Internationally renowned Perth band Pendulum has remixed the ABC TV news theme (see our earlier story) and unwittingly created a groundswell of support from younger ABC viewers to bring back the old TV news theme. The theme was this week number two in the dance charts and a Facebook site campaigning for the return of the old news theme has been launched.

The souped-up theme has received enormous response not only from the Baby Boomers but from Gen X and Y who grew up with the sound as a daily household staple. Pendulum’s remixed dance version has made its way into DJ sets around the country, and onto national and commercial radio. There have been over 160 000 YouTube hits in just 12 days. It’s now also on page one of i-tunes. It is currently sitting at number 2 on the dance charts and number 21 on “all genres” charts.

 The Gen X’s just love it, according to Channel V presenter Danny Clayton:

“Hearing this makes me realise that they should bring back the original theme! It created a great sense of atmosphere and drama, which is why on Saturday nights you see hundreds of twenty something clubbers jumping up and down dancing to it. It reminds them of their childhood!”

The theme was composed by Peter Wall and the late Tony Ansell and was used by the ABC from 1985 to 2005 as discussed with Adam Spencer on ABC702.

Ansell’s daughter, Olivia Ansell, isn’t surprised by the attractiveness and success of the remix and the esteem being expressed for the original theme.  Ansell wonders why the ABC ever changed the news theme at all:

“I’d like to put it to the test. Let’s ask Australians if they would like it back. I remember sitting I the back of a van between wineries in the Hunter Valley listening to Dad and Pete singing the melody on the weekend they wrote it….of course I am leading the charge to bring it back. I am told the ABC brought the radio version back when it was changed…so there’s a precedent!”

Facebook site : bringbackthenewstheme

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