but in fact brings to mind a delightfully odd "mad man with a box". It's quirky, yet charming and strangely heroic. Yep, the perfect match for the Eleventh Doctor.
I always associated the S3 theme (The Doctor Forever) with Martha. It really makes me think of her isolation in the Human Nature episodes. I love that trumpet line too which reminds me of Northern Brass bands and British perservance in hard times.
For me, the big hallmark of when a composer does a great job with a movie, tv show the occasional game, is if I end up downloading it on the playlist. And sometimes it doesn't even have to be the entire song. It will have 20-40 seconds which is fantastic. Perhaps you get an alternate version of a already good song. Take The Mad man with a Box, its beautiful, and during Smith's era probably my favorite is from when the Doctor was dying and he talked to the voice interface of the TARDIS. However, my favorite version of that song is the suite version from the Caretaker episode. Expecting him to make a full version of it in the soundtrack is too much but I wish they included it in the soundtrack. And then sometimes they do something strange like Martha's quests. The soundtrack version starts at the end losing all the beautiful build up. And I checked out all the other songs from the soundtrack its not like one of them has that first half so you could listen to them back to back. The only way to get the full version is if you find recreation or people who know how to remove everything except for the music. The song is named after her presumably titled to signify everything she has gone through for an entire year when all seems lost. And the soundtrack versions starts when the plan has worked and the shift has gone back to the Doctor. Feels odd. But of course, I have to mention The Shepherds Boy. I know started out as This time there's three of Us. I don't know if he cut it down during the day of the Doctor, or expanded upon it later. When he made the fully-fledged song it got the number one top spot which is fitting since it is the best episode of Doctor Who we will ever get, everything else is fighting for second place. And the individual build up he gave the song in the Doctor Falls and Twice Upon a Time worked perfectly.
Wow what an awesome video I have just watched, I am a huge Doctor who fan and it was only the other day that I realised that I am the doctor is in 7/4 time! (I am also a huge muse fan so loved the cheeky include)
Although there were a LOT of tracks (some of them also being the never released ones) that I noticed myself either really liking or straight up loving upon watching through the show for the first time, the season that made me TRULY and UNQUESTIONABLY love the tracks he made was season 11. Because although I kinda just accepted the tracks being there (without paying 'em all THAT much attention I mean, aside for noticing it being gold to ears), but then season 11 happened and I IMMEDIATELY noticed his absence. That's not to shat on Segun Akinola, mind you, or the tracks they made, but I'd be lying would there be many (if any) tracks that I even remember on top of my head and could hum right away, aside for the Thirteens theme. Meanwhile there are just so many tracks from Gold living rent free in my head. Twelves theme and its variations like Freefall for example, This is Gallifrey, Pressing Need to Save the World, The Greatest Story Never Told, The Long Song, Melody Pond, This Time There's Three of Us, A Noble Woman in Town, the never released Skasis Paradigm from School Reunion, and the list just goes ON AND ON and new tracks keep coming, like Fifteen's theme now. Point being, there is very much a reason why Murray Golds music is so iconic for this show. Simply put, it's a spot well earned and deserved.
When I first saw season 11, I really wasn’t a fan of Akinola’s score, but it’s really grown on me in the years since. I really didn’t like the synth pads he’d use for the emotional scenes, but I think part of that is because it was paired with very stunted dialogue and the sudden tonal whiplash of suddenly doing a bit of character drama with no real lead up. But there are some great tracks from Akinola that really stand out for me. Thirteen’s theme is the big one, but also the leit motifs from Demons of the Punjab, Spyfall and the whole score for The Power of the Doctor are all great. I reckon it’s worth giving his soundtracks another listen, you might surprise yourself. I completely agree with you about Gold’s score, though. He’s an incredible composer and has so many brilliant and memorable tracks to his name. You’ve listed some great ones here, but the fact that you could genuinely list dozens more that are just as good/memorable/iconic I think speaks volumes about the calibre of his work.
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"that is a sort of combination of both 11 and 12s themes"
The doctor: "like a hybrid"
“Ah shit. Here we go again.”
Biggest plot Twist would be that the hybrid would actually restore gallifrey.
the 3 dislikes are from Murray Silver, Murray Bronze, and the Master.
Honestly I COULD get the criticism of I am The Doctor, but it feels like coming back home to an old friend. No matter how much time passes, there will always be The Doctor
I Am The Doctor is a MASTERPIECE! 😅
I won't allow ANY criticisms. It's just been overused af...
It was just slightly overused, but if any theme deserves to be overused it's that one.
@@chanceneck8072 I don't even think it's overused. A bop everytime
It feels like saying the Mission Impossible or Indiana Jones theme is overused to me. Sure it shows up a lot but itso dynamic, well crafted and iconic I never tire of it
It is good, but it's literally a copy of sonic's theme song
I always felt that, personally, the Shepherd's Boy became an "unofficial second" theme for the Twelfth Doctor
It just appeared so many times when he beat insurmountable odds
unfortunately we're missing a lot of the tracks from S10 😞
same with all the strange strange creatures with the tenth doctor
@@erin_3569 But, All the Strange Strange Creatures was befor Series 4's Doctor's Theme, and only meant for the Tralier.
@@marionbaggins i mean, yeah, but it's been re-used again and again in one form of another during the whole of tennant's era and even after, and acted as a sort of secondary doctor's theme for all series 3 and 4 ( and even the specials)
How many times did it actually play though? Ignoring the motif's first appearance in The Day of the Doctor, I can only recall three episodes it played in the Capaldi era (Heaven Sent, The Doctor Falls, and Twice Upon a Time). If that's really the only three times it played, I feel like that's just far too few times justify the moniker of 'second theme'.
Gotta love when background music is more than just background music
Yes, it's constant foreground music telling you exactly how you are supposed to be feeling every two minutes.
Like that one time the background music dragged Ruby away lol
Murray deserves a chance to score a big budget hollywood film.
Kind of insane to think that he hasn't
Yes he should shove off and do that. And leave Doctor Who to someone more avantgarde and experimental.
He's already making theme songs that could be as iconic as James Bond/Indiana Jones if people outside of Doctor Who fandom knew about them.
I wish doctor who was more widely popular so that masterful video essays like this would get the attention they deserve
what
Brah acting like doctor who isn’t like the most popular show in the uk
@@parkoutdoorsthat’s probably why they said “widely” popular. It’s known in the U.S. but doesn’t get nearly enough attention or respect, and I’m sure that translates to many many other countries too where it’s just not as well known.
For a 60+ year old show it definitely seems a bit "underrated". Compare how much talk there is about Doctor Who online to an anime called Dan Da Dan which came out barely a couple months ago and the difference is insane. It's a bit sad :(
My favorite thing about Fifteen’s theme is all the half steps Murray Gold uses in it. During his first stint as Doctor Who composer, he avoided using multiple half steps in his heroic themes like it was the plague. Ncuti’s theme has them all over the place. For me, it really shows him having evolved as a composer while he was away.
I live in France, and lost my mind when I heard my housemate watching French Bakeoff with I am the doctor playing. I thought it was in my head
Murray has written music for essentially 10 Doctors.
1,8,war,9,10,11,12,14,15 and the Curator
Ah of course!
i'm personally of the opinion that the curator is The Moment, post Day of the Doctor, so idk if i'd count that lol
@@toalladepapel if we're using big finish as part of the canon then this disproves this theory.
But I actually love the idea of this and I haven't heard anyone mention it before
@@SuddenBiscuit I'm actually wrong, if we include 13 based on TUAT then it's 11
For me "The Doctor Forever" is always linked with Martha's theme as they use alot of the same melodic ideas. (Despite the fact they don't have much to narratively do with each other).
Also the rising "plug in baby" style minor scale run-ups are absolutely a Murray Gold classic, they're all over "I am the Doctor" and I ADORE how in The End Of Tirme you can hear little bits of 11s theme peaking through, like he's just bursting through even before 10 regenerates (even tho it may not be intentional)
I’m the same, to the extent that when I was notating The Doctor Forever for this, I accidentally slipped into Martha’s theme with that cheeky little blues note half-step flourish.
That’s a really nice reading re: The End of Time, like the spirit of 11 is waiting in the wings ready to take the baton.
I love madman with a box coming back for 12’s era
I also love it somewhat became the theme for someone's first time seeing the inside of the TARDIS. Like stepping into wonderland.
God now I want a full breakdown of Murray golds best songs, shepards boy, this is gallifrey, the companion themes, vale, etc
👀
I love the opening chimes of Twelve's theme, probably my favorite ever Doctor theme. I love them all, though.
This video is awesome btw, you earned a sub.
Such a great theme - impossible not to love. Thank you!
I'm surprised there wasn't a mention for The Shepherd's Boy, but other than that I absolutely adored this video, the music in this show is a gem
My favourite thing is the comparison between Fifteen’s theme and the I am the Doctor/Madman with a box motifs.
He uses the same format/motif but changes it slightly… It takes the character back to the roots of 11/12 and what made them heroic too!!!
Love this! A musician myself, and life-long fan of the Who. This show is so immersive and it's definitely because of the magical combination of acting, story-telling and music combined together and performed at the highest level.
I love how some of the doctors' themes connect to certain companions, to show how much of their character is in part that specific companion. For me, the Ninth (&Tenth) Doctor(s) theme is not only his, but also always come with Rose in mind. She is always there because of her importance to these Doctors, travelling hand in hand. Same with Twelve and Clara. Their relationship is unmatched in its intensity and you hear it in the music as you pointed out.
Thanks for this!
it's nice to see people talk about murray gold's music for doctor who more because it's so good man
Absolutely amazing video. Simply incredible, thank you
dwfan91 cameo 😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮🥵
@@quintessentialquinten3346 :0
He truly is the 91st Doctor Who fan.
Thank you man! Love your stuff
@@SuddenBiscuit Can't wait for you future stuff because this was brilliant :D
I also noticed the masters drumbeat resembling the opening bassline
Only 21 views? This is really a great video!
4:26 I believe the only time The Doctor's Theme plays in a familiar form in the Matt Smith era is during A Good Man Goes to War, when he asks why a Time Lord would be a weapon. Here's to hope that the 15th doctor's seasons play the theme more!
6:55 Before The Doctor Forever in series 3, I think that the (unreleased) orchestral version of Song For Ten was sort of Ten's theme in series 2 (perhaps it was more like a general companions theme though).
@@Clone3A7 Thank you, really appreciate it!
I’d completely forgotten about the use in AGMGTW, that’s a great spot.
I agree, I think you definitely make a good argument for Song for Ten being Ten’s theme. It’s interesting that it pops up a lot in scenes that seem to highlight the Doctor/Rose relationship so you could maybe link it more strongly to that. Although, that said, it’s used several times in scenes that don’t really have any reference to Rose (plus, for me, the most memorable use of it after the original is his goodbye to Sarah Jane in School Reunion) so maybe that’s not the case? Interesting to think about, though!
i used to watch doctor who as a kid - now that i'm 20 i decided to give it a rewatch and i'm dumbfounded with how good the soundtrack is! motifs are used almost constantly but it all works so well & is instantly memorable. even if the quality of the episodes are lacking at points, the OST always carries through. great analysis
This video is criminally underrrated. Good work on analysing some of my favourite masterpieces of music by one of my favourite composers ever. 😁
Ah, thank you - glad you enjoyed the video!
@SuddenBiscuit I second this, thank you!
I love the 11th Doctors theme so much, as much as we all grow up with the series and love it as adults, whats easy to forget is that this is also for children, and hearing that theme starts when an episode is at its darkest, it informs you that the doctor is about to turn the tide and gets you excited.
11 had the best seasons, and the best music! Absolutely beautiful. Favorite era of DW. Season 5 slaps hard
I love how in the 15th doctors theme, the brass plays this ostinato in a minor key, then the rest of the instrumentation builds up and resolves into the parallel major, with a nice triumphant major third on the top. While the whole time, the brass ostinato is still repeating, with a minor third right in the middle of it. It sort of clashes with the major chord but because the ostinato has been repeating for so long it works anyway!
That’s just what I was gonna say!!
@@nuttyhutty its kind of like that Hendrix chord
I absolutely love murray golds music. It’s incredible how it evokes such rich and deep emotion, whilst perfectly mirroring what is happening on the screen. A few of my favourites is his ‘Long song’ and ‘Little Amy’. I would love to see an analysis on those if you could!
If people wanted to see another one, I was thinking of doing an analysis of the companion themes, maybe a few of the other 'big' ones like Doomsday, The Shepherd's Boy and The Long Song too?
@@SuddenBiscuit yeah man literally anything DW themed
15:16 this hybrid was at Moffat’s request. Gold said, but that’s not 12’s! But found a way to do it anyway.
The Doctor's Theme sort of appears in Empire of Death as well. When Sutekh is dragged through the vortex, 'Never Tell me the Rules' plays which includes the doctor's series 4 theme which itself is an extension of the doctor's theme
1:58
That part of "The Doctor's Theme", I always felt it like the Theme Song of the entire show. Like a broken shadow of what used to be the Doctor. Remember that, in the Classic Era, the Doctor's Theme actually was the theme song's leitmotif, so it was a very good continuation of what happened in his soul after the Time war
I love this take, and completely agree. I loved the spookiness and restraint of Series 1's score. Would love to see a return to this kind of eerie vibe.
Twelve’s run was when I really started to properly watch the show, and hearing it again when you covered it lowkey gave me chills , I honestly think it’s one of my favourite pieces of music from show/movie
It makes so much sense hearing Murray talk about eanting his music to do more than "Fill in the gaps". Because it's absolutely accurate. His music does so much to, compared to other TV shows, be basically *alongside* the Doctor, rather than just be something that introduces them into a scene and that's it.
Excellent analysis video on these tracks and as someone who loves Music theory but always has trouble remembering the theory, you did a brilliant job forming into words exactly what these pieces do and how they do it!
I've watched the Dr grow and change from day one in 1963. I hope my efforts helped bring him back.
Murray's music has made the Dr's 21st century experience even more wonderful for me. His music is a character in itself. It tells the story, it is the story.
I missed the very first Dr Who Prom but I've been to all the others - despite ill health. I can been seen and heard in the last outing - this year's TV has yet to be transmitted but I was heard on the radio :-) I'm a chanting Prommer. I was in a seat in 2024, not front row of the Prom that time ( twice on the same day I think was it? ).
Many thanks for this.
Poor Jodie really got a bad deal in so many ways.
Not at all I think her theme is beautiful and as much as I love Murray’s main title themes i think segan’s main theme is the best of the modern era
I love that Gold gave the 10th Doctor like 3 different themes.
Beautiful analysis! Love seeing people breakdown Gold's work on the show. Fun fact for the Doctor's theme, it does appear in Series 6 as well in "A Good Man Goes to War", but much like so many other great pieces from that season, it went unreleased.
I have a particular fondness for the Madman With A Box melody as it not only captures the whimsical charm of the Doctor but all an unspoken, deeprooted loneliness. We see it used throughtout Series 5 and 6 when 11 lowers the 'young man' face, and we see the old man come out. It's a lonely, somber melody while also being one of marvel and discovery. An old soul like myself will always carry that melody with me wherever I go.
I'd argue that Ten has three themes. It's not talked about as much as his series 3 and 4 themes, probably because only the initial version ended up on the official soundtrack, but if you pay attention, you can hear "Song For Ten" throughout series 2. One notable example would be a piano rendition during his goodbye scene with Sarah Jane in "School Reunion".
Also I never realized how much woodwind cascades were such a staple of Murray Gold's scores until they returned once he did. So hearing them throughout Fifteen's theme makes me really happy.
Thank you thank you thank you for appreciating the more whimsical and sweeping, grand parts of I Am the Doctor! A lot of people overlook them for classic staccato part of the piece that we all know so well, but they are genuinely some of my favorite parts of any doctor’s themes. The song would be way less interesting if those parts weren’t in them.
Also I ADORED this video! It’s so thought out and well done, and it made me appreciate these themes even more. Would love to see one for the companions as well!
I was missing a video like this on Murray Gold! So underappreciated. Good job!
Murray Gold is my opinion the greatest TV composer of all time (I know that he’s mainly known for his work on Doctor Who), but throughout his time as composer, he’s written such a diverse range of music for each era of the show with elements of fantasy, sci-fi, western, romance, horror and action laced throughout all his pieces of music, creating a unique sound and feel for each series of the show.
The fact that he hasn’t been hired to compose the music for a big budget Hollywood film or TV show absolutely astounds me, hopefully he’ll get his chance soon, but we’ll see what happens.
Music is a language I really cant understand, so i appreciate videos like this that help break it down
I’ve been waiting for more videos analyzing Gold’s music in dr who. I only just realized very recently a snippet of the doomsday theme song is what plays when rose first enter’s the Tardis. Excellent work!
Brilliant video! Not only for the very good analysis, bringing to light connects and details I hadn't noticed (as it seems you hadn't either!), but also for the celebration, the offering of attention and time to these monumental examples of "TV music" - or what I would argue is a 'Gold' standard example of music, regardless of genre. Fantastic!
This is brilliantly written! Seems like a missed opportunity to speak about The Shepherds Boy in relation to 12’s theme/themes though!
10:26 You just made me appreciate the 11th doctor's theme even more.
i cannot get enough of i am the doctor
I've done panels at a couple different conventions on the music of Murray Gold, and this video does such a fantastic breakdown of why these pieces worked so well at communicating who the Doctor is in any given incarnation. Truly one of my all-time favorite composers!! Thank you for this video!
@@MagicalGirlMarina That’s awesome, have you got any recordings of the panels? I’d love to see/hear. Thank you, glad you enjoyed!
@@SuddenBiscuit Sadly, no -- they were at Phoenix Comicon (where I didn't think to record) and Gallifrey One (where I'm not allowed to record). I hope to do more in the future, though, and I might make a video essay someday, time allowing!
@ Ah that’s a shame! Would love to see that, please give me a shout if you do end up making one
Honestly, for me the 9th/10th Doctor's theme is just The Doctor's theme. Not any one incarnation, but more so "The Doctor" as a concept, as an entity. If you ask me to look at The Doctor as a character and think of music, that is what I hear. Melancholic, dark, foreboding, but also a sense of awe, mystery and wonder. Something alien.
Loved this analysis, thank you for making it. Genuinely got emotional at certain parts and how much thought there is behind these character themes. Definitely sharing it with my Whovian bestie.
I always connected the ominous beginning with "fairy tale sounds" with a deep dark icy cavern, with the wind in coming through in the background, a cold and dark beginning.
I've never noticed the similarity between 15's theme and Barry Gray themes before! Every time I hear it, I always imagine someone riding a horse in a western
My friend described it as a ✨️yassified thunderbirds march✨️ and honestly I think that's the most perfect description I've heard so far, and definitely helped me notice some of the similarities, especially with some of Gray's groovier stuff, like the Joe 90 theme.
this was such a joy to watch ! An excellent culmination of my biggest interests. The analysis were on point and very well explained. I need a second episode ! And a third, and a fourth, etc…
Excellent video, no notes all Gold ;D Just building more anticipation for literally ANY new Murray albums
Yes, please BBC, We're dying out here 😭
This video is brilliant - please make more! Would love to see your take on the companion themes next
A fantastic look at some great musical motifs! I'd love to see a followup about Companion's themes!
Smashing dissection of these colourful tracks. We really are spoilt with what Murray Gold has given us considering the kind of cookie cutter stuff you get with other tele. Would have appreciated a close look at the Shepherd's Boy track sometime.
First I should have said this was an amazing video. I listen to a Murray Gold playlist on the regular. Eleven’s regeneration scene blends themes of Trenzalore, The Long Song, Amy’s Theme to accompany a beautiful speech. Lockdown choir sang three tunes. Greatest honor of my life.
Wow this was brilliant. I became a bit obsessed with the shepherds boy song and the music in heavan sent particularly so this was so interesting thank you.
As someone who’s just interested in making music cause I enjoy it. I love these sorts of informative videos as someone who isn’t savy on music theory :)
These are brilliant! Thank you for making them.
Ah thank you man, glad you enjoyed it! I’ve only got a very basic grasp on theory myself so a lot of this is just subjective readings. Love your stuff by the way!
@@SuddenBiscuit thanks dude! Really appreciate it 💙
this was awesome, if you made more videos on the soundtrack I’d totally watch!!
yes yes yes yes yes to this! More please, way way way more
The Doctors usually ended up with two themes, an action theme and a soul theme. The Doctor's Theme is the soul theme that acts as a connecting through line for all. Slitheen was the closest the 9th Doctor got to an Action theme. The Doctor Forever became the 10th Doctor's soul theme while All The Strange Strange Creatures became his action theme. I Am The Doctor was 11's action theme, Mad Man With A Box was his soul theme. A Good Man was the 12th Doctor's action theme, The Shepherd's Boy was his soul theme. The 15th Doctor has his action theme and I expect a soul theme will eventually emerge.
SUPER underrated video and analysis! Keep it up the fantastic work 👌
Thank you mate, appreciate it!
Great video!! Love Doctor Who and Music Analysis, it's amazing to see these two subjects meet :D
Currently for me I am absolutely adoring 15s theme over the rest. I think it is because it was used a lot more sparingly than others like I am The Doctor, so in the scenes it comes blasting it feels so strong. Also the jazziness is just chefs kiss
Thanks for putting this together. I'm usually someone who doesn't notice themes, though I love hearing people talk about their views on the music being used, and interestingly the one I did recognise was 11's.
this is why i watch youtube, for incredible content like this. it is also why i watch doctor who. thank you so much
So for ages I’ve wanted to see Murray Gold to be commissioned to write a theme for each of the classic series Doctors. Just imagine what we’d get for each of them. Just for a few examples, a second doctor theme that shares links with I am the Doctor or a seventh doctor theme dark and mysterious but with a light playful counter balance too it (oh and Ace, Barbra, Susan & Romana themes too please)
Really enjoyed the insights, and the sheet music syncing is a great visual aid for us less musically proficient viewers.
I’d say the 7/4 thing is a stretch. 7/4 feels like the action adventure rhythm, and is perfect for the action adventure oriented 11th doctor
See, the real thing with 11's theme being in 7/4 is likely because with an uneven gate, it adds a certain amount of spontaneity and impulsiveness, which matches Matt's characterization quite well. It's a common tempo for action music (that and sometimes 5/4) because of that uneven nature.
The whole Bach's note in the Fifteenth theme, to me, is a direct motif from the 11th doctor era
Fantastic video, truly making me appreciate all of this music aaaaall over again
The opening to a good man gives me chills. Every damn time.
Love this video!! Great work. And great spot at 17:05, that melody's been in the show since 2007, when the titanic was falling in the christmas special! Originally a spin on All the Strange Strange Creatures (see End of time pt2 when time lords return), and later a big part of I Am the Doctor. Featured throughout the Capaldi era, and was all over the 60th specials. A true Gold special!
Truly wonderful video! Thank you for the deep analysis. I am the Doctor theme will forever be my favorite.
I don’t know what it is but I never got the “overplayed” feeling from I am The Doctor?
The fact it has several variants and different parts of it were played along with the fact that it’s got MAIN CHARACTER energy 😤
Great video! Super well done, I have always loved listening to the doctor who sound track (especially a good man) and I really enjoyed hearing someone with more musical knowledge then me talk about it!
Sick video!! Absolutely loved it (big up the muse mention)
Really enjoyed this mate, deserves way more views, 10/10
Thanks man, appreciate it!
This is very specific, but I adore listening to 11 and 12s theme while swinging around in the recent Spider-man games. Especially the madman/idiot with a box.
I love how the 1234 1234 1234 is back with "A Good Man?"
You've made me realized so many things about Murray's genius and I was already a big fan before watching your video. GREAT analysis!
Youve barely even touched the surface of Murrays work as well. This is Gallifrey in its many different forms across the show is one of my favourites pieces of music ever
Nice to see Murray getting some recognition. The man is a genius!
Great video. Im always trying to find more people talking about murrays music
The version at the end of parting of the ways is especially composed for that scene, it's not just the B section of the doctor's theme
Murray was the GOAT during Matt Smith's time!!! 7/4 Time wait a Minute, I know maths but doesn't those Numbers make 11...Mind Blown!!!
I've always wondered if Murray Gold was inspired by "Tubular Bells" (The theme from "The Exorcist") when he wrote "I Am The Doctor". There are similarities, but there is also a wonderful juxtaposition - "I Am The Doctor" is in no way sinister (as this video points out, it's a bit unsteady on its feet), but in fact brings to mind a delightfully odd "mad man with a box". It's quirky, yet charming and strangely heroic. Yep, the perfect match for the Eleventh Doctor.
That’s a great spot, I’ve never noticed the connection before but I think you could be right! Like a much less sinister Tubular Bells.
Murray Gold, God of Music
I now have a connection between Muse and Barry Gray thanks to your video. Thats just funny (in a good way) to me.
I always associated the S3 theme (The Doctor Forever) with Martha. It really makes me think of her isolation in the Human Nature episodes. I love that trumpet line too which reminds me of Northern Brass bands and British perservance in hard times.
great video! i’d love to see something similar for companion themes!
For me, the big hallmark of when a composer does a great job with a movie, tv show the occasional game, is if I end up downloading it on the playlist. And sometimes it doesn't even have to be the entire song. It will have 20-40 seconds which is fantastic. Perhaps you get an alternate version of a already good song. Take The Mad man with a Box, its beautiful, and during Smith's era probably my favorite is from when the Doctor was dying and he talked to the voice interface of the TARDIS. However, my favorite version of that song is the suite version from the Caretaker episode. Expecting him to make a full version of it in the soundtrack is too much but I wish they included it in the soundtrack. And then sometimes they do something strange like Martha's quests. The soundtrack version starts at the end losing all the beautiful build up. And I checked out all the other songs from the soundtrack its not like one of them has that first half so you could listen to them back to back. The only way to get the full version is if you find recreation or people who know how to remove everything except for the music. The song is named after her presumably titled to signify everything she has gone through for an entire year when all seems lost. And the soundtrack versions starts when the plan has worked and the shift has gone back to the Doctor. Feels odd.
But of course, I have to mention The Shepherds Boy. I know started out as This time there's three of Us. I don't know if he cut it down during the day of the Doctor, or expanded upon it later. When he made the fully-fledged song it got the number one top spot which is fitting since it is the best episode of Doctor Who we will ever get, everything else is fighting for second place. And the individual build up he gave the song in the Doctor Falls and Twice Upon a Time worked perfectly.
Murray Gold said that the 7/4 in I Am Doctor was inspired by Eleven's gangly walk!
thank you for this video! i'd love more like it
That’s a really good video mate. Loved it
Fantastic video! Murray's themes are wonderful and this is a great analysis. I'd love to see your take on the Shepherd's Boy theme and it's variants
Fantastic video, very well researched and presented 👏
Thank you!
14:36 i love that so much (visuals) xDD
Really great video!
Wow what an awesome video I have just watched, I am a huge Doctor who fan and it was only the other day that I realised that I am the doctor is in 7/4 time! (I am also a huge muse fan so loved the cheeky include)
Although there were a LOT of tracks (some of them also being the never released ones) that I noticed myself either really liking or straight up loving upon watching through the show for the first time, the season that made me TRULY and UNQUESTIONABLY love the tracks he made was season 11.
Because although I kinda just accepted the tracks being there (without paying 'em all THAT much attention I mean, aside for noticing it being gold to ears), but then season 11 happened and I IMMEDIATELY noticed his absence.
That's not to shat on Segun Akinola, mind you, or the tracks they made, but I'd be lying would there be many (if any) tracks that I even remember on top of my head and could hum right away, aside for the Thirteens theme.
Meanwhile there are just so many tracks from Gold living rent free in my head. Twelves theme and its variations like Freefall for example, This is Gallifrey, Pressing Need to Save the World, The Greatest Story Never Told, The Long Song, Melody Pond, This Time There's Three of Us, A Noble Woman in Town, the never released Skasis Paradigm from School Reunion, and the list just goes ON AND ON and new tracks keep coming, like Fifteen's theme now.
Point being, there is very much a reason why Murray Golds music is so iconic for this show.
Simply put, it's a spot well earned and deserved.
When I first saw season 11, I really wasn’t a fan of Akinola’s score, but it’s really grown on me in the years since.
I really didn’t like the synth pads he’d use for the emotional scenes, but I think part of that is because it was paired with very stunted dialogue and the sudden tonal whiplash of suddenly doing a bit of character drama with no real lead up.
But there are some great tracks from Akinola that really stand out for me. Thirteen’s theme is the big one, but also the leit motifs from Demons of the Punjab, Spyfall and the whole score for The Power of the Doctor are all great. I reckon it’s worth giving his soundtracks another listen, you might surprise yourself.
I completely agree with you about Gold’s score, though. He’s an incredible composer and has so many brilliant and memorable tracks to his name. You’ve listed some great ones here, but the fact that you could genuinely list dozens more that are just as good/memorable/iconic I think speaks volumes about the calibre of his work.