Late Show with Stephen Colbert Theme Song

"Humanism" by Jon Batiste and Stay Human
Since the theme song is played live everyday, the song tends to get different based on the preferences of the music tone performed by Jon Batiste and Stay Human band.
This clip features 4 distinctive versions of the song played after the beginning monologues of the show, from September 8th to September 22nd.
ALL CREDITS GO TO CBS AND "THE LATE SHOW WITH STEPHEN COLBERT".

[@BURCHDOGSHOW]

Catchiest talk show theme song

[@user-lf9op9dh1l]

BURCHDOG I also like the one that plays during the opening of Last Week Tonight.

[@bobbymchenryproductions8410]

BURCHDOG yes it is 💯💯💯

[@Briandre]

Last week tonight is the catchiest theme song

[@KevinJennissen]

The disparity in quality between this song and Seth Meyers' song is immense.

[@mexicanosdelmundo]

Conan's by far my favorite talk show host, but this theme is definitely my favorite of them all. I remember watching each of these episodes, and enjoying the change / evolution of the theme every time. Both episode 1 (opening), and episode 11 @ 2:38 are, in my opinion, the best versions. Jon Batiste is an exceptionally talented musician.

[@LiberatingHawk]

He has the best band in Late Night right now.

[@KW145.]

LiberatingHawk No, The Roots!!

[@ismaellopez3963]

Obviously The Roots and the 8G Band.

[@TheKijib]

ep 1 was da best "and STAYYY HUMAN COME ONNNNN"

[@athews1976]

Na @ 1:45 ep 10 was extra funkdafied with all that bass playing. That one was jamming.

[@liamwatson6789]

Cringe

[@phillyfanmatt]

I hope Jon Batiste & SH record and release a full version of this song.

[@Compman2000]

+MattFromPhilly Just released: play.google.com/music/m/Bjrd74wiungasnid27eikn7adhm?t=The_Late_Show_-_EP_-_Jon_Batiste__Stay_Human

[@baylinkdashyt]

There is also a full length of three and a half or so minute mix out of this opening music *complete with video to match*, here on KZbin - search for it. ("Directors Cut"; it was posted by the production team)

[@eyescandeceive]

the theme song has definitely grown on me! wishing they would release a full length downloadable version of it and/or put it on Spotify

[@eyescandeceive]

+eyescandeceive i keep coming back to this... can you please make a longer one now that there are more shows?

[@vuquangchien]

They released the theme song now on itunes: itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-late-show-ep/id1079053639

[@eyescandeceive]

doesn't sound the same... but thanks for the link. i wish i had a version with the instrumentation and arrangement of Episode 1 and the tempo of Episode 9.

[@annieofalderaan]

I wish Stephen was still announcing the show. I thought that was hilarious when he'd say "Tonight...I welcome: [guest name]" And the song is so catchy! I hope they release a full version sometime.

[@eyescandeceive]

+Annie Organa the way he opened every show with *TONIGHT!* was one of the best parts about The Colbert Report and this member of the "nation" misses it ♥

[@annieofalderaan]

I know! I loved the part during the first episode of the Late Show where he said "Nation..." That was awesome.

[@RobLives4Love]

The 2.5min director cut/studio version is on the Late Late Show YT

[@lavinsonrogers5529]

This theme + Stephen dancing at the rooftop = pure awesomeness..I'm dancing myself lol

[@DavidKudellMusic]

The first show was the best version, the guitar strumming is so funky and cool. The other ones sound hollow without it.

[@ronsadaka]

I wish they would show credits for the VIDEO production.That's some SICK shift photography there!

[@PatriciaGivensFH2012]

Yeah he landed just right for late night Jon Batiste is awesome!

[@A-Oh-Trey]

I miss the original intro. It's all bright, colorful, and pretty. Makes sense why they changed it during the 2016 election tho 😅

[@jamesstebbing6189]

I wish this song was available to download! It is so catchy and uplifting!

[@danieldougan269]

The look of the intro sequence was so interesting. I thought it was done with miniatures, but it was actually just shot with a tilt shift lens.

[@iPerryL]

the first one is really the best for me, becoz i love the saxphone part lol

[@trahnettilhcs]

Who was gettin' funky on the bass for the 10th episode? I dig

[@brayan3288]

I dig

[@dragonfly4484]

Synth Bass

[@mancerrss]

The most annoying sidekick side chats tho

[@sillygoose635]

@@mancerrss no it's not.

[@Josbird]

I love how they play it different every time

[@Lucy-of2fk]

This music just makes me feel so happy.

[@DethroneME]

Sexiest talk show intro of all time.

[@eyescandeceive]

+DethroneME how appropriate for the sexiest talk show host of all time LOL

[@RonaldCharlesEpstein]

+DethroneME Makes you feel sophisticated for watching the show, even if you are just wearing your bathrobe.

[@claclako]

I can't stop humming this song at work

[@TheKillzone9999]

They need to release a version of this on stores or at least youtube

[@deletedwaffles]

This is starting to become one of my favorite late night theme songs. Up there with Conan's Late Night theme.

[@baylinkdashyt]

Fun fact: this was also true of the opening and closing theme songs to Mister Rogers Neighborhood, which music director Johnny Costa and his Trio played live every single show - there are over *800* different versions of that opening music.

[@ahmarsaeed6085]

Don't you just love this!

[@boulshyte8932]

that moment on the roof is the cutest thing ive ever seen 2:10

[@mileypereira1378]

I Gotta Say, Stephen Did The Announcing In The Intros So Good! I Wish He Could Still Keep Doing That.😔

[@athews1976]

@ 1:45 ep 10 was extra funkdafied with all that bass playing. That one was jamming.

[@Pwj579]

Thank you for posting. Gotta say, I'm loving Steven's new show and the Theme song is awesome , just gets the show off on the right foot! I've noticed that he is no longer during the intro, which stinks because I love his free form. But then again, he can't do everything...

[@rayreynolds8066]

And Colbert dancing on roof. At :23.

[@doctorwhointro4549]

Hey Bob, Yo Yo Ma was on Yesterdeay, and he did a cello part in the intro so look for that one

[@ladarrellcheatum8787]

I was there on February 21st 2019 me and my wife had a blast!!!

[@mjwatts1983]

Great late night intro or GREATEST late night intro?

[@eyescandeceive]

+Michael Watts put me down for greatest

[@theenglishtongue1365]

I just love this theme song.

[@eyescandeceive]

OMG i just saw for the first time LAST NIGHT the bit with him waving the flag on top of the building!

[@tRumbewas]

So in love with this theme song. The band should release the full version!

[@hanscombe72]

I had never actually seen this intro, I caught it at the end of the Bernie Sanders vending machine sketch. I love the tilt shift photography!!!!!!!

[@yasirsaleh5657]

I love love love

[@iggystompbarnyard]

they need more of that guitar in the later versions. First 2 weeks were the best

[@kishy214]

+Dougie Romanik Guitarist was absent those two nights. He was back by Thursday of that week

[@dreaminginnoother]

+Fricken Chinger yeah it really lacks without the guitar, but you can that super funky ass bass when it's bear like that in version 3

[@PerthTowne]

Great theme! I could listen to it on repeat for about an hour!

[@sharonfieldstone]

Thank you for this

[@debut00]

These! Are! BEAUTIFUL!!!! The last seems to be the most performed these days. 👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾

[@jacksonsherman3930]

i love the intro

[@lovepotionsinc]

Great idea to compile the different versions together. You should add the new Spike Jonze intro version.

[@10Exahertz]

stephen is no longer voicing the intro, it takes away from it, it makes me sad now. Stephen is so energetic, this new voice so isnt

[@jayanthkumar7964]

+10Exahertz He is, except it is recorded, isn't it?

[@10Exahertz]

no on the newer episodes it sounds like somebody entirely different

[@eyescandeceive]

+10Exahertz i hear you. stephen doing the intro is SO MUCH BETTER.

[@wogfun]

I think it is him but recorded. the band is definitely no longer playing the intro live. there's a little complex solo after he says "stay human" that doesn't play when it's done live.

[@eyescandeceive]

+wogfun all the intros in this video are Stephen, but on the show every night they now have some boring voiceover person doing the intro who sounds nothing like STC. The theme song sounds different every night (and some nights are better than others) so I believe the band is still playing it live. your comment "there's a little complex solo after he says "stay human" that doesn't play when it's done live" does not make any sense. if something you are expecting does NOT play, that makes it more likely that the band IS playing live! this theme has really grown on me. I wish Jon Batiste would release a long version of it that we could dance to!

[@ryancaton6741]

I have a fever, and the only cure is MORE COWBELL!!!!

[@salmanbaharuddin]

Amazing... !!

[@sukshithshetty4847]

I love this theme music. 😘

[@jhpvids]

The theme is a killer. 👍

[@condition.130]

Have you noticed that at the beginning of each show they theme sounds a little different? I think it's on purpose.

[@eyescandeceive]

+D Mitch it sounds different because the band is playing it live every night instead of a recording as many other shows do.

[@condition.130]

+eyescandeceive I get a kick out of the variations.

[@jatlarge6354]

Love that title sequence…wonder how they did it.

[@PaliAha]

I love the song but what about them ViSUALS??? The MiNiATURiZATiON of New York City! So appropriate, yes?

[@brayan3288]

Yes

[@squitlertron]

It's called tilt shift

[@kylelee7254]

The subtle change in the theme song has been bothering me for so long (in a good way). It's so good to finally hear them side by side. Now I'm forced to pay close attention everytime to see if a different version is played.

[@trinimark123abc]

It's very New York and I love it :)

[@swiper1818]

Love it - great theme song!!!

[@fireflynovember]

I got to stop watching this every day.. It's getting ridiculous.. (Who am I kidding, I'll be whistling this for the rest of the evening :D)

[@jameskirst3762]

I think the video itself is pretty cool - focusing in and out of the city - great detail but quickly fades out to another scene - I'm sure it's all computer generated - any idea the software used to do that?

[@sillygoose635]

Nope, tilt shift photography

[@TheDanksNewGroove]

Reminds me of Sesame Street

[@bobbymchenryproductions8410]

EmperorsNewnewGroove 😂🤣🤣🤣 yes it kinda do a little bit 💯

[@loquayrocks]

it's been bugging me for a while where i'd heard this before.. Give Me The Night by George Benson

[@scott6443]

tight bass

[@ElChupacabra77B]

Does anyone have the closing theme to this show???

[@OCBircher]

What is the name of the instrumental song played at the END of the show each night? It sounds a little like a jazzed up version of TV Comedy Show 'Fraisier's' "Tossed Salads and Scrambled Eggs".

[@Pwj579]

Rauuuuryyyy!

[@vebesese5632]

Bally luuurrrvvveee... tha' chwaun.

[@LightBrand]

Who is the new announcer, its weird for the host Stephen to never address him after the intro.

[@jayanthkumar7964]

+LightBrand It's himself ;)

[@LightBrand]

+Jayanth Kumar Here it is, not in the latest episodes though.

[@eyescandeceive]

+Jayanth Kumar lately someone else has been doing the opening intro i don't like it : - ( i want STC back!

[@jeremythesmith]

Here is the full version from the show soundtrack: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n6bMp36Xnr-ge6s

[@juancarlosmorales682]

Someone could tell me what's the opening and main instrument that plays? Is it a trumpet, trombone, saxophone or what wind instrument it is?

[@JomarFelipe]

Mix of saxophone and melodica

[@mattschiavone7429]

who's the Asian chick who plays Bari sax? rock on sista!

[@madisontheatre1707]

Matt Schiavone that's Grace Kelly. Saw her live. She's amazing

[@Pwj579]

So glad they just posted this today "The Late Show" Open Director's Cut kzbin.info/www/bejne/mJ7Hnqtjj8iJrKc Published on Nov 12, 2015 By now you're probably familiar with filmmaker Fernando Livschitz's gorgeous NYC opening for "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert," but there's a lot more to it that you've never seen.

[@atreyurenaud515]

we need the theme song after Louis Cato started playing bass!

[@1dareu2mov3]

Why did this intro get scrapped?

[@sblagg527]

THIS^^^. This intro was LEAGUES better than the shortened version they have now-- and the fantastic visuals-- along with Colbert being inserted at various places that was the icing on the cake-- are completely gone. That cut down song they have now has ZERO of the funk that brought this show to life. I wonder if Colbert wanted to take the show in a more political direction- which it obviously has- and his producer Liz Levin, who Colbert had "meetings" with on camera a few times, left the show and the production values went along with her. I mean, this clip is SO freaking funny compared to anything the show does now: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aqO8pWZjg8ipfas

[@karenperkins3016]

1:15 Haha stephen dancing on a building

[@socrappyicoulddie]

The recent Russia version thooooo! It went off

[@StephenBa91]

Jeb!

[@johnbiasi9277]

remanicent of the intro from the snl original show circa 1975- 76

[@jaknadle6635]

Needs More Cowbell

[@RocknJazzer]

he copied the ending from Howard Jones - Things Can Only Get Better

[@CurrentEntertainmentProduction]

I agree the first intro was great but now the one they use it's OK but not nearly as good as the first one

[@relja6872]

This looks like John Olivers show

[@MissKarp]

Needs more cowbell.

[@TheSaucersApprentice]

Pity NINE CONSECUTIVE NOTES (7th and 9th reversed) at the end are lifted from Bob James' "Taxi" theme... #plagiarism

[@sillygoose635]

um no