Summary
The Jetsonstheme song was a catchy earworm of an intro, and it even managed to top the Billboard charts. George, Jane, Elroy, and Judy Jetson are as synonymous with science fiction as Luke Skywalker thanks to theirHanna-Barbera cartoon TV showthat premiered in 1962. A Space Age answer toThe Flintstones, the original run ofThe Jetsonsonly lasted for a year before it was canceled. It was then rebooted from 1985-1987, and as recently as 2017, there wererumors of a live-actionThe Jetsons, though not much more has been said since the announcement.
Despite only having three seasons' worth of episodes, as well as a handful of TV movies and feature films,The Jetsonshas left a lasting impact on popular culture. The science fiction aesthetic has been copied by many modern shows and films andThe Jetsons' optimistic take on a future where the advances of the world have actually been a help seems unique compared to the traditionally ominous futures depicted in modern science fiction.The Jetsonsoften predicted the future, but even they probably wouldn’t have guessed their theme song would end up so popular.
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The Jetsons Theme Song Became A Hit When It Was Released On The “Television’s Greatest Hits Vol. I” Album
There Was A Resurgence Of Interest In The 1960s In The 1980s
The Jetsonstheme song is a classic animated TV show theme, with a chorus of people more speaking than singing the lyrics over a jaunty tune.The lyrics simply invite the viewer to meet each member of the Jetsons familyas they disembark on their various daily activities. It’s catchy, but it’s also fairly basic. It works perfectly for the show, however. The staccato way the chorus sings emulates a kind of robotic AI, and the horns and zippy sound meld very well with the futuristic sound effects of spaceships zooming through the opening. The lyrics go,
Daughter Judy
Jane, his wife"
The song was created by composer Hoyt Curtin for the original 1962 show, and while Curtin appreciated it, it was for the most part forgotten. Then, in 1986, outlets like theLA Timesbegan reporting that the song was getting major airtime on radio stations. The re-recorded version of the song reached No. 9 on Billboard magazine’s retail sales charts. Part of the reason for the tune’s sudden reemergence came because the fashion and music of the ’60s were back in vogue in the ’80s. Curtin was unabashed about his appreciation for its success, saying,
“Every time I hear that damn thing I’m amazed. Man, that tune swings. If it doesn’t swing, the heck with it. The music has to have some excitement, some reason.”
Syndicated reruns ofThe Jetsonsbegan in 1985 and around the same time, Taft Entertainment Co., owner of Hanna-Barbera, found a record company to release the music. TeeVee Tunes included the song on theTelevision’s Greatest Hits, Vol. Ialbum, then released “The Jetsons” single in April, positioning it perfectly to become a surprise hit.
Jetsons Composer Hoyt Curtin Wrote Many Hit Theme Songs For Hanna-Barbera
Hoyt Passed Away In 2000
The Jetsonstheme song wasn’t the only one made by Hoyt Curtin. He’s responsible for numerous Hanna-Barbera opening tracks, including those forHuckleberry Hound,Scooby-Doo,The Smurfs, and more. In some ways,The Jetsonsfeels the most slight of all his themes, with the others having more in the way of lyrics. However, there’s something particularly catchy about that theme that isn’t found in his other songs, save for theScooby-Dootheme, which has remained largely unchanged insubsequentScooby-Dooshows.
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Curtin passed away on December 3, 2020at the age of 78, but the legacy of his songs remains. Everyone can hum a few strands of his tunes, whether they be fromThe Flintstone,Scooby Doo,The Jetsons, or something more obscure but no less memorable.
The Jetsons
Cast
Hanna-Barbera’s futuristic family, The Jetsons, ran in their own animated sitcom in the 1960s, following the exploits of George and Judy Jetson, along with their children, Elroy and Judy, as they live a fast-paced retro-futuristic life. In a world where robots are sentient support units and most tasks can now be completed by the push of a button, the Jetsons find themselves in increasingly comedic situations in a world over-simplified by technology.
