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.

[@dildoshwagginsz4428]

I love when you see an interview with an artist and it isn’t heavily scripted, polished and cut… instead you get genuine free flowing thoughts and allow them to tell the story in their own words. That’s usually when they throw in hidden gems on their ‘ramblings’ that a structured focused interview would pass by… Also… thank goodness they stuck with the lyrics that made the cut 😂

[@gcp2353]

Yeah this is wonderful! I've seen Howard in his own show about music and it was interesting, but stiff. In this he is absolutely radiant with love for the music and the tv show.

[@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.

[@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*

[@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 🤣

[@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

[@unclemonty9506]

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

[@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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@jameswoowaa479]

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

[@bletheringfool]

Don't forget Bean

[@Chriserino]

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

[@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?

[@weewoo6943]

Smegging legend!

[@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!

[@DsignMediaUK]

What a lovely bloke. Also very talented of course.

[@mdaddy775]

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

[@goodpeopleoftheworldunite]

Tongue tied is a piece of pure joy.

[@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.

[@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 😍

[@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.

[@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

[@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.

[@MrSensible2]

What a talented guy Howard Goodall is. Pure class!

[@weallmakechoices7456]

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

[@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 😁

[@bowser515]

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

[@philtaylor2577]

The observation deck theme is a personal favourite

[@Alex-cw3rz]

Same!

[@ammarali3645]

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

[@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)

[@bobstephens5599]

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

[@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"?

[@LarryLeeMoniz]

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

[@Workerbee-zy5nx]

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

[@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 ;-)

[@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.

[@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.

[@Bcs82]

What a lovely guy. Professional and enthusiastic. :)

[@ScoobGruber]

I love the original intro from series 1 and 2

[@SuperOldShows]

Amazing how he can make such fitting music.

[@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..

[@edbadyt]

This man is a legend

[@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.

[@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.

[@Lily_of_the_Forest]

Got my feet tappin’ & head bobbin’.

[@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.

[@safetyman4967]

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

[@AndrewChapman]

"It's a smegging garbage pod!"

[@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

[@newtheory785]

Wonderful stuff. Tongue tied.

[@comicalsteamengine9344]

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

[@Roughpup100]

there is something satisfying about hearing the theme on piano

[@at_Wild]

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

[@agathabest2233]

Excellent, I loved that, what a cool guy!

[@RSCOZZY]

Just amazing history. And an amazing guy.

[@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

[@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.

[@Spermwhales93]

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

[@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

[@fitz9983]

This is excellent! Thanks for the upload

[@nigelcarren]

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

[@wiiiilsoooon]

Easily one of the best tv theme songs ever.

[@PaulOfCreation]

Awesome Composer - Amazing Theme

[@billschlafly4107]

The guy who wrote the ummmm song is the genius.

[@matbroomfield]

Much more interesting than I would have thought.

[@danielwilliamson6180]

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

[@drtrustrum]

That was fascinating. Thank you.

[@bill1949wt]

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

[@laprepper]

This is awesome lore!

[@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.

[@nigelbenn4642]

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

[@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

[@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.

[@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

[@motormouser]

Howard,you're a genius! :)

[@craigrfoley]

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

[@steveritt]

I enjoyed that immensely!

[@michaelhughes7718]

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

[@joppadoni]

Diana-rossy... lol this blokes a genius

[@MrMikomi]

joppadoni I think he might be alluding to Chain Reaction

[@sporkfindus4777]

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

[@classicmail8239]

This is my childhood

[@peterxyz3541]

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

[@gillcawthorn7572]

Marvellous!

[@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!

[@PaulRoneClarke]

Blimey... he knows his stuff.

[@BritishComedyUK69]

Great memories

[@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 :)

[@neilpower60]

His other music documentaries are very good too

[@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.

[@LittleMAC78]

Less than a minute in and HG introduces the 'Real' Grand Piano, starts playing then someone realises it's not been tuned for a while... Quick, cut to the Elec piano!!

[@nakedmambo]

There's always one on every you tube video who finds a new way to say: I have perfect pitch, look at me...

[@LittleMAC78]

I dunno how to argue my case for not having perfect pitch without sounding even more of a nerd than I did in the first post! ;)

[@Maxander2001]

LOL :)

[@DodderingOldMan]

nakedmambo I'm not sure what you think 'perfect pitch' is, but you don't need it to tell that a piano is out of tune.

[@nakedmambo]

Bufffoon - Concentrate for a while on your sentence, the foolishness of it will dawn on you eventually.

[@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

[@brody5211]

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

[@DavidHeffron78]

Release these as an album.

[@Waterlooplein1]

I always thought it was "Let me fly, Far away from here, One more time, In the sun, sun sun.

[@HordrissTheConfuser]

Howard Goodall you're a genius, but please get that piano tuned!

[@alexanderevanska4274]

The backwards tunes sounded like something out of a 1914 movie lol.