The Addams Family Theme
Encyclopedia
The theme for the TV series The Addams Family
was written and arranged by longtime Hollywood composer Vic Mizzy
. The song's arrangement was dominated by a harpsichord, and featured finger-snaps as percussive accompaniment. Actor Ted Cassidy, reprising his "Lurch" voice, punctuated the lyrics with words like "neat," "sweet," and "petite." Mizzy's theme was popular enough to enjoy a single release, though it failed to make the national charts.
in his single "Addams Groove", which was featured in the film The Addams Family
(1991).
) and Pugsley (Jimmy Workman
) to not have his head chopped off in a guillotine
. It concludes with several scenes taking place in the Addamses' backyard cemetery, including Thing crawling up and down a Hammer dancer and Gomez (Raúl Juliá
) dueling in a swordfight with Hammer over Morticia (Anjelica Huston
).
The music video was played before showing of The Addams Family
movie for the first few weeks of its release.
Japan Mini CD single
UK 7" vinyl single
UK 12" vinyl single
The Addams Family (TV series)
The Addams Family is an American television series based on the characters in Charles Addams' New Yorker cartoons. The 30-minute series was shot in black-and-white and aired for two seasons in 64 installments on ABC from September 18, 1964, to April 8, 1966...
was written and arranged by longtime Hollywood composer Vic Mizzy
Vic Mizzy
Vic Mizzy was an American composer for television and movies whose best-known works are the themes to the 1960s television sitcoms Green Acres and The Addams Family. He also penned top-20 songs from the 1930s to 1940s.-Biography:Vic Mizzy was born in Brooklyn, New York and attended New York...
. The song's arrangement was dominated by a harpsichord, and featured finger-snaps as percussive accompaniment. Actor Ted Cassidy, reprising his "Lurch" voice, punctuated the lyrics with words like "neat," "sweet," and "petite." Mizzy's theme was popular enough to enjoy a single release, though it failed to make the national charts.
Other appearances
- The theme appeared in the films The Addams FamilyThe Addams Family (film)The Addams Family is a 1991 American black comedy film based on the characters from the cartoon of the same name created by cartoonist Charles Addams....
and its sequel Addams Family ValuesAddams Family ValuesAddams Family Values is a 1993 sequel to the 1991 comedy The Addams Family. The film was written by Paul Rudnick and directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, and many cast members from the original returned for the sequel, including Raúl Juliá, Anjelica Huston, Christopher Lloyd, and Christina Ricci...
. - The 1992 animated adaptationThe Addams Family (1992 animated series)The Addams Family: The Animated Series is an American animated series based on the eponymous comic strip characters. It ran from September 12, 1992 to November 6, 1993 on ABC and was produced by Hanna-Barbera. The series' development began in the wake of the successful 1991 Addams Family feature...
of the series also used the theme as its theme song. - The song was briefly revived in 2007 for a series of Addams Family TV commercials for M&M's candies.
- The theme also appears in the Addams FamilyThe Addams Family (musical)The Addams Family is a musical comedy with music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa and a book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice. The show is based upon The Addams Family characters created by Charles Addams in his single-panel gag cartoons, which depict a ghoulish American family with an affinity for...
musical and is included on the original cast recording. - For many years, the intro to the song has been a staple at sporting events across the United States. It is used in basketball games with the fans yelling "DE-FENSE" instead of snapping their fingers.
- The song was combined with The Simpsons ThemeThe Simpsons Theme"The Simpsons Theme", also referred to as "The Simpsons Main Title Theme" in album releases, is the theme song of the animated television series The Simpsons. It plays during the opening sequence and was composed by Danny Elfman in 1989, after series creator Matt Groening approached him requesting...
for Treehouse of Horror IV's credits.
"Addams Groove"
The theme song was performed by MC HammerMC Hammer
Stanley Kirk Burrell , better known by his stage name MC Hammer , is an American rapper, entertainer, business entrepreneur, dancer and actor. He had his greatest commercial success and popularity from the late 1980s until the mid-1990s...
in his single "Addams Groove", which was featured in the film The Addams Family
The Addams Family (film)
The Addams Family is a 1991 American black comedy film based on the characters from the cartoon of the same name created by cartoonist Charles Addams....
(1991).
Music video
A music video was produced to promote the single. The video featured Hammer and several of his dancers performing in their unique style around the Addams mansion, as well as most of the cast of the film. The video opens with Hammer pleading with Wednesday (Christina RicciChristina Ricci
Christina Ricci is an American actress. Ricci received initial recognition and praise as a child star for her performance as Wednesday Addams in The Addams Family and Addams Family Values , and her role as Kat Harvey in Casper...
) and Pugsley (Jimmy Workman
Jimmy Workman
James Martin "Jimmy" Workman, Jr. is an American actor, known for playing the role of Pugsley Addams in The Addams Family and Addams Family Values .-Early life:...
) to not have his head chopped off in a guillotine
Guillotine
The guillotine is a device used for carrying out :executions by decapitation. It consists of a tall upright frame from which an angled blade is suspended. This blade is raised with a rope and then allowed to drop, severing the head from the body...
. It concludes with several scenes taking place in the Addamses' backyard cemetery, including Thing crawling up and down a Hammer dancer and Gomez (Raúl Juliá
Raúl Juliá
Raúl Rafael Juliá y Arcelay was a Puerto Rican actor.Born in San Juan, he gained interest in acting while still in school. Upon completing his studies, Juliá decided to pursue a career in acting. After performing in the local scene for some time, he was convinced by entertainment personality Orson...
) dueling in a swordfight with Hammer over Morticia (Anjelica Huston
Anjelica Huston
Anjelica Huston is an American actress. Huston became the third generation of her family to win an Academy Award, for her performance in 1985's Prizzi's Honor, joining her father, director John Huston, and grandfather, actor Walter Huston. She later was nominated in 1989 and 1990 for her acting in...
).
The music video was played before showing of The Addams Family
The Addams Family
The Addams Family is a group of fictional characters created by American cartoonist Charles Addams. As named by Charles Addams, the Addams Family characters include Gomez, Morticia, Uncle Fester, Lurch, Grandmama, Wednesday, Pugsley, and Thing....
movie for the first few weeks of its release.
Track listing
Australian CD single- "Addams Groove" - 3:58
- "Addams Groove" (Instrumental) - 3:55
- "2 Legit 2 QuitToo Legit to Quit (song)"Too Legit to Quit" is a song by rap artist MC Hammer released in 1991 as the title track and first single of his third album of the same name. It proved to be successful in the U.S., peaking at the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100, at #5. The single also peaked at #60 on the UK Singles Chart...
"
Japan Mini CD single
- "Addams Groove" - 3:58
- "Addams Groove" (Instrumental) - 3:55
UK 7" vinyl single
- A. "Addams Groove" (L.P. Mix) - 3:58
- B. "Street Soldiers" (Saxapella Reprise) - 5:02
UK 12" vinyl single
- "Addams Groove" (L.P. Mix) - 3:58
- "Addams Groove" (Instrumental) - 3:55
- "Street Soldiers" (Saxapella Reprise) - 5:02
- "2 Legit 2 QuitToo Legit to Quit (song)"Too Legit to Quit" is a song by rap artist MC Hammer released in 1991 as the title track and first single of his third album of the same name. It proved to be successful in the U.S., peaking at the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100, at #5. The single also peaked at #60 on the UK Singles Chart...
" (Edit) - 4:00
Peak positions
| Chart (1991) | Peak Position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
4 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
7 |
End of year charts
| End of year chart (1992) | Position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 76 |
External links
- The Addams Family Theme from the original television seriesThe Addams Family (TV series)The Addams Family is an American television series based on the characters in Charles Addams' New Yorker cartoons. The 30-minute series was shot in black-and-white and aired for two seasons in 64 installments on ABC from September 18, 1964, to April 8, 1966...
.