Theme from Mission: Impossible
"Theme from Mission: Impossible" | |
---|---|
![]() One of the side-A labels of the US single | |
Single by Lalo Schifrin | |
from the album Music from Mission: Impossible | |
Released | 1967 |
Recorded | 1967 |
Genre | Theme music |
Length | 2:31 |
Label | Dot |
Songwriter(s) | Lalo Schifrin |
Producer(s) | Tom Mack |
"Theme from Mission: Impossible" is the theme tune of the American espionage TV series Mission: Impossible (1966–1973). The theme was written and composed by Argentine composer Lalo Schifrin and has since gone on to appear in several other works of the Mission: Impossible franchise, including the 1988 TV series, the film series, and the video game series.
Overview
[edit]![{ \set Score.tempoHideNote = ##t \set Staff.midiInstrument = #"electric bass (pick)" \clef bass \key g \minor \time 5/4 \relative c { \tempo 4 = 170 g4. g4. bes4 c4 g4. g4. f4 fis4 } }](http://upload.wikimedia.org/score/a/r/arofxbbj7pbsyqnvdy8ustpgj4tu7dk/arofxbbj.png)
The theme is written in a 5
4 time signature, which Schifrin has jokingly explained as being for mutant people with five legs.[1]
The Morse code for M.I. is two dashes followed by two dots ▄▄▄ ▄▄▄ ▄ ▄ ; if a dot is one beat and a dash is one and a half beats, then this gives a bar of five beats, exactly matching the theme's underlying rhythm.[2] It has been suggested that Schifrin consciously used the Morse code as a starting point for his composition, but this cannot be verified. Schifrin did write that he used Morse code as a method for obtaining an unusual rhythmic pattern for his theme to the film The Concorde... Airport '79.[3]
Schifrin's working title for the song was "Burning Fuse".[4] Schifrin compared his writing process to writing a letter: "When you write a letter, you don’t have to think what grammar or what syntaxes you’re going to use, you just write a letter. And that’s the way it came." He estimated that he wrote the main theme in 90 seconds and completed the full arrangement in three minutes.[4]
The actor Martin Landau, who played the character Rollin Hand on the show, attended the recording session for the theme song. "Lalo raised his wand to the musicians and I heard 'dun dun, da da, dun dun, da da' for the first time, and it was deafening", Landau recalled. "Lalo interrupted the band and said, 'no, no, it should be like this.' They resumed and before we could say anything, they had recorded it. I was stunned. It was so perfect. I came out humming that tune."[4]
Reception
[edit]The original single release peaked at number 41 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and 19 on the magazine's Adult Contemporary chart in 1967. Also in that year, two years before Leonard Nimoy began playing the role of Paris in Mission Impossible, the theme appeared on the album Leonard Nimoy Presents Mr. Spock's Music from Outer Space. (Nimoy did not perform on the song.)[5]
Awards
[edit]The theme won for the Best Instrumental Theme at the 10th Grammy Awards held on February 29, 1968.[6][7] Schifrin also won the Grammy for Best Original Score Written For A Motion Picture Or A Television Show.[8] In 2017, the 1967 recording of the Theme from Mission: Impossible by Lalo Schifrin on Dot Records was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.[9]
Schifrin's version, as performed with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, received a nomination for the Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance for the 39th Grammy Awards held in 1997. The Clayton and Mullen version was also nominated for the same award in the same edition.[10]
Track listing
[edit]- 7" single
- "Mission: Impossible" – 2:31
- "Jim on the Move" – 3:12
Charts
[edit]Chart (1967) | Peak position |
---|---|
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[11] | 39 |
US Billboard Hot 100 | 41 |
US Easy Listening (Billboard) | 19 |
Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr. version
[edit]"Theme from Mission: Impossible" | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Single by Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr. | |
from the album Mission: Impossible: Music from and Inspired by the Motion Picture | |
Released | June 3, 1996[12] |
Genre | |
Length | 3:27 |
Label | Mother |
Songwriter(s) | Lalo Schifrin |
Producer(s) |
|
In 1996, the theme was remade by U2 members Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr. for the soundtrack to the film. The duo recorded two versions of the song, the main theme and another subtitled "Mission Accomplished". The main theme was used during the end credits. Unlike the original, the majority of this version is in common time, with the exception of the intro. The accompanying music video was directed by English singer, songwriter, musician and music video director Kevin Godley.[14]
Critical reception
[edit]Larry Flick from Billboard wrote that Clayton and Mullen "cover the film's instantly recognizable theme, effectively funking it up for the '90s with a shuffling jeep beat". He complimented Lalo Schifrin's melody as "suspenseful and compelling as ever" and added, "It'll give fans of the TV show a fun jolt while entertaining a whole new generation."[15] Dave Sholin from the Gavin Report commented, "Those not familiar with this piece of music A) are under five years of age, B) have been living with Theodore Kaczynski for the past 25 years, or C) are not aware of television. This interpretation by half of U2 will be heard by millions of moviegoers expected to see what's been anticipated as the film of the summer. Try cranking this up and driving around the hills of San Francisco! Very cool."[16]
Richard Smith from Melody Maker noted that the Mission Impossible theme "has been weirded and danced up with lots of (not desperately imaginative) This tape will self destruct-type samples laid over the top."[17] A reviewer from Music Week gave it four out of five, adding that the song "should be massive".[18] Music Week editor Alan Jones stated, "They have successfully updated it while retaining its more memorable motifs and drafted in mixers including Junior Vasquez, Guru and Goldie to give it a variety of dancefloor flavourings."[19]
Chart performance
[edit]The instrumental became a worldwide hit. In the United States, it peaked at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 and received a gold certification, selling 500,000 copies there.[20][21] It additionally peaked at number one in Finland, Hungary and Iceland, number two in Australia and Ireland, and number seven in the United Kingdom.
Track listings
[edit]CD single
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Theme from Mission: Impossible" | 3:27 |
2. | "Mission: Impossible Theme (Mission Accomplished)" | 3:05 |
Total length: | 6:32 |
12-inch single
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Theme from Mission: Impossible" | 3:27 |
2. | "Theme from Mission: Impossible" (Junior's Hard Mix) | 8:50 |
3. | "Mission: Impossible Theme (Mission Accomplished)" (Dave Clarke Remix) | 4:30 |
4. | "Mission: Impossible Theme (Mission Accomplished)" | 3:05 |
5. | "Mission: Impossible Theme (Mission Accomplished)" (Cut The Red Not The Blue) | 4:35 |
6. | "Theme From Mission: Impossible" (Junior's Hard Dub 1) | 7:44 |
Total length: | 32:11 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Theme from Mission: Impossible" | 3:27 |
2. | "Theme from Mission: Impossible" (Junior's Hard Mix-Edit) | 4:10 |
3. | "Mission: Impossible Theme (Mission Accomplished)" | 3:05 |
4. | "Mission: Impossible Theme (Mission Accomplished)" (Cut the Red Not the Blue) | 4:35 |
5. | "Mission: Impossible Theme (Mission Accomplished)" (Dave Clarke Remix) | 4:30 |
Total length: | 19:47 |
Charts
[edit] Weekly charts[edit]
| Year-end charts[edit]
|
Certifications
[edit]Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[51] | Gold | 35,000^ |
New Zealand (RMNZ)[67] | Gold | 5,000* |
United States (RIAA)[68] | Gold | 500,000^ |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
Other cover versions and renditions
[edit]Jazz organist Jimmy Smith recorded a cover version for his 1968 album Livin' It Up.
One cover version was recorded by French No Wave artist Lizzy Mercier Descloux on her 1979 album, Press Color.[69]
A version of the theme was used during the panty raid sequence of the 1984 movie Revenge of the Nerds.
Rhythm section and production duo Sly and Robbie recorded a cover version for their 1997 album Mambo Taxi, a reggae and dub reworking of classic film themes.
The theme's melodies form the basis of Limp Bizkit's 2000 single "Take a Look Around", which was recorded for the soundtrack of the second film.
Russian ethnic band Bugotak recorded a Russian-language rap song with ethnic Siberian instruments based on "Take a Look Around", the theme and "Empty Spaces" by Pink Floyd, entitled "Missiya Maadai-kara nevypolnima".
American rapper Kanye West and producer Jon Brion created a remix version at the end credits of the third film.
Brave Combo covered the theme as a "deep groove cumbia" on their 2008 album, The Exotic Rocking Life.
Houston rapper Chamillionaire, remixed the theme song for his cancelled third album Venom in 2010.[70][71]
In 2010, a fictionalized account of Lalo Schifrin's creation of the Mission: Impossible tune was featured in a Lipton TV commercial aired in a number of countries around the world.[72]
Tiësto created a dance remix version of the theme to promote the fourth film in the series Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (2011).[73]
In January 2013, violinist and dancer Lindsey Stirling and The Piano Guys, Steven Sharp Nelson (cello) and Jon Schmidt (piano), released their interpretation of the "Theme from Mission: Impossible".[74][75] The arrangement is true to the Schifrin original, but also employs a passage with a liberal use of the Piano Sonata in C by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart K. 545 first movement and a self-composed passage to end the piece.[76] The arrangement was introduced with a music video having a comedic cloak and dagger theme. Two official copies of the video have garnered nearly 10.7 million views (as of April 2021) on Lindsey Stirling's YouTube channel[77] and over 20 million views on The Piano Guys YouTube channel (as of April 2021).[76]
For the promotion of the fifth film Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation (2015), Japanese guitarist Miyavi covered the theme.[78]
The theme was used in a series of commercials for Etsy during the 2023 Christmas season.
An arrangement was played during the closing ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics during the segment where Tom Cruise retrieves the Olympic Flag from Paris en route to Los Angeles.
References
[edit]- ^ Koppl, Rudy. Lalo Schifrin on Creating Mission: Impossible, originally published in Soundtrack Magazine (volume 19, number 74, 2000), hosted at Soundtrack: The CinemaScore and Soundtrack Archives
- ^ Edwards, Chris (July 14, 2023). "'Mission: Impossible' stars Simon Pegg and Rebecca Ferguson reveal theme song's secret Morse Code meaning". NME. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
- ^ Schifrin, Lalo (2011). Music Composition for Film and Television. Berklee Press. p. 43. ISBN 9781476899480.
- ^ a b c Chilton, Martin (November 20, 2018). "'I didn't have a clue what the show was about' – The story behind the iconic Mission: Impossible theme tune". The Independent. Archived from the original on 2022-05-07.
- ^ "Billboard: Lalo Schifrin Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved March 9, 2012.
- ^ Campbell, Mary (1 March 1968). "Up, Up and Away Picks Up 6 Grammy Record Awards". Vancouver Sun. Retrieved 1 May 2011 – via Google Newspapers.
- ^ "1967 Grammy Award Winners". Grammy Awards. Archived from the original on 12 October 2013. Retrieved 1 May 2011.
- ^ https://www.grammy.com/artists/lalo-schifrin/9997 [bare URL]
- ^ https://www.grammy.com/awards/hall-of-fame-award#m [bare URL]
- ^ "Winners & Nominees". Grammy Awards. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
- ^ "RPM Top 100 Singles - March 23, 1968" (PDF).
- ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. June 1, 1996. p. 27. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
- ^ a b Molanphy, Chris (September 15, 2023). "Insert Lyrics Here Edition". Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia (Podcast). Slate. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
- ^ "Video: Mission: Impossible (Adam Clayton & Larry Mullen)". U2tour.de. Retrieved June 15, 2022.
- ^ Flick, Larry (April 27, 1996). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. p. 80. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
- ^ Sholin, Dave (April 19, 1996). "Gavin Picks > Singles" (PDF). Gavin Report. No. 2101. p. 78. Retrieved April 16, 2018.
- ^ Smith, Richard (May 18, 1996). "Singles". Melody Maker. p. 47. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
- ^ "Reviews" (PDF). Music Week. May 25, 1996. p. 12. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
- ^ Jones, Alan (May 4, 1996). "Talking Music" (PDF). Music Week. p. 31. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
- ^ "American certifications – Clayton, Adam & Larry Mullen – Theme from Mission: Impossible". Recording Industry Association of America.
- ^ "Best-Selling Records of 1996". Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 3. BPI Communications Inc. January 18, 1997. p. 61. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved May 8, 2015.
- ^ "Adam Clayton & Larry Mullen – Theme from Mission: Impossible". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
- ^ "Adam Clayton & Larry Mullen – Theme from Mission: Impossible" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
- ^ "Adam Clayton & Larry Mullen – Theme from Mission: Impossible" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
- ^ "Adam Clayton & Larry Mullen – Theme from Mission: Impossible" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
- ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 3027." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
- ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 3028." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
- ^ "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 3015." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
- ^ "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13, no. 31. August 3, 1996. p. 17. Retrieved June 25, 2018.
- ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13, no. 36. September 7, 1996. p. 9. Retrieved June 25, 2018.
- ^ "Adam Clayton & Larry Mullen: Theme from Mission: Impossible" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
- ^ "Adam Clayton & Larry Mullen – Theme from Mission: Impossible" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
- ^ "Adam Clayton & Larry Mullen – Theme from Mission: Impossible" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
- ^ "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13, no. 48. November 30, 1996. p. 15. Retrieved June 25, 2018.
- ^ "Íslenski Listinn NR. 174 Vikuna 15.6. – 21.6. '96" (PDF). Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). June 15, 1996. p. 26. Retrieved April 7, 2018.
- ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Mission: Impossible". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
- ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 32, 1996" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
- ^ "Adam Clayton & Larry Mullen – Theme from Mission: Impossible" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
- ^ "Adam Clayton & Larry Mullen – Theme from Mission: Impossible". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
- ^ "Adam Clayton & Larry Mullen – Theme from Mission: Impossible". VG-lista. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
- ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
- ^ "Adam Clayton & Larry Mullen – Theme from Mission: Impossible". Singles Top 100. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
- ^ "Adam Clayton & Larry Mullen – Theme from Mission: Impossible". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
- ^ "Adam Clayton Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
- ^ "Adam Clayton Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
- ^ "Adam Clayton Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
- ^ "Adam Clayton Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
- ^ "Adam Clayton Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
- ^ "U.S. Cash Box Charts" (PDF). popmusichistory. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
- ^ a b "ARIA Top 50 Singles for 1996". ARIA. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
- ^ "Jahreshitparade Singles 1996" (in German). Retrieved October 28, 2018.
- ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1996" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
- ^ "Rapports annuels 1996" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
- ^ "RPM Year End Top 100 Hit Tracks". RPM. Retrieved May 3, 2018 – via Library and Archives Canada.
- ^ "1996 Year-End Sales Charts: Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13, no. 51/52. December 21, 1996. p. 12. Retrieved December 18, 2019.
- ^ "Tops de L'année | Top Singles 1996" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
- ^ "Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 1996" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved August 7, 2015.
- ^ "Árslistinn 1996". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). January 2, 1997. p. 25. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
- ^ "Årslista Singlar, 1996" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
- ^ "Swiss Year-End Charts 1996" (in German). Retrieved October 28, 2018.
- ^ "Top 100 Singles 1996". Music Week. January 18, 1997. p. 25.
- ^ "Najlepsze single na UK Top 40–1996 wg sprzedaży" (in Polish). Archived from the original on June 4, 2015. Retrieved March 28, 2019.
- ^ "Billboard Top 100 – 1996". Billboardtop100of.com. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
- ^ "The Year in Music: Hot Dance Music Club Play Singles". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 52. December 28, 1996. p. YE-44.
- ^ "The Year in Music: Hot Dance Music Maxi-Singles Sales". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 52. December 28, 1996. p. YE-45.
- ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Larry Mullens & Adam Clayton – Mission Impossible Theme". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
- ^ "American single certifications – Adam Clayton & Larry Mullen – Theme from Mission: Impossible". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
- ^ "Lizzy Mercier Descloux – Press Color". ZE Records – ZEA 33-004. 1979.
- ^ "Venom 2008–2011 Mixtape by Chamillionaire". www.datpiff.com.
- ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "Chamillionaire – Mission Impossible (steven rowin beat)". YouTube.
- ^ "Lipton Lalo Mission Impossible". inspiration room. May 1, 2010. Archived from the original on May 3, 2010. Retrieved July 16, 2017.
- ^ "Mission: Impossible – Theme (Tiësto Remix)". YouTube. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
- ^ Sanders Petersen, Sarah (8 January 2013). "The Piano Guys, Lindsey Stirling combine for 'Mission Impossible' video". Deseret News. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
- ^ Updegraff, Jake (9 January 2013). "Piano Guys and Lindsey Stirling Take On 'Mission Impossible'". RyanSeacrest.com. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
- ^ a b "Mission Impossible (Piano/Cello/Violin) ft. Lindsey Stirling – ThePiano". ThePianoGuys. 7 January 2013. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
See "About" section for details
- ^ "Mission Impossible – Lindsey Stirling and the Piano Guys". LindseyStomp. 22 January 2013. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
- ^ "『ミッション:インポッシブル/ローグ・ネイション』×MIYAVI「Mission: Impossible Theme」(Official Music Video)". YouTube. Retrieved July 31, 2018.
External links
[edit]- "Mission Impossible (Main Theme)" on YouTube, performed by Lalo Schifrin, James Morrison and the Czech National Symphony Orchestra
- "Mission Impossible, Original Theme" on YouTube, performed by Schifrin feat. Morrison at the Munich Philharmonic Hall in 1994