NBC Tried to Scrap ‘Seinfeld’s “Weird” and “Annoying” Theme Music

Composer Jonathan Wolff is opening up concerning the well-known Seinfeld theme track, revealing that the long-lasting music virtually didn’t make the minimize on the basic sitcom. Wolff, who sat down for an interview with Yahoo Entertainment and SiriusXM’s Volume, revealed that NBC execs discovered the music “annoying,” however because of Seinfeld creator Larry David, his tune caught round.

“Now, bear in mind, late-’80s theme songs have been melodic, with a variety of foolish lyrics and sassy saxophones,” Wolff mentioned, per Entertainment Weekly. “And, sure, responsible — I did a variety of that sort of music! However I knew it wasn’t going to work right here.”

To make his music stand out, Wolff determined to enlist within the slap bass, he defined. “Slap bass had not but loved ‘celeb standing’ as a solo instrument,” he mentioned. “I knew I needed to make use of that. And within the late ’80s, sampling know-how was in its infancy, and I actually, actually needed to make use of it as a lot as I presumably might to create new and peculiar genres of music.”

Wolff additionally tapped sequence star Jerry Seinfeld, pitching the concept that the comic’s voice might be the melody of the Seinfeld theme. “My job could be to accompany Jerry in a means that labored organically along with his human voice. The human nature of his voice, I informed him, would go properly with the human nature of my finger snaps and lips and tongue doing stuff,” Wolff mentioned. “Now I had Jerry’s consideration, as a result of that form of music was sort of from Mars on the time. And it was going to allow me to make use of these sampling applied sciences that I actually needed to make use of.”

However when David invited Wolff to a gathering with NBC execs following the primary season of Seinfeld, he was informed that his theme track was a priority for the community. The composer insisted that the NBC bosses have been “all good guys” and “good folks” who introduced ahead “pure and lifelike” objections within the assembly. “They thought the music sounded odd and peculiar: ‘Is that actual music? What instrument is that? Might we not afford an orchestra?’” he recalled.

Then-president of NBC Leisure Warren Littlefield minimize proper to the chase, saying Wolff’s music was “bizarre,” “distracting,” and “annoying.” However that was precisely what David needed, Wolff mentioned. “When he mentioned that phrase… oh, Larry, he loves annoying! He lives for annoying! That’s his major aim in life!”

Though Wolff would have agreed to chop the theme track, David fought to maintain it. When Wolff provided to create new music, “Larry received so mad at me!” he remembered. “He simply began yelling at me: ‘Get out! Wolff, you’re achieved right here, get out!’ He was simply so offended on the notion that I might cave. And he threw me out of the assembly!… Larry was not having it. Larry didn’t like being informed to vary issues.”

And as any Seinfeld fan is aware of, David gained in the long run and the music caught round for one more eight seasons. Pay attention for your self within the video above.

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