(geez its been dead around here lately lol)

anyway, how many different versions of the theme song are there? i know of:

1) the first verse and the chrous
2) shortened #1-the opening notes and the chorus
3) the long-aired version(#1, instrumental, then another #1)
4) the 200th anniversary one(3 verses, 3 choruses)

r there any more?

Doug

I've never seen what you describe as the long-aired version, but I have seen #1 (most of the NBC episodes) and #2 (most syndicated episodes). I remember there were even two versions of #1: seasons 1-3, and seasons 4-11. They're very, very similar, but the background musical arrangements are slightly different. I haven't heard the first one since the original NBC airings.

1, 3, and 4 are on the sitcomsonline.com website(go to letter C, go to Cheers)

i've only seen #2 personally, actually(its in syndication on a local channel), so i want 2 see the other 3 REALLY bad! lol

i was only about 3 when the originals aired on NBC(i think!) and remember only a few things about it, and one was the opening theme.

i wonder what Nick at Nite will air? and which version does the videos have?

if you've seen the others, what do they show? just more old pictures?

Doug

OK...I bought a Cheers video(the wedding and Rebeccas arrival) and there were 2 different kinds of opening themes, so now we have 6 known in all.

1. Regular 1982-1984(one verse, one chorus)
2. Shortened Regular 1982-19834
3. Regular 1985-1992(one verse, one chorus)
4. Shortened Regular 1985-1992
5. Long-aired one(can be heard at sitcomsonline.com, letter C)
6. 200th Anniversary one(can be heard at sitcomsonline.com, letter C)

explanations:

1. can be heard at sitcomsonline.com, letter C

2. syndicated version of #1. just the opening notes and a shortened chorus.

3. as TVGuy said, it is identical to #1 in arrangement, but must have been rerecorded because u can tell a difference. the vocals were rerecorded too. he sounds more "echo-y"

4. syndicated version of #1. opening notes, shortened chorus

5. yet another recording. why would of this been made? It's 2+ minutes!! its a #1, with a musical version of #1, and a #1 again! weird...

6. the 200th anniversary one. unlike many people think, it IS NOT the full version. if is missing one known verse, maybe more.

I'm trying to get recordings and videos of all of these themes. ill post them asap(i just need to get my capture card working right!

Doug

Alot of this is copied from the previous post:

1. Regular 1982-1984?(one verse, one chorus)
2. Shortened Regular 1982-19834
3. Regular 1985-1992?(one verse, one chorus)
4. Shortened Regular 1985-1992
5. Weird Regular Season 3?(one verse, one chorus)
6. Long-aired one(can be heard at sitcomsonline.com, letter C)
7. 200th Anniversary one(can be heard at sitcomsonline.com, letter C)

explanations:

1. can be heard at sitcomsonline.com, letter C

2. syndicated version of #1. just the opening notes and a shortened chorus.

3. as TVGuy said, it is identical to #1 in arrangement, but must have been rerecorded because u can tell a difference. the vocals were rerecorded too. he sounds more "echo-y"

4. syndicated version of #1. opening notes, shortened chorus

5. What is this?? It aired w/ the first few eps on Sam Sunday. it sounds like a #1 in the beginning, but at "Wouldn't you like..." a weird, VERY reverbating, almost rag-type, piano(or something! i cant tell) comes in. then the chorus is VERY different. Gary Portnoy sings more of the melody actually, then the harmony(like the other 'regulars'). ill try 2 get videos soon

6. yet another recording. why would of this been made? It's 2+ minutes!! its a #1, with a musical version of #1, and a #1 again! weird...

7. the 200th anniversary one. unlike many people think, it IS NOT the full version. if is missing one known verse, maybe more.

I think I can get videos online! i am close to getting them small enough, so...

Doug

Well, it was good to hear the original theme that was used for the first three seasons (1982-85) again, because now I remember what is different about it. The 1985-93 version has two vocal tracks: one with the main melody, and the other with harmony and humming. The 1982-85 version has a single vocal track, with the melody only. I don't believe they rerecorded the melody for 1985-93 -- it really sounds like they just laid down another track of vocals on top of it.

I did notice that N@N still used the abridged theme when they showed episodes from seasons 10-12.

Did you hear the one I talked about(where they SANG the whole melody, w/o singing harmony)? If you're not, I understand your post.

It'll make a whole lot more sense once I get videos up and we can actually hear the sounds as we talk about them

the videos should be going up on Friday and ill post the link here first

Doug

Yeah, Doug, I know which one you're talking about, and I was surprised to hear it as well. Interesting stuff.

Theres the long version they use on DVD, theres the short version, 200th Anniversary, and the full lyrics that never been aired on tv. Also theres the original demo of the theme.

Also when they use the opening credits, the short versions went from the car to the logo. The other one is from the car to the old fashion and then they go on with the theme.