Toby's season 1 theme is a straight up banger. 23 years later it still plays in my head when I walk anywhere.

@4201productions

6 ай бұрын

HELL YEAH

For me, I would never call the Hit era music bad, I just prefer the classic ones

@georgspielberger9780

Жыл бұрын

Me too There are some really good HiT music tracks especially the character themes from Season 8-12

@PG13_Official

Жыл бұрын

AGREED

@hungryglass5638

Жыл бұрын

They got creative with both eras

@marioelimunoz5678

Жыл бұрын

SAME! 😊FINALLY SOMEONE WITH A BRAIN!

@Jo-Wilbe-Dina

Жыл бұрын

For me, I enjoy and appreciate the Hit Era Music just as much as the classic ones, if not even more. The Hit Era Music is absolutely hated on too much more than it deserves, I don't mind the Tubas, Violins and all of the excuses people make up to dislike the themes from Season 8-12 just because they're so attached to the classic ones. The Classic Themes were more groovy and active, which is fitting to the Classic Era as a whole being a little bit chaotic and productive, and it's the most memorable and iconic ones. The Hit Themes were more calm, relaxing, chill, and peaceful, which really fits the description of the Hit Era which actually makes me wanna sit down and watch the hit seasons because of how much it makes me feel comfortable with it's simplistic music, themes and stories, I still agree that the Stories from the Hit Era has been toned and calmed down a bit, but I am not complaining though, I appreciate that it has because I'm actually getting tired with how chaotic the episodes has been getting in the latest classic episodes. Tbh, I actually enjoyed the Hit Era's Themes more than the Classic Ones even though I loved both equally, just because the Tuba is overused in the Hit Music, doesn't make it worse, in fact I could say the same thing with Classic Themes with its overused Train Sounds Instrument that everyone always hears in the iconic Thomas Intro from the classic season, but it doesn't make it bad, it actually fits, just like the music from the Hit Era, and it's actually nice to hear some musical change in the show with more Orchestral Instruments like the Tuba, Trumpet, Violin, and even the Flute. Either way, both the Classic and Hit Era Music has some pretty catchy melodies that makes me easily remember and vibe with the themes, and at least with the Hit Era, it still has given each of the steam engines their own themes like the classic did, and unlike the CGI and onwards, none of the the engines had any themes of their own anymore, and I couldn't enjoy the CGI Era as much as the Model Eras. The Theme Songs is one of the things the made the show so memorable and iconic, not just the seasons and its stories. It just isn't the same without the theme songs from both the Classic and Hit Era. Also, I don't care if this is too much for you to read, I swear I didn't mean to say this much, ok? This is just my defense for the Hit Era and what thoughts and feelings including opinions that I wanted to express about it.

14:48 James had 2 variations, yes, but It was his triumphant theme and jazzy theme. The variation of James's theme you mentioned second was the same one as the first you mentioned. James's jazzy theme was more upbeat.

I think the main issue a lot of people have with the Hit Era was the overuse of Tubas making a lot of the tracks sound similar. But like, a lot of the model series was composed on a synthesizer too. (I always had a soft spot for season eight onwards though, since I grew up with that era of the show.) But I'll always prefer Mike and Junior's themes for the characters, cause they're the most nostalgic to me. Only topped by Hummie Mann's orchestral score in TATMR, imo.

@carminaburanafan

Жыл бұрын

OMG the "tubas" in the HIT era were absolutely awful! I hated the narrow gauge theme. The bland music combined with the absolutely sterile scenery made the narrow gauge eps quite soporific

@Thomasmemoryscentral

Жыл бұрын

​@@carminaburanafan ironically the hit era rebrand released close to the gen 3 pokemon gba game pokemon emerald and those used a heavy amount of trumpets. Seems the mid 2000s were a funny time for trumpets and tubes in select popular media

@CoronaMacGuinness

11 ай бұрын

@@Thomasmemoryscentral There was an odd push for brass immediately post-Y2K, wasn't there? Makes me wonder if there's a connection or it's just a weird coincidence...

@Nic_2751

5 ай бұрын

The difference is that the synths were varied and because of technological and budget limitations, the instruments all stood out and if they were live orchestrated would’ve been peak

The classic era was gold yes But some HIT era songs have some silver and maybe some bronze here and there But I love ode to Gordon I love patience I love calling all engines

@jordandorsett3106

2 ай бұрын

Same

I have to agree, going back and watching some of the Hit era episodes recently I very much enjoyed a lot of themes but I think they get so overshadowed because of the episodes they are attached to.

I think the Season 1 Jazz variant beats the HIT era one. The one you be compared to was an expansion of an incidental theme from Break Van.

@superpaul968

10 ай бұрын

That’s exactly what I said. James’ HIT theme IS one of if not the best HIT theme, but he compared it to the most boring version of the classic theme which isn’t really his main theme but his slower “triumphant” variant.

I actually like the hit era’s themes they felt nice to me No hate to the classic themes ofc

@TronicSSJ07

Жыл бұрын

I love the Hit Era. So nostalgic to me.

@PercyTheSmallEngineStudios

Жыл бұрын

Dumb

The music from the Hit-Era (Along with the TATMR music) is so overhated and underrated!

@mariobabbo3497

Жыл бұрын

It is featured in half hour blocks of Thomas airings specifically in the US on the educational channel PBS Kids

@ThomastheGOAT1975

5 ай бұрын

There was the spooky music and chase soundtrack from the eighth series episode Halloween and those were actually really good.

Emily’s Season 8 theme actually sounded better than their season 7 theme. I kinda found her season 7 theme to be a little sappy. Only if her Season 8 theme was used in Season 7, in the style of Classic era.

@vhanz-

7 ай бұрын

Emily's theme also kind of includes the busy theme from season 1 lol

I don't mind it for the most part, but I genuinely don't understand why they changed the intro music. The opening music was so iconic and I really don't understand why they chose to change it. I do miss the character themes, especially Gordon's theme

Thomas: Both Edward: Both Henry: *Original* Gordon: Both James: Both Percy: Both Toby: *Original* Emily: *HiT*

@thereallifelordpt9860

11 ай бұрын

Thomas: classic. Edward: hit Henry: classic Gordon: both James: classic Percy: both Toby: both Emily: Hit

While I adore some of his CGI era work, Hartshorne's Model Era work never really meshed with me. It often feels too slow, the composition tends to be aimless with no clear direction or structure, like the auditory equivalent of tiptoeing around eggshells, and anytime there's brass it sounds flat at best and like flatulence at worst. Even if he can produce a good theme, the character it's ascribed to is often so out of character it doesn't even fit them outside the context of that era or, depending on the episode, might not even suit their characterization or actions in that same episode. I'm glad he gradually worked the bugs out by the CGI series though. Themes like Toby and Bash, Wayward Winston, Henry's Hero or his The Adventure Begins reworks of the O'Donnell and Campbell compositions are some of his best work.

The HiT music isn't bad and I got a few favorites from that era. HOWEVER. ...when you're accustomed to the absolute magnificence and sonic beauty that Mike and Junior whipped up for the classic era, the HiT era music is such a downgrade. Even feeling that way, you can still find some enjoyment in it.

@karenfan010

11 ай бұрын

I think the reason the show changed orchestrators was because they thought listening to the same music over and over again was boring and they thought people would begin to lose interest so they decided to make new music to change things up.

There are definitely certain music pieces in the HIT era that are much better than their classic counterparts. Emily's theme in the HIT era in particular is so much better in my opinion. The one in season 7 wasn't bad by any means, but the ones in season 8 through 12 just has so much more character to it. Another to point out is the theme used for danger or suspense. I love the runway theme as much as the next guy, but that one theme from Thomas's New Trucks is fantastic. It really gets your heart pumping and puts you on the edge of your seat.

@MasterofMacarbe

Жыл бұрын

I think it also helps that Emily herself just had so much more character in S8-12. Plus her classic theme was only around for one season so didn't have the opportunity to become as nostalgic as the others. It's a nice theme and it suits Emily's initial 'sweet mom friend' vibe well, but nowadays it's near impossible to associate it with her. Not only is Emily's Hit era theme one of the just nicest pieces of music of that era, but I also think it matches perfectly the kind of character she eventually became, especially in that era = kind and sweet yes, but also with an air of arrogance and (admittedly usually somewhat justified) sense of importance.

@Thomasmemoryscentral

Жыл бұрын

I love the runaway theme but personally I choose the season 5 remix in terms of the classic series as my favourite rendition

James’ Hit Era theme has always been my favorite out of the other character themes.

What I love what Mike and Junior did with Thomas is use a bit of musical story telling from how it becomes more mature and majestic in season 3, 4, and 5, compared to season 1 and 2 with the more cheeky and cheerful sounding theme with a little bit of trolling

I kinda like the Hit Entertainment era themes but the classic era Mike & Junior themes are the superior and definitive themes

Hit era styled season 6 is SO FRICKING CURSED

While nothing quite tops the classics for me, I do like several of the Hartshorne themes from this era. I think Thomas and Gordon's themes are easily the best it had to offer, and Percy's is pretty good as well. I also think the Skarloey Hit Era theme perfectly suites the RWS book New Little Engine.

@thereallifelordpt9860

10 ай бұрын

For how boring it was I suppose

@6allmotivepowers363

10 ай бұрын

@@thereallifelordpt9860 precisely

They're not all bad, but they lack that special something that made the Mike and Junior Themes so memorable. I liked Edward's theme though. I also think the changes in how scenes play out in the Hit Era and beyond the viewer has less opportunity to hear and enjoy the music compared to Seasons 1-4 especially.

I'd say most of the bad music came from when they were still using models, I don't think they're as bad as people make them out to be, but most of them are pretty forgettable. The switch to full CGI is when the HiT eras music was at it's best (if you count the Sharon Miller era as part of the HiT era). This is if we're only taking music into consideration, and not songs, because the songs that were made while they still used models were almost always superior. Of course, when it comes to both music and songs, not a single era of the show can compete with the classic era.

I like the hit era themes

@stuartbarclay7940

Жыл бұрын

Me too.

I love how James' Hit theme starts with a fart

The Tuba gets too much in the HiT era.

@InvisibilityMerlin

Жыл бұрын

Aggreed.. to much violin,flute, and tuba. But, it's ok I guess

I agree with everything you said

James's series 8 theme sounds a bit like the Reds vs blues theme.

Nice to see some love given to the HiT era themes - I know the music as a whole was a downgrade from the classic series but I do feel the character themes are the best pieces of music in that era. Something else I noticed, to give credit to the HiT era's themes is across the board even when the music was better in the classic series, the HiT era themes still sounded more true to the characters, The classic themes, though that may just be because by the time of the HiT era these were pretty well defined character's - I think James, Edward, Gordon and Emily's themes all suit their character more than the classic themes, even if I do like Edward and Gordon's original themes more. Nice to see some more love for James' S8 theme though - it's proud and grandiose but also energetic and fun with an air of dogged determination - I love how it encompasses his positive aspects rather than negative ones, and Emily's HiT theme I just find really nice and mellow, but also has this air of self importance and confidence that suits her perfectly (plus it's kinda hard to have a nostalgic attatchment to Emily's barely existent S7 theme). For the most part I do prefer the classic era as pieces of music and themes, but I think the HiT era does a better job at capturing the essense of the characters, and I genuinely think James and Emily's HiT themes are criminally underrated, and even better than their original themes.

As for me, I think the Hit-Era music sounds too much like Leapfrog music compared with the Classic Series music. Coincidentally, there have been a number of Thomas Leapfrogs, so it's not surprising. I kinda find Percy's theme a bit too much like a lullaby rendition of Indiana Jones' theme

@carminaburanafan

Жыл бұрын

Haha I agree about Indiana Jones' theme. It also sounds like a lullaby version of Oliver's theme. Henry's theme kinda reminds me of the CHristmas song It Came Upon a Midnight Clear.

For me tbh The season 8 - 12 sounds more like video game soundracks Thomas one sounds like loading screen

A good video. Shedding light on some of the HiT themes.

I love James's theme song in the series 1 episode James and the troublesome trucks.

My favourite theme of the HiT era was Thomas' Branchline theme and is the one that gets stuck in my head the most. Not as catchy and bouncy as the original, but it gives me a happy feeling and is still quite a nice simple tune I also love Gordon's HiT era theme as it works really well in the context of Gordon. May not be the best theme out there, but it definitely sounds very big, very grand and very proud. Much like Gordon!

I don’t think they’re too bad, but the classic series music shows how two heads are better than one.

HiT music gets overhated, just like everything else HiT era related. I personally think HiT had the best engine themes and music. Surprises and Determination are beyond amazing.

Henrys theme hits hard as hell in the original seasons (specifically season one and two)

I really love seasons 8-12 Thomas’ theme❤️

The reason why Thomas’ theme in the classic era is because in season 3 - 7 they used different instruments compared to season 1 and 2

Well you deserve a sub and I think some people should encorperate some of Robert's music into there own compositions.

I really like Mike and Junior's music and it's memorable. When Robert Hartshorne took over his music is fine, and he has good character themes which I do like, but they are a hit and miss.

What I found as a consistent in the Classic era, was the music had a rhythmic, almost mechanical, backing beat to them, since they are to portray Machines, and that's why I do prefer them to the HIT era.

Engine Roll Call sounds like it was composed by a two years old boy!

You can just tell Robert had a good time composing for the HiT Era, Was just trying things to see what stuck, Which is debatable at times, Nonetheless, Nostalgia hits like a truck

hit entertainment had a strange obsession with brass music

My favorite hit era songs Surprises , world around you , ode of Gordon , brave , buffer up and share , strength

My guess is that Mike & Junior's themes are more popular to recreate because the instruments (Jupiter/Proteus) are readily available on top of being more recognizable and nostalgic.

Edward's Theme looks good.

I prefer hit era music to be honest

I honestly like the hit era themes better but classic themes are as good as the hit era themes

I personally liked hearthshorne's music, but the classic themes tend to be more varied and come out on top.

5:19 i recently rewatched the great discovery and was literally just thinking this!! definitely my favorite use of thomas’ hit theme in the series by a mile, it feels so triumphant and fits the scene perfectly (edit) 17:36 I’VE ALSO ALWAYS THOUGHT THIS EXACT SAME THING!!!!!

most HiT era themes, ESPECIALLY emily and edaward's themes are sooo under rated

James has grumpy theme and a happy theme

I prefer the hit era music it just sounds so good. But i do love tge s1 and 2 soundtrack. But like in things like the great discovery the Hartshorne music is just amazing.

To me I prefer Gordon’s hit era theme more than his classic theme. It sounds more grand.

Hit music is good but does not fit the overall theme of a train show. Where they work. more of a medieval theme for hit.

Aren't there ways to merge both characters' themes into ONE big theme?

I wonder if the newer characters should have Classic Themes.

While I do prefer the classic themes, my favourite theme ever is Percy’s Hit theme

I definitely prefer the classic themes.

@mariobabbo3497

Жыл бұрын

Same for me mostly

I’m down for either theme, in my opinion, James’ hit theme is better than his original one

Gonna be honest,all the hit era music sound the same to me,maybe bcuz of the constant tuba?it doesn't really help that the tuba makes it feel too bittersweat

next can you compare the themes of donald and douglas arthur fergus diesel 10 skarloey railway duncan

@ToastTheThe

Жыл бұрын

Diesel 10 didn't have a theme composed by Hartshone, and Duncan didn't until season 18, which was just a recomposition of his theme by Mike and Junior from season 4

@karenfan010

Жыл бұрын

@@ToastTheThe actually diesel 10 had a theme in calling all engines and duncan had a theme in s9-12

How about the nitrogen era themes

@0mar4lejandro70

Жыл бұрын

.

The Hit music is ok but its just the Stories from 8 to 16 which season 10 had the worst of all (not the themes for Edward but How Edward Strikes Out is played of the story is ABSOLUTELY OUTRAGEOUS!!!!!!!!)

Twight is more powerful then straight she was holding back

The characters in hit enteirnament ar better but classic themes are the best

Thomas and Friends HiT themes are not that bad. It’s just the classic model series ones that hit hard

One sentence... Too much tuba. Don't hate HiT Era music but with all that tuba it makes each theme less distinct.

Remember there's also the Alec Baldwin version for that scene tho

Wait wait wait. When did that Edward episode from season 6 get a dubbing using the narrator from the US hit era?

Wouldn't say they are bad but I Can only Remember thomas season 8 theme fully and the Crash theme I believe(If it is called like that) But everything else I forgot, when it comes to classic theme I remember almost every single one of them even tho I grow up 50% With Classic and hit era(Born 2005).

I Guess it depends on which era of Thomas you grew up I'm from the classic seasons 1-5 and all the classic music I just happened to see this video while I was listening to the Viaduct theme from season 2 but the hit music is fine just not my happy place.

Percy season eight theme kind of reminds me of Oliver’s theme

The HiT era Thomas theme is good but not as iconic as that of the classic series

14:28 song?

I don’t hate the hit era (That’s my opinion)

@stuartbarclay7940

Жыл бұрын

I don't hate the HiT-Era either.

@STA4YouTube

Жыл бұрын

​@@stuartbarclay7940 Me neither

I don’t hate the Hit era music… it’s just… not good… not as lively… even in Seasons 3-7, the soundtracks did mellow out as the show went on, but they still had that feel. A pep in their step if you will.

Yes

Shame you didnt include Donald and Douglas's theme

@STA4YouTube

Жыл бұрын

That's because they didn't have a HiT era theme

@Nicolas-zw5ex

Жыл бұрын

@@STA4KZread They did, it appeared in the US version of Season 6 (i think) and 7

@STA4YouTube

Жыл бұрын

@@Nicolas-zw5ex Oh. Sorry if I didn't know anything about that, I'm from the UK so I don't really watch a lot of US TTTE material

I love Emily's season 7 theme and it fits her season 7 persona. The season 8 theme is okay, but it doesn't fit the HiT era Emily who is pretty rude and selfish.

Do salty diesel and Mavis if they had one from season 8-12. Duck Oliver and Donald Douglas should of gotten one.

thats james classic traveling theme not his main theme

I'm sorry, but the HIT-era themes just sound so bland and generic to me, like they could've come from any other show at the time they came out.

I actually prefer the hit era Emily theme it just sounds better

To me the music in Thomas is comparing Spider-Man movie or tv soundtracks.

Who the fudge made the hit era music

hit era music aint bad but it does not match classic series

i grew up with this so to me hit era music is my shit

Honestly I think the biggest issue with Hartshorne's HIT era music was the instrumentation, as some people have pointed out. The instruments don't fit the engines. Let's take thomas' theme. Why is the melody being played on a lonely clarinet and backed by a clumsy piano? Many themes are just so empty. Classic Thomas' theme in all it's variants has had strings chugging in the backing or playing the main theme , with playful flutes. HIT Thomas' theme sounds like a secondary character. It kinda fits Percy more than Thomas to be honest. I should disclaimer though, I grew up with season 4 Thomas, so obviously the HIT era is very foreign to me. But if you hear fan classic remixes of the HIT era themes you'l see what I mean. I also don't blame the composer. The show was having a huge, sudden reworking and I imagine he was just thrown in there as a replacement, unlike the classic composers who were there when the show was created. Besides, the music got way better much later on (interestingly when the writing did)

Coming from a someone who does music theory on the side, there was definitely a lot of good points you made, considering you stated at the beginning that you have no knowledge of music. There's a lot of thing I can say about some characters themes you mentioned that are a bit off the mark, but I'll boil it down to the two that I found that you completely missed: James: He actually does have more variants to his theme in Mike and Junior's tenure: His triumphant theme, which became his normal theme from season 3 onwards, and his fire theme from season 5, to name a few. I would choose Mike and Junior's theme for James, and specifically the jazz variant, over Robert's version simply because the original theme shows the kind of upbeat and snobby type of engine that James is. Also, saying that the triumphant and jazz themes are the exact same is like saying Henry and the flying kipper are the exact same; Yes they have the same melodic notation, but the variants are shown completely differently, especially with context. Speaking of which, Henry: specifically his Hit theme. I listened to it through this video for the first time, and it actually does fit Henry's character thanks to the Bassoon followed by the Oboe. If anything, I think Robert should've stuck to woodwinds and replace the strings with Saxes in the second section. Granted, I'll always prefer Mike and Junior's theme over Robert's, but Robert's theme for Henry is actually really good for him, and fits him perfectly. But overall, I do agree that some of the Hit era themes are underutilised, Rosie and Molly's themes especially, and feel like some of them should get some recognition aside from some of the songs that were made.

Not at all

Thomas: Classic Edward: Classic Henry: Classic Gordon: Classic James: Classic Percy: Classic Toby: Classic Emily: I really don't know, both are similar and quite good. I say the HiT theme sounds better but Emily is more suited to her classic theme. Classic

For me, I would never call the Hit era music bad, I just prefer the classic ones