Gioachino Rossini -- William Tell Overture

 

Yes, I can understand their confusion. The legendary Swiss marksman William Tell and the legendary Lone Ranger John Reid are probably wondering what the deal is regarding their joint iconic theme song.

But let's provide some of that Reminiscings of Youth context first. I remember this one song popping up in a number of Warner Bros. cartoons, especially when there is a chase scene involving horses and Westerns. It grew on me very quickly because I thought it was of those rousing songs that fairly screamed "Time to save the day!". Just wanted to jump onto that steed right then and there.

(1:33:37)

And then, I found out that it had made its leap to the live-action screen via Bob Hope's "Call Me Bwana" from 1963. I remember having a good belly laugh when the rocket launched.

Not long afterwards, I realized that this was the theme song for "The Lone Ranger" that had its run on ABC TV from 1949 to 1957 but also previously on radio. So, it wasn't only "Time to save the day!", but "Hi Ho, Silver!".

However, I also got confused because I would eventually discover that the famous song wasn't called "The Lone Ranger Theme" but the "William Tell Overture". Wait! Wasn't William Tell the archer who shot the apple off of his son's head? Well, why would a cool cowboy hero theme be named after a bowman from centuries previously?

As it turns out, the reason is that the "William Tell Overture" actually made its presence known all the way back in 1829 when its composer, Gioachino Rossini, had created it for his opera "William Tell" based on the William Schiller play "William Tell" from 1804 based on the exploits of the famed archer. The overture was divided into four parts of which the finale "March of the Swiss Soldiers" makes up the famous theme for the Lone Ranger. The more you know, huh?

I have to admit that Hans Zimmer added some kickass booster engines to his take on the theme as part of the soundtrack for Gore Verbinski's 2013 motion picture take on The Lone Ranger. That scene with the train when the theme kicked in was probably what almost saved the picture.

Now, the Japanese pop culture angle on this is that I also remember the "William Tell Overture" being used for the 1981 Fuji-TV comedy-variety show "Oretachi Hyokinzoku" (オレたちひょうきん族....We Are The Wild and Crazy Guys) that loved to break all the rules. The show had its City Pop ending themes by EPO, her version of "Downtown" and then "Doyou no Yoru wa Paradise" (土曜の夜はパラダイス）. However, for the opening theme, it was the overture to prepare all viewers for one heck of a comedy trip.

I wonder how Rossini might be feeling from elsewhere looking down on how adaptable his composition has become in the centuries since.

Well, then, "Oretachi Hyokinzoku" premiered on May 16th 1981. So, what was on top of the charts on May 18th that year? I'll give you Nos. 1, 2 and 5.

1. Akira Terao -- Ruby no Yubiwa (ルビーの指輪)

2. Seiko Matsuda -- Natsu no Tobira （夏の扉）

5. Naomi Sugimura -- Sunset Memory （サンセット・メモリー）