As they discussed in a DVD commentary track several years ago, the creators of the animated sci-fi sitcomFuturama originally thought that the show’s hyper-catchy theme song, composed by California musician Christopher Tyng, would be remixed for every single episode. That ambitious but impractical idea didn’t pan out at first, although the show did remix the theme in later seasons. And the show’s obsessive fans have, predictably, taken matters into their own hands, creating their own idiosyncratic versions of the theme. One in particular, a multi-instrumentalist who bills himself as SquidPhysics, has recorded an astonishing one-man-band version of the familiar tune, demonstrating his prowess on a number of overdubbed instruments, ranging from synthesizers to trumpet to bongo drums.
The main melody sounds like it’s being played with mallets on chimes, but it’s really just a very convincing synth sound. For those who want to see a musician physically hitting something rather than just pressing down on some keys, however, there are some gratifying shots of SquidPhysics sitting at his drum kit and banging out the song’s relentless beat. He doesn’t seem to be working out any aggression, though. All through what must be a complicated project, because all of these parts have to be exactly in sync with one another at the end, the musician seems preternaturally calm. It’s like he’s sealed himself away in this peaceful little corner of the universe, boxed in by his various gizmos and gadgets and totally immune to the stresses of the outside world. Bonus points for the sweet Planet Express T-shirt, too. That’s a nice touch.
