Readers will associate BBC’s Formula 1 coverage with Fleetwood Mac’s The Chain. Dum, dum dum dum dum…. more recently, Sky’s coverage of Formula 1 can be associated with Alistair Griffin’s song entitled Just Drive. ITV went through various iterations from Jamiroquai to Lift Me Up by Moby. But what will Channel 4 choose, if anything, as their signature Formula 1 theme?
Now, I will be honest and say that my music tastes are not varied, so any suggestions will be left that to you guys in the comments section below. But, it is worth a look back at Channel 4’s past theme tunes for some inspiration as to where the channel and Whisper Films may head.
If we are talking Channel 4, sport and theme tunes then the above video is a fantastic place to start. Mambo No. 5 (A Little Bit of…) by Lou Bega was Channel 4’s cricket theme throughout their duration of their coverage from 1999 to 2005. Want to know how popular that song was when it aired during their coverage? It went straight to number one! You cannot get a better plaudit than that off the people watching your coverage, that they feel connected to the product that they are tuning in for.
Channel 4’s racing theme has undergone many iterations. The above version helps encapsulate the grand nature of horse racing with footage of both the horse racing and the celebrities that turn up week in, week out.
Other themes that have been created and aired on Channel 4 include the cult hit Football Italia in the 1990s and their American Football intro. In terms of Formula 1, Channel 4’s signature tune needs to be fast paced, it needs to get hearts racing. It needs to reflect the tone of the coverage and the race that viewers are about to watch. Having a slow, dreary theme is not the way to start motor racing coverage, but based on the above I’m confident Channel 4 will deliver. Some of BBC’s MotoGP themes captured the fast paced aspect perfectly. Hysteria by Muse and Begging You by The Stone Roses were good themes for motor racing coverage, in my opinion.
Like I said at the start of the piece, I am not great with music, so this is more a case of over to you. What song would you like to see become Channel 4’s signature Formula 1 theme? Or, will their coverage have a generically created theme (like ITV did with Jamiroquai in 1997)?
As always, your thoughts and suggestions are welcome in the comments below.
Update on January 23rd, 2016 – All the suggestions so far can be found in this playlist over on YouTube.
Motorsport Broadcasting 
i’m gonna go with this. perfect fit imo
iron maiden – phantom of the opera
Rob Dougan’s Furious Angels
Jewelled by Propaganda… though C4 do have form with this one hsving used it for their NFL programmes in the early to late 1980s. Interestingly, the BBC also used it when they showed the special stages live of the Rally GB in the late 80s.
There is lots of Songs I would like to see…
The Cardigans – My Favourite Game
I have always thought this would make a perfect F1 theme… Perfect driving anthem and a popular songs that viewers can relate too. The height build up featuring shots of the paddock warming up, then as the main riff kicks in the lights go out and wee see some fantastic racing shots!
Fatherson – Always
If Channel 4 are wanting something more unknown, then this fatherson track would be a perfect choice.
The Prodigy – Warriors Dance
If they would prefer a dance track, something like this would really get hearts racing
Other tracks that spring to mind are Heartbeats by Grum and The Great Escape by We Are Scientists…
A cool idea might be to make a public and collaborative spotify playlist for people to add their own suggestions
When it was announced that the BBC will get the rights to F1 in 2009, someone on YouTube made this mock sequence using the The Cardigans’s theme:
That is almost exactly what had in mind! Good find!
Really thought that this song fitted well especially when ITV used it in a montage..
its called Gotta Work by Amerie
Toccata by Sky. At about 1 minute 15 seconds in, it turns into a much better F1 anthem than The Chain. Give it a try.
Just on one part in the article above – I don’t think it’s quite fair to suggest that Channel 4’s cricket coverage propelled Mambo No 5 to number one in the charts! I think it’s more accurate to say that C4 picked a pop song of the moment, that was clearly going to be exceedingly popular that summer – I think Mambo No 5 would have reached number 1 even without Channel 4 using it for their cricket coverage.
Having said that, it was a very suitable theme indeed, fitting the ethos of the sport well, IMHO. Obviously, something higher octane needs to be used for F1. Would be nice to see an original commission used, perhaps – something exciting and thrilling.
Sirius by the Alan Parsons Project sprung to mind, although somebody once told me it’s a popular track to play when teams are entering the field in some American sports.
Always liked Money for nothing, has a great percussion buildup: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTP2RUD_cL0
Also, I always wondered if George Harrison’s song ‘Faster’ could ever be worked into an intro; brilliant chorus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAKO5FK-dDA
More than likely C4 will go for some more modern though, which is fair enough.
Channel 4 also had a great theme for their Tour de France coverage from Kraftwerk. I’d be fairly happy and not too surprised to hear something like that. (Sorry, don’t know how to embed:) http://youtu.be/1IMjb6sU5Mg
I have no idea what song they will go with, but could there be a more perfect tune than The Chain as used on the Beeb’s coverage. I thought it was perfect. The slow bass intro shown over pictures of drivers and footage of the start of races where all the cars are stationary on the grid – such stillness.Then the lights go out and the screeching guitar reaches a crechendo. The way they mixed in the sound of squealing tyres with Lyndsey Buckingham’s guitar solo just captured perfectly the start of a race for me.
Delilah by Florence and the Machine
I feel it could really work and be interesting for a younger audience which F1 really needs.
Long time since Ive heard those ITV ones, they were all good, cant choose between them.
C4 cricket, when was that, was that highlights? Always watched cricket on sky.
Quite a catchy song though, never heard that before.
Do actually like the sky one.
The beeb one is a classic, but when it plays just think of Murray Walker.
My choices would be;
Krewella – Enjoy The Ride
Hardrock Sofa & Swanky Tunes – Here We Go
Ace of Spades would be an amazing F1 intro
however so would an instrumental version of Coming Home (the music for the BBC 2015 montage) would also be epic from the preview of it here: http://www.umusicpub.co.uk/en-GB/Digital-Music-Library/song/321669/sigma-rita-ora-coming-home-instrumental
With apologies for the volume of Prog Rock that is already inevitably filling this thread, Hocus Pocus from Focus would be great – the first 20 seconds alone build up into a serviceable theme. This track was also used by the BBC in their montage of the 2010 Canadian Grand Prix (sadly not available on You Tube).
Within Temptation- Faster
Always thought this would be good. Good guitar lick, builds to a fast pace and it’s called faster!
‘Speeder’ by Swedish band Sabaton: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABI5b3WH9SU
OMG David, please don’t mind me about how awful that C4 theme tune for the cricket was!
Ch4 should avoid the hassle altogether and do what Sky do with Super Sunday – pick something current, keep it for a couple of years, then replace with something fresher.
Given it’s the iconic ‘live’ football show for this generation, the 10+ changes in intro music over the years have never done it any harm.
Queen’s I’m In Love With My Car.
Probably worth mentioning the superb Paralympic theme tune which is arguably now more associated with London 2012 than the BBC’s theme. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuAPPeRg3Nw
My choice would perhaps be an instrumental version of the beginning of “Two Tribes” by Frankie Goes To Hollywood: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Usd9V21H7u4
Or, perhaps they could do what Sky did and go for something tried and tested – Kasabian’s “Goodbye Kiss”?
Perhaps one of the following:
New Sensation by INXS
Four to the Floor by Starsailor
Do it Again by Chemical Brothers
(And just for Lewis) – U Can’t touch this by MC Hammer
I would love to see a battle between the BBC and Channel 4. I would love them to use Fleetwood Mac’s – You can go your own way.
What about The Race is On by Suzi Quatro seems it will be apporiate for Formula 1- https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qgaizUlU0bc
The single greatest Channel 4 theme is Pete Shelley’s Tour de France theme. Peerless.
As for F1, why not something bespoke? The theme NBC uses for their NASCAR coverage is fabulous.
How about hitting the ground running, and in tribute to the late great Lemmy.