Room 101 - Bill Bailey - Part 3, The Bill theme tune.

[xTheBillFanx]

Lol. Now all of you speak about Law and Order and The Bill. In Denmark The Bill is called Lov og uorden (Law and Disorder). Coincidence? :-)

[robblindsay]

Ahhh, back when Room 101 was good

[cmtrains]

youv'e stunned me is the best

[QuinnyTeleVision]

The "disco" bill theme, sounds like Streets of Rage

[Christoffski]

I was stoned and listening to the theme tune of the Bill when I found this. D: I don't even like the Bill!!

[Georgeous129]

for the 'land rover stuck in snow' part, as a modern remake of that they could do 'vauxhall frontera stuck on snowdon'

[ComedyLove28]

This cat! We gotta cut him some slack!! DCI Meadows...

Quality!!

[Lewinlab]

Countdown them by alan Hawkshaw

[Dsk954]

starting at 1:42... a part I found hilarious

-They've changed the theme tune. They've taken out the 7:4

-no!

-yea! and just made it all 4:4. so its just...

-thats just the same thing twice!

-yea! ... no! no, no, no. you havn't got a basic grasp of music time signatures

[boomshine87]

Does anyone know if Bill studied music at college or university or it's just his passion?

[vienteflora]

look up his desert island discs on radio4 i'm pretty sure he did@boomshine87

[wimpylassiter2336]

ill bet bill bailey might actually respect the very successful paul merton.

[RideableLlama]

I miss the 'Bombastic' news theme.

[rosebankross]

@RideableLlama I really like that one. Grabs attention.

[Surells]

Pwned, 'you don't have a basic grasp of time signatures'

[MsBkirk]

Paul Merton practically moonwalks to the original Bill theme!

[Dugald64]

Bill B is a legend. Nuff said.

[MattTheSpratt]

That "Bombastic News Theme" is almost like swash-buckling high adventure, isn't it?

"Good evening, our top story tonight: Captain Barbossa declares war on the British Imperial Navy. But first, here's a Land Rover caught in the snow."

[PaybackTyme]

bill bailey has superb musical knowledge

[Ellie0111]

How skinny are Paul ertons ankles in this?! A little unexpected...

[jakamneziak]

3.11 was the most inspired reposnse ever. How he thought of that as an excuse to put the bll theme tune into room 101 was stunning!

[FaithHealer1]

Not too difficult to respect and enjoy two of Britain's most eloquent, intelligent, sharp comedians on a genuinely funny show? You don't have to praise one person at the expense of another.

[1989blewis]

The Bill copied his name as well.

[mooneepondskid]

The Bill started off as a serious show..then it became an overblown soap.

[JallenMeodia]

I wonder what came first. Bill's news routine where he talks about theme tunes and then goes into depth on news tunes or this.

[AtheistBrit]

@JallenMeodia I think this if you check the dates out. This was broadcast in 2000, Part Troll was in 2004.

[Birdman283]

Plus, the Bill is way better. Americans should see what we have done with Law & Order with Law & Order UK, it's embarasingly bad.

[PocketRocketPRP]

These two are so good together hahah

[milkkart]

and now the bill is dead and gone...

@thatdrattedcat there was a L&O:UK, dunno if they made a second series but it was definitely better than the bill

[Birdman283]

@milkkart Are you serious? Law& Order UK is embarasingly bad. The Bill is the best cop programme ever. 26 years of it, shame it's come to an end.

[milkkart]

@Birdman283 the best cop show ever is undoubtably the wire, southland a close second. not watched more than five minutes of the bill in years to be fair but thats because it always felt like a standard soap with a cop theme. the american version of L&O doesn't seem any better really, they both over-dramatise a lot.

[Birdman283]

@milkkart I tried watching the Wire once, couldn't understand a word :D I suppose that's why I like the Bill, the more soap-like feel to it. I like it mainly between '98 and '02 when Richard Handford was executive producer. It started to go down hill after that. It started to become to soap-like, and then the change to the Wire-like format was an epic fail. It covered a lot of issues and was always very realistic.

[kinglynx]

how the hell, he jus plays it like hes practiced for years!?!

[jakamneziak]

two things here. Bill bailey dislikes the theme tune by alan hawkshaw ~(countdown) and secondly how cool would it be to hear a whole show based on bill's knowledge and opinions on telvision theme tunes?

[Marillionboy]

How odd for him to keep going on about it being in 7/4. Its in 6/8!

[J1337H4X0R]

@Marillionboy learn to count? He means this version: watch?v=wc4Hqde7aDA

[Marillionboy]

@J1337H4X0R Could you learn some manners. I'd say it alternates with 6/8 and 4/4, but I'm willing to be corrected on this. But there is no need to be so rude about it.

[J1337H4X0R]

@Marillionboy I'm sorry but I just found your completely misguided and unexplained criticisms of Bill Bailey's musical ability an insult to his comedic genius. But now you've added that slight extra detail I can correct you.

You can't alternate time signatures twice in a bar or every bar, that's completely insane! You're clearly no musician... You're counting the bar as 1-2-3-4-5-6-1---2---3---4--- when it should be counted 1---2---3---1---2---3---4---. This is an example of 7/4 time!

[Marillionboy]

@J1337H4X0R I was never suggesting you alternate time signatures twice in a bar! I was suggesting the main riff is spread across two bars, the first one being in 6/8. Don't be so pompous and insulting, this was no slight on Bailey at all. Calm down, be civil to people, and don't say things like "clearly you're no musician" just because you misunderstood what I was saying.

[J1337H4X0R]

@Marillionboy LOL. I said twice in a bar OR every bar. Stop being so offended lol LOL... Anyway, I lied you can have time signature change every bar such as 5/4 with 6/4, but if one of them is in double time it's just as stupid as changing twice a bar. And of course, it WAS a slight on Bill, you're trying to make him look stupid. However, all you've achieved is making yourself sound stupid, as well as illiterate with this latest comment. Congratulations!

[Marillionboy]

@J1337H4X0R Er, it wasn't a slight on Bill, and since you've never met him why are you pretending to be on first name terms with him.

[J1337H4X0R]

@Marillionboy Well if it makes any difference, actually I saw him several years ago at the Hexham Gathering (folk music festival)! Didn't want to bother him much though, he was eating. You have to give the man some respect!

[SseBb]

hahaha it's just a disco tune.. let me try the walk on this one xD

[bexidaisicle]

I can't find the clip of bill Bailey singing nursery rhyme tunes, it's absolutely hysterical. Does anybody know what the title may be?

[tctebsrules]

@bexidaisicle Yeah I'm looking for it right now can't find it

[goldsgym1244]

glad they got rid of the bill, cudnt stand it lol love the theme tho lol

[bigbird98752]

Paul doing the dancing walk is so funny

[Slashaphonic]

LOL LOL LOL

2:20 onwards.

[NarutoRocks36]

does anyone else think that the music for Look East sounds like it belongs in Clubland?

[cultoftv]

the funny thing is, I think the change in theme he is talking about here, was reverting back to the 1984 version, just before they added the 'jazzy' bits

[UKCerberus]

The bill is a prime time television show in the UK before Law and Order actually came out but i never watched it or Law and order sooooo i wouldnt be able to tell the diffrence.

[blade0954]

funny guy is bill,cheers u up when your down,incredibly talented man

[JHazlett1989]

And now it's being axed! : (

[CelticReject]

Bill could have written a dissertation about news theme tunes!

[pidgin]

"Countdown" was by Alan Hawkshaw, who wrote the Grange Hill and Brookside themes too, so I don't think he got the 'bum deal' :)

[buzzpuppet]

i never dreamt such an in-depth analysis of "The Bill" theme......loved it!

[aper26]

ahaha that second new theme. listening to that you would expect superman to come in through the window and tell the news.

[Jerram89]

@aper26 well it was damn good at getting you to listen to the news. Michael Buerk helped as well...

[HappyDaze01]

Can someone show a video that would introduce me to the basics of time signatures. I haven't got a clue.

[MetalguitarlessonsUK]

Im not sure I could find you a video but essentially 4/4 means 4 beats a bar, so listen to the beat in the music and you should be able to count to yourself 1,2,3,4 1,2,3,4 1,2,3,4 etc Most western music is written in 4/4. What Bill Bailey is talking about here is that it changes to 7/4, so that then becomes 7 beats in each bar so you should be able to count 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 etc to the pulse in the music.

I hope that makes sense? Its tricky to explain without being in person!

[Balraj50]

In indian music we call a 7 beat or 14 beat taal called: Roopak, Ada Chauta And Jhoomra

Bols for Roopak: 1 2 3 4  5 6 7

Tin Tin Na, Dhin Na, Dhin Na

Bols for Jhoomra:

Dhin Na Ti Te Dhin Dhin Dha

Na Ti Te Tin Na Ti Te Dhin Dhin Dha Ti Te

Note: Jhoomra And Ada Chautla are 14 beats

[Lualua25able]

@Balraj50 That's cool man thanks for the insight into Indian music. I can understand the Roopak being 7 beats from the syllables you presented but I can't get the 14 beats from the Jhoomra I was wondering if you could maybes explain it a bit further. Sorry if this is a stupid question mate but it is always interesting learning something new about music.

[Balraj50]

@Lualua25able The Taal Jhoomra and Ada Chautala which is 14 beats, but the different is the syllables are different, so for example:

Jhumra is is a 14 matra tal that was once popular for slow kheyals. This has almost entirely been replaced by Ektal. It is divided into four vibhags of 3, 4, 3, and 4 matras (beats). These vibhags are denote by a clap, clap, wave and clap respectively.

[Balraj50]

@Lualua25able dipchandi 14 beats This tal is divided into 4 vibhags of 3, 4, 3 and 4 matras. These vibhags are denoted by a clap, clap, wave, and clap respectively.

there are 2 common prakars of dipchandi. There is one which is used in film songs and light music and another which is used in semiclassical forms such as the thumri. The one which is used in thumri is general considered the "official" version, and is the one which is shown here.

[EmmzieAtTheDisco]

I think I might actually watch The Bill if the disco tune was the actual theme tune :)

[DestinyShiva]

I've got the same birthday as Paul Merton ;P.

(Totally flipped with happiness when I found out xD).

Bill Bailey is my favourite comedian ever ._.;;

[sgtsteveo]

stephen lynch is 10x funnier then this guy

[yourfaceandmum]

but bill can spell "than"

[xXReedyboiXx1]

and ur just a prick :)

[Nebirias]

Stephen Lynch is good, but his style is completely different from Bill Bailey's. There's no point in comparing them.

[amazingrandy900]

@sgtsteveo No, no he isn't.

[chenlung1]

LOL

Mark Russell was the arranger of the 4:4 tune (1998-2001). As well as creating the whole thing, the 7:4 and their variations (1983-1998) other one would have been done by Andy Pask and Charlie Morgan?

[Draxelzs]

Best part: 2:18

[BeatriceBlake]

Shake it Paul!

[BlingDucky]

"Only timelords and Albert Einstine can mess around with time"

Too true.

[sirpoopalot7]

LOL I'm in Aus so we might get it delayed but there is practically NO theme song now. Just some high aerial shot of a police car, WTF?

[ibuchanan82]

i lol'ed at Bill Bailey @ 4:49 I momentarily could read his mind through his eyes "ugh I'm a comedic genius with a masterful grasp on intelligently structured linguistic humour and I'm stuck here having to laugh at this prats ass-joke, "

[SokioPhalanx]

It was a naff joke, but Paul Merton is a good comedian too.

I also doubt Bill would be so big-headed as to think himself a comedic genius, even though it is true.

[ShredJK]

@ibuchanan82: I mean seriously, to regard either Paul or Bill as anything else than a comedic genious (Paul doesn't really get to shine too much in room101 as much as e.g. in hignfy) would be rediculous. Both are easily in my top 5. Bill's expression is pretty funny though.

[ibuchanan82]

do understand i think Bill is one of the greatest comedians ever. And I'm sure Paul is a great comic (although i've not really taken time to watch him), but it was a cheap joke, and it was Bill's expression i was interested more than anything

[alistairmcnicoll]

@ibuchanan82 Are we talking about the same "prat"? Paul Merton, one of the world's most talented comedians with linguistic skill that is hard to match, as any listener of "Just a Minute" knows..?

[ibuchanan82]

@alistairmcnicoll Perhaps that doesn't come across very well here! I have said before I don't doubt his ability as a comedian, I was mearly remarking on that split second expression on Bill Baileys face

[PooKneader]

@ibuchanan82 He's not a fucking prat, you dick. He's just as funny.

[Wildeparker]

@ibuchanan82 I thought the same thing! See also how Bill Bailey gets progressively more and more depressed talking to Paul Merton (I think that's his name). I know how he feels...

[stargazinboi]

@ibuchanan82 Or he's just continuing the seriousness with the french horn joke that he made seconds before, also explaining the fact that his hands are still in the same poignant position maybe? I don't think Bill Bailey would be that snooty over a witty if not slightly crude joke.

[darthgiggitygoo]

@ibuchanan82

OMG LOL

so true!

[thetoy3]

@ibuchanan82 Bill Bailey is about as TV friendly and mainstream as it gets mate. There is nothing particularly impressive, masterful or intelligent about getting cheap laughs for playing some well known soap theme tunes.

[Rich7714]

@thetoy3 And yet you decide to watch videos of him on YouTube?!

[HoneyIEducatedTheWeb]

@ibuchanan82

Are you saying that Bill's sense of humour is better than Paul's?

...

[clarkamondos]

@ibuchanan82 He was actually thinking "ugh I hope in a few years youtube idiots don't present their shite opinions as mine in the comments section".

[KantorekBaumerB14]

@ibuchanan82 but paul mertons a comedic genius?

[Lykopolis]

@ibuchanan82 I think it was a case annoyance at Paul Merton making a improv joke during his well rehearsed act, he had clearly only selected all his 'hatreds' to show off his act

[14kip]

bill is not just funny as, he is also a vry good musician ...

[joewoopjoe]

Bill should have played his bbc rave for the news bit :D

[lickstickly]

@joewoopjoe but the BBC rave news theme had not yet been born so such a reference cannot be drawn

[ToddQuinlan]

@lickstickly Nice pubbe gagge reference! (and Whose Line? username reference to boot!)

[John27346]

Notice the three interlocking cogs in the background. That won't in any machine. Into room 101

[tanner87]

bill bailey is a music genius!........the new bill is cack, most boring hour of my life last thursday.......

[MrBenoo08]

what was on last thursday ?

[playfulpaul1985]

disco tune lol

[playfulpaul1985]

love this show so funny

[12tof34]

wait until he hears the new one for the 9pm shows.

[AlexFoxUK]

I know, friggin LAAAAAAAAME

[stitcha123]

ahhhhhhhh........... 4.58- that takes me back

[AtheistBrit]

Same! That's the news theme from my childhood. :)

[TruthBeyond]

I'm remember watching this on it's original airing, and I totally agree, the old Bill (pun intended) theme was much better.

[jameswandii]

"mm, Daddy!"

[youvebeenthunderstru]

I love how every song they try to try out immediately goes to hell and is replaced by disco instead.

[Webbula]

Playdays had a really good theme tune.

[Andrew1990M]

Someone needs to capture that bit where Bill and Paul are head banging and put it to 'What is Love', like in the SNL sketch.

[mrgrimviking]

That Countdown bit cracks me up. His coat caught the keyboard lol

[lixechan]

I LOVE the music at 4:11. Does anyone know where I can get it?

xx

[chuckmonkey7337]

actually sad to say i always liked the news theme songs i liked the 1979 bbc election time theme : ( yeah i have no life

[ClayCowProductions]

does anyone know when this was aired?

[thatdrattedcat]

Brief question: is The Bill the Law & Order of the UK?

[hazelangus]

Well, don't know what anyone else thinks but I don't think so. The Bill is more of a crime-themed soap opera to me. Law and Order is FAR better.

[Richiepookinshoo]

You should check out Law and Order UK! Its cool :)

[bonzot]

hasn't been a soap opera for about 3 years

btw, they've actually made a law and order uk. yes, a british version of the show by dick wolf

[woodyads]

Erm...I respectfully disagree.

[bluejeckett]

@hazelangus Get real,no way known is Law and fucking Order better than The Bill

[HorsemadxEmma]

@hazelangus Actually. The Bill used to be amazing! In 2009, it became a soap opera. It used to be brilliant. Series two was amazing. The 2004 ones were good to but, recently, it turned into a soap opera with more crime inside the station than outside. I'm still sad it's gone though!

[NEFDaemon]

@thatdrattedcat Hahaha, no, not even close! Law and Order is completely different. Like hazelangus says, The BIll is more like a soap opera, and there is no real courtroom setting , unlike Law and Order which has police detective and court room drama stuff too

[FulchesterUnited]

@thatdrattedcat I completely agree. Law & Order UK was excellent though. Wish they'd made more seasons...

[scottishwildcat]

@FulchesterUnited Give them a chance, the second season only finished in February!

[FulchesterUnited]

@scottishwildcat Ha ha... I know, I just really enjoyed it :)

[simeon136]

@thatdrattedcat Nope, Law & Order UK is the Law & Order of the UK. The Bill is jus another Police procedual

[MisterTwoPiece]

@thatdrattedcat - Nah. Law and Order UK is the Law and Order of the UK

[TenStoryLoveSong]

@thatdrattedcat I really hope Bailey dies a slow and painful death. Prostate cancer would suit him and cervical cancer for his wife. I pray they will contract these illnesses and save the world from their vile presence. Death to you Bailey and you whole whole rotten family!

[xxdragonforce1xx]

@thatdrattedcat kinda , but its more a police drama , not forensics or anything like that and it has a different kind of vibe , u just have to watch it to find out

[Birdman283]

@thatdrattedcat If anything Law & Order is the Bill the US. The Bill started in 1984 and Law & Order started in 1990. Law & Order is about detectives and court scenes, whilst the Bill is about detectives and the uniform officers.

[ch1mpanzeethat]

@thatdrattedcat

The Bill was a really rubbish british police drama where the hardest criminals in london never swore or bled. Even after 9pm. It was toss.

[tom1burg]

"We gotta cut this cat some slack!...er, DCI Meadows." XD

[DanRaccoon]

If you've ever seen him play music on stage, you realise how much talent Bill has.

[blastoise762]

bill bailey is ..... THE GREAT ONE!!!!

[awilde]

The look on Bill's face when the host says "That's just the same thing twice!" is priceless. "Yeah- no! No no no!"

[Bojack727]

wow, what a showman!

[sparksrule]

haha only Bill could choose something so trivial and make it funny