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> You've Changed Your Tune! by Rhys
 Neighbours' theme song is perhaps one of the most recognisable musical
scores ever composed. Tony Hatch who wrote the melody and his wife at the
time - singer, Jackie Trent, who wrote the lyrics (pictured right) are still listed in the
programme's production credits to this day - despite the four variations of
their original composition that have topped and tailed Neighbours episodes
since. In 1985, Hatch wrote the original version of "Neighbours" while Trent
produced accompanying lyrics. Previously, Hatch had been responsible for
composing the theme songs to Crossroads, Emmerdale Farm, The World at War, Sportsnight and M*A*S*H, among others. But, it's undoubtedly the "Neighbours
music", as it is affectionately known, that has become his most famous
composition.
Neighbours first aired in March 1985 in Australia, episode one opening with
an electric piano rendition of the original opening variation. Following
episodes right up until 1990 opened with the familiar chorus of:
# Neighbours, everybody needs good Neighbours
With a little understanding, you can find the perfect blend
Neighbours, should be there for one another
That's when good Neighbours become good friends #
The deep-voiced artist, whose voice provided the lyrics was Australian actor
and singer, Barry Crocker. Tony Hatch had composed a longer variation on a
TV-version of the theme, suitable for use as a closing credits
accompaniment. Yet, the Channel Seven transmitted episodes never used the
full version of this closing theme, opting to shorten some of the chords
heard after such climaxes as "...a better day..."; "...footstep away..." and
"...perfect blend...." - which managed to skim around ten seconds off the full
length version. In 1986, however, when Neighbours went to air on TEN, that
channel used the full uncut television version for the first time. From now,
until 1992, Neighbours would close each day to the sound of:
# Neighbours, everybody needs good Neighbours
Just a friendly wave each morning, helps to make a better day
Neighbours, need to get to know each other
Next door is only a footstep away
Neighbours, everybody needs good Neighbours
With a little understanding, you can find the perfect blend
Neighbours, should be there for one another
That's when good Neighbours become good friends #
Version one of the theme song is now regarded by most people, viewers and
non-viewers alike, as the "proper" Neighbours theme - i.e. suggesting that
all versions since then have been inferior to it. This is, of course, a
matter of personal opinion, but there's little doubt that the original
rendition evokes true golden memories of "classic Neighbours". British fans,
for example, who have been watching the show since its early days will
recall the dramatic climax of an episode, perhaps involving a perm-haired
Kylie Minogue, quickly cutting into the gentle, yet hauntingly anonymous
strains of Barry Crocker's voice and the monotonous "B-D-A" and "B-D-G"
piano chords.
 By 1989, many traces of "old Neighbours" had disappeared. Scott, Charlene,
Jane and Mike had gone, as had Daphne, Mrs Mangel and Gail. Perhaps in light
of this, it was decided that an updated version of the theme tune would be
launched. Barry Crocker again provided the voice, but although the new
version retained the same lyrics as the previous one, the tempo was
noticeably faster and the accompanying instruments were revised with less
emphasis on the repetitive piano chords used for the first version but a
greater sense of the dramatic employed. In truth, Neighbours were trying to
modernise a theme tune that was pretty impossible to modernize. Without
starting afresh and reworking the song's melody, there was little they could
do to add some much needed zest to the theme as it stood. Which, perhaps, is
why version two of the theme sounds a little disjointed. Barry Crocker
appears to struggle to keep up at times, while the overall pace allows
little room to fully deliver the lyrics as they were intended. However, this
version of the theme tune remains the ultimate favourite of many fans,
including me. Perhaps it's the knowledge that Neighbours was desperately
trying to modernize its brand image in the only way it knew how, or that the
dramatic rise as Crocker belts out # a footstep awaaaaaay.... # as the closing
credits backdrop changed to the grainy shot of No.24 Ramsay Street, evokes
memories in many fans. The opening song received the same treatment as the
closing theme - but by 1990, it was decided to drop the tradition opening
titles sequence in favour of the Neighbours logo board and Grundy diamond
device only. To accompany this edit, an old 20-second-or-so piano melody
from the 1980s was employed. Yet, after only a few weeks this was replaced
with Barry Crocker-sung version:
# Neighbours, everybody needs good Neighbours #
 By 1992, the powers that be concluded the music was in desperate need of
changing and thus employed the talents of native music supremo, Peter
Sullivan, in re-arranging the song from scratch. The result was a definite
step away from the first two versions, with the re-arranging of the lyrics,
including omitting some, being the most surprising alteration. Similarly,
the younger, more pleasurable sounds of Greg Hind's voice and deliberate
hints of jazz in the music made this a theme that epitomizes Neighbours of
the 1990s. This version of the theme song debuted at the beginning of
episode 1681 in 1992, in Australia. After two years of shortened opening
themes, there was a welcome return to a longer music piece. Here lay the
first indications of the lyrics' re-arrangement:
# Neighbours, everybody needs good Neighbours
That's when good Neighbours become good friends #
Preceding the first words was a new seven-note bar that would remain as a
standard "Neighbours piece" through 2001. This piece also made it to the
closing theme, preceding the first words, but following on from a reflective
two-second jingling sound, originally, suitably, accompanying the scrolling Neighbours logo. The closing theme now ran as follows:
# Neighbours, everybody needs good Neighbours
With a little understanding, you can find the perfect blend
Neighbours, should be there for one another
That's when good Neighbours become good friends
Oooh, Neighbours, should be there for one another
That's when good Neighbours become good friends #
A short, melodic interlude was adopted between both versus of # Neighbours,
should be there... # and this has remained the standard format for the two
full-TV versions of closing theme that have followed.
In late 1994, episodes broadcast in Australia received brand new opening
titles to reflect the change of characters at the time - most notable being
the introduction of the Kennedy family. The new titles were 36 seconds long
- over 13 seconds longer than the previous opening theme, thus a new
arrangement was needed to accompany. Rather than record a brand new song to
fit the time-limit, the programme's music director, Chris Pettifer, took the
full closing theme and edited it to fit the 36 second titles. The new
opening theme ran:
# Neighbours, everybody needs good Neighbours
With a little understanding, you can find the perfect blend
That's when good Neighbours become good friends #
BBC Television, broadcasting Neighbours in the UK had decided that their
policy of keeping closing credits' lengths relative to each particular
programmes' length would now be adopted on Neighbours broadcasts. Thus,
early in 1995, the BBC asked for specially edited closing credits to be sent
from Grundy's in Australia, complete with shortened theme song to accompany.
Grundy's sent over their new opening theme developed for Australian
broadcasts a few months previously, albeit with the familiar finale bar
added on, which traditionally accompanied the Grundy spinning-diamond device
on Neighbours episodes.
Lasting until the 1998 season finale episode, the third incarnation of
"Neighbours" remains the longest serving version so far. 1999 episodes
opened with a new rendition - the first version to have been overseen by
Chris Pettifer. However, just like the 1989 theme was a modernized version
of the original; the 1999 theme, it's fair to say, is little more than a
slight re-jigging of the 1992 theme song. Pettifer removed some of the more
"positive" notes, replacing them with "negative" ones, and lessened the jazz
influence to give the overall song a slightly more gritty, rock-based
effect. Despite these changes, however, little nods to the previous version
made it through the transition, including the seven note bar used as an
opening for the previous theme, now employed at various stages throughout
the new opening and closing themes, as well as the jingly notes, now used at
the very end of the closing song. The lyrics remained unaltered in the
closing theme, save for the addition of a repetitive # That's when good Neighbours, become good Neighbours become good friends # being used
throughout 1999 and the early part of 2000, before being dropped. The
opening theme, however, reverted to 23 seconds in length, and a new
arrangement resulted in:
# Neighbours, should be there for another
That's when good Neighbours become good friends #
Husband and wife team Paul Norton and Wendy Stapleton (soon to appear in
Neighbours as Nina Tucker's mother, Trixie) provided the vocals - although
poor Wendy could barely be heard under the loud strains of her husband. In
truth, version four mirrors version two in that an attempt to modernize the
original version of a particular theme didn't pay off. And, just as the 1989
theme was replaced in 1992 with an all new version; a similar happening
occurred in 2002 with the 1999 rendition.
This time, third party involvement has ensured the success of this, the
current theme. Steve Wade, best known as a member of famous Aussie group,
The Little River Band, oversaw the overall arrangement, which differs little
from the previous two, while Melbournian singer, Janine Maunder, provides a
female lead voice for the first time ever. Lyrics remain unchanged on both
opening and closing songs, with the main change being the adoption of a
repetitive chord set-up for the first time since versions one and two of the
theme, providing a definite undertone for the entire song, and allowing such
climaxes as "...find the perfect blend..." to adopt the more traditional three
note strain before breaking into "Neighbours, should be there...". BBC
transimissions have continued to use an edited version of the closing song,
still omitting the familiar "Neighbours, should be there for another" lyrics
which many consider to be an integral part of the theme. But, it's fair to
say that the current song has been very well received. It succeeds, largely
because it's managed to adopt so many characteristics of the original theme
song, but being a brand new song in its own right, using many elements
apparent in modern and popular music, which appeals to a wide cross-section
of the viewing audience. Interestingly, the current opening titles' sequence
was produced to specifically work in harmony with the current opening theme,
in that the shots used change depending on the beat and point in the music,
and not depending on their content - i.e. Nina's foot and the Ramsay Street
sign get twice the air-time in the sequence that characters such as Lou and
Karl do.
 
So what's next for this, the most famous of television theme songs? The music has at several times been voted the most recognized television theme
of all time by many an internet poll, which only further justifies its
undoubted popularity. These days, its lyrics are regarded with affection, as
opposed to being considered realistic or contemporary. Though, it's quite
comical to note that a leading MP used the Neighbours lyrics as the basis
for a talk he gave in Parliament regarding anti-social behaviour, some years
ago. It's also well known that hospitals have used the Neighbours theme on
many occasions to soothe babies in the womb, and further used it post-birth
as a reminder to the little one of a time when it was safe and secure! It's
doubtful the theme song would have retained its nostalgic and almost retro
qualities had the lyrics or melody been altered significantly at any point
in its history. In 1996, rumours circulated that the theme song had been
revised to accommodate a new Neighbours catchphrase - "I Love My Neighbours"
- supposedly part of the bid to revamp the show in 1995-1996. Thankfully,
the change never occurred, and two versions later, the theme song still
retains lyrics originally written by Jackie Trent, and there's no doubting
the melody is still "Neighbours"! As Chris Pettifer himself explains,
there's very little alteration one can make to the melody without the song
being significantly different. As it stands, it's fair to say that two
versions of it have now been used. 'Melody one' can be applied to versions
one and two of the theme; while versions three, four and five have used a
near identical melody, which we'll call 'melody two'. Perhaps, in a few
years' time, 'melody three' may be created, if it's at all possible to
squeeze another one out of the Neighbours tune! Or, we may see a return to
the original melody for a new rendition of the original song. One thing
remains certain, however. Neighbours' theme tune could never be anything but
the familiar Neighbours song we've grown to love since 1985. And,
fortunately, it seems Chris Pettifer and the powers that be have the same
opinion, too!
You can download audio clips of the theme tunes mentioned in both Real Player and MP3 format in our Multimedia section.
There is a guide to some of the music used on the show in our Sounds Of Erinsborough section.
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