BBC TV Grandstand Theme on Piano

[DLPBurke]

one of the best

[sherbert500]

great job sir take my hat off to you...........

[ruideng111]

you are now my hero. they used to play this and ski sunday as the last songs at the nightclub i went to when i was at university in manchester. the crowd always went mental for it! I pulled my girlfriend during this and felt like i was winning the world cup or something!

[DJBenniboy]

4/4 time signature deffonatly!!!

[pinball1970]

great that!

thanks

[danwarren97]

i learn more by spending ten minutes watching your videos than a whole year of music at school.

[dongiovanni35]

ive been listening to the original theme and thought it was in common time but when i count it out it always seems to go a bit off. SO basically do you know the time signature?

[paulwwells]

@dongiovanni35 I would say that it is in straight 4/4 - although there is a plenty of full-on syncopation and a couple of places where it imposes an advance in the beats (it probably has a proper term but I don't know what it is) but always falls back into line with the main beat a couple of bars later.

[funkytennis]

Paul, you and the KPM's have inspired me to post up a version. Check it out, I would respect your comments as my playing has never left the living room. Just checked out your version of You Make Me Feel Brand New - awesome - that has to be my next project!

[commentnotapproved1]

Don't suppose you'd like to have a go at...Johnny Pearson'.."Power Drive"...classic!!

[alex0plays0bass]

why don't you play it at the right speed and not fuck it up

[TigerAmongstMen]

I used to go a childminders, and I can remember being curled up on her sofa, listening to this, drifting off to sleep...

[AR123457]

Very well played !

[sehtdragon]

I've tried to play this in my time, and I have to take my hat off to you, sir.

And I've watched that live performance, and with 10 seconds I had a grin on my face the size of the White Cliffs of Dover. It's just that kind of music :-D

[paulwwells]

@sehtdragon I know what you mean. I used to play this when demonstrating keyboards many years ago, and it always made people smile.

[sehtdragon]

@paulwwells Just rewatched this, randomly, after watching one of your latest posts. Still love it, most excellent work. Thought occurs, though, that with a little practice with moving just your wrist you might be able to get those split octaves as octave chords. I remember spending a fair bit of time on something similar in the piano solo version of "Rhapsody in Blue", and it just popped into my mind.

Thank you for your ongoing work. It is wonderful and very much appreciated.

[jakenandys]

Wow

[Soberirrishman]

there should be a love button for this video, excellent job mate well done....

[robbosps]

@Soberirrishman .

Bang on. I agree. I just wish my fingers could have worked like that.

[figaro589]

I was already blown away with bill

now, I'm subscribing!

[vequense]

who else thinks this sounds like wii sports music?

[Blackpoolstag]

Love your work, been listening to loads of your videos! *applause*

[Mattclaggy]

This is brilliant mate, fantastic work good on ya.

[AndrewJimScott]

better than the actual one

[paulwwells]

@AndrewJimScott have you seen the video of it played live at the Jazz Cafe?

[Kipi19]

Any chance of this transposed for a guitar?

[paulwwells]

@Kipi19 I'm not the best person to ask - it would be better to ask on a guitarist's channel. I think it would be difficult to get the two overlapping tunes in the verse to sound independent.

[Kipi19]

Any chance of a transposition for guitar? Would love to see what it would sound like on mine :)

[justin1305]

very well played indeed, but is it in a different key? some of the chords didnt sound the same?

[paulwwells]

I think it is the original key, although I cannot remember; it was a while ago now. There is one diminished chord which is incorrect, see comments below. I corrected it on the tutorial.

[monkeyboydai]

Nice work. Good piece of music played well :)

[THELEICESTERFOX]

Brilliant, made me smile, a brilliant way to play an iconic tune...well done.

[showmeyourvideos]

Fantastic rendition, I really enjoyed that!

Just a small note if you want total fidelity to the original, I THINK the chords just before the end after the melody's done "G/F#/D/B", are Cmaj followed by Amaj... And maybe lose the 6th at the very end of the song?

But either way it sounds excellent :)

[paulwwells]

@showmeyourvideos Thanks. The sixth at the end was just to bulk out the sound a bit more to match the richness of the sound of the orchestra. I think I did play the Cmaj, but your are correct, I could have made a bit more of the Amaj

[Wolfington]

I smiled all the way through that - very good!

[thisiswho2]

Great song, what key did you use btw?

[paulwwells]

D Major

[mickydireland]

Nailled it!

[NickXDDX]

Amazing! where do you find sheet music to all of these pieces? unless you are pitch perfect? if that is the case, i envy you greatly, sir ;)

[paulwwells]

Thanks NickXDDX - this is all plucked fresh out of the ether - no sheet music involved. Glad you like it.

[jaihill]

Great!

[bacalhaues]

that's nice song played on your Roland.....

[pbraddazz]

You are a legend!

[Dom737800]

I wish you could do a tutorial for the Dallas theme

[mistofoles]

Dallas is difficult, written in very awkward key!

[Dom737800]

I gathered that tried to play it very hard

[55022RSG]

could possibly have sheet music for this?

Mike

[paulwwells]

I don't have sheet music but I will make a tutorial on this in the next few days

[55022RSG]

cheers!

[NatureeKiid]

impressive :D

[UKSazzy67]

I wish I could play piano like that! That playing is so accurate and yet you made it look so relaxed and easy.

[KurtisICT]

hi Paulwwells,

I couldn't find a fault with this piece personally (mind you, I don't really know the original piece well enough :P). If you ask me, music is about feeling and emotion, more than accuracy - especially when renditioned. The accuracy is learning to play the piece as it's 'written', and then add your own touches. So peoples comments about chording errors are a little off the mark in my opinion (and it's just my opinion). Great piece anyway!!

Kurtis -

[paulwwells]

Thanks Kurtis. I'm finding more and more that I don't listen to the original that much when doing a cover version, instead I just make sure that the delivered piece is balanced and sounds happy with itself.

[happybill636]

well done how long does it take to do that

[kirky29]

Fantastically well done.

[G13NSTA]

Please could I have the notes/music for this aswell! I love all these tv themes! They are awesome and so are you, I'm only 12 and I'm raring to go! :L

[paulwwells]

I've added Grandstand to my list of tutorials to make - that will be sometime in the next few weeks as soon as I have finished some other things I have promised to do :)

[G13NSTA]

Have you done the tut yet? as its been a while! :L ?

[lyricistgirl]

This is brilliant and I could not do this or get anywhere close but from 0:27 to 0:31, is that right? Sounds odd somehow...

[paulwwells]

I did play that part incorrectly - it should have been a diminished chord and not the straight major which I played (see previous comments and discussion)

[lyricistgirl]

Ah right, as long as I'm not going mad. Sorry I didn't see the previous comments!

[montylowe88]

ahh the days of actual sport on the BBC, brilliant

[simes2024]

Most of these I switch off in the first 10 seconds....yours I stayed till the end - especially liked the bass womp at 0:19

[paulwwells]

Thanks - and I think you're the first to comment on that base drum effect which just by chance is possible given the key this piece is in.

[ares12790]

Amazing.

paulwwells I salute you Sir

[boywembley]

wow. Your hands were moving all over the place that i could'nt keep track! Looks like it needs a lot more practice than I thought! lol

nice one ;-)

[fodsaks]

You know those times when something is SO GOOD, that you just start involuntarily laughing... That's this.

[polysmart]

Awesome!

[solidbronze]

That gorgeous twinkly bit at 0:27makes me go wibbly...

[QBromley]

God I miss this tune (and show!)

[Andrewshadowy]

your great

[cognoscosmos]

Hello!!! I need to be able to play this! IT CAN ONLY IMPROVE MY LIFE KNOWING THIS )do you paulwells, or any one know where i can find the sheet music for this. Or if anyone has it transcribed -that would be amazing! Yery good.

[paulwwells]

Sorry but I don't have any sheet music for any of the theme tunes, I hope you can find it somewhere

[happybill636]

well done son

[paulwwells]

Cheers :)

[richtw]

Really enjoyed your videos, you are very talented! But just thought I'd mention that the "big chord" at 0:27 doesn't quite have the impact of the original - I think it should be a B in the bass, with a A diminished chord (A, C, Eb, F#) above, then the plinky bit, and then an Emin7 (E bass, B, D, G above) rather than a straight Emin. And then the same sequence happens again at 0:40. Or at least, that's how it sounds in my head!

[paulwwells]

I do have regrets about that chord not being correct. I had thought it should be a 7th; but I think you are right it is diminished.

[perpitbla5]

Love it.

[kopiteman]

Its a joy listening to you

[nbarrett100]

Very good. I remember this tune and you played it very well.

[wideheadofknowledge]

"Give it some plink" indeed. Bravo, sir!

[paulwwells]

Yeah - thanks :). And thanks for favorting my videos.

[onedayhescomingback]

Ahhh amazing , i dont suppose you could send me the music / notes for this could you :) please :) thankx Amy x

[themadgamer]

I emailed Roland re the non-brite sound! They sorted it - I just needed to wack the Cutoff right up as well as the high eq! Sounds great now! Works so well in conjunction with my MOTIF XS. :)

[paulwwells]

Good. I'm glad you got that fixed. At least there's nothing wrong with your keyboard, just a stray setting.

I'm hearing about the MOTIF XS from all angles. Going to have a listen now. Thanks.

[luckylepricorn]

bloody brilliant, best one of yourr collection.

[paulwwells]

Thanks. I will keep trying to top it though.

[themadgamer]

from the keyboard. help?

[paulwwells]

There's something wrong with your keyboard in that case - you should be able to get a sound so bright it will make your ears ring if you want to.

[1985queen]

Wow thank you for this opertunity to hear this great tune once again and played brillaintly with such enthusiasm and joy. I was really shocked when the show was concalled, we owe it to people like you who keep the memory of the program and it's legendary theme tune alive. Please never stop!

kind regards,

1985queen

[paulwwells]

Hi 1985queen. You're right, I think many have missed this powerful and inspiring tune - I suspect that it brings back a different memory for each listener. I have a few more themes left to cover. Thanks for your encouragement :)

[themadgamer]

I think it's just because I have the 300GX which isn't 'as good' as the RD700SX. I do think, however, they should have included a decent bright voice! I might e-mail Roland!

[themadgamer]

One question - how are you getting such a bright piano sound? I cant seem to do it on my RD300GX that just arrived today! :D

I want a lovely bright piano sound but I cant seem to get one even through fiddling with the settings!

[paulwwells]

Hi again Mad Gamer. Now I'm starting to get jealous. Mix in some Celeste (or Celesta - not sure of the spelling) if you have that on the GX. Also turn the treble up to full. YouTube eats a lot of treble when it processes the file.

[themadgamer]

Haha! don't be jealous - the RD300GX isn't as 'good' as the 700sx - it's just better than the RD300sx. I will try that - I just want a brighter sound than the 300 is giving me at the minute!!

[paulwwells]

I'm not sure if you mean that you're not getting a bright sound from the keyboard as you play it - or after you've recorded and uploaded to YouTube?

[themadgamer]

I've said it before but ill continue saying it - you're truly fantastic! Still not been able to get hold of an old RD700SX so I'm going to look at getting a new RD300GX. I just want a Roland piano to go with my Yahama Motif XS7 then I have the perfect setup!

Please continue with your wonderful music.

[paulwwells]

Thanks for you very find comments. :) I think Roland have been the winners in Piano sounds since the MKS20 - 23 years ago. But I do miss tweaking parameters to build up a sound from nothing.

[ofjuk]

This is amazing!! where can I get sheet music for this please?????x

[mikewhitcombe]

Very jealous - excellent arrangement! Well done.

[malkyforbes]

aww man!! legend - so good mate!! cheered me up :)

[autoforthepeople]

Wow- great performance and you seem to have fun playing it!!!

[paulwwells]

Hi Auto For The People,

Thanks for all your comments. I have so far resisted playing anything I don't really like.

[asg19665]

Very talented man you are! I love the hands at the end. Brilliant.

[paulwwells]

Thank you. I remember it took a few takes to get this one right and I just froze when I realized I'd got all the way through :)

[kensington25]

Blindingly brilliant!

[paulwwells]

Hi William. Glad you like it. I'm surprised how well this tune is known around the globe.

[kensington25]

It is a great tune. I am from England but moved to Australia and one of the things I do miss about England are some of the great television themes such as this one.

[xJenxBabyx]

OMG WOW

you are so damn good!

and i like your keyboard

♫la la la la la♫

[paulwwells]

Jen - thanks for all your kind comments.

My keyboard is two years old and almost falling to bits now because I've played it so much.

[themadgamer]

Your videos are great! Really amazing.

I love the Roland RD700sx although they discontinued it so I bought a Motif XS7 instead. Great playing so keep it up! Inspiration to all of us none music readers!!

[paulwwells]

The mad gamer - thanks for your endorsement of my videos. You're right you really don't need to bother with sheet music most of the time; and the chances are that if you can buy the sheet music then there will be 100 other version posted on YouTube already.

My keyboard needs to be taken to the repair shop - one key has stopped working.

[robertmbishop]

Thats great, thanks for sharing.

[legend619mufc]

BRILLIANT

[TAPDADA]

that was very nice. my only comment or criticism would be you often take your hands away from the keys whenever you have the chance, its a bad habit, you should try and keep them there, because there is no reason to keep putting them back on your legs when you haven't finished the piece. Thats a minor point though, it was very good.

[paulwwells]

Yes. Good point. I'll try not to do that.

[TAPDADA]

apart from that it really was great to listen to, its an excellent song and you kept a steady tempo and played it very accurately. well done it was great.

[SeanOBriain]

haha, memories. great job.

[fullerbull7]

Bravo, Paul Wells. Here across the pond in the US, that theme was used for a basketball event. It is very catchy and energetic. I loved you rendition on the piano. You should do a rendition of the BBC Cricket theme, also.

[mundyman007]

Thats really fantastic, played brilliantly! One of my favourite TV themes! How about the wimbeldon theme next?

Good Effort!

[paulwwells]

I've found a version of the closing theme. I must admit I'm not that familiar with it but I'll give it a go. Give me a couple of weeks :)

[maramazone]

Sounds cool, really good with the tv jingles. My friend at work learnt the old crucible snooker jingle on the guitar. Really like these themes bring back a certain nostalgia- keep it up!

[paulwwells]

Hi Maramazone,

Thanks, glad you like it. This is just such great fun to play. You're right, this meant the start of Saturday afternoon for a generation.

Paul