Home and Away (song)

"Home and Away" is the theme song to the Australian soap opera, Home and Away. It was composed by Mike Perjanik and originally performed by Karen Boddington and Mark Williams. Their version was released as a single in 1989 and peaked at number 73 on the UK Singles Chart. There have been nine different recorded versions of the theme song used over the years, including two recorded by Australian sibling trio The Robertson Brothers. From 2010 until 2017, the Home and Away theme song was not used in the show's opening titles and was replaced by a short instrumental version. However, in 2018, two new eight-second versions of the theme song made a return to the opening titles after an eight-year absence.

"Home and Away"
Single by Karen Boddington and Mark Williams
Released28 August 1989 (1989-08-28)
RecordedAlbert Studios in Sydney
Genre
Length3:30
LabelFirst Night Records
Songwriter(s)Mike Perjanik
Producer(s)Mike Perjanik
Karen Boddington and Mark Williams singles chronology
"K.1.W.1."
(1988)		 "Home and Away"
(1989)		 "Show No Mercy"
(1990)

Background

"Home and Away" was written, produced and arranged by Mike Perjanik as the theme song to Home and Away.[1][2][3] It was originally performed by Karen Boddington and Mark Williams. The song was engineered by Wahanui Wynyard and recorded at Albert Studios in Sydney.[1] In an interview with music website Noisey, Perjanik said he was only given a rough idea that the show was going to be about foster kids, being home or away, "so I decided that I wanted the mood to be warm."[2] The song took 4–6 weeks to complete.[2]

Theme song

There have been nine different recorded versions of the theme song used over the years. The lyrics remained the same since the show's inception, but a number of verses were gradually cut back over the years due to "time restrictions".[4][5]

Version Artist Duration
1
Karen Boddington and Mark Williams
January 1988 – June 1995 (Episodes 1–1700)
2
Doug Williams and Erana Clark
June 1995 – November 1999 (Episodes 1701–2755)
3
The Robertson Brothers
January 2000 – November 2003 (Episodes 2756–3650)
4
January 2004 – December 2006 (Episodes 3651–4330)
5
Israel Cannan
January – April 2007 (Episodes 4331–4400)
6
Luke Dolahenty
April 2007 – November 2008 (Episodes 4401–4770)
7
Luke Dolahenty and Tarryn Stokes
January – November 2009 (opening credits)
February 2009 – March 2018 (international broadcasts closing credits)
8
Uncredited male vocalist
January 2018 – present
March 2018–present (international broadcasts closing credits)
9
Uncredited female vocalist

The original version was sung by Karen Boddington and Mark Williams and used from 1988 until mid-1995.[6][7] Their version was released as a single in the UK in 1989 and peaked at number 73 on the UK Singles Chart.[8] A new version performed by Doug Williams and Erana Clark debuted in 1995.[9] Their version was shortened the following year in 1996 and used until the end of 1999.[10][11] In 2000, Australian sibling trio The Robertson Brothers recorded a new version of the theme song which was used until 2003.[3][11][12] It was the first version to use only male vocals and was included in the soundtrack Home and Away: Songs From and Inspired by the Television Series (2000).[11][13] The Robertson Brothers again recorded a shorter version of the theme song in 2004 and was used until the end of 2006.[10][14] Their versions of the theme song became popular with viewers and gave the group widespread recognition, with concert goers demanding they play it at every concert.[2][3]

In 2007, a new version was introduced and performed by Israel Cannan, who played the character Wazza in the show.[15] After Cannan's version received many complaints from fans, the Seven Network decided to re-record the theme song in April 2007 with vocals provided by Luke Dolahenty.[2][10][16] A shorter, 15-second version sung by Dolahenty and Tarryn Stokes debuted in 2009.[11][17][18] From 2010 until 2017, the Home and Away theme song was not used in the show's opening titles and was replaced by a short instrumental version.[19][20] However, Dolahenty and Stokes' version was still used in the closing credits for international broadcasts.[14] In 2018, two new eight-second versions of the theme song made a return to the opening titles after an eight-year absence. One version is sung by a male vocalist, while the other version is sung by a female vocalist; in the opening titles, both only sing the last two lines of the theme: "closer each day, Home and Away".[21] An extended 30-second version by the male vocalist was uploaded onto the Home and Away website.[22] In March 2018, when the 2018 season debuted in the United Kingdom, the end theme was updated with the male vocalist's version, which still remain even on episodes which open with the female vocalist's version.

Reception

Dylan Evans of music website Tone Deaf included "Home and Away" on his list of "The 15 Best Australian TV Theme Songs", writing that although the song "has seen some changes, it still remains instantly recognisable to most Australians."[23] Irish program Xposé included the theme song in their list of "The Best TV Theme Songs".[24] Sam of TVFix placed it at number two on his list of the "Top 5 Australian TV Theme Songs", writing that "the tune captures the relaxed, melodramatic feel of living in a quiet beachside town that's the home of multiple murderers, psychotics and drama queens."[4] He also added that it was better than the Neighbours theme song.[4] Steven Viney of Noisey compared both songs, adding that the Home and Away theme "sounds like it could have easily been a Mariah Carey hit" and that it is "more melodic and pop oriented" than the Neighbours theme.[2] David Elkin of The Daily Edge described it as a "catchy" tune that is "still stuck in everyone's head."[25] In 2017, BuzzFeed writer Tahlia Pritchard added that the theme song should return to the opening titles, writing "Bring back those iconic lyrics!"[19] Shain E. Thomas of entertainment website Harsh Light said it was an "idiotic move" of the show's producers to not use the song in the opening titles between 2010 and 2017.[14] Ed Power of Irish Independent called it a "catchy" song that "certainly gets into your noggin and refuses to leave."[26]

Usage in media

Home and Away star Axle Whitehead (Liam Murphy) recorded a version of the theme song which was used in the show in 2012.[27] Long-serving cast member Lynne McGranger (Irene Roberts) sang the song in a 2013 promotional video for broadcaster TVNZ 2 in New Zealand.[28] In April 2016, the theme song was used in a television commercial promoting a storyline involving an explosion at the Summer Bay Caravan Park.[29] Between December 2017 and February 2018, the theme song was also used in television commercials promoting the 2018 season premiere of Home and Away, as well as a sinkhole storyline involving long-time character Alf Stewart (Ray Meagher).[30] In a promo for the 2019 season, the Theme song was sung by the cast, who were sitting around a table, in lieu of a preview of what is to come.[31]

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References
  1. "Mark Williams and Karen Boddington – Home and Away". Discogs. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  2. Viney, Steven (22 May 2015). "Aussie Jingles: A Look Inside the 'Home & Away' and 'Neighbours' Theme Songs". Noisey. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  3. Parker, Helen (22 August 2012). "Life's a beach: The real story behind soapie hit". news.com.au. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  4. "Top 5 Australian TV theme songs". TVFix. 25 January 2012. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  5. Kilkelly, Daniel (16 July 2011). "Exclusive: Cameron Welsh - 'Home and Away' series producer". Digital Spy. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  6. "Your snowed-in guide to daytime TV". Radio Times. 18 January 2013. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  7. Watkins, Mike (9 April 2013). "Neighbours theme to become 'a duet'". ATV Today. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  8. "UK Singles & Albums Official Charts Company – Karen Boddington and Mark Williams: Home and Away". Official Charts Company.
  9. "1995 in Television". Reportingpoint.net. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  10. Bellissimo, Sarina (13 June 2012). "Classic Home And Away Opening Credits!". Two Tube. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  11. "Theme Tunes – Media Centre". Backtothebay.net. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  12. Cashmere, Paul (30 June 2008). "Robertson Brothers Sign With Destra". Undercover.com.au. Archived from the original on 18 May 2009.
  13. "Home & Away FAQ". Home and Away Official Website. Archived from the original on 31 May 2005. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  14. Thomas, Shain E. (12 January 2018). "The Robertson Brothers' 'Home and Away'". Harshlight.org. Archived from the original on 11 February 2018. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  15. "New credits on Home and Away". Throng Australia. 23 January 2007. Archived from the original on 2 January 2012. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  16. "H&A theme changes tonight". Media Spy. 23 April 2007. Archived from the original on 30 January 2012. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  17. "2009 Opening Titles". Backtothebay.net. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  18. "Playlist Sunday 4th September". Syn.org.au. 5 September 2011. Archived from the original on 16 November 2015. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  19. Pritchard, Tahlia (17 September 2017). "19 Random Facts About Australia's Iconic TV Show 'Home And Away'". BuzzFeed. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  20. "Thirty facts about 'Home and Away'". Stars Insider. MSN. January 2018. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  21. Dan (30 January 2018). "2018 Season Debuts with New Title-cards and Theme Tune". Back to the Bay. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  22. You know we belong together... Yahoo!7. 1 February 2018. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  23. Evans, Dylan (23 October 2015). "The 15 Best Australian TV Theme Songs". Tone Deaf. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  24. "The Best TV Theme Songs". Xposé. 28 September 2015. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  25. Elkin, David (4 May 2016). "11 reasons Home and Away was so much better than Neighbours". The Daily Edge. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  26. Power, Ed (20 January 2018). "Home and Away is 30 - here's why Ireland has an enduring romance with the Aussie soap". Irish Independent. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  27. "Axel's version of the Home and Away theme song". Home and Away on Facebook. 14 February 2012. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  28. Keogh, Siobhan (21 August 2013). "Home, and away from TV3". StopPress. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  29. Home and Away: Sneak Peek - Who will not make it?. Yahoo!7. 21 April 2016. Archived from the original on 9 May 2016.
  30. Kilkelly, Daniel (18 December 2017). "Home and Away reveals Ash's dramatic revenge storyline in action-packed 2018 trailer". Digital Spy. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
  31. "Home and Away". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
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