Seinfeld music scores

Music
A signature of Seinfeld is its theme music: distinct solo sampled bass guitar riffs which open the show and connect the scenes.

These short riffs were composed by Jonathan Wolff and are considered groundbreaking in their use as sitcom music. They vary throughout each episode and are played in an improvised funk style with slap bass. An additional musical theme with an ensemble, led by a synthesized mid-range brass instrument, ends each episode.

In the first episode of Season Three, the bumper music also featured a scatting female jazz vocalist. However, this was featured for only that one show. In the final two seasons, the bits were tweaked slightly to give them more frenetic rhythms and the occasional hint of guitar.

Rumors have speculated that Les Claypool originally was going to actually do the recordings for the opening theme, or that he actually had recorded it, but these have proven false.

Non-original music featured in the show:

*"Vesti la giubba" from Pagliacci - Ruggiero Leoncavallo - In "The Opera".
*"Theme from The Godfather"- Nino Rota - In "The Bris".
*Selected music from "The Barber of Seville" - Gioacchino Rossini - In "The Barber".
*"Wouldn't It Be Nice" - The Beach Boys - In "The Hamptons". (This song was performed by a sound-alike band because it was cheaper than buying the rights to the original Beach Boys track.)
*"Superman (Main Theme)" - John Williams - In "The Race" and "The Clip Show, Part 1".
*Sonata No. 8 Op. 13 "Pathetique" - Ludwig van Beethoven - In "The Pez Dispenser".
*"Everybody's Talkin'" - Harry Nilsson - In "The Mom & Pop Store".
*"Hello" - Lionel Richie - In "The Engagement", "The Invitations", and "The Voice".
*"Downtown" - Petula Clark - In "The Bottle Deposit, Part 1". George looks for clues about his work assignment when Wilhelm mentions the song to him.
*"" - Sheena Easton - In "The Bizarro Jerry" and "The Butter Shave".
*"Shining Star" - Earth, Wind and Fire - In "The Little Kicks". Elaine does the infamous dry heave dance to this. Also, in "The Bookstore". Peterman begins dancing with a female coworker to this song at the Annual Peterman Party.
*"Adagio for Strings" - Samuel Barber - In "The Fatigues". Frank Costanza has a flashback to his days as a cook in the Korean War.
*"Desperado" and "Witchy Woman" - Eagles - In "The Checks".
*"Theme from The Greatest American Hero" Joey Scarbury- In "The Susie".
*"Three Times a Lady" - The Commodores - In "The Pothole".
*"Mañana (Is Good Enough For Me)" - Jackie Davis - In "The Blood".
*"Slow Ride" - Foghat - In "The Slicer". Elaine tunes into her bedside radio and offers up a few characteristic dance moves.
*"In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" - Iron Butterfly - In "The Slicer". Elaine makes an attempt to phone the repairman.
*"Mexican Radio" - Wall of Voodoo - In "The Reverse Peephole".
*"" - Green Day - In "The Clip Show, Part 2".
*"La donna è mobile" - Giuseppe Verdi - Episode with The Maestro (Scene where Elaine jumps into the Maestros car and he begins conducting)

Main Menu

See Also

Main Menu