The West Wing Opening Credits

[nactan]

why is music like this so rarely performed for its own sake?

[IrenaPrude]

This song played in my mind this morning when reading everyone's bad news on Facebook. .... Because every episode of the West Wing general began with bad news.

[InTheOfficeTV]

i got here from tom milsom

[lonewolfe120]

am i the only who wants to recite the pledge of aligence after watching this?

[geekoftheweek27]

When Martin Sheen turns his head to the side and the music reaches that crescendo... Chills. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.

[nujac321]

I just started watching this on DVD. Watched Season 1&2 so far. I think it is a good show.

[Gryffindor004]

Anyone else here because of Tom Milsom? Hehehe sing a long time!

[AvalaDemson]

@Gryffindor004 can you send me back to tom milsoms thing? i havnt seen it :(

[Gryffindor004]

@AvalaDemson /watch?v=rrMzjMlK1B4 :) 

[mushitsme]

so i came here after watching nTOM MILSOM AND CO. sing the words :)

[Staraahhskinss]

David Tennant sent me here! ;) It kind of reminds me of the Band of Brothers theme song :)

[melinafrance]

@Staraahhskinss He sent me there too! ^^

[Staraahhskinss]

@melinafrance yaaaaay ahaha!

[AdArmand]

Stockard Channing may have been First Lady, but Allison Janney was the QUEEN of this show! How I miss watching her!

[CDOTEINC]

one of the best shows of our generation.

[CheeseTrix13337]

so awesome

[banxafe]

Rest in peace John Spencer.

[itsbeefy11]

top show. love the song. its really up there for mine, along with americas game.... :P

[ohlsen1973]

They say the first step is admitting you have a problem...

I have a problem. I think i am addicted to "The West Wing". I have seen it 7-8 times so far

[ohlsen1973]

Can someone please upload the opening credits for s4ep23 "Twenty-Five" ?

Where Pres. Bartlet is told about Zoeys abduction

[dxnlnd]

I really liked this show...

[grumpytosnowwhite]

Amazing, amazing piece. Not one time, while watching an episode of this show, have goosebumps *not* broken out on my arms when these credits came on.

[Chrrayden3]

I used to watch this when I was about three years old, just cause it was on tv! Now that Ive seen this I remember.

[RickSibbett]

I always loved this show! What a cast too and Martin Sheen- what an incredible actor! One of the true greats!!! ... Rick Sibbett

[akitomizuki]

Yes. There's a decent, if slightly incorrect response below BUT its worth noting that in most states the Governor may appoint a Senator or MC in the event of a vacancy. Beyond that, in terms of diplomatic rank, check the Wiki for the United States Order of Precedence but man... that's a pretty boring read

[grumpytosnowwhite]

The governor is part of the state government. Congress and the president are part of the federal government. The federal government and the government of any given state are separate entities.

[Redcarpet01]

Of course they don't outrank them. A governor is the leader of a state in the US federal system, they are not members of Congress.

[TheEvolvedMind]

Probably hard to tell considering they're like apples and oranges. Congressmen/Senators are part of the Legislative branch while Governors are part of the Executive branch. Considering their different roles it's hard to say that one "outranks" the other.

[buckeyehunter18627]

According to the U.S. order of precedence, a Governor, while in his or her state, ranks 4th while out of their state, is 26th and ranked by order of their state's admission to the Union. So out of state, New Hampshire was the 7th state admitted to the Union. U.S. Senators are 25th and U.S. Reps are 29th on the list and both are ranked by seniority. Hope it helps.

[justink8996]

Everytime I have sex I want this too be the music played!

[benjyaw]

roflmao!

[jimbopumbapigsticks]

Best TV show ever.

[Gar2195]

This theme song really is one of the greats...

[RedFoxAce]

They transposed it up a musical key.

[goldiloks08]

omfg, one of the best theme songs EVER to hit the airwaves [along with "JAG" and "The Unit"'s themes]

[WCD73]

I love The West Wing's banter!!!

[ShadowItachi88]

this opeing sounds a little different, it's more higher pitched then it actually is. Maybe it's a lower quality one or something.

[wadde]

nope, this recording is accurate. They revamped and rearranged the music a few times throughout the show's seven seasons. You must have been thinking of the opening titles in the later seasons. Compare this with the video I posted :)

[Jnelson09Returns]

This was probably taken from a PAL broadcast in Europe. They always sound higher-pitched than in NTSC. Not sure why that is.

[Biscuitchris7again]

PAL is at 25fps...NTSC is at 23.98 and 24...

That's the basic answer, the numbers continue on in different formats and rates, 25, 29.97, 30, 59.97..blah blah blah but...that's the basic answer....you are hearing it just a little faster so it sounds higher.

[ianberg2009]

In "The American President" Martin Sheen was Chief of Staff to President Michael Douglas.  Aaron Sorkin had a bit part as some guy in a bar.

[DrGregoryHouseIT]

And Joshua 'Will' Malina was a member of Annette Bening's staff in that movie.

[Clamhead939]

Love the opening music, so...memorable :]

[OilBaronEwing]

JR Ewing for president!

[belltownboy2012]

Martin Sheen for President!

[birou06]

Obama being elected president gets us a lot closer to that fictional Bartlett America!!

[ConstantineChernabog]

actually the pres elected in the end of the show, Santos, was based on Obama. So America gonna be more like his America

[silvana811]

but i didn't like Santos as president.

[Selinja]

Why, silvana?

[brian71490]

Bartlet for fictional America....Obama for real America...congratulations to the president-elect

[Terris00]

It's nice to see that even after two years off the air, this series hasn't lost a bit of its wit, charm and idealism. I am proud to say that I was (and will always be) a fan of this great show.

Bartlet For America!

[francoyla12]

aguante the west wing la mejor serie de politica de eeuu

[jakebrown1122]

When you hear this theme you can't help but think that this is how the United States was intended to be. Sad that the actions of one man have tarnished the reputation of an entire nation.

[osu5678]

Unfortunately, that is why it is called television.

[jakebrown1122]

Oh, thanks for informing me mate. I never noticed.

[parker2041]

Yep...I agree. Obama is bringing down this nation.

[jakebrown1122]

I was talking about Bush, dumbshit. It isn't 8 years of Obama that turned the US into crap.

[parker2041]

So will Obama. Then again, you're an Arsenal fan so I don't expect you know better.

How did you like the Hull game a few weeks back?

[jakebrown1122]

I'm glad smaller teams are starting to be more successful in the Premiership. Anyway, you're American, don't start trying to have a discussion about football, because you'll end up making a fool of yourself.

[parker2041]

You're probably right.

[pdxpilot06]

There are a lot of things that contributed to the state we find ourselves in today. Before you blame one person or party, look at the bigger picture. It wasn't perfect in the last administration either.

[sugarhillflash]

That theme song is America.

And I love Bradley's character.

[Callobah]

I really like this show, it displayed some wonderful actors such as; Bradley Whitfor, who is hiarious as Josh and Alison Janney as C.J who is serious, but also a great character as well, and where can you go wrong with Martin Sheen?

Great Show

[JohnR22926]

Anybody know which episode has the teenage intern sucking the president's cock?

Oh, wait. That would never happen in a Democrat administration, would it? As this TV series proves, the Dems are MUCH too principled and honest to do anything like that!

[Scotty7617]

Hey, genius, Monica Lewinsky was twenty two when she began her affair with Clinton. I'm pretty sure you're no longer a teenager at that age.

Good thing the show wasn't about a Republican administration or the president would have caught trying to have sex with a guy in a bathroom or sending dirty e-mails to a teenage boy.

[JohnR22926]

scotty: At my age most people under 30 are "teenagers" in terms of experience and maturity. And Lewinsky fits the bill; an ambitious amoral piece of shit.

Re the Reps, there are enough scumbags to go around on both sides of the aisle. But that isn't the point is it? The point is that Hollywood made THIS tv series...about Dems...and portrays the entire cast as a combination of saint/genius. No adultry, no backstabbing climbers, etc. Just a Kumbayah love fest; doin' good deeds for "the people".

[Scotty7617]

Lewinsky may have been young, but she knew damn well what she was doing.

From that comment it's clear you haven't watched the show. It does show scandals and backstabbing.

Example; in the series the vice president resigns after leaking classified information to a woman he was having an affair with.

[JohnR22926]

I'm working my way through the series. I'm halfway through season two. The VP was a weasel from the start. But, to date, no backstabbing between Bartlet/Leo/Josh/Sam/Donna/CJ/­Toby. Just one big happy family.

Re Lewinsky, I'm not letting her off the hook. Of course she knew what she was doing...she was looking for a trophy and a career (writing a book, talk show circuit, etc.).

[Scotty7617]

And I got some news for you. Check your history and you'll find Bill Clinton was NOT the first US president to screw around on his wife, not by a long shot.

He was just the first to have a ridiculous political and media witch hunt done on him for it.

No, it wasn't right, but it was no one's business, but his, Hilary's, and Monica's.

[JohnR22926]

soctty: you sound like my mother now; a FDR liberal Dem. Of course presidents have been adulterers in the past; FDR, Eisenhower, JFK, the first Bush, etc. But this in no way excuses Clinton.

And ALL pols understand that in the modern era the Pres doesn't GET a personal life. Everything is reported and the pols know it. Clinton put his entire administration at risk.

BTW, it may have been about sex, but it was still felony perjury. The Pres doesn't get a separate set of laws for himself.

[Scotty7617]

Yeah, he committed perjury and was punished for it. He was fined and disbarred. He wasn't removed from office and rightfully so.

Well, Clinton's earlier affair with Jennifer Flowers didn't cause the same uproar the Lewinsky one did.

The GOP spent Clinton's entire eight years trying to pin something on him, and the best they could come up with was lying about getting oral sex from a consenting adult woman.

[Scotty7617]

And even if the president doesn't get a personal life, or his affair has to be public, there was no reason for it to be as big a deal as it was and the only thing on the news for two years.

[JohnR22926]

scotty: I think you're missing my point. In today's media environment, every pol knows that scandal will get 24/7 coverage. Fairness and reasonableness has nothing to do with it. Clinton's real foul was to put his entire administration at risk for something frivolous. He KNEW if he got caught it would hamstring his administration for years...but he did it anyway. The man was callow, reckless, and hubristic.

The Reps should not have impeached him though and they're paying for it now.

[Scotty7617]

WHY? Even if it was on the news, why did it have to be the focus of so much attention? Why did Clinton's getting head have to be the only thing on the news for two years? Was there nothing more important to report?

Go to other democratic countries. You'll discover many of them don't really care about the private lives of their politicans as long as it doesn't affect them, as Clinton's affair did not.

[JohnR22926]

scotty: exactly my point. We spent two years wallowing in the scandal and some pundits have pointed out that the Clinton administration was distracted (busy defending themselves) to the point where serious issues weren't dealt with as effectively as they would have been otherwise.

For better or worse, our culture is what it is. The news media will never let this stuff go because it gets ratings. You'ld think pols would learn, but based on John Edwards' latest affair they apparantly aren't.

[pdxpilot06]

In many other countries, political scandals can result have far greater ramifications like a collapsed government. Look at Europe or the Middle East - political figures who make mistakes, even in their personal lives, pay a political price. They lose their office and often new elections are called. The politician would simply resign rather than drag the country through the mud.

[Scotty7617]

And do you honestly believe Clinton's affair with Lewinsky was going to cause the collapse of the US government?

[B3Ger]

Well I think Clinton's turning his back on the people in Rwanda was a far more greater deal then him being an asshole and cheating on Hilary...but hey that's just me

[sodak25]

true, but then again had he gone to rawanda, americans would have been branded by the rest of the world as invaders who mettle in the business of soverign nations.

[pdxpilot06]

Right on JohnR22926 - especially the last point. Infidelity is one thing but perjury is another. It's a crime and it would be a double standard to exempt the President from having to face the consequences.

[Scotty7617]

I don't agree with Clinton's perjury. He was pusnished for it. He was fined and disbarred. He just wasn't removed from office for it, and rightfully so.

[HuntrBlackLuna]

Agreed. He did lie under oath about it. But that was his single and only crime, and a crime not signifcant enough to remove him.

[senatorandi]

Clinton did not commit perjury. He lied under oath, but did not commit the crime. Ethically, he skated on thin ice, but was legally in the clear. The two are separate.

It's a fine point, and kind of a strange thing. Had he committed perjury, he should have paid the consequences--which he did.

[pdxpilot06]

It became more than his business when he lied about it. Would you have said the same thing about the affair being private if it was a different party in the White House?

[Scotty7617]

I would feel the same way about it being private if it had been a Republican in the White House. Of course I doubt that Republican controlled Congress of the time would have conducted the same witch hunt on a Republican president.

[JohnR22926]

Here's one more tidbit for you. I'm a right-of-center independent and 90% of the responses I get on Youtube are negative.

But the funny thing is, the most testy responses are not those on political or economical issues. The most agitated responses are about TV/movies. Isn't that funny? What the Youtube crowd is apparently most concerned about are snide/sarcastic comments re their fantasy world...like West Wing. They just can't handle criticism of their heroes.

[trendog88]

when this show was on tv i never gave it a 2nd thought. i bought all 7 seasons one day out of a hunch it might be a great show..and i loved it. an amazing show if u pay attention n give it a go. miss it but it was right it ended when it did

[grapesofwraith1066]

This is one of those great themes for television shows, that we rarely see any more. Very sad to see the show gone - both it and its music was wonderful.

[ALaPagliaFan]

I Love this show.

[AdArmand]

Allison Janney, i ADORE you!

[smatlife]

UNITED STATES OF MALAYSIA

[eyewrenchee]

Here is something with weird similarities to today.

Season Six of the West Wing.

Matt Santos runs as the first Latino Candidate for President starts off his run by giving a speech on Hope.

Arnie Vinick the Republican Candidate is referred to as not being Republican enough, not going after the Evangelical vote enough.

Arnie to get the Evangelical vote goes to ask an Minister to be his VP the minister refuses before asked why? Vinick is pro choice.

A lot of similarities to Obama and McCain.

[kitkat9288]

That's because the Matt Santos character was based on Barack Obama after he came into the spotlight in 2004. They apparently consulted with David Axelrod (now Obama's campaign strategist) about the Santos character.

[eyewrenchee]

Really, I dont know that, thanks.

[gotmana]

yeah...too bad neither Obama or McCain hold a candle to their West Wing counterparts.

[eyewrenchee]

Lets give 08'bama a go first lets see what he can do.

[oxfordruse]

I adore these credits. The most inspiring and uplifting musical composition that has ever been used on television. Only one word for it: presidential.

[troypreble]

I miss that show

[smatlife]

Malaysia lives!!

United States lives!!

[abbicabo]

I named my son Spencer after a great actor, and I want this song to be played in my wedding, walking down the floor. Only two shows worth seeing and that was The West Wing and the Sopranos, and now only re-runs and dvd... Powerful

[ucrags84]

Does anyone know how I can get an Mp3 file out of just the audio on this, I want to make a Ringtone out of this Kicka** clip.

[Tammera777]

The theme makes me wish the present day presidency could be as majestic.

[royrules5]

like that'll ever happen lol

[jtk6204]

The theme to "The West Wing" is as memorable as any. Yet, I can't help but to feel some sadness when I hear it... it seems to be hearken to a time of glory and esteem around the presidency that we no longer seem to have.

[teqwc]

Bartlet is made to be more presidential than the presidents of the last four decades.

[youko100]

So true.

Will we ever be graced with a President like him?

[Zepheriah]

It's an interesting question though: is it simply because the media has expanded, and so politicians are under greater scrutiny -i.e. they're not worse, they just get caught more? Or alternately, does the media cicus kill off the true politicians in favour of showmen who never live up to their grandstanding? -I'm not american, but it's equally valid in the UK.

[bestirishfirefighter]

I only caugth the west wing in its final season and got all 7 seasons on dvd and watched them over a 2 and a half month period! What a show! John Spencer was brilliant and his death was a loss not just to the show but to the acting world. RIP Sir.

[olympicgam]

brilliant theme tune and a fantastic programme!

[LUVUJeff]

Hurray Aaron Sorkin for writing, Tommy Schillame for directing and W.G."Snuffy" Walden for musical score!

[fingsnwflakes]

man, when u hear this tune u can't help but get goosebumps. The excitement of the show.

[stickleback401]

The best opening title soundtrack, from possibly the best drama serial there is.

[toadieisgod]

Americas finest ever drama.What scripts,what direction!What a cast!All so perfect.A once in a lifetime gem of a show.

Rest in peace John.You will be sorely missed Sir.

[TobyZieglerr]

The best there ever was. RIP John

We miss you all!

[Tomcuk]

I've only just got into The West Wing in the past few months, already got my way through four seasons. I dunno why it took me so long to watch such an excellent piece of television. Theme tune is rather great too.

[jamesrosevear]

Don't worry Tomcuk, i'm also in the same boat as you! I only began watching The West Wing last year when season 5 was being screened here in Australia, but now i've purchased seasons 1 to 7 on DVD and i'm getting through the episodes that I haven'tseen before.

I also can't believe that it took me so many years to become interested in such a legendary, classy and realistic show.

[australtemuco]

Kisses for C.J.

[jsjohns]

Damn I miss the show!!

[michealothailtigh]

What a theme tune! The West Wing rocks!

John Spencer RIP

[capierno]

w00t LEO!!!