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Revision as of 07:19, 25 September 2008 by Radagast83 (talk | contribs)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)South Park is an American animated series. Its theme music is performed by Primus and has various opening credits.
Disclaimer
At the start of nearly every episode is the fake disclaimer which states that the program has characters based on real people, and should not be viewed by anyone. This features at the start of all episodes, except various such as Asspen and Pip.
The disclaimer reads:
"All characters and events in this show--even those based on real people--are entirely fictional. All celebrity voices are impersonated.....poorly. The following program contains coarse language and due to its content it should not be viewed by anyone."
Theme Music
The theme music is performed by Primus, sang by Les Claypool. It was originally meant to be rather slow and dull but was released more sped up. The old theme, without lyrics is used as the show's closing theme. However when the boys entered 4th Grade, the opening switched to a more hip-hop version remixed by Paul Robb. From season six onwards, it changed to an even faster version with a more Western theme. In season 10 the title music was changed to "Whamola" by Colonel Les Claypool's Fearless Flying Frog Brigade, from the album Purple Onion. The lyrics have remained the same throughout the series, with the notable exception of Kenny's lines varying from season to season.
Kenny's lines in the song, like the rest of his speech in the show, are muffled by his parka hood, which covers his entire face except for his eyes. However, Kenny's lines have been revealed by South Park Studios. In seasons 1-2, he says "I love girls with big fat titties, I love girls with deep vaginas," in seasons 3-5, he says "I have got a 10-inch penis, use your mouth if you want to clean it." From season 7 to the first half of season 10, Kenny says "Some day I'll be old enough to stick my dick in Britney's butt." The current lines are not known at this time. An official FAQ confirmed the lines would not yet be revealed.
The general unintelligibility of Kenny's lines has helped them avoid being censored by television networks on a number of occasions, although the gist can usually be understood. It is sometimes easy to comprehend the lines, given the context in which they are delivered. The syndicated versions of the show usually do censor Kenny's vulgar lines.
Title Sequences
The First Opening (1997-2000)
The first opening from South Park showed the boys getting on the bus and riding to school with each character singing his part. As the show progressed, the creators added more background elements to the opening (i.e.: starting from the episode Mecha-Streisand, the opening showed the giant robotic singer rising from behind City Hall).
The unaired pilot episode, "Cartman Gets an Anal Probe", features a slower tune and part of the credits, the instrumental version of which is used in the end credits.
There are many hidden features to this sequence, such as Damien in the back seat of the bus just as the kids get on, Starvin' Marvin in Officer Barbrady's police car and Kevin, Dr. Mephisto's assistant, in the back of Chef's car, all of these things in the opening credits at the end of Season 2.
The Second Opening (2000-2001)
The second opening was created for the episode 4th Grade which involved a fast-paced, remixed theme song. It started with the beginning of the first opening, but as the characters were put together, a giant spinning object reading "4th Grade" landed on the boys. The opening also featured rotating computer-generated renderings of the boys, fake subliminal messages telling the audience to watch the show, and ended with a live-action explosion.
The Third Opening (2002-2006)
The third opening is currently the longest lasting opening. It includes a remixed version of the South Park theme song, along with clips of the main boys being made in the original way (with construction paper) while singing the lyrics to the song. It also incorporates small clips from episodes of the previous half-season (i.e.: The season 10b opening will have clips of season 10a episodes).
Since Kenny was "permanently" dead throughout Season 6, his spot in the song was replaced with Timmy singing (following the joke of the verse that no one could understand, Timmy was only able to say his name and other phrases). When Kenny returned at the end of season six, he resumed his spot in the song starting with season 7.
The Fourth Opening (2006-Present)
The fourth opening started with the October 4, 2006 episode, Make Love, Not Warcraft. It samples another of Les Claypool's songs, Whamola, from his album Purple Onion. It retains the same visual theme of the third opening, involving the characters being created by live-action hands with clips from episodes of past seasons playing in the background.
Variants
Syndicated Opening
The syndicated version of the series uses a variation of the first opening sequence with the third opening's remixed theme and background elements of characters and events within seasons 1-8. It depicts the characters with updated animation, such as Cartman flailing around in his bus seat while singing his part of the lyrics, and Death appearing behind Kenny as he sings his lyrics before turning him into a skeleton. At the end of the theme, the four boys wave at the audience in front of the South Park sign with the entire cast in the background, just like in the third and fourth opening.
Halloween Version
For the first three halloween specials, the titles are the type one style, it starts off with the heads falling out the sky, Stan's head is a pumpkin though and as the backdrop shifts in, a lightning bolt shoots across the scene. While this happens, instead of the usual opening segment of music a scream is heard. The Primus singer is now a skeleton with a smashed guitar. The bus says "HAPPY HALLOWEEN" on it instead and all female characters are shown as witches. Instead of Jesus floating into the sky, a witch does. The alien family is replaced with a cemetery and the school is a haunted house. Finally the South Park sign is a tombstone which a bat hits. The most recent halloween episode, Hell on Earth 2006, did not feature a different version of the opening credits.
Syndication
Episodes aired in syndication feature a completely different opening sequence which blends elements from all three previous incarnations and features the sound effect of a cash-register right before the lyrics begin (a reference to the fact that the show's distributors, producers, and creators stand to make more money from the syndication airings). This sequence resembles many of the elements in the first one, since the third opening sequence contains too much nudity to be shown on broadcast television.
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