Howard Goodall: Settling the (Red Dwarf) Score

[@Fricasso79]

The closing theme to Red Dwarf always takes me back to watching it as a kid circa 1992 when I was 10. It was one of the few things we all watched as a family. I used to go to the off license with my Dad to get drinks and snacks for the evening, which was always roysters' t-bone steak flavour crisps and Lilt, boxed red wine, and a 2 litre bottle of ruddles. Then we had to sit through gardeners world first because my Dad was going to get round to gardening one of these days and my Mum blatantly fancied Geoff Hamilton (RIP). Then it was Red dwarf at 9pm on BBC 2. I think the closing theme always stuck with me because at the time I thought Lilt had mango in for some reason. God I miss those days. 10 is the best age to be.

[@Mikimarux]

Me too! Though the theme was a little love hate when I was a kid as I was allowed to stay up late to watch Red Dwarf but as soon as that theme kicked it at the end it meant bed time.

[@ColonelStraker]

Well said. I also love all of the adaptations of the theme song such as this video captured with Cat in the yellow suit. It's the theme song but in a minor key on an Oboe(?). This genius continued throughout the series. My personal favourites are in the Ace Rimmer episode (Germans) and, especially, when his casket is sent to the graveyard of past Rimmers. Utterly amazing music by the incomparable Howard G.

[@Diablo_Himself]

The opening theme was always good too, even when it was changed to a more punchy version of the end theme. All music in Red Dwarf is great.

[@juliannetraven5168]

Howard Goodall: what a guy.

[@agathabest2233]

Thumbs up!

[@themadplotter]

Bloody genius

[@kimifur]

26:28 Howard received a letter from 13 year-old me (and a massive fan of the music on Red Dwarf) in the summer of 1996, via the Red Dwarf Fan Club's post forwarding service, telling him how great I thought the music on the show was. In that September, right around my 14th birthday, he wrote back and invited me and my best friend (and fellow RD fan) to the recording that he's talking about here. We managed to request a day off school, and my dad a day off work to chaperone us. We took the train and the tube to London on Wednesday October 16th 1996 and it remains one of the most interesting and fun experiences ever. We saw, from start to finish, the recording of the music to the Ace Rimmer sequence. After the recording of that piece, the whole crew piled into the sound booth to watch the rough edit with video and dialogue. We were the first ever to see that completed sequence and it remains a favourite! Doug Naylor was there. Ed Bye was there (Ed was especially lovely and I remember got on well with my dad!). Howard put me in charge of answering his mobile phone (back then a thing I'd never even really seen before) while he was conducting. Howard gave me a piece of the printed orchestra score and signed it. He played the piano for us after everyone else had packed up and gone and we were thanking him. He gave me the baton he conducted with. These were big things to 14 year-old me! Fantastic fun and Howard is a genuinely lovely bloke. Many years later he and my uncle met (my uncle is a composer and conductor and was attending a talk of Howard's, I think). My uncle said he was really impressed with all the amazing work he does for music in schools. So yes, indeed: What a guy!

[@barryhorne2199]

What a great story, thank you for sharing! Not just a musical genius, but a great bloke too. Thanks for giving us some great music, Howard.

[@thepofmeister]

Superb chap. Want to hear more.

[@bobbastian760]

"I'd done 1 or 2 comedy themes before, Blackadder and Mr Bean" - oh just 1 or 2 small programs we've never heard of then...

[@optimisticwhovian1726]

The trumpets you hear in the original opening theme sound a lot like the trumpets used in Blackadder series 1 especially the final episode of it.

[@thehydronator3021]

well he hadn't done mr bean cos dwarf was 87 and bean wasn't til 89

[@stayforthepeelpronpls4774]

the hydronator he probably mixed his memories.

[@johnshoepack]

very sarcastic

[@johnshoepack]

*very sarcastic comment here*

[@SteampunkResistance]

The Red Dwarf theme always tugs at my heart and makes me want to be on that ship in deep space lol.

[@phily8093]

I used to watch the odd episode of Red Dwarf as a child at my friends house. I always found it to be a bittersweet and melancholic song, and the whole show felt like that for me. Funny but with a sad streak running through its heart. And for some reason thought it was the female Holly singing the theme tune.

[@Lily_of_the_Forest]

Yeah, same here. Wanted to rascals this reality and join that crazy crew too.

[@tjfSIM]

Howard Goodall is a genius. 30 years later, and the Red Dwarf music is as fresh now as it was in 1988. That is incredible.

[@johnatilljohnson1677]

You are right.

[@lisainthestudio]

He also wrote the Black Adder and Mr Bean theme songs

[@mdaddy775]

The theme song is infectiously great

[@jucklowe]

Massively talented and interesting guy,,, his documentary about the Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band album is just outstanding.

[@ColonelStraker]

Howard is being very humble. His musical contributions, including the various "mood and style" arrangements of the main Theme track, to the shows he so quietly mentions are nothing short of outstanding. He is a composition genius.

[@nforne]

He wasn’t being humble, he was being British. He politely eviscerated Tongue Tied 🤣

[@tracyf9570]

I was the VO (Vision Operator) on several of the episodes of the first series. Happy dayz and a great program to work on. Sadly it went out of house after I think series 3. The LD (Lighting Director) John Pomphrey was a personal friend at that time - and a proper top bloke.

[@BggProductions]

+Martin F Cool!

[@stitcha123]

What you up to these days?

[@grendelum]

Tracy F - what is a Vision Operator? Funny enough, I’m a Lighting Director but for a band on tour, a totally different kind of LD than your friend but still a part of the same fraternity :)

[@bernardcromarty485]

My mate Dai Thomas is credited as 'Console Operator' on some series...

[@martinjf467]

A mistake here, I commented but whilst signed in on my wife’s page I think??? 🙀 Tracy’s husband Martin knew Di Thomas VERY well - Di taught me how to operate the console. A console op on TV programs operated the console controlling the studio lights to the direction of the LD. The LD’s were known as TM1’s back then. John P (no full names?) was the LD, a wonderful guy.

[@violetgalatee3473]

I've got to say, I wasn't too bothered about watching this, I have no interest in music at all except listening to it.but having sat through this video, I could listen to this man tell me about music for EVER, he makes it all sound so interesting and humorous too. absolutely brilliant, I loved this!

[@EdSurname]

yep same

[@steveweinstein3222]

Check out his videos about music, history, analysis. They're amazing.

[@joppadoni]

me too :) Howard is amazing :) i hope he watches this from time to time

[@kimifur]

Oh yes, I love that one! I showed it to my husband who knows little about music but listens to a wide variety (and loves the Beatles), and he really enjoyed it too. :)

[@thehydronator3021]

he actually did his own series on music years ago which charted the major milestones of music evolution I think it was called howard goodalls big bangs

[@steveweinstein3222]

He's that rare combination of scholar, artist & popular presenter who's magnificent at all of those. Why hasn't he been knighted?

[@thursoberwick1948]

Do we all have to fawn to the royals?

[@steveweinstein3222]

@@thursoberwick1948 Being knighted is a mark of achievement.

[@thursoberwick1948]

@@steveweinstein3222 It's a sign that you've signed up to the system. There are also plenty of people who don't deserve it either.

[@steveweinstein3222]

@@thursoberwick1948 We're all part of the system, whether we like it or not.

[@thursoberwick1948]

@@steveweinstein3222 Selling out isn't my thing, how about you?

[@jameswoowaa479]

Blackadder AND Red Dwarf theme tunes. Both solid gold classics. What a legend this dude is.

[@bletheringfool]

Don't forget Bean

[@Last_addam]

the theme is amazing possibly one of the best sitcom tunes ever, it now feels as much as the show as the cast and set, excellent

[@Chriserino]

This is awesome. I wish I could tell Howard how much i respect how technical these song are. It's awesome and creative.

[@stitcha123]

I’ve never seen Rory Bremner and this man in the same room together...

[@damienomen68]

Funny true. Has been about 30 years since i've seen Bremner, not ffrom UK, but lived there 1989.

[@weallmakechoices7456]

This was really fascinating and wonderful to hear this workings of a creative genius.

[@DsignMediaUK]

What a lovely bloke. Also very talented of course.

[@andybullock77]

I used to work for a charity and heard in my time there that Howard often had (may still have) groups of children disadvantaged or disabled in some way visit his studio for music workshops run by him personally. Love his work, and seems to be an all round top chap. His tv show a few years back about the history of music was fascinating, wish it had been longer as according to people who know better than me, it missed out some pretty significant time periods. Am sure he would have filled the gaps if time allowed.

[@mdaddy775]

He's so great - should be winner of multiple Oscars and Grammys!

[@Tiresias55]

Musical genius. Loved listening to this man talk about his art form, just brilliant. Every bit of music from the series covered, just amazing. Top chap.

[@Preview43]

The Red Dwarf Theme has been scorched into my brain since I first heard it decades ago. The magnificent orchestra version... the boppy version... PERFECT!!! Still LOVE it! The Tongue Tied tune was great but I always heard Huey Lewis and the News "Stuck With You" in it

[@Patrick-vh5nr]

Really the best theme tune. Whenever I hear it it really makes me smile. I think it’s stronger than just a theme tune, it’s something more than that. Anyway I absolutely love it 😍

[@goodpeopleoftheworldunite]

Tongue tied is a piece of pure joy.

[@colinp2238]

I always thought that the lyric was " I want to lie shitfaced and comatose " !

[@themadplotter]

well I'm gonna sing that every time now.

[@bobsage4963]

It is now, Colin! :-)

[@Samn3212]

Still works!

[@LarryLeeMoniz]

Fantastic! I love Howard Goodall's music. The Red Dwarf Theme Tune is one of the best ever composed!

[@MrSensible2]

What a talented guy Howard Goodall is. Pure class!

[@leepshin]

I never realised till now that Howard is so well matched to Rob and Doug's sense of humour, that at times he knew what the episode required before Rob and Doug knew themselves what they wanted and that's a very rare thing indeed. They really lucked out in a sensational manner to get him.

[@bowser515]

Howard contributed so much to the feel and success of Red Dwarf!

[@weewoo6943]

Smegging legend!

[@Bcs82]

What a lovely guy. Professional and enthusiastic. :)

[@bobstephens5599]

The first two series are some of the best TV ever imo

[@unclemonty9506]

the theme tune is genius - it fits so perfectly. So wonderful when all the stars align

[@maninchair6648]

"Goldfish shoals , nibbling at my toes" - Finally I know what that lyric is!

[@jessiematthews2432]

I thought it was gold-fish-es... Know i know..

[@vulgarshudder]

I thought it was "goldfish sharks, nibbling at my toes" lol

[@Scripture-Man]

"Selfish hoes, nibbling at my toes"?

[@nekro6897]

4:17 "Performed in a huge gents toilet" 😂

[@FlockOfHawks]

George Michael really loved it . Unfortunately after the recordings he didn't leave quickly enough ... :o)

[@MrKaywyn]

An excellent DVD bonus feature.

[@theaccursedj.e.2723]

"Stoke me a clipper, I'll be back before breakfast." LOVE LOVE LOVE the theme. Find myself humming/singing it and random intervals throughout my days.

[@colinp2238]

Smoke me a kipper!

[@EmpyreanLightASMR]

Stoke me a clipper, I'll be back for Christmas! *EJECTS*

[@beenaplumber8379]

Man up and start humming some brass band music ;-)

[@kexith]

Love the original intro music, the organ and piano, absolutely nailed the atmosphere. Noted they replaced the line "I want some sand up my bum" from the verse and used the mango juice instead

[@elgamerico]

He doesn't get enough credit for what he contributed to the Red Dwarf universe. Also, he created the Blackadder theme. What a guy !!! 😁

[@paulsmith5752]

And Jeremy Jackman, quondam Alto 1 with the King's Singers and choral director-about-town, is the guy who sang the tune in Series 2 of Blackadder - and he's NEVER got a credit :(

[@elgamerico]

@@paulsmith5752 On a random side note; I never knew his wife was the singer on the main theme, and also played the later played Michelle Fowler in Eastenders 😁

[@borlani]

I always enjoy watching Howard, such a wonderful talent and such fun too. I've watched this one 3 times now and enjoyed it just as much every time. The Red Dwarf theme might even be on my song list at my funeral, because it was such a theme song for my life. Always cheers me up big time.

[@thecreekhouse]

He forgot to mention that "I want some sand, up my bum" got replaced with "Drinking fresh mango juice"! Hardly surprising I guess. I could not see the BBC running with the original line. 😁

[@rollochairbreaker230]

They don't like sand. It's course and rough and irritating, and it gets everywhere.

[@ammarali3645]

He made this music stick in your head . so wenever I'm thinking of red dwarf I can hear the song

[@SuperOldShows]

Amazing how he can make such fitting music.

[@wbbartlett]

An epic soundtrack. It's impossible to imagine Red Dwarf without it, absolutely integral to the show.

[@philtaylor2577]

The observation deck theme is a personal favourite

[@Alex-cw3rz]

Same!

[@RSCOZZY]

Just amazing history. And an amazing guy.

[@Workerbee-zy5nx]

Love the original theme song from this funny series. This gent wrote a extremely powerful and rememberful theme that i wont forget.

[@Scripture-Man]

Thoroughly love this :-) The "roller music" (28:38) is my favourite bit of music he did in the show. Shame it was only used once, they should have used it at the start of every series with major changes.

[@agathabest2233]

Excellent, I loved that, what a cool guy!

[@sporkfindus4777]

I love this theme. It sounds similar to El Becko.

[@Humvee369]

Goodall is such a genius. Being able to write music (I'm a klutz and can't even play the spoons) is such a beautiful craft.

[@gussmedways]

Would love to hear the full version of the "Tongue Tied" demo!

[@stevecleaver8933]

Full version is available in the BONUS FEATURES from RD series 2

[@laprepper]

I watch the show on broadcast television years ago when I didn't have cable and I thought it was hilarious and still do

[@newtheory785]

Wonderful stuff. Tongue tied.

[@ScoobGruber]

I love the original intro from series 1 and 2

[@voodoodan7793]

Jenna Russell, who sang the title music, is Michelle (mark II) in Eastenders.

[@thursoberwick1948]

Should have given Clare Grogan (Kochanski) a go. She was a singer.

[@edbadyt]

This man is a legend

[@JustAGameShow]

Must admit it's one of the few shows that I actually like the soundtrack.. Ironically it all worked really well, even for a comedy series.

[@PaulOfCreation]

Awesome Composer - Amazing Theme

[@brody5211]

Love this and red dwarf naturally . What a guy 😊 Alan wilder are you listening? This could be you

[@ryanbarker5217]

a very enjoyable interview

[@beenaplumber8379]

Could I love Howard Goodall any more? He is an absolute genus as a composer. It might not be easy for a non-musician to hear that, but at the very least, you know the music is always spot-on. I also had a problem with Tongue Tied, but it wasn't that it had lost its comedy (which it kinda did), but all that stuff he said about sounding dated - that guitar is SO dated! It was a silly sound then, and it's even sillier now :P I compose for local theater, and every time I hear Howard Goodall say anything about his process, it winds up in my next play. He's been an absolute gold mine for me. I certainly understand the frustration over time too. I'm lucky if the drector gives me even 30 seconds for the opening theme, or even 20 seconds for the close, but I always have a full minute for curtain call, and they always use exactly 45 seconds and then just fade out abruptly after the last bow. But no one can hear the curtain call music because the audience is always applauding so loudly. But if I hear one audience member humming the music, or even see an actor do a dance to my music during a tech rehearsal, man is that rewarding. It becomes its own art form - establishing a mood and developing themes that will recur throughout the show in the first 15-30 seconds, with a tune I hope they'll hum as they're leaving. Howard doesn't get that real-time feedback for his music. I did one film score (short, local filmmaker, fun side project of his), and I felt so intimidated by not having any audience or cast feedback in real time. I was sure I was getting it all wrong, and the director was such a nice guy, I never knew if he would tell me if it was crappy. I think the music was good - just good - but it's 5 years later and I still don't know if it was the right music for the film. (It only screened once at a festival, and I was sick and didn't go, so I didn't even get anything out of that audience.) Yeah, I prefer live theater.

[@markfox1545]

You misspelled genius. Ironic...

[@markfox1545]

And theatre.

[@beenaplumber8379]

@@markfox1545 You misused "ironic," genius. In writing, irony is usage in which the implied meaning is different from the literal meaning of the words. And I am not bound by spelling conventions from other parts of the world. Did you really have a problem with what I said about Howard Goodall? Were you looking for someone to criticize? I hope that you at least learned something about music.

[@cjwars2828]

thanks for tune every time brings the show but then times with my mates when what happens next is all that mattered in the world feels like 3mills now so far in age and space

[@leonskum.5682]

Howard is an insanely bright guy musically and I suspect in everything else. I'm so jealous.

[@nedd.8479]

Howard Goodall is probably my favourite tv composer, just because of the Red Dwarf soundtrack (not just the main theme, but the actual songs like Tongue Tied and the Munchkin Song). The Blackadder theme, which Goodall composed, is also incredible.

[@peterjones596]

Howard Goodall is a musical god! No matter what he says about Tongue Tied, it's totally ace, and also spot on from my own personal experience on a first date... She "blurbed" something, and I tried to reply with a tease that was just as bad. We laughed, and I then asked her if she knew about Red Dwarf... Yeah, she did! We both agreed the song was more than apt. The cast's performance was brilliant, I guess Danny choreographed..

[@nigelcarren]

This is the young Rory Bremner's finest hour!!! 😂

[@motormouser]

Howard,you're a genius! :)

[@fitz9983]

This is excellent! Thanks for the upload

[@APRCraig]

15 odd years watching this show over and over and over and ive never noticed.. its Fun Fun Fun in the sun XD I have always thought it was Far Far Far in the sun XD

[@moaningpheromones]

you're on your own there, no way it was that.

[@neilpower60]

His other music documentaries are very good too

[@classicmail8239]

It's amazing how you did the music for Bkackadder, and how much Ace Rimmer is like Flashheart. BBC at it's finest I'd say.

[@thursoberwick1948]

That BBC is long gone.

[@Lily_of_the_Forest]

Got my feet tappin’ & head bobbin’.

[@stevek6432]

the tongue tied sequence was Cat looking at a dream viewer trying to find a certain dream and realising it was the wrong one. which as Howard said got a bit out of hand and the joke was lost. he'd realise pretty quickly it was the wrong one, not view the entire song before realising

[@Martial-Mat]

Much more interesting than I would have thought.

[@craigrfoley]

Stumbled on to this video, glad I did, top guy

[@steveritt]

I enjoyed that immensely!

[@drtrustrum]

That was fascinating. Thank you.

[@scopex2749]

THIS MAN IS A GENIUS!!......We’re not worthy......we’re not worthy.......ALL HAIL H........ALL HAIL H..........( bows low on knees)! The bit I like the 9:31 the eerie opening with just the trumpet playing with someone outside Red Dwarf - PAINTING THE LETTERS on the side of the ship!

[@comicalsteamengine9344]

This just makes me want be in space drinking fresh mango juice.

[@safetyman4967]

I love at the end of waiting for God Rimmer does the garbage pod thing

[@AndrewChapman]

"It's a smegging garbage pod!"

[@at_Wild]

The 'tongue tied' from the show had a sort of classic, almost monkees feel, and that make it stick for me.

[@DavidHeffron78]

Release these as an album.

[@danielwilliamson6180]

5:35 It's a garbage pod! ... IT'S A SMEGGING GARBAGE POD!!!

[@Roughpup100]

there is something satisfying about hearing the theme on piano

[@wiiiilsoooon]

Easily one of the best tv theme songs ever.

[@BritishComedyUK69]

Great memories

[@peterxyz3541]

Great decision on his part! It’s timeless! 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼❤️

[@gillcawthorn7572]

Marvellous!

[@garrardhobson300]

Omg bro your the guy who wrote that actual ?? Your song is timeless, listening to you talk about music is an honor sir, I love the way your theme song can be a Western or Futuristic or Motown its timeless, What a guy !! Smoke me a Kipper !!!! Bro legend Kia Ora Nga Mihi Katoa :)

[@Spermwhales93]

"Danny's a great dancer." He called it hahaha

[@bill1949wt]

Jenna sounds incredible in the great Red Dwarf end theme Fun, Fun, Fun.

[@billschlafly4107]

The guy who wrote the ummmm song is the genius.

[@AndrewChapman]

13:34 I love that Red Dwarf model shot. Why did they never use it? They kept reusing the same model shots during Series I-IV. Probably because the original Red Dwarf model got destroyed sometime during the earlier series. Not so much in Series V though as they'd built a new model to take new shots. But still, I wish they'd used this particular shot of the original model. I also like how they play Howard Goodall's Tongue Tied demo over it too.

[@laprepper]

This is awesome lore!

[@JohnBloggs-m8l]

According to chris barrie in the dvd interviews he wanted to have a go at the rimmer song so someone is telling porkies, probably chris lol

[@mf_rat]

Could well have been Doug Naylor who didn't want to pay for Howard to tutor Chris, so he told both sides a different story. Even during Series 7 they were on a tiny budget

[@JohnBloggs-m8l]

@@mf_rat I duno what the real story is cos I've just rewatched the series 7 interview but Howard definitely said he was prepared to give Chris a go and Chris said no, so if it was Doug that said no that makes no sense unless Howard's remembering wrong.

[@joppadoni]

Diana-rossy... lol this blokes a genius

[@MrMikomi]

joppadoni I think he might be alluding to Chain Reaction

[@livvy94]

Aaaaa I want to hear that Tongue Tied demo in full!

[@acerimmer3717]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/i4C3Y4t4g7yUZ80

[@livvy94]

Wow, thanks!

[@stewartmcminn7773]

Ace Rimmer what a guy

[@stevecleaver8933]

Full uncut version from RD is available in the BONUS FEATURES from RD series 2

[@classicmail8239]

This is my childhood

[@nigelbenn4642]

Only 25 seconds for a globally recognisable theme tune? What a load of smeg.

[@rosePetrichor]

I honestly really miss the musical style that was used in the first 2 series, where all of the bridging shots were accompanied by that lone, sombre horn. as much as I love the style of later Dwarf, there was something to the first two series that really drove home the isolation and loneliness Lister felt and the music was a big part of that

[@Immortal-Headcase]

Stoke me a clipper, I'll be back for Christmas.