MovieChat Forums > Wayne's World (1992) Discussion > Vanderhoff's version is better

Vanderhoff's version is better


Unpopular opinion, I know, but as someone that actually has ear for music, pitches, chords, tones and all that jazz (I would like to use the term 'musicality', but I am sure it has some other meaning I don't feel like looking up right now)..

..I actually prefer the polished 'Vanderhoff version' of the 'Wayne's World' theme song.

I know the audience is supposed to be charmed by the rough, raw, live, 'authentic' non-musical 'screaming' version, because it's the original and it's how it's supposed to be and yada yada..

But my ears just can't help liking the version that has ACTUAL music to it - first of all, it has impeccable chords. It has structural progression. It has proper melody that actually fits with the chords. It's MUSIC!

The other is just basically 'discord' (so annoying that all these good words are stolen by corporations), its rhythm and sound is very trashy and uneven, it doesn't give your ears anything to enjoy.

Even the visual effect is very similar, but looks more polished in the Vanderhoff version. All in all, to the eyes and the ears, the 'Wayne's World' theme is WAY, way better, and as much as I understand that it's supposed to sound 'cheesy' and 'cringy' and 'corporate waste of imagination' and all that, the end result is something I would much rather play than listen to Wayne and Garth just scream almost random, detuned notes into the air while the logo sways wildly around (well, its 'ghostly background' anyway).

I understand very well that this part of the movie is trying to paint a contrast between 'authentic and artistic' and 'corporate and soulless', but I just can't help liking the polished, fixed, properly tuned, properly pitched version that has actual melody, chords, progression and proper singing - no matter how 'cheesy'.

It's like.. banging some trashcans randomly in an alley might be more 'authentic', but properly produced, smooth, slick production of a skilled drummer using actual drums is still more fun for your ears. Or maybe computer-created drum sequence using samples or even MIDI or whatnot.

I think they accidentally made the polished 'corporate version' sound too good, it does, indeed, sound slick and harmonious, whereas the 'authentic artist version' sounds like talentless hacks just screaming without any intention of it even sounding good or harmonious.

If I was some sponsor of that show, I would pick the slick corporate version every time over the 'chaotic ear-torture'.

My opinions and viewpoints seem very unpopular and contradictory to the consensus of the masses of this planet for some reason.. but at least I am not going along with the masses to please others, I tell the truth no matter what. And the truth is, the corporate version is better in all possible ways and respects, no matter how 'soulless' it supposedly is (and I think the singer is giving it all anyway).

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That's because at your core, you're a souless corporate shill.

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Verhoeven's version is best tho

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