It's unfortunate that they went with that awful version of the theme (that's not the TV version!), and that the only Hobo footage is a very short bit from the (actually quite long) intro, compressed into blurry splotches that only vaguely resemble the titular German Shepherd. posted by Sys Rq at 3:15 PM on June 19
YEah, the singer of the Hobo theme in that version sounded Australian or something. Not the original hobo theme. Excellent work nevertheless.
The original theme. Maybe the voice changed because it was sped up to match the BPM of the Allen song? posted by GuyZero at 3:22 PM on June 19
[That Twitter feed is hilarious] posted by i_cola at 3:28 PM on June 19
How is it that 30 years later I still know all the words (to the TV theme--as Sys Rq says, this is a longer version)? I am sure that information is taking up room in my brain that could be used by something else.
Just kidding. I totally love the Littlest Hobo theme. And this mash-up is great! Well done Thrift Shop XL. posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 3:29 PM on June 19
You know, lately I've been really burnt out on the whole mashup thing. Seeing this might have changed that. Thanks, this is great. posted by threetoed at 3:32 PM on June 19
as Sys Rq says, this is a longer version
Hey! I did not! posted by Sys Rq at 3:36 PM on June 19
I watched the whole thing, and now I'm listening to it again while I type this. I always appreciate novel, quirky mashups like this. posted by davejay at 3:40 PM on June 19
as Sys Rq says, this is a longer version
Hey! I did not!
posted by Sys Rq
Oh sorry, you said "not the TV version," not longer version. It is different, definitely. posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 3:41 PM on June 19
I think it probably is just the original sped up, like Guy Zero said. At least, if it's a "real" mashup (which is to say, fan-made and illegal), that would be the most likely scenario.
However, despite the fact that the sped up version is still in the same key, the voice sounds pitched up, to the point that it rather uncannily resembles that of a 20-something Englishman.
All that gets me to wondering: Could it be that this mashup wasn't just "found" by Parlophone, but that it was produced by Parlophone (or agents thereof), and that the non-Parlophone track was re-recorded to get around the copyright issues?
No biggie if that's the case, but it would be kind of lame to present it like this. Along with that Lady Gaga "leak" a while back (on her label's own YouTube page, natch), the whole YouTube video/Twitter OMG thing could become a rather annoying little marketing trend. posted by Sys Rq at 4:24 PM on June 19
Oh wow The Littlest Hobo... I think my mom's still got a 'My School Reports' type book at home where in my 10 year old chicken scratch I wrote it as one of my favourite TV programs. posted by PenDevil at 4:36 PM on June 19
Not just sped up, different vocal track entirely. And the trumpets are different, too.
Littlest Hobo was always just this awful Canadian show when I was a kid. In the late '80's when I was about 17 I went to Europe for the summer. About halfway through the summer I stayed in Germany for a week or so with a family that had a little girl about 7 yrs. old or so. She had taped the Littlest Hobo theme off the TV onto her little plastic Sony tape recorder and would play it over and over and over every morning, waking me up. She just loved that song. I thought it was so bizarre that they would even show such a shitty program in Europe but it made me just a shred homesick, kind of like how watching Night Walk made me homesick for Toronto when I was away at University. posted by chococat at 5:04 PM on June 19 [1 favorite has favorites]
Whistling the "Littlest Hobo" theme is a sure-fire Canadian detector.
Oh, that show was so silly, but I loved the theme! Now I'll be whistling that tune for a couple of days... posted by newfers at 7:44 PM on June 19
Just grab your hat and make this noise, that's hobo style. posted by Spatch at 8:49 PM on June 19
Oh, that show was so silly
The Littlest Hobo looks downright sober next to its contemporaneous American counterpart: The Incredible Hulk. posted by Sys Rq at 9:42 PM on June 19
When American invade Canada, I will greet you with "There's a voice that keeps on calling me" and you will reply with "Down the road, that's where I'll always be" and in this way we will know each other as members of the resistance.
Rokusan, while I can still remember the "brought to you by Kraft Velveeta" at the end of the Beachcombers I had totally forgotten the theme song. Thanks for that great flashback.
However I have to agree that the Friendly Giant theme is THE Canadian-detector (whistling or not) posted by smcniven at 7:40 AM on June 20
that's not the theme to "The Littlest Hobo". THIS (opening) IS
WTF, wendell?
A new ADULT action television series? The star, a german shephard, will amaze you?
Are you sure you aren't confusing The Littlest Hobo with the notorious Linda Lovelace video booth reel? posted by PeterMcDermott at 8:30 AM on June 20
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posted by spoobnooble at 3:00 PM on June 19