It's a Jungle Out There (song)

Last updated
"It's a Jungle Out There"
Song by Randy Newman
Released2003
Genre Jazz
Length1:49 (2003 Version)
  • 3:20 (2017 Version)
Songwriter(s) Randy Newman

"It's a Jungle Out There" is a song written by Randy Newman and used as the theme song starting with the second season of the TV series Monk . In 2004, it won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Main Title Theme Music. As the first season's theme song "Monk Theme" had won the same award the previous year, Monk became the first series to have two different theme songs win an Emmy for Outstanding Main Title Theme Music in consecutive years. [1] The song is not to be confused with the Harry Nilsson song of the same name from his 1975 album Duit on Mon Dei .

Contents

Themes

The lyrics allude to Adrian Monk's plethora of fears and warn that some degree of caution and attention is necessary to stay alive, given everyday life's many dangers. The song was used twice in each episode—but see the exception below.

History

After the end of the first season of Monk, producer David Hoberman approached Randy Newman to create a new theme song. Newman composed the song and played it for Hoberman and Tony Shalhoub. The song debuted in the second-season premiere "Mr. Monk Goes Back to School". It remained unpopular with some fans. USA Network reported that they received many complaints from viewers who wanted the series to continue using Jeff Beal's "Monk Theme". [2] The controversy is referenced in the season 2 episode "Mr. Monk and the TV Star", in which Marci Maven, a dedicated fan of an in-universe detective show, complains that the program changed its theme song. She forces Monk to promise that if he ever gets a TV show, he will never change the theme song, and the original theme plays as the episode concludes.

Although the theme song remained the same, the clips used in the title sequence changed three times over the course of the series:

Newman wrote another song, "When I'm Gone," for the final episode, "Mr. Monk and the End". The song won the 2010 Emmy Award for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics.

As the show appears on Peacock and Netflix, the first two-part episode has been edited to include the Randy Newman theme.

Other versions

Snoop Dogg covered the song for the season 6 episode "Mr. Monk and the Rapper", in which he also played a guest role as Murderuss, a rapper accused of murder.

A rerecorded and expanded version of "It's a Jungle Out There" appears on Newman's 2017 album Dark Matter . [3]

Awards

Related Research Articles

<i>Ally McBeal</i> American legal comedy-drama television series (1997–2002)

Ally McBeal is an American legal comedy drama television series created by David E. Kelley and produced by David E. Kelley Productions and 20th Century Fox Television for Fox. David E. Kelley and Bill D'Elia were the series' executive producers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Randy Newman</span> American musician (born 1943)

Randall Stuart Newman is an American singer, songwriter, arranger, pianist, composer and conductor known for his non-rhotic Southern-accented singing style, early Americana-influenced songs, and various film scores. His hits as a recording artist include "Short People" (1977), "I Love L.A." (1983), and "You've Got a Friend in Me" (1995) with Lyle Lovett, while other artists have enjoyed success with cover versions of his "Mama Told Me Not to Come" (1966), "I Think It's Going to Rain Today" (1968) and "You Can Leave Your Hat On" (1972).

Monk is an American comedy-drama detective television series that originally ran on the USA Network from July 12, 2002, to December 4, 2009, with 125 episodes broadcast over eight seasons. It follows Adrian Monk, a private detective with obsessive–compulsive disorder and multiple phobias, and his assistants Sharona Fleming and Natalie Teeger. Monk works with the San Francisco Police Department in solving unconventional cases while investigating his wife's unsolved murder. The show also explores the main characters' personal lives and struggles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adrian Monk</span> Fictional American private investigator

Adrian Monk, portrayed by Tony Shalhoub, is the title character and protagonist of the USA Network television series Monk. He is a renowned former homicide detective for the San Francisco Police Department. He has obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and multiple phobias, all of which intensified after the murder of his wife Trudy, resulting in his suspension from the department. He works as a private police homicide consultant and undergoes therapy with the ultimate goal of overcoming his grief, taking control of his phobias and disorder, and being reinstated as a police detective.

"The Contest" is the eleventh episode of the fourth season of the American television sitcom Seinfeld, and the 51st episode overall. Written by Larry David and directed by Tom Cherones, the episode originally aired on NBC on November 18, 1992. In the episode, Jerry, George, Elaine, and Kramer hold a contest to determine who can go for the longest time without masturbating.

<i>Monk</i> (soundtrack) 2004 soundtrack album by Jeff Beal

In 2004, following the popular success and numerous awards and nominations for the cable television series Monk, Varèse Sarabande released an official soundtrack on compact disc.

Bruce Harold Broughton is an American orchestral composer of television, film, and video game scores and concert works. He has composed several highly acclaimed soundtracks over his extensive career and has contributed many pieces to music archives, including the 1994 version of the 20th Century Fox fanfare with short versions for 20th Century Fox Television and Foxstar Productions and conducting the Cinergi Pictures logo composed by Jerry Goldsmith. He has won ten Emmy Awards and has been nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Score. Broughton is currently a lecturer in composition at UCLA.

"Mr. Monk and the Airplane" is the first season finale of the American comedy-drama detective television series Monk, and the show's 13th episode overall. The series follows Adrian Monk, a private detective with obsessive–compulsive disorder and multiple phobias, and his assistant Sharona Fleming. In this episode, Monk is obligated to fly with Sharona and is faced with a murder case on the airplane.

<i>The Simpsons</i> Theme 1989 television theme music by Danny Elfman

"The Simpsons Theme", also referred to as "The Simpsons Main Title Theme" in album releases, is the theme music 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 a theme. The piece has been noted by Elfman as the most popular of his career.

"I Think It's Going to Rain Today" is a song by American singer-songwriter Randy Newman. It appears on Julius La Rosa's 1966 album You're Gonna Hear from Me, Eric Burdon's 1967 album Eric Is Here, on Newman's 1968 debut album Randy Newman, in The Randy Newman Songbook Vol. 1 (2003), and in Newman's official and bootleg live albums. It is one of his most covered songs. Also covered by Jazz/ Adult Contemporary singer Curtis Stigers in 2005 on his album "I Think It's Going to Rain Today". Stigers has covered other Newman songs in his career and credits him respectfully as an influence to his own song writing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mr. Monk and the End</span> 15th and 16th episodes of the 8th season of Monk

"Mr. Monk and the End" is the two-part series finale of the American comedy drama detective television series Monk. It consists of the fifteenth and sixteenth episodes of the eighth and final season, and the 124th and 125th episodes of the series overall. The series follows Adrian Monk, a private detective with obsessive–compulsive disorder and multiple phobias, and his assistant Natalie Teeger. In the finale, Monk finally solves his wife Trudy's murder after twelve years, concluding an eight-season long arc.

<i>Monk</i> season 1 Season of television series

The first season of Monk originally aired in the United States on USA Network from July 12 to October 18, 2002, which consisted of 13 episodes. Tony Shalhoub, Bitty Schram, Ted Levine, and Jason Gray-Stanford were introduced as portraying the main characters. Tony Shalhoub portrayed Adrian Monk, the title character, an OCD homicide detective from San Francisco, who was removed from the force after the murder of his wife. A DVD of the season was released on June 15, 2003.

<i>Monk</i> season 2 Season of television series

The second season of Monk originally aired in the United States on USA Network from June 20, 2003, to March 5, 2004. It consisted of 16 episodes. Tony Shalhoub, Bitty Schram, Ted Levine, and Jason Gray-Stanford reprised their roles as the main characters. A DVD of the season was released on October 11, 2004.

<i>Monk</i> season 3 Season of television series

The third season of Monk originally aired in the United States on USA Network from June 18, 2004, to March 4, 2005. It consists of 16 episodes. Tony Shalhoub, Ted Levine, and Jason Gray-Stanford reprise their roles as the main characters, and Traylor Howard joins the cast. Bitty Schram left the show due to a contract dispute during the Winter hiatus. A DVD of the season was released on July 5, 2005.

<i>Monk</i> season 4 Season of television series

The fourth season of Monk originally aired in the United States on USA Network from July 8, 2005, to March 17, 2006. It consisted of 16 episodes. Tony Shalhoub, Traylor Howard, Ted Levine, and Jason Gray-Stanford reprised their roles as the main characters. A DVD of the season was released on June 27, 2006.

<i>Monk</i> season 5 Season of television series

The fifth season of Monk originally aired in the United States on USA Network from July 7, 2006, to March 2, 2007. It consisted of 16 episodes. Tony Shalhoub, Traylor Howard, Ted Levine, and Jason Gray-Stanford reprised their roles as the main characters. A DVD of the season was released on June 26, 2007.

<i>Monk</i> season 6 Season of television series

The sixth season of Monk originally aired in the United States on USA Network from July 13, 2007, to February 22, 2008. It consisted of 16 episodes. Tony Shalhoub, Traylor Howard, Ted Levine, and Jason Gray-Stanford reprised their roles as the main characters. A DVD of the season was released on July 8, 2008.

<i>Monk</i> season 7 Season of television series

The seventh season of Monk was originally broadcast in the United States on USA Network from July 18, 2008, to February 20, 2009. It consisted of 16 episodes. Tony Shalhoub, Traylor Howard, Ted Levine and Jason Gray-Stanford reprised their roles as the main characters. A DVD of the season was released on July 21, 2009.

<i>Monk</i> season 8 Season of television series

The eighth and final season of Monk originally aired in the United States on USA Network from August 7 to December 4, 2009. It consisted of 16 episodes. Tony Shalhoub, Traylor Howard, Ted Levine, and Jason Gray-Stanford reprised their roles as the main characters. A DVD of the season was released on March 16, 2010.

"This Life" is the theme song for the FX television series Sons of Anarchy, written by singer-songwriter Curtis Stigers, Velvet Revolver guitarist Dave Kushner, record producer Bob Thiele Jr. and show creator Kurt Sutter while it was performed by Curtis Stigers & The Forest Rangers.

References

  1. Paula M. Block; Terry Erddman (2007). Monk: The Official Episode Guide. St. Martin's Press. p. 99. ISBN   978-1429903967.
  2. Paula M. Block; Terry Erddman (2007). Monk: The Official Episode Guide. St. Martin's Press. p. 53. ISBN   978-1429903967.
  3. Deluca, Dan (September 27, 2017). "Why Randy Newman thinks he's put out his best song yet". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Sioux City Inquirer.