This list, and its companions, are an attempt to list all the
different themes used as background music in the shows.
I doubt
anyone can figure out which piece is which just from descriptions of
the music, but hopefully you'll recognize one of the examples and
will be able to match it up with the descriptions. Each entry
gives a name for the piece (the names are my own creation, and
they're based as much on what the piece sounds like as on the
actual scenes the piece is played over), a rough description of the
piece, and several scenes from different episodes where the piece
can be heard.
Thanks to Rikard Bakke, I've now linked many entries to short .wav files recorded from the show. His original sound clips page is found here, and all the links on this page are to the sound files on it. These are his work, not mine, and are used with his gracious permission.
Some disclaimers: I don't really know much at all
about musical terminology, or the sound of individual instruments, so
there's much guesswork involved here. Hopefully I've
accumulated enough examples from episodes that people can ID them that way, then
look back at the description of the piece and say "yeah, it does do
that."
Quick notes:
MUSIC FROM "THE TRANSFORMERS" CARTOON SERIES
FIRST SEASON
The Space Theme: only a few seconds long as
far as I can tell. Just a few,slow, whistful swells of high strings. Most
often used for stock shots ofCybertron, as in the first shot of the
planet in Roll For it. Also, inUltimate Doom 3, when Wheeljack is
radioing in to Prime on Earth ("We had a run-in with Shockwave,
Prime, and couldn't rescue Sparkplug."). A neat-o variation plays in
UD 2, when the 'bots are in Skyfire riding to Cybertron,when
Trailbreaker asks to see the trajectory map -- it's flutes instead
ofstrings. Time: :15
The Mystery Theme: sound clip #1 || sound clip #2. Used for stock shots of Cybertron, Autobot or
Decepticon Headquarters, Earth, or space. Starts with some piano,
then a mild hornsection. Builds to a climax at end, with horns and a
synthesizer. Heard in thevery first scene of MTMTE; Transport to
Oblivion, first shot of Decepticon HQ(and Cybertron); Traitor, when
Mirage is planting the stolen energon cubes,and the Insecticons
show up; Ultimate Doom 3, after the second commercial break,
when Starscream makes his escape from Megatron; Fire in the
Sky, whenthe 'cons begin reviving Skyfire; last scene of
Starscream's Ghost, when thebattered Galvatron shows up and
blasts Cyclonus. Time: :45 +.
Transformers Theme: the familiar title song from the show's
beginning. There are at least four versions with lyrics: the very first
version played when the first season aired, sung by bass or baritone
males; the original second season version (which starts off with
some cool trumpets as the Autobot and Decepticon symbols fly
past; IMO it's the best one), sung by tenor males; the movie version,
sung by cheesey rock stars; and the third season version, which is
heard on all the cartoons that are aired today (this version has the
repeating "oom-BAH" throughout it; time: :33). There might be more
than one version of this, as well; I'd have to compare second verses
third season beginnings. In addition, there are several instrumental
variants...
Tragic TF Theme: sad; done with high strings. Heard in Ultimate
Doom 2 just before the volcano erupts, as Spike wonders why
humans are working for Megatron; Fire in the Sky as the Autobots
look at where Skyfire has crashed; FFoD 2, for Rodimus's "death"
scene; near the end of Autobot Spike, when Spike asks for
Sparkplug's forgiveness. Time: :50, in FFoD 2.
Slow TF Theme: done with a single obo or some other wind
instrument. The scene in Deseration of the Dinobots where
Perceptor announces he's figured out what is wrong with all the TFs;
Dark Awakening, after the 'cons have been driven off and the
Autobots are wondering where Prime came from; FFoD 2 after
Rodimus's psuedo-death, when Grimlock insists Rod is still alive;
beginning of Madman's Paradise, when Danny leaves the
conference thing; The Rebirth 1, right before the Autobots are
captured by the Nebulan rebels. Time: 0:40 in FFoD 2.
Resolution TF Theme: medium-pace, short. Similar to the Outro
Theme (see below) Heard in the very last scene of Countdown to
Extinction, as the Autobots are wondering about Starscream's fate
at the hands of Megatron; at end of War of the Dinobots, as the
other Autobots arrive after the 'cons are gone; end of Plague of
Insecticons, after all the 'cons fly away. Time: 0:20 in CtE.
Victor Caroli TF Theme: the snippet used as the commercial
intro/outro ("The Transformers will return after these messages.")
Mellow TF Theme: funky 80s style guitar. Ultimate Doom 1, when
the 'bots dive into the ocean to rescue Sparkplug; Starscream's
Ghost, when Sandstorm and Octane are racing; Key to Vector
Sigma 1, when the bots finally reach Vector Sigma; War of the
Dinobots, when the meteorite lands; Thief in the Night, when
Trypticon tries to steal the Kremlin. Time: 0:35 +.
Super-Cheesey TF Theme: mellow piece with lots of flutes, horns,
and xylaphone-type percussion. MTMTE 1, when Rumble wrecks
the power plant; Hoist Goes Hollywood, when Hoist arrives on the
set; Fire in the Sky, when the 'cons imprison Spike and Sparkplug,
and again when Megatron orders Skyfire to "crush him and ALL the
Autobots, once and for all!"; end of Fire on the Mountain, when
they're driving back to town; Thief in the Night, when Metroplex
arrives in Moscow and saves the Kremlin from Trypticon; UD 1,
during the 'con attack at Autobot Headquarters; DotD 1, when
Megs tries to shoot Prime and can't (the ascending horns at the
start of this one aren't heard in the other examples.)
Outro TF Theme: instrumental played over end credits. Generally
the same as the corresponding title version, but without vocals. At
least two versions exist, one for the first and second seasons, and
one for the third season. Time: 0:40.
Rolling Out: sound clip #1 || sound clip #2. An energetic piece which starts with a couple of drums
("da da da DUM") and a horn fanfare version of the TF theme
(think: The transformers, [up one note or so] the transformers...)
then is largely driven by stucato horns and flutes. That cheesey
eighties guitar also comes in near the end. Ends on a note of
climactic finish. Heard in MTMTE 3 when Megs reveals his rocket
base deception; in Heavy Metal War when the Autobots arrive at the
dam and transform; Ultimate Doom 3, when Prime and co. are first
seen surfing; the end is heard again when the Autobots plow into
Megatron's sea funnel (after the commercial); Heavy Metal War,
when the 'bots are testing out the new Dinobots; Nightmare Planet,
when Mag, Rod, and Springer are first shown driving and get
attacked by the Predacons. Time: 1:30, NP.
The Science Theme: Starts off with rapid, decending bass strings
and a few notes from what sounds like a bass guitar, followed by
some flutes. There's some weird synthesizer stuff in the middle, as
heard in MTMTE 2 when Ratchet is repairing Huffer's arm, then
some very high horns followed by a trilling flute. Then takes a sharp
turn and becomes serious as deep brass comes in; resolves in more
horns as the TF theme is vaguely heards. Plague of Insecticons
when the Insecticons arrive at the oil refinery (right after the second
commercial break); when Skywarp takes off from Decepticon HQ in
Ultimate Doom part 2, and during the Autobots' debate about
"battling the elements"; when Ironhide is frozen in The Immobilizer;
as the 'cons leave DC in Atlantis, Arise!; Chaos, during Kup's second
flashback, when we first see the monster. Time: 1:30
Lair of the Decepticons: dark, menacing, brooding piece with low
synth and bass strings; this is the coolest, darkest, menacingest,
broodingest of all the many cool, dark, menacing, brooding pieces.
Ultimate Doom 2, when Dr. Archeville is reminding Megatron that
"the Earth is to be mine when you are through with it!"; War of the
Dinobots when the Dinos are listening to Megs' initial proposition;
Fire in the Sky before the Autobots' "execution"; Killing Jar when the
prisoners are first introduced to one another; Dweller in the Depths
when Galvatron is on Charr ranting at the Sweeps for being losers;
FFoD 2 when the Quints interrogate Kup; FFoD 3 when the cons
are chowing down on the Quints energon; FFoD 5, when Quints
disembark on Cybertron amid the frozen Transformers; Madman's
Paradise, when the Red Wizard frees Grimlock from the tree
warriors. Time: 1:25 in FFoD 2.
Whistful Reflection: generally slow piece, though there are
some funky bass horns which play the Decepticon
Theme (see below) at the start. Beginning of Ultimate Doom 2 ("I
never thought I'd be sad to see Cybertron..."); UD 3, when the 'bots
are hiding in the jungle on the island, preparing to attack Megatron;
Countdown to Extinction, when Starscream is wondering "why has
there been no explosion?!"; SOS Dinobots, when the 'cons are in
their HQ preparing to attack the falls. Time: 0:35.
The Decepticon Theme: Note this one well, because it is a very
basic theme which pops up in a lot of the other first season pieces.
It's a four-note snippet with a million versions, played any time the
Decepticons first appear on screen. It's the same as the bass
strings at the beginning of Whistful Reflection; the progression of
notes is C - down to F - up B - down F#; or, C - F - A# -F#, but it can
be moved up and down in pitch, too. Heard, for example, in the
beginning of Fire on the Mountain when Starscream and
Thundercracker blast open the door on the steel mill.
Devastation: Short, sad piece starting with high strings, followed by
obos and finally a synthesizer; ending notes are a drawn-out
Decepticon Theme. Ultimate Doom 3, when Dr. Archeville is clinging
to some wreckage shouting for Megatron to come back; SOS
Dinobots, when Wheeljack asks not to have to deactivate the
Dinobots; Fire on the Mountain, when Megatron first gets hold of
the crystal, again when the 'bots dig out Skyfire from the ice, and yet
again when the Autobots cap the energy gusher; War of the
Dinobots after the fragment explodes in Wheeljack's lab; beginning
of The Rebirth 1, when Goldbug and the Technobots are hangin' out
and chillin'. Has two different endings, one with a synth as heard in
UD 3 when Starscream flies off with Dr. A, the other with horns
heard in all the others. Time: 0:20.
Twist of Fate: an off-key-sounding little keyboard snippet, which is
yet another version of the Decepticon Theme. Heard in Ultimate
Doom 1 when Sparkplug's sabotage becomes evident; Enter the
Nightbird when the 'cons show up to rescue Nightbird and blast
Cliffjumper; at the beginning of Megatron's little speech about
Soundwave and Reflector's data at the beginning of SOS Dinobots,
during the stock shot of Decepticon HQ; Fire on the Mountain when
the 'cons fly off to find better steel (when Megs says "Any who stand
in our way, will be demolished!").
Trouble's Not Over Yet: starts off quiet, romantic, with strings; ends
with fanfare-horns version of the the Decepticon Theme. Make
Tracks, when Raul has just finished repairing Tracks and the two
gangsters show up; FFoD 3 when Springer is destroyed by the
garbage truck. Could be part of some other piece.
The Autobot Theme: As with the Decepticon Theme, there are so
many versions of this simple, short burst of fanfarish horns that it's
pointless to try and catalogue them (well, actually, this whole list is
pointless, but I'm having fun doing it :). Very short -- only 6 notes
long; basic progression is F -up to D# - down C# - down C - down
A# - up C. Learn it, know it, love it - it's in tons of the first season
themes. First scene of Autobot HQ in SOS Dinobots is one version;
another as the Autobots are driving to the falls (right after
Megatron's speech about them interfering); a third version when
Bumblebee arrives and picks up Spike; another plays for the first
shot of Autobot HQ in Fire on the Mountain; I'm sure there's other
versions in the course of the first-season eps, but I'm not gonna list
'em.
Cheesey Cartoon: I debated on whether to call this one Autobots vs.
Decepticons, but I think Cheesey Cartoon sounds funnier. Very
short piece; starts with a couple of drum beats and blasting fanfare-
like horns playing the Autobot Theme, then turns a bit downbeat for
a second blast of horns which is... yet again... the Decepticon
Theme. First shot of Autobot HQ in Heavy Metal War; Ultimate
Doom 3, when the surfing bots have just survived a tidal wave, and
Ironhide says "Just like him to run from a fight!"; very end of Enter
the Nightbird, when NB is shown locked up; Transport to Oblivion,
when Cliffjumper shoots the rock formation; SOS Dinobots, when
the 'cons fly out of their headquarters, and again when the Dinos
decide to do as Wheeljack says; War of the Dinobots, when Op and
Trailbreaker first arrive in Wheeljack's lab; Insecticon Syndrome
when Beachcomber and co. are looking at the trees. Time: 0:27.
Edifice: sound clip. Same tune as the Autobot Theme; plays any time there's
an official building shown. Starts with a burst of horns alternating
with flutes, then goes into some really wierd synth stuff. The
museum scene in SOS Dinobots; War of the Dinobots after the jets
carry off the meteorite, and again when Grimlock radios, "Battle
over, Megatron..."; the synth part is heard just before Laserbeak
spots the Sky Spy in Fire on the Mountain.
Problem Solved: starts off with high, tense swells of depressing
strings, then resolves in low and then high horns which are yet
another version of... you guessed it...the Autobot Theme. SOS
Dinobots when the Autobots are watching Hound's dinosaur
holograms, and again when the Autobots are chained up; Ultimate
Doom 2, when the volcano erupts, and again when Ironhide shuts it
off; end of Killing Jar, when Cybertron comes into view. Time: 0:35.
Action Theme: sound clip. Starts with quiet, jaunty flutes, then turns progressive
with horns playing the TF theme (Transformes, more than meets the eye),
then turns cheesey with a guitar doing the Autobot theme then the TF theme
(the transformers, more than meets the eye); then there's a pause filled
with some jaunty xylaphones or horns or something (which is what you hear in the sound clip); finally some dramatic
horns do the TF theme (the trans - for - mers!), before some quiet horns
and synth wind the piece down. MTMTE 1, during the Decepticon revival scene
(including the famous "Explore! Explore! / Repair! Repair!" bit); War
of the Dinobots when the Autobots roll out after the meteor has
landed; the end of "Prime Target" when Chumley frees the Triple Changers
("See how YOU like being hunted!") up till the Autobots drive home;
"Desertion of the Dinobots" Part 1 after the second commercial break,
when the 'cons retreat and Ironhide asks "What's happenin' to us?";
"The Ultimate Doom" Part One when the Decepticons attack Autobot HQ.
The Events Theme: sound clip #1 || sound clip #2 || sound clip #3 || sound clip #4. A very energetic, upbeat piece. Starts off with
some jaunty flutes running up and down, then stucato bass
instruments come in, followed by fanfare-like horns playing the
Autobot Theme, then brings in the synthesizer, then later a piano.
Ends on a somewhat worried note. Heard in Megatron's Master Plan
2, when the 'bots are on their ship realizing that they're heading for
the sun; Desertion of the Dinobots 2 when Shockwave is chasing
Carly and Spike; Ultimate Doom 3 when Skyfire and company arrive
on the island where Megatron is; Dark Awakening, second scene,
aboard the Autobot escape pod, when they spot the tomb on their
sensors; Dweller in the Depths, when Galvatron and co. first enter
the tunnel and shoot at Ultra Magnus's group; the entire beginning
is heard in FiaLTC when Pipes is repairing Perceptor, and the 'bots
are debating what to do. Time: 1:20.
Battle Theme: sound clip #1 || sound clip #2 the 'serious' battle music. Starts off with a hard-
hitting brass rift, with some bass drums in between. Contains a
snippet of the Transformers theme in the middle (think:
"Transformers, more than meets the eye", done in flutes, then
"Autobots wage their --" done with horns.) Heard in MTMTE part 3
when the 'cons retreat into their ship; the big battle scene in Fire in
the Sky; Ultimate Doom part 2 when the 'cons' base is hit by the tidal
wave; in Ultimate Doom part 3 just before the 'bots destroy
Megatron's ship; in Dinobot Island part 2 when Starscream shouts
"Attack from the sky!"; FFoD 5, the big battle scene on Cybertron
when Magnus punches Ramjet and Dirge, and faces Galvatron.
Time: 1:40 +.
Climactic Event: Action piece which starts off with some flutes, then
a high-pitched string-and-horn variant of the Transformers theme.
Climaxes with resounding trumpets alternating with tense strings.
Best copy of the beginning is in Autobot Spike, when the rockets
launch and Bumblebee arrives to tell Prime about Spike; also heard
when the Seeker jets strafe the Dinobots in The Meteorite Menace;
after the 'bots destroy Megatron's ship in Ultimate Doom 3; when
Cosmos is being chased by Astrotrain at the beginning of The God
Gambit; Atlantis, Arise! when Spike and Wheeljack are chasing
Nergual in Subatlantica's basement; Insecticon Syndrome when OP
and Megs attack the Insecticons together (resolves when Shrapnel
karate-kicks Wheeljack and Hound); beginning of Fire in the Sky,
when the giant snowball hits all the Autobots.
Report Theme: Starts off with some slow, whistful-sounding strings
with swelling horns underlain by piano, then builds to an action
climax which leaves you hanging. Heard in Roll for It during the
scene on Cybertron (the activation of the space bridge is the climax);
UD 2 when Windcharger is searching for Bumblebee; Ultimate
Doom 3's opening, in Decepticon HQ (Shockwave shows up as the
climax), and again when Bumblebee fights Rumble and OP
challenges Megs; in Heavy Metal War, when the Constructicons
report to Megatron; in MTMTE 1 when Hound is being repaired, and
Jazz gives his robot roll call; Countdown to Extinction, when the
'cons are repairing their base. Time: 0:55, in CtE.
Eminent Danger: starts with high, tense strings running up and
down, then lower strings and horns come in and the piece develops
into a battle theme, complete with the Transformers theme.
Beginning is heard when Rumble is pounding on the ice in Fire in the
Sky, and again when Skyfire and Starscream fight it out at the end;
most of it is heard in Ultimate Doom 3 when the 'bots escape from
'con HQ for the first time, and again when Megatron says to Prime
"Look above you!" as the jets attack; MTMTE 3, when Starscream
challenges Megs, and Mirage disables the ship; FFoD 4 during the
Matrix journey, when transforming is introduced; first scene with
Omega Supreme in The God Gambit. End is sometimes excerpted
for the end of an episode, as in Plague of Insecticons. Time: 1:00.
Pathos: sound clip. starts off with low horns or oboes or something, then
becomes a jaunty little obo-and-flute-driven piece. Heard in FFoD 1
during Cyclonus's 'evangelist' bit ("Gi-i-i-ive, my fellow Decepticons.
G-i-i-i-ive till it hurts!"); Fire in the Sky, right after Skyfire's been
reawakened, when he asks Starscream if he prefers being a
scientist, and again as Starscream walks away from the unconcious
Skyfire and the 'Autobot parts'; Madman's Paradise, at the end of
the Red Wizard's tale, when the servants remove the sleeping
Daniel, and again when Danny first meets the Golden One's
assistant in the prison. Time: 1:25, FFoD 1.
Events Without Dialogue: sound clip. Quiet piece, starts off with some obos or
horns or clarinets or something (doot-doot, deet doot-doot do-doot
:). Synthesizer and then horns come in later, but the piece remains
quiet and without tension till the very end. MTMTE 2, when
Soundwave and Ravage are in Autobot HQ; Fire in the Sky, when
the Autobots prepare to head to the Arctic Circle, and again when
they are about to enter the caves; Desertation of the Dinobots 2,
first shot of the 'dead' Autobots at Autobot HQ; Dark Awakening
when the 'cons "alter course to intercept" the Autobot tomb, and
again when Optimus Prime is on Cybertron reporting the "deaths" of
Rodimus and co.; FFoD 4, when Trypticon is under construction.
Time: 1:05.
Last Gambit: Starts with neat strings, then some xylaphonic
percussion, then bass strings; ends with a dark, sharp burst of horns
and some bass strings which are the most often-heard part of the
piece (which is too bad, since the first part is really good and the end
is pretty lame.) SOS Dinobots when Wheeljack and co are about to
reactivate the Dinobots; heard in its entirety in Dinobot Island 2,
when the tar pit evaporates and frees the Dinobots; end of the
Rebirth 1, right before the Autobots remove their heads. End is
heard in Ultimate Doom 1, when Sparkplug tackles the model of Op
Prime; SOS Dinobots, when Megs and Screamer are standing on
the cliff looking down at the 'bots in the river.
Mother Earth (Hound's Theme): another calm, still one, with lots of
flutes. Insecticon Syndrome, after the first commercial break, when
the Autobots have 'fallen to their doom' courtesy of Hound's
holograms, and the Insecticons are gloating; MTMTE 1, first shot of
the reactivated Autobots, when Prime assigns Hound to find the
'cons; end of Autobot Spike, when Spike's mind is transfered back
to his body; MTMTE 3, when Hound and Mirage are discussing the
rocket base.
Events Take Shape: sound clip #1 (ignore the first few seconds) || sound clip #2 || sound clip #3. Starts off with fairy tale-like 'crib music' done
with a high-pitched synth, then brings in a single burst of horns. A
flute flourish followed by some bass piano gets the piece moving,
and then horns come in. Ends in a series of horn bursts, underlain
by bass strings. Heard in its entirety in Fire in the Sky, beginning
when Starscream starts telling the story of him and Skyfire; Ultimate
Doom 1, when the 'cons are preparing their space bridge, and the
'bots are at base recovering from the attack and Sparkplug's
sabotage; beginning is heard well in FFoD 1 when Scourge spies
the planet (Thrall), and again in FFoD 2 when they pull Galvatron
out of the ooze; Dark Awakening when Rodimus gives Optimus the
Matrix; Hoist Goes Hollywood when the cars explode and Hoist
accepts the job offer; SOS Dinobots when the Dinobots are being
built. Time: 1:30.
The Infiltration Theme: sound clip #1 || sound clip #2. Commonly heard when someone is
someplace they don't belong. Starts off low, tense, quiet, with some
funky piano, then an obo or something, then some really heavy
horns, then a synthesizer, then a frantic climax of horns. Heard in
MTMTE 3 when the Autobots transform and attack the 'cons at their
starship base; Ultimate Doom both times when Spike is running
around in Decepticon Headquarters; Countdown to Extinction when
Megs and Op are searching for the timing mechanism in the lab; first
scene of War of the Dinobots, when Chip is watching the meteorite
(good copy of the beginning); Atlantis, Arise! when Washington D.C.
is invaded; FFoD 1 when Springer and Arcee blast into the asteroid
ship. Time: 1:37, CtE.
Slow Motion Disaster: Starts off in a progressive, somewhat worried,
work-like feel with a guitar along with the orchestra. Then slows with
some strings, then frantic horns indicate some sort of conflict. Then
the guitar comes back, followed by some wind instruments. The
strings are underlain by a frantic piano as the piece closes.
Countdown to Extinction as Megs and Op struggle for control of the
exponential generator; the fight between the Dinobots in War of the
Dinobots; the end is excerpted in Ultimate Doom 3, when the
Autobots are about to surf into Megs' wave machine (before the
commercial) -- "The Autobots! They're ridin' the wave!"; FFoD 4
Matrix journey, when the TFs revolt and drive off the Quints; FFoD 5,
when Metroplex and Trypticon slug it out. Time: 1:45.
Scene of the Action: piece starting slow with high-pitched synth,
underlain by very bass horns. Then low oboes which are faster come
in; piece builds pace as more instruments come in. Horns put it at
full pace. Has a funky piano breakdown, then ends on a relieved
note. Only Human, when Drath goes to visit Snake; beginning is
heard well in Autobot Spike, when Spike is in the hospital, and
continuing as the mind transfer occurs; Chaos, when Wreck-Gar first
contacts the Autobots ("Four out of five doctors recommend
investigation of scene of the crash. No deposit, no return!"); FFoD 5,
starting when Blitzwing and Rodimus burst in on the Sharkticons,
continuing until all the TFs freeze; Thief in the Night when Trypticon
is first shown in Carbomia, shooting at the cruise ship. The end is
heard in Heavy Metal War when Megatron arrives at Autobot HQ,
though that's the only time I can remember it from the first season.
(Before seeing the movie twice, I pictured the funky end bit of this
playing as Starscream disintegrated, then cut to the finale of
Decepticon Victory [see second season themes] as Galvatron steps
on the crown.)
Theme of Despair: Commonly heard whenever Megs is explaining
just how much he has the upper hand. Starts off with some low
horns, then the strings join in and they all build to a climax (usually
followed by a commercial.) Heard in Ultimate Doom part 1 as the
first two energy pylons are activated; War of the Dinobots when
Soundwave does his brain scan of the Dinobots, and again when
Prime arrives at the meteorite site and is attacked by Slag; Ultimate
Doom 3 in the scene ending with Megatron's "That's *mutiny*,
Starscream! And the penalty for mutiny... is termination!"; SOS
Dinobots when the Autobots enter the caves and examine the
dinosaur bones (SOS Dinobots is one of the most poorly
soundtracked episodes, IMO. Many scenes don't fit well with the
music that plays over them -- the very end, for example.) Time: 0:46,
UD 1.
Disaster Averted: Overblown dramatic horn snippet. Heard in Fire on
the Mountain when the Autobots blast the avalanche; Plague of
Insecticons when the Insecticon clones first attack, and again when
the 'cons retreat from the grain field, to attack the oil refinery.
Discovery: sound clip #1 || sound clip #2. Starts with insistant horns playing a single note several
times; goes through some jaunty strings before resolving into some
quiet horns. Heard during Rodimus's first Matrix journey in FFoD 2;
first scene with Bumblebee, Spike, and Chip in Roll for It; War of the
Dinobots when Megatron is raging at Starscream and co. for getting
clobbered by the Dinobots; Atlantis, Arise! when Spike and
Bumblebee enter SubAtlantica to rescue Wheeljack; Fire in the Sky,
when Skyfire is first seen in the ice, and again when Laserbeak is
spying on the Autobots; FFoD 1 when Perceptor assigns the cog
mission to Blurr and Wheelie; Dark Awakening, when Danny is
looking at the tombs and bumps into Optimus; end is heard when
Ironhide and co. are captured in Fire in the Sky. Time: 1:10.
The Scheme Succeeds: sound clip. Worried-sounding action piece. Horns
alternate with a xylaphone or some such percussion instrument.
When Cybertron is brought to Earth in Ultimate Doom 1; Killing Jar
as Cyclonus fights the illusory Galvatron, and again as Magnus
escapes the ship in SkyLynx; when Op blasts the Autobots on board
the funeral barge in Dark Awakening; heard complete at the end of
Insecticon Syndrome when Shrapnel shoots lightening and
explodes; Desertion of the Dinobots 2, right after the history lesson,
when Swoop is captured; "Prime Target" when Optimus smashes the
rotating hallway near the end ("this will make a frightful ruin of
your trophy, Lord Chumley!") Time: 0:55.
The Clumsy Theme: I associate this one with the Dinobots for some
reason.Starts out with some xylaphones and then a burst of
overdone horns, then has some strange sounding strings in the
middle; a slow period at the end with a really strange synthesizer (if
music were sucked into a vacuum cleaner, this is what it would
sound like!), then (maybe) builds to a tense but subdued climax. The
climax was often excerpted for outros to commercials, for example at
the very end of Atlantis, Arise! However, I'm not sure whether the
climax is part of this piece or part of the second-season piece
Tension Builds. Listen for the Clumsy Theme in S.O.S.Dinobots
when the Dinos first attack the 'cons; heard in its entirety (except the
very beginning) in the beginning of Only Human, when the city is
blowing up. Also near the beginning of The Killing Jar, when
Cyclonus is chasing the practice drone. Desertion of the Dinobots 1,
when the 'bots and 'cons are trying to fight but can't (right before the
commercial break, when Megatron blasts the tower down on Optimus); FFoD 5, when
Galvatron smacks Blitzwing and orders him to "Tell it to the
Autobots! Mhuah ha ha ha haha!"; The Rebirth 1, when the 'cons
attack Autobot City (that damn elusive finale plays a bit later, as the
'cons leave Earth, but I can't tell if it's the same piece or not.);
Rebirth
3 when the plasma energy chamberopens. Time: 1:46, KJ.
Before the Battle: sound clip. Short piece, starts out depressing with quiet
ascending flutes, then a burst of horns playing the Decepticon
Theme. Enter the Nightbird as the 'bots are preparing to roll out of
headquarters to pursue Nightbird; Fire on the Mountain when Megs
and co attack the mining town; beginning of Plague of Insecticons;
MTMTE 1, when the two humans at the ruined power plant
encounter Ravage; UD 2, when Skyfire lands on Cybertron and
transforms, throwing Brawn to the ground. Time, 0:25.
Dark Schemes: dark, brooding piece marked by short, soft bursts of
bass strings with keyboards. Heard in Atlantis, Arise! when Megs
offers an alliance with the Subatlanticans; in Insecticon Syndrome
when Megatron proposes attacking the Nova Power Plant to the
Insecticons; SOS Dinobots when the cons are making energon
cubes and Megs and Starscream discuss their plans at the falls;
Dweller in the Depths when the Quints are first shown plotting;
heard well in FFoD 2 when the rockaroid ship arrives at Quintessa;
FFoD 3 when Quints first arrive on Charr and give the 'cons
energon; FFoD 5 when Blitzwing ends the battle. New Day's Dawn:
quiet horn piece, with low oboes. FFoD 4, right before Trypticon is
transformed (after the Constructicons have assembled him);
MTMTE 1, when the 'cons fly out of the Ark, and again when
Starscream and co. fly to the power plant to get "materials";
Madman's Paradise, when the guards leave Danny in the prison.
Floating Through Space: sound clip. a happy, quiet, jaunty, mostly-flutes piece;
ends with a very VERY bass version of the Decepticon Theme, bass
enough to fry your TV's speakers if you really turned it up loud.
Countdown to Extinction, when Starscream first finds the exponential
generator in Dr. A's lab; FFoD 3, when Magnus computes their
trajectory; Megatron's MasterPlan 2, when the 'bots are first shown
after the ship has exploded, and they're all inside Trailbreaker's force
field. I KNOW it's somewhere in Day of the Machines when Hound
and co. are poking around the oil platform,but I can't think where.
Maybe one day I'll see the episode again and find out. time: 0:25.
Facing Disaster: Short, slow, almost depressing piece with a
meloncholysolo horn the whole way through; begins with strange
echoing or vibratingsynth or electric guitar. Ends with a strangely
upbeat burst of strings and horns which sounds like it belongs to a
different piece. Heard in Only Human, when Rodimus is eating
breakfast; in Fire in the Sky as the Autobots watch Skyfire walk off
with Spike and Sparkplug. Similar to (maybe part of) the second
season piece Farewell.
The Builders' Theme: jaunty, stucatto bass piece, with some wierd
synth stuff at the end, often heard as the soundtrack to Wheeljack's
latest crazed invention. Best heard in Meteorite Menace when
Swoop and Snarl are being built; Ultimate Doom 3, both of the
scenes in Wheeljack's lab ("a conductor chip with hypnotic
properties! Diabolical."); SOS Dinobots when Reflector and
Soundwave are at the falls gathering data; Heavy Metal War when
the Constructicons finish tunneling into Autobot HQ; Only Human,
when Drath is setting up the Synthoids machine. Time: 0:40.
The Progress theme: Starts off with some bass strings, very much
like the intro to the Indiana Jones theme, then upbeat horns. Ends
with a wonderful, tense finale, resolved in a single burst of horns.
Heard as Megs and Op battle at the end of Ultimate Doom 1; in
Sandstorm and Octane's visit to the space restaurant in
Starscream's Ghost; beginning of Dweller in the Depths as the
power core is inserted; FFoD 3, when Galvatron and the Sweeps
find Blitzwing alone on Charr; Killing Jar, when the Quint captures
Ultra Magnus; The Rebirth 1, when Optimus is warning Kup about
the 'cons emminent attack. (Again, before I saw the movie a second
time, I always pictured the climax of this one playing as Megatron
blasts Ironhide in the face. Try it! I think it fits much better than that
silly heavy metalsong.) Time: 1:40.
Autobot Victory: sound clip. a very peppy, upbeat variant of the Transformers
theme,starting off with horns and some flutes or xylaphones or
something playing the "more than meets the eyes" part. Plague of
Insecticons, when Ironhide stops the oil tanker from burning; in
Dinobot Island 1, when me Grimlock transforms and ends chaos;
also when the 'bots are fighting the newly made Dinobots inS.O.S.
Dinobots (starts after the first commercial break, with Ratchet's
"Poor Teletran 1!", and ends with Wheeljack blasting the Dinobots
into submission.); in Ultimate Doom 3 when Sparkplug is freed from
the hypno-chip's control; end is heard in Enter the Nightbird when
Nightbird beats up Mirage in a corridor ofAutobot HQ. Time: 1:35,
PoI.
We Did it: a relieving snippet, mostly horns, but ends with bass
strings. After energy gusher is capped in Fire on the Mountain; when
Grapple and Hoist are freed at the end of The Master Builders; the
"interrogation" scene in Starscream's Ghost; Roll for it, when the
battered Autobots are walking out of the scene of the antimatter
explosion (and coughing! What's up with that? Since when do robots
cough??). Time: 0:20.
Ultimate Doom Love Theme: quiet, almost romantic relief snippet
with strings. Ultimate Doom 1 when the 'bots are planning to rescue
Sparkplug;UD 2, when Bumblebee's tire blows out; UD 3 when
they're flying home in Skyfire ("Mushy, but true!") Time: 0:24, UD 3.
Into the Sunset: sound clip #1||sound clip #2. Light-hearted piece, starts out with peppy mid-
range oboes echoed by strings, then horns come along and play the
Autobot Theme (it's amazing how many pieces they wrung out of
those six notes!) Has a sort of sentimental string bridge in the
middle, sort of like the less marital part of the Star Wars Throne
Room music (heck, the whole piece is basically a rip-off of that
music. But it's a GOOD rip-off.) The end is similar to the end of the
Progress Theme. Beginning of Fire in the Sky,when the Autobots
are having a snowball fight; third-season trailer whenthe narrator
rambles on about the Autobots; the bridge part is heard during the
"you get a kiss!" bits of Hoist Goes Hollywood; the end of Dinobot
Island 2 as they fly away; end of Key to Vector Sigma 2, when
theAerialbots fly off; maybe at end of Hoist Goes Hollywood; Golden
Lagoon,when all the bots arrive at the electrum pool, and maybe
again at the end; The Rebirth 1, right after Hot Rod and Blurr's race
(Anyone else noticethat Rebirth uses a LOT of first-season themes?
Particularly odd in lightof the episodes right before it [TRoOP,
Burden, Call of the Primitives,Carnage] which used almost all third-
season themes. Maybe a pathetic attempt to recreate the feel of the
early episodes?) Time: 0:55 +.
Generic Rock Song #1: More properly know as Cold Slither, this one
-- like several of the first-season themes -- orignated on GI Joe.
Heard just about any time Jazz whips out his speakers, for example
during the avalanche scene in Attack of the Autobots, or Enter the
Nightbird when the Autobots are finding out that none of their
weapons can stop the ninja. First heard in Transport to Oblivion,
when Spike is riding in Jazz.
On to the second-season themes
Back to Rob's Pile of
Tranformers
FFoD = Five Faces of Darkness
KtVS = Key to Vector Sigma
UD = Ultimate Doom
DitD = Dweller in the Depths
ETNB = Enter the Nightbird
UW = Ultimate Weapon
MTMTE = More Than Meets the Eye
FiaLTC = Forever is a Long Time Coming.