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HOW DID I MISS THIS GROWING UP??? What else should I be checking out that I missed out on?? If you guys want to learn how to play stuff like this, be sure to check out the academy and get 30% off while you do with code MUSICTHEORY30 at checkout!! cornellmusicacademy.com/
Oh, the comment vortex has been kind to me and telported me to the moment you uploaded this video. Well good news, Ratboy Genius... you will want to do a DEEEEEEEEPPPPP Dive on his unexpectantly amazing music composing. He even includes his sheet music for some of his songs. The Ratboy Genius theme, the flood theme, potato knishes and his fugue are a good place to start and worthikids has a brief history video to get you caught up. Op, the vortex is pulling me back in, gotta blast!
Hmmm... I personally like the following: ~ Chowder ~ Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends ~ Filmore ~ Big O (an anime series to this day I BARELY understand but LOVED the music in) You probably already made a video about Cowboy Bebop, but DEFINITELY THIS ONE ***To Be Continued*** (I'm sure I can come up with more later)
I’m really into the original score (not the song soundtrack) for the movie The Sandlot. I’d be curious to hear what you have to say about it if you ever get a moment to inspect it.
And it has stood the test of time! I enjoyed the show as a kid and now I’ve shared it with my own kids and they love it too! 😄 my daughter constantly asks me to put on Grandma’s piano on the roof song “when life gets you down, wearing a frown, DONT look away- look up!” 🎶 🎈
@@okoala62 That's so beautiful. It's funny because I don't think of it as being that old, because it's goodness is so timeless. Or maybe because there was a movie recently 😄
@@okoala62 Thats so great to hear that you introduced your kid with the series, Im 33 and remember this show vividly. I remember my Mom used to watch it with me and always told me that it was her favorite kid's show too.
I still go back and watch some episodes as an adult, that show is a work of art. Animation, music, the themes and plotlines. Sewer King is my favorite episode probably.
Charles I've just realized that I don't think I've ever commented on one of your videos despite having been watching for like 2 years now, these videos are a joy. I'm hardly a musician but I thoroughly enjoy watching you play and learning things here every week, you always make it fun. Appreciate you, man.
Dude!! I appreciate that so much! I'm a big fan man, I've probably watched every one of your videos. You are absolutely hysterical and I'm so glad people have been noticing that. Super cool to hear from you!
Hey Arnold was a complex cartoon in itself. From the development of each character, the lessons taught and learned, and the sophisticated music used to perfectly capture the feel of the show. Being a 90s kid (30 years old), Hey Arnold was and still is my favorite cartoon till this day. Awesome video!
@@Smitty_WerbenjagermanjensonBoth were great but Hey Arnold was a show that focused on story, and more mature themes. SpongeBob was purely a comedy show. So it depends on what mood you’re in, in my opinion.
Hey, Arnold hit different. They were also doing several minority characters that had awesome stories BEFORE they were cool. It felt natural, chill, instead of nowadays force fed agendas. Even as a kid I noticed these episodes are deep, beautiful, and so meaningful. How is this a cartoon? Love this show so much that if you ask my siblings they'd know immediately what my favorite cartoon was from those days.
@@kozmo7 do you remember some of the lyrics to his song? "You better not touch my gal, or I'll pop you in the kisser pal, you better not even try, or I'll leave you with a big black eye" 😂 Craig had us wilding at like age 8
@@nikmariealex So listen good, you two-bit hood, I'll give you to the count of ten, And if you're not gone by the crack of dawn, You'll never, ever eat - solid food again!
Makes you wonder how much the “lofi study music” trend has its roots in that generation growing up with music like this playing while they did homework in the afternoons.
Please write an article on this !! There is a lot of music journalism on lofi music but I don't think I've seen anyone addressing this possibility. Or if you don't write maybe you should reach out to a music journalist.
Yep, I got into electric piano jazz because of Hey Arnold. I remember feeling empty,nostalgic, hope, happiness and peace all at the same time in some of the episodes . I think the episode where he is in his room thinking about his parents was what got me.
I remember being a kid and wathcing this show with my sister. Was always fixated by the music. My parents noticed and slowly introduced me to more jazz/funk fusion as i grew up. Thanks Jim Lang for putting the wheels in motion.
Wow, Stompin was an absolute nostalgia blast. I never thought much of the music of shows as a kid, but I distinctly remember the Hey Arnold music sounded *cool*. I grew up in suburbia and Hey Arnold's urban world was fresh, it was cool, it was savvy. I definitely see the connection between the music of Hey Arnold and Mr Roger's Neighborhood. Both planted a seed in my mind for complex, jazzy, funky music that does wild stuff with chords. "Kids music" always bored me. Kids don't need to "get" music to enjoy it, they just vibe. Give kids jazz. Give em modes, extensions, #11#13. Give em blues, the real blues scale stuff off the grid. Give em microtones, polyrhythms, polymeters, Indian ragas, Turkish maqams. They don't need to understand it, they just need to be exposed to it.
Dude have you heard Jazz For Kids from Jazz At Lincoln Center Orchestra? If not, check Baa Baa Black Sheep. We should be showing songs like this to kids.
You're spot on. I watched Hey Arnold as a kid, and looking back I realized one reason I adored it so much is it didn't talk down to kids. I'd legit want my own kids to watch it some day. And now, thanks to you I realized the idea of not talking-down to kids was even reflected in the music. Brilliant! Funny thing is, I thought I didn't like jazz until I was forced to play for my high school jazz band. Lol.
I rewatched the first season of Hey Arnold about 5 years ago, as a musician dude in his late 20s because I wanted to transcribe the intro.... The show truly is so good, still. My future kids will be watching it too!
I dont remember much if the show beyond a few choice moments, but ya it didnt dumb itself down, and I loved the boarding house extended family. It was such a cool idea to show all those different people living together as an odd bunch family :).
I remember really liking this show as a kid but don't remember much either. I think I need to revisit because this video just made me realise why im so obsessed with music. I was into Jamiroquai at a young age so the Jazz/Funk influence was real!
Hey Arnold is one of the best cartoons ever. Like... really. I even rewatched it as an adult and it still held up. They really took the time to weave some real deal lessons into the show, with iconic episodes and iconic music. GOATED
I remember there being bits where one of the kids pulled out a pair of bongos and Geralt would pull out the most raw and impressive beat poem that was way over my head as a kid. This show really liked art I feel.
@@crimsonhawk52 the Opera episode in general was very good but you could argue that it is all in the kid's dreams happening. But many of them were really into poetry and music which was neat to see.
@@MeonLights They also had an episode where Gerald's voice changed from getting his tonsils out and he has to learn to sing bass to keep his solo. Both emotionally and musically challenging subjects for children, and I loved it!
The relatively slow and reasonable pacing of Hey Arnold! with the lovely rich jazz compositions accompanying it made it almost an oasis in a desert of frenetic overly-energetic hyperactive programming. You would think Arnold's urban life would seem chaotic and overwhelming compared to the suburban lives of characters on other shows, but instead it just seemed very cool and rich and complex.
I also loved how it portrayed NYC through the view of a child's imagination, everything had an element of fantasy or mythos to it. Like Stoop Kid or Sewer King.
The music by Jim Lang is incredible. Not all of the soundtrack was jazz, but it fit perfectly with the show's style and sometimes more mature themes. The show itself is definitely worth watching. Craig Bartlett, the creator of the show, made something very special.
Hey Arnold made jazz cool again. In the 90s when grunge, nu metal, and hip hop were topping the charts. That is such an underrated feat. And the show was awesome.
honestly forgot about this show for a while, yeah it's got an incredibly urban downtown vibe/theme that all this *j a z z* works fantastically to support
I loved this show growing up because it never once talked down to kids. Christmas special? Sure, here's Mr. Hyunh having flashbacks about giving his daughter up to american soldiers in the Vietnam War, hoping at least SHE could escape this hell. Here's a child dealing with a terrible home situation. Here's your main character, for once not actually living with his parents, in somewhat run down apartment complex. But it was also where I first encountered jazz, at least the first time I recognized it as such. Glad to know they were making the music just as complex. I really agree with Jim Lang. Childhood is where you're constantly learning, everything is new. Complexity doesn't scare you, everything is complex, your brain is wired to adapt to it and learn from it. Kids aren't stupid, they're just inexperienced. As long as there are means for them to figure out those missing gaps in experience, they're happy to learn and better for it.
"Kids can't deal with complexity." I had a hell of a childhood - complex was the simplest way to describe it. But Jim Lang was the reason I began expressing my life through music. Now I'm musician, audio engineer, and producer. I owe much of it to Jim. His work showed me that music could be more than notes on a page.
Listening to the music again in this makes me realize how much I enjoyed it when I was a kid, and how much it contributed to the show. The backgrounds and this music, it built an image of a city that was really exciting for a kid.
‘Hey Arnold’ was, and still one of my favourite shows for sure! I’m studying to be a high school teacher for music and English, and I’ll be making my students watch it for both subjects - English for the coverage of social issues, and the music classes for obvious reasons. The theme song absolutely slaps!
I hadn’t realised how influential in my musical taste Hey, Arnold! was. I hadn’t heard that soundtrack in years and this video made it all come back. That’s the best form of nostalgia!
It’s interesting that you compared this to Mr. Rodgers. Not only does the music challenge kids but the show really leaned into real situations and people much like Mr. Rodgers.
At two different points in my childhood, I LOVED Little Bill and Little Bear. I recall both of them as thoughtful and gentle shows with, now that I think about it, lovely instrumental and jazz-esque music. I didn't love them specifically for their music at the time, but I could still happily watch both of them at 28 and I think that their melodies are a part of what made them such enjoyable shows in my young life. Now an adult, I absolutely adore a range of music and I think it could have a lot to do with the fact that some of my favorite shows (and my family, thank goodness for them) gave me the agency to unintentionally embrace that music as a kid.
HOORAY! Finally! I remember LOVING the jazzy grooves in "Hey Arnold", specifically the ones made for the animals (Lockjaw, Abner). Jim Lang was really in his bag with the "Hey Arnold" soundtrack. 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
Hey Arnold music and the Windows Media Player Jazz song that my Windows 2000 computer came with is what got me exploring different types of music. Great video!
I absolutely adored Hey Arnold! I remember him using his remote control to turn on the stereo in his room to relax after a wild day and was like "yeah, that's how I want my life to be when I grow up 😎" Just a remote controlled stereo and smooth jazz were my life goals and honestly I mean what else do you really need? I think the whole show felt pretty mature - they dealt with some pretty real life issues, too.
I loved his attic/observatory of a bedroom. As a kid shuffling between rentals and sharing bedrooms, I thought that was the coolest, freest thing in the world.
Im 33 and even back when I was watching this in the late 90’s, the end credit theme “Stompin” resonated with me so much. Its one off the smoothest pieces of music ive still ever heard and it really had no right to be on the end of a kids Tv programme.
You should definitely check out the original Spyro trilogy's soundtrack. The Police's Stuart Copeland did the music for all three and used complex polymeters, creative instrumentation, and each level's music is unique and matches the aesthetic. It's where I personally started my music journey when I was a kid, because it was like nothing else I'd ever heard!
Stewart Copeland did such a fantastic job on the music for Spyro! I would love to see him give it a listen. I also grew up with this soundtrack and it remains one of my top favorite video game soundtracks!
Jim Lang is the reason I think I got into music, and where my love of jazz and blues comes from. I wish I could thank him, he really changed my life and is a big inspiration to me.
THIS IS MY CHILDHOOD!!! This music is why I fell in love with jazz and have been telling people for years that it’s the GOAT. Thank you for diving into this
I smiled non-stop throughout this video. I’m as much of a music nerd as almost anyone else watching this video but the PURE JOY on Charles face throughout this, ESPECIALLY knowing he didn’t grow up with the show, was just so contagious! I wonder how little Charles would’ve felt watching it back then. I ALWAYS loved the music in Hey Arnold. ☺️☺️☺️
There's more styles of music hinted throughout the series. Commercial and radio jingles are organic and unique, there's an aging big band singer, sweeping strings when Helga professes her love to Arnold under her breath. James Brown even did a vocal cameo! So much fun music is thrown at you and it adds to every moment in the series. 🎺🎹🎸🎶
Hey Charles! My name is Charles and I love music lol! I used to play classical guitar all the time, but I never really got into music theory as deeply as I probably should have. Watching your videos is helps me make sense of things! Thanks for your enthusiasm and explanations!
One of the first times I really listened closely to music as a kid was the Sonic CD soundtrack (US version). It was the first time I really understood that video game music could be complex.
one of the little memories I have about early childhood is "complex" music - it's different for me now - now these are "normal" in my understanding of music - but there is still "complex" music for me as an almost 30 y/o jazzer. It started somewhere.
This soundtrack basically is what got me into jazz. I’m certainly not alone in this sentiment, but it’s still a very special feeling. Behind me are over 200 jazz records that I’ve collected over the years with no sign of stopping. It’s all thanks to this soundtrack and I thank you very much for breaking it down like this it deserves so much recognition.
Hey Arnold! was absolutely my favorite cartoon growing up, and the one that holds up the best today in my opinion, and the music was a HUGE part of it. Love seeing this analysis.
Man groove remote (or as some of you might remember it “lockjaw” the turtles episode) opened up my little rocker boy heart as a kid. Love that little riff. Hey Arnold has so many iconic songs.
The enjoyment that comes across everytime Charles hears different melodies and their complexities is infectious, such an entertaining channel, keep doing what you're doing man!!
Hey Charles, I really appreciated this video, especially the bit about Jim Lang re: early exposure to artistic complexity. His was a name I'd not heard before, but I was exposed to this music as a kid, and hearing it again suggests that these songs (among others) may have served as abstract, yet trusty sonic-emotional models to inform certain harmonic proclivities I still carry as an adult; only now I'm learning the theoretical names for them. Also, the intro theme chord progression reminds me of Jaco's "The Chicken"
Could not like this video fast enough. Have to do a part 2. You haven't even broke the surface of the music in the show. Favorite show and favorite music youtuber! Keep it up!
You should hear the music from Parent's Day and The Journal. Super moving. Also- if you feel up to it- check out those episodes along with Das Subway, Helga on the Couch, Pigeon Man, Arnold's Christmas, and Arnold's Thanksgiving.
Brov I still remember pigeon man to this day ... What a moving story. I swear 90s cartoons hit hard with some adult topics especially the subtle background topics.
As a child I gravitated to Jazzy music because of Hey Arnold without even noticing it. Through my life span jazz showered me; especially the blues & Jazz from Cowboy Bebop & Big O... The infusion of the musical instruments in anime & cartoons molded my ears to love these sounds.
Hey, LOVE the analysis vids a LOT. Would you ever consider including a keyboard layout to see the jazz chord voicings you use for all your dominant chord voicings and extended harmony you use? Could be immensely useful. Either way, keep up the great work! :)
Yeah Hey Arnold is great! Other fun 90s shows theme songs that would be cool to check out: 1) Ren and Stimpy 2) The Adventures of Pete and Pete 3) Rugrats
As a kid my friend's dad actually (credited as Jim Lang) did the music for Hey Arnold. I remember being over there hanging out one day and he we was playing some new Hey Arnold music that hadn't been put into the show yet.. I also that it was super cool. Jim is a very talented musician.. I believe he also did the music for Lloyd in Space.
right? it's actually stupid how good that soundtrack is. it also pushed the Game Boy to its absolute limit. the theme of the duels against the Grandmasters is almost three minutes long, no loop.
Highly recommend watching some of the show. The music really does amplify the stories being told, and the stories and characters (like the music) are multidimensional and emotionally complex. It's truly an incredible show!
I am SO GLAD you did this! I was literally listening to the music from Hey Arnold literally two days ago and thought about you. And here you are with this video. Thank you!
Hey, Arnold hit different. They were also doing several minority characters that had awesome stories BEFORE they were cool. It felt natural, chill, instead of nowadays force fed agendas. Even as a kid I noticed these episodes are deep, beautiful, and so meaningful. How is this a cartoon? Love this show so much that if you ask my siblings they'd know immediately what my favorite cartoon was from those days.
The stories got pretty heavy for a kid's show too. If you're interested in checking out an episode to see that depth, watching the Christmas episode from season one, or "Helga on the Couch" would be a good place to start. I appreciate this cartoon for being there when I was growing up.
Please check out the music from Kirby superstar! One of the songs got nominated for a Grammy even after all these years. There’s lots of songs styles in the game I think you’ll find interesting!
I appreciate your vids and the energy you put into them ! Your amazment to those tasty harmonies equal ours when we listened to them for the first time too :) On thing - as a professional non jazz pianist I often regret you don't include a view of the chords you're playing. Any probability you would like to come with something similar in the future ?
Hey Arnold was so complex as a show and the music matched the complexity perfectly. It mirrored big feeling I was having as a kid that I'm just now beginning to unpack and understand as an adult. I felt seen by that show. I can't even describe what that means to a kid. This music hits me right in the soul.
So glad you finally analyzed some Hey Arnold! I was actually just rewatching one of my fav episodes last night. ("Heat / Snow") I was the same age as the characters when this show came out and I've always loved the music so much!! I hope you get a chance listen to more.
Jim lang did such an incredible job with all the music in this show. There’s a ton of little gems. Pure vibes and nostalgic. You could live your life by the mantra ‘What would Arnold do?’ and be one hell of a human being.
There is a reason why I liked so much this show as a kid. The music just resonated with me in a way no other did. And it fits so well with the general feeling of every episode. It is really a masterpiece overall.
This show is the greatest kids show of all time. It’s taught me so much about life AND music, making it my career as well. Yup. I had to comment again 6 months later.
Seriously one of my FAVORITE soundtracks. So underrated. I will always remember seeing Jim Lang's name in the credits too, for some reason. Could be because it was short and easy to remember. So brilliant.
Wow, this was a big nostalgia wave crashing over me. I think I understand where I got my love for music from. The show was sooo good (even though I'm sure I only saw it dubbed in Dutch).
Hey Arnold was amazing, I recently rewatched it and loved it! To go in theme with some of your “anime” videos, I’d give the Persona 5 Soundtrack a listen, a lot of cool jazz fusion stuff in there
I second this. Really, everything in Shoji Meguro's catalogue is worth glancing at. I think Charles might be interested in the Shibuya-Kei influences in Persona 4 especially, since its fusion of J-pop vocals with jazz/lounge melodies makes for some particularly fascinating innovations. Persona 5's acid jazz is really interesting too, but it's less melodic in the instrumentals than a lot of P4's music, so it might be harder to analyze.
I don't know anything about composing music, but I've always known that the music in Hey Arnold! was something unique. So to have a professional listen and explain what makes it so great helps a lot in my own appreciation for what this show as a whole set out to do. Great video, Charles!
I would LOVE if you checked out the hip hop jazz music used throughout the PBS kids show Ghostwriter (1992). It’s got the heart and soul of New York in it.
Very solid analysis of this great music! Jim Lang is an excellent composer who really captured the right mood for Hey Arnold. Just one *small* detail - the chord progression in the second 8-bar section is Ab7 - Abm6 - Eb/G - C7, not Ab7 - G+7. Just a bass-note detail! Thanks again for sharing this video :)
I recommend listening to steven universe's soundtrack by aivi & surasshu. They use instrumentation to portray characters and it's just lovely. You could listen to "young gems" to get started
I was the poster 90’s Kid & you’re 100% RIGHT - Hey Arnold was a special gem for many reasons: the incredible music setting the tone against that concrete jungle background, but with kids that existed within their own innocent world while dealing with challenging circumstances both internal & external & growing through it. It was SO much more than it seemed on the surface & that’s what I loved about it. Bravo! Thank you for this!
Goosebumps the entire video. THANK YOU for covering Jim Lang's genius in Hey Arnold. I attribute growing up having Hey Arnold as my FAVORITE show, for my love for jazz and love for playing Piano. MM, good stuff.
I'd love if you checked Klonoa Door to Phantomile's and Lunatea's Veil's OSTs, specifically the tracks "The Closing Encounter" (or Untamed Hearts, whichever you like more) and "Ark ver. 2" respectively.
This is the video I have been waiting for especially stompin the end credits. I'm glad you made this video and shared it with all us music fans to see. I remember burning the songs from hey Arnold onto CDs as a kid and listening to them on the way to school in my walkman. Though I wish you heard this as a kid I'm glad we got to see your reaction to it in this way.
You should SERIOUSLY watch Hey Arnold. It's a slice of life sort of show. I can tell from afar you'll definitely LOVE it. If you love the music this much (and I can tell by your facial expressions lol) then your experience with the show will be richer.