2009 Titles and Theme

When it comes to Season Returns, some people are eagerly awaiting the continuation of the previous seasons cliffhanger, some people are suffering with severe withdrawal symptoms and just need their major dose of Summer Bay life – but there is also a group of people who are just as eager to see if there have been any changes to the Opening titles and theme tune!

For the first time in 2 years, all 3 of those groups are going to be treated.

As promised by Seven, for the 2009 season we have a new set of opening titles, and also a remix of the theme tune, which may prove to be both controversial and exciting for long term fans.

Opening Titles:

As opening titles go, 2009’ss are no less than ground breaking in the history of the show. After 5 years, we are finally rid of the picture frames which have proved to be unpopular in recent times. However, not only do the picture frames disappear but so do the cast along with them.

For the first time in the 21 years of Home and Away, the cast are nowhere to be seen in the opening titles. As earlier reported, these titles have also been dramatically reduced in duration to just over 15 seconds long. Seven’ss reasoning for this was to enable the show to be slightly longer in duration.

Whilst the picture frames are gone, Seven have chosen a ‘sseaside picture postcard’s theme. After an absence of 2 years from the titles, Palm Beach is now very much the main feature, as we are treated to a large collage starting with views from Barrenjoey Head, and then smoothly panning across the Pier Diner and along various parts of the peninsula and National Park. For people familiar with the official site, there is more than a passing resemblance to the weekly rollover images that appear on the homepage, which may possibly indicate an ‘sin-house’s creation.

Once the ‘sHome and Away’s logo has appeared, we zoom through the photos for our recap, borderless and with the absence of a cast member’ss ‘sPreviously on Home and Away’s voice-over. Once we’sre up to date, we zoom back out to the logo before cutting to the new episode.

Theme Tune:

Obviously with such a dramatic reduction to the length of the opening titles, the iconic theme tune has had to follow suit, which may certainly prove to be unpopular with long-term fans. Gone are the days of ‘sYou know we belong together‘s as we instead head straight to ‘sHold me in your arms, don’st let me go‘s. Also absent, for the first time since the 1997-1999 theme, is the opening bar of 5 notes which since 2000, has been more noticeable as the pre-recap portion of the theme.

The same Luke Dolahenty vocal track remains, however in a move which may provide a little compensation for the cut, he is now joined by a (as yet uncredited) female vocalist for the lines which were written as part of the original male/female duet. Since the Robertson Brothers mix of the theme in 2000, there has been a noticeable absence of a female in the song.

The music has been given an overhaul and whilst it still incorporates various guitars, it has a much lighter, upbeat feel than the previous version. In the opening instrumental heard in the closing theme, there is a much more acoustic/staccato feel to the piece.

The recap music appears to have remain unchanged.

End Credits:

The end credits, which are unlikely to be seen or heard in Australia, feature the same collage as in the opening titles, albeit reversed and now starting with the beach sunrise. However due to the duration of the closing remaining the same as last year, the collage has been reduced in speed, and also extended past the view from Barrenjoey Headland to finish on a sunset shot over Pittwater.

The structure of the closing theme remains the same as previous years, though obviously with the new music and female vocals added.

Australian viewers will get their first view of the new titles and theme tune when Home and Away returns to Seven on Monday 19th January!

UK viewers watching on Five will follow 2 weeks later on Monday 2nd February (however Fiver viewers will see them on Friday 30th January).

You can discuss the new theme and titles with other forum members in this thread.