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"Frolic" is an instrumental by the Italian composer Luciano Michelini. It was composed in 1974 for the film La bellissima estate, where it was used to represent the character of the barone rosso. "Frolic" is better known as the theme from the American sitcom Curb Your Enthusiasm. It was chosen by the series' creator, Larry David, who had heard the music in a bank advertisement four years prior. Apart from that, "Frolic" has been used as backing music for several advertisements, and in a rap song by Snoop Dogg.

"Frolic" takes inspiration from circus music and the bossa nova. The piece features a combination of a tuba, a mandolin, a banjo and a piano as well as several instruments used for effects. This combination of instruments has been frequently commented on due to its unusual nature.

History

La bellissima estate

Luciano Michelini is an Italian composer, born in 1945.^[1] Michelini originally composed "Frolic" for the 1974 film, La bellissima estate.^[1] When used in the film, the song was called "Il barone rosso".^[2] It was created by Michelini to represent the barone rosso (red baron), a comedic character played by Lino Toffolo^[3] who entertains a group of children.^[4]^[5] Following La bellissima estate, "Frolic" was included in a music library (Universal Production Music)^[6] and was used sparingly in advertisements and Italian television, such as Le Iene.^[5]

Curb Your Enthusiasm

"Frolic" is used as the opening and closing theme song to Curb Your Enthusiasm, an American television series created by Larry David. However, the song is not listed in the show's credits.^[9] Curb Your Enthusiasm regularly uses Italian classical pieces for incidental music, with some songs originating from the same music library as "Frolic".^[2]^[6] These other songs include "The Puzzle" and "Amusement", both of which were composed by Franco Micalizzi.^[10]

David came across the song being used in the advert for the Californian bank.^[1] He decided to use the song for Curb Your Enthusiasm to serve as relief from the show's often exaggerated themes.^[11] David first hired a composer to recreate the song he had heard in the advert, but due to issues with quality, the synthesised recording was not used.^[10] The production team decided to go and find the original song instead. Michelini was contacted for his permission to use the song in 2000, although David had seen the bank advertisement nearly four years prior.^[a]^[4] Michelini gave his permission and gave HBO the rights to "Frolic".^[5]

In "The Five-Foot Fence" (season 11, episode 1), "Frolic" is a part of the episode's plot. As part of the plot, Michelini has a guest appearance conducting a live orchestra at a concert. David, alongside Albert Brooks, attends the concert at the episode's end. The orchestra then plays "Frolic", signalling the end of the episode.^[12]

Structure and music

"Frolic" is commonly seen as being connected to circus music. This connotation comes from the rhythms and instruments (specifically tuba and mandolin)^[13] used in the song by Michelini.^[14] Additional inspiration comes from the bossa nova, which can be heard in the harmony of the song.^[14]

The song uses an unusual combination of instruments: a tuba, mandolin, piano^[6] and banjo.^[1] The tuba, which has connotations of humour and the circus, features heavily in the song's texture.^[8] Other instruments are used in the piece as effects, including slide whistle and bass drum.^[8]

The song's melody is played on a mandolin and features a downward-moving chromatic line atop various seventh chords, which also move downwards.^[8]^[15] The harmony used in "Frolic" reflects the whimsical nature of the music; according to Paul Christiansen, a musicologist specialising in music for advertisements:^[8]

[...] the melody and harmony just "spin their wheels" – that is, there is no discernible melodic or harmonic progression.

Reception and legacy

The song proved successful with audiences due to its synergy with Curb Your Enthusiasm's themes and comedic nature. According to Rob LeDonne, an American writer, "Frolic" is a classic theme song and "has firmly planted itself in the pantheon of television theme song history".^[10] Steven Rasch, an editor of the ninth season of Curb Your Enthusiasm, commented on the song's usage in the show as light relief. He stated:^[16]

Music is our tool to bring the mood back up and cue the audience to laugh [...] It's this enjoyable circus track that has good energy and counterbalances the sour humor in the show.

"Frolic" is regularly included on various lists of "the best television theme songs", usually achieving somewhat high placings:

Rotten Tomatoes: "The 21 Best TV Theme Songs of the Past 21 Years" – No. 8^[17]
Entertainment Weekly: "The 25 best TV theme songs of the 21st century" – No. 8^[18]
Paste: "The 50 Best TV Theme Songs of All Time" – No. 22^[19]

Meme culture

"Frolic", along with the Curb Your Enthusiasm credit sequence starting from "Directed by Robert B. Weide",^[20] has been used as a meme to highlight awkward or embarrassing scenarios. In these memes, the song is played over short video clips, such as those of Steve Harvey announcing the wrong winner of Miss Universe 2015 or La La Land being mistakenly given the Academy Award for Best Picture in 2017.^[21] Michelini has acknowledged the song's usage in this capacity, stating that the meme "works in his favor".^[5]

The song's popularity is such that it was used as a ringtone by Steven Spielberg, who stated that the song "makes [him] smile".^[22] It has been used by Dustin Ballard in his mashup project There I Ruined It, where it was combined with Metallica's "Enter Sandman".^[23] A remix of "Frolic" produced by DJ Green Lantern was used as the backing for the Snoop Dogg song "Crip Ya Enthusiasm". The track appeared on his album, BODR.^[24]

Notes, references and sources

Notes

^ David has stated also that this happened two years prior

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Burlingame 2023, p. 401.
^ ^a ^b Corbella 2020, p. 1.
^ Rice, Lynette (21 March 2020). "How the Curb Your Enthusiasm theme song is the gift that keeps giving". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 15 April 2023. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
^ ^a ^b Rodman 2019, p. 449.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Ivie, Devon (11 October 2017). "The Story Behind Curb Your Enthusiasm's Iconic Theme Song". Vulture. Archived from the original on 15 April 2023. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
^ ^a ^b ^c Burlingame, John (19 January 2020). "'Curb Your Enthusiasm' Music: How the Italian Tuba March Found Its Way to Larry David". Variety. Archived from the original on 15 April 2023. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
^ Christiansen 2021, p. 635.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Christiansen 2021, p. 636.
^ Hooton, Christopher (12 September 2017). "Curb Your Enthusiasm theme: Larry David explains origins of iconic music and why it works". The Independent. ISSN 1741-9743. Archived from the original on 15 April 2023. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
^ ^a ^b ^c LeDonne, Rob (6 October 2017). "'Curb Your Enthusiasm' Music Supervisor Explains the Strange History of the Show's Iconic Theme". Billboard. Archived from the original on 15 April 2023. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
^ Lavery 2008, p. 212.
^ Ruggieri, Melissa (25 October 2021). "How 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' returns with Albert Brooks, Jon Hamm and Purell hoarding". USA Today. Archived from the original on 26 October 2021. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
^ Levine 2010, The First Season: Susie Green.
^ ^a ^b Hynes, Daragh Black (9 April 2020). "It's the way they play 'em: the funny side of instrumental music". Raidió Teilifís Éireann. Archived from the original on 15 April 2023. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
^ Roberts, Maddy Shaw (30 September 2021). "Curb Your Enthusiasm soundtrack: who composed the music including iconic theme song 'Frolic'?". Classic FM. Archived from the original on 15 April 2023. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
^ James 2017, p. 80.
^ Giles, Jeff (15 April 2019). "The 21 Best TV Theme Songs of the Past 21 Years". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on 15 April 2023. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
^ Snierson, Dan (24 January 2020). "The 25 best TV theme songs of the 21st century". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 28 April 2023. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
^ Techler, Graham (17 November 2022). "The 50 Best TV Theme Songs of All Time". Paste. Archived from the original on 15 April 2023. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
^ Weide, Robert B. (5 April 2020). "Robert B. Weide: My life as a meme after 'Curb Your Enthusiasm'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
^ Cotter, Padraig (18 June 2019). "How The Curb Your Enthusiasm Theme Spawned A Hilarious Meme". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on 15 April 2023. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
^ Arnold, Chuck; Tan, Michelle (21 August 2006). "Picks and Pans Review: What's Your Ringtone?". People. Archived from the original on 30 April 2023. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
^ Young, Simon (8 November 2022). "Here's that Curb Your Enthusiasm and Metallica mash-up you didn't know you needed". Metal Hammer. Archived from the original on 30 April 2023. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
^ Tharpe, Frazier (11 February 2022). "Watch Snoop Dogg Rap Over the Curb Your Enthusiasm Theme". GQ. Archived from the original on 15 April 2023. Retrieved 15 April 2023.

Sources

Burlingame, Jon (3 March 2023). Music for Prime Time. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780190618308.
Christiansen, Paul (10 February 2021). "From the Subliminal to the Ridiculing". The Oxford Handbook of Music and Advertising. Oxford University Press. pp. 625–642. doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190691240.013.19. ISBN 9780190691240.
Corbella, Maurizio (2020). Morricone/Nicolai: The sound dimensions of a mysterious synergy. Ennio Morricone/Bruno Nicolai, Dimensioni sonore: Musiche per l'immagine e l'immaginazione (Media notes). Translated by Daniela Travaglini. Dialogo.
James, Daron (26 September 2017). "No Cutting Corners With Return of 'Curb'". Artisans. Variety. ISSN 0042-2738. OCLC 810134503.
Lavery, David (18 January 2008). "Curb Your Enthusiasm". In Edgerton, Gary R.; Jones, Jeffrey P. (eds.). The Essential HBO Reader. Essential Readers in Contemporary Media and Culture. University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 9780813172651.
Levine, Josh (2010). Pretty, Pretty, Pretty Good. ECW Press. ISBN 9781550229479.
Rodman, Ron (Winter 2019). "Television Genre / Musical Genre / Expressive Genre". American Music. 37 (4): 435–457. doi:10.5406/americanmusic.37.4.0435. JSTOR stable/10.5406/americanmusic.37.4.0435. S2CID 208619691.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-'''"Frolic"''' is a song composed by Luciano Michelini
+{{Short description|1974 song composed by Luciano Michelini}}
+{{Use British English|date=May 2023}}
+{{Use shortened footnotes|date=June 2023}}
+{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}
+"'''Frolic'''" is an instrumental by the Italian composer Luciano Michelini. It was composed in 1974 for the film ''[[La bellissima estate]]'', where it was used to represent the character of the ''barone rosso''. "Frolic" is better known as the theme from the American sitcom ''[[Curb Your Enthusiasm]]''. It was chosen by the series' creator, [[Larry David]], who had heard the music in a bank advertisement four years prior. Apart from that, "Frolic" has been used as backing music for several advertisements, and in a rap song by [[Snoop Dogg]].
+"Frolic" takes inspiration from circus music and the bossa nova. The piece features a combination of a tuba, a mandolin, a banjo and a piano as well as several instruments used for effects. This combination of instruments has been frequently commented on due to its unusual nature.
 == History ==
-=== Use in ''La bellissima estate'' ===
+=== ''La bellissima estate'' ===
-Luciano Michelini is an Italian composer, born in 1945.{{Sfn|Burlingame|2023|p=401}} Michelini originally composed "Frolic" for the 1974 film, ''La bellissima estate.{{Sfn|Burlingame|2023|p=401}}'' When used in the film, the song was called "Il barone rosso".{{Sfn|Corbella|2020|p=1}} It was created by Michelini to represent the ''barone rosso'' (red baron), a comedic character played by Nina Toffolo<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rice |first=Lynette |date=21 March 2020 |title=How the Curb Your Enthusiasm theme song is the gift that keeps giving |url=https://ew.com/tv/how-the-curb-your-enthusiasm-theme-song/ |website=[[Entertainment Weekly]]}}</ref> who entertains a group of children.{{Sfn|Rodman|2019|p=449}}<ref name=":2" /> Following ''La bellissima estate'', "Frolic" was included in a [[Production music|music library]] ([[Universal Production Music]])<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Burlingame |first=John |date=19 January 2020 |title=‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ Music: How the Italian Tuba March Found Its Way to Larry David |url=https://variety.com/2020/music/news/curb-your-enthusiasm-theme-music-origin-1203471649/ |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref> and was used sparingly in advertisements and Italian television, such as ''Le Iene.''<ref name=":2" />
+Luciano Michelini is an Italian composer, born in 1945.{{Sfn|Burlingame|2023|p=401}} Michelini originally composed "Frolic" for the 1974 film, ''[[La bellissima estate]].{{Sfn|Burlingame|2023|p=401}}'' When used in the film, the song was called "Il barone rosso".{{Sfn|Corbella|2020|p=1}} It was created by Michelini to represent the ''barone rosso'' (red baron), a comedic character played by [[Lino Toffolo]]<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Rice |first=Lynette |date=21 March 2020 |title=How the Curb Your Enthusiasm theme song is the gift that keeps giving |url=https://ew.com/tv/how-the-curb-your-enthusiasm-theme-song/ |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |access-date=15 April 2023 |archive-date=15 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230415110419/https://ew.com/tv/how-the-curb-your-enthusiasm-theme-song/ |url-status=live }}</ref> who entertains a group of children.{{Sfn|Rodman|2019|p=449}}<ref name=":2" /> Following ''La bellissima estate'', "Frolic" was included in a [[Production music|music library]] ([[Universal Production Music]])<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Burlingame |first=John |date=19 January 2020 |title='Curb Your Enthusiasm' Music: How the Italian Tuba March Found Its Way to Larry David |url=https://variety.com/2020/music/news/curb-your-enthusiasm-theme-music-origin-1203471649/ |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |access-date=15 April 2023 |archive-date=15 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230415110419/https://variety.com/2020/music/news/curb-your-enthusiasm-theme-music-origin-1203471649/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and was used sparingly in advertisements and Italian television, such as ''[[Le Iene]]''.<ref name=":2" />
-=== Use in advertisements ===
+=== Advertisements ===
-"Frolic" has been used as background music for multiple advertisements. In 2008, "Frolic" was used in a political campaign by the Republican congressman [[Lee Terry]]. In the advert, which is entitled "Jim Esch Doesn't Care About Us", mocked the Democrat candidate challenging Terry.{{Sfn|Christiansen|2021|p=635}} The whimsical nature of "Frolic", coupled with other images of idleness was used to imply that Esch would not be proactive candidate.{{Sfn|Christiansen|2021|p=636}} "Frolic" was also featured in a 1990s advertisement created by a Californian bank''{{Sfn|Burlingame|2023|p=401}}'' and various European adverts.<ref name=":2" />
+"Frolic" has been used as background music for multiple advertisements. In 2008, "Frolic" was used in a [[political campaign]] by the Republican congressman [[Lee Terry]]. In the advert, which is entitled "Jim Esch Doesn't Care About Us", mocked the Democratic candidate challenging Terry.{{Sfn|Christiansen|2021|p=635}} The whimsical nature of "Frolic", coupled with other images of idleness was used to imply that Esch would not be a proactive candidate.{{Sfn|Christiansen|2021|p=636}} "Frolic" was also featured in a 1990s advertisement created by a Californian bank{{Sfn|Burlingame|2023|p=401}} and various European adverts.<ref name=":2" />
-=== Use in ''Curb Your Enthusiasm'' ===
+=== ''Curb Your Enthusiasm'' ===
+[[File:Larry David at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival 2.jpg|thumb|279x279px|Larry David decided to use "Frolic" as the theme for ''Curb Your Enthusiasm'' after hearing it in a bank advertisement.]]
-"Frolic" is used as the opening and closing theme song to ''Curb Your Enthusiasm'', an American television series created by Larry David. However, the song is not listed in the show's credits.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hooton |first=Christopher |author-link=Christopher Hooton |date=12 September 2017 |title=Curb Your Enthusiasm theme: Larry David explains origins of iconic music and why it works |work=[[The Independent]] |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/curb-your-enthusiasm-theme-music-song-titles-meaning-name-larry-david-a7942246.html |issn=1741-9743}}</ref> ''Curb Your Enthusiasm'' regularly uses Italian classical pieces for incidental music, with some songs originating from the same music library as "Frolic".{{Sfn|Corbella|2020|p=1}}<ref name=":3" /> These other songs include "The Puzzle" and "Amusement", both of which were composed by [[Franco Micalizzi]].<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=LeDonne |first=Rob |author-link=Rob LeDonne |date=6 October 2017 |title=‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ Music Supervisor Explains the Strange History of the Show’s Iconic Theme |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/curb-your-enthusiasm-music-theme-story-7990154/ |website=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]}}</ref>
+"Frolic" is used as the opening and closing theme song to ''[[Curb Your Enthusiasm]]'', an American television series created by [[Larry David]]. However, the song is not listed in the show's credits.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hooton |first=Christopher |author-link=Christopher Hooton |date=12 September 2017 |title=Curb Your Enthusiasm theme: Larry David explains origins of iconic music and why it works |work=[[The Independent]] |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/curb-your-enthusiasm-theme-music-song-titles-meaning-name-larry-david-a7942246.html |issn=1741-9743 |access-date=15 April 2023 |archive-date=15 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230415110419/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/curb-your-enthusiasm-theme-music-song-titles-meaning-name-larry-david-a7942246.html |url-status=live }}</ref> ''Curb Your Enthusiasm'' regularly uses Italian classical pieces for [[incidental music]], with some songs originating from the same music library as "Frolic".{{Sfn|Corbella|2020|p=1}}<ref name=":3" /> These other songs include "The Puzzle" and "Amusement", both of which were composed by [[Franco Micalizzi]].<ref name=":4">{{Cite magazine |last=LeDonne |first=Rob |author-link=Rob LeDonne |date=6 October 2017 |title='Curb Your Enthusiasm' Music Supervisor Explains the Strange History of the Show's Iconic Theme |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/curb-your-enthusiasm-music-theme-story-7990154/ |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=15 April 2023 |archive-date=15 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230415121727/https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/curb-your-enthusiasm-music-theme-story-7990154/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
-David came across the song being used in the advert for the Californian bank.''{{Sfn|Burlingame|2023|p=401}}'' He decided to use the song for ''Curb Your Enthusiasm'' to serve as relief from the show's often exaggerated themes.{{Sfn|Lavery|2008|p=212}} David first hired a composer to recreate the song he had heard in the advert, but due to issues with quality the synthesised recording was not used.<ref name=":4" /> The production team decided to go and find the original song instead. Michelini was contacted for his permission to use the song in 2000, although David had seen the bank advertisement nearly four years prior.{{Efn|David has stated also that this happened two years prior|name=Interview date|group=lower-alpha}}{{Sfn|Rodman|2019|p=449}} Michelini gave his permission and gave HBO the rights to "Frolic".<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Ivie |first=Devon |date=11 October 2017 |title=The Story Behind Curb Your Enthusiasm’s Iconic Theme Song |url=https://www.vulture.com/2017/10/curb-your-enthusiasm-the-story-behind-the-theme-song.html |website=[[Vulture (website)|Vulture]]}}</ref> According to David:<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Snierson |first=Dan |date=24 January 2020 |title=The 25 best TV theme songs of the 21st century |url=https://ew.com/tv/best-tv-theme-songs-21st-century/ |website=[[Entertainment Weekly]]}}</ref>{{Block quote|text=It's the only time I've heard music and wanted to save it for some future project}}In "The Five-Foot Fence" (season 11, episode 1), "Frolic" is a part of the episode's plot. As part of the plot, Michelini has a guest appearance conducting a live orchestra at a concert. David, alongside Albert Brooks, attend the concert at the episode's end. The orchestra then plays "Frolic", signalling the end of the episode.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ruggieri |first=Melissa |date=25 October 2021 |title=How 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' returns with Albert Brooks, Jon Hamm and Purell hoarding |url=https://eu.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2021/10/25/larry-david-curb-your-enthusiasm-season-11-premiere-recap/6170703001/ |website=[[USA Today]]}}</ref>
+David came across the song being used in the advert for the Californian bank.{{Sfn|Burlingame|2023|p=401}} He decided to use the song for ''Curb Your Enthusiasm'' to serve as relief from the show's often exaggerated themes.{{Sfn|Lavery|2008|p=212}} David first hired a composer to recreate the song he had heard in the advert, but due to issues with quality, the synthesised recording was not used.<ref name=":4" /> The production team decided to go and find the original song instead. Michelini was contacted for his permission to use the song in 2000, although David had seen the bank advertisement nearly four years prior.{{Efn|David has stated also that this happened two years prior|name=Interview date|group=lower-alpha}}{{Sfn|Rodman|2019|p=449}} Michelini gave his permission and gave [[HBO]] the rights to "Frolic".<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Ivie |first=Devon |date=11 October 2017 |title=The Story Behind Curb Your Enthusiasm's Iconic Theme Song |url=https://www.vulture.com/2017/10/curb-your-enthusiasm-the-story-behind-the-theme-song.html |website=[[Vulture (website)|Vulture]] |access-date=15 April 2023 |archive-date=15 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230415110419/https://www.vulture.com/2017/10/curb-your-enthusiasm-the-story-behind-the-theme-song.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
+In "The Five-Foot Fence" (season 11, episode 1), "Frolic" is a part of the episode's plot. As part of the plot, Michelini has a guest appearance conducting a live orchestra at a concert. David, alongside [[Albert Brooks]], attends the concert at the episode's end. The orchestra then plays "Frolic", signalling the end of the episode.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ruggieri |first=Melissa |date=25 October 2021 |title=How 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' returns with Albert Brooks, Jon Hamm and Purell hoarding |url=https://eu.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2021/10/25/larry-david-curb-your-enthusiasm-season-11-premiere-recap/6170703001/ |website=[[USA Today]] |access-date=30 April 2023 |archive-date=26 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211026073545/https://eu.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2021/10/25/larry-david-curb-your-enthusiasm-season-11-premiere-recap/6170703001/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
 == Structure and music ==
-"Frolic" is commonly seen as being connected to circus music. This connotation comes from the rhythms and instruments (specifically tuba and mandolin){{Sfn|Levine|2010|loc=The First Season: Susie Green}} used in the song by Michelini.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Hynes |first=Daragh Black |date=9 April 2020 |title=It's the way they play 'em: the funny side of instrumental music |url=https://www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2020/0409/1129553-comedic-music-funny-curb-your-enthusiasm/ |website=[[Raidió Teilifís Éireann]]}}</ref> Additional inspiration comes from the bossa-nova, which can be heard in the harmony of the song.<ref name=":0" />
+"Frolic" is commonly seen as being connected to [[circus music]]. This connotation comes from the rhythms and instruments (specifically tuba and [[mandolin]]){{Sfn|Levine|2010|loc=The First Season: Susie Green}} used in the song by Michelini.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Hynes |first=Daragh Black |date=9 April 2020 |title=It's the way they play 'em: the funny side of instrumental music |url=https://www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2020/0409/1129553-comedic-music-funny-curb-your-enthusiasm/ |website=[[Raidió Teilifís Éireann]] |access-date=15 April 2023 |archive-date=15 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230415121727/https://www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2020/0409/1129553-comedic-music-funny-curb-your-enthusiasm/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Additional inspiration comes from the [[bossa nova]], which can be heard in the harmony of the song.<ref name=":0" />
-The song uses an unusual combination of instruments: a tuba, mandolin, piano<ref name=":3" /> and banjo.''{{Sfn|Burlingame|2023|p=401}}'' The tuba, which has connotations of humour and the circus, features heavily in the song's texture.{{Sfn|Christiansen|2021|p=636}} Other instruments are used the piece as effects, including slide whistle and bass drum.{{Sfn|Christiansen|2021|p=636}}
+The song uses an unusual combination of instruments: a tuba, mandolin, piano<ref name=":3" /> and banjo.{{Sfn|Burlingame|2023|p=401}} The tuba, which has connotations of humour and the circus, features heavily in the song's texture.{{Sfn|Christiansen|2021|p=636}} Other instruments are used in the piece as effects, including [[slide whistle]] and bass drum.{{Sfn|Christiansen|2021|p=636}}
-The song's melody is played a mandolin and features a downward-moving chromatic line atop various seventh chords, which also move downwards.{{Sfn|Christiansen|2021|p=636}}<ref>{{Cite web |last=Roberts |first=Maddy Shaw |date=30 September 2021 |title=Curb Your Enthusiasm soundtrack: who composed the music including iconic theme song 'Frolic'? |url=https://www.classicfm.com/discover-music/periods-genres/film-tv/curb-your-enthusiasm-soundtrack-theme-song-frolic/ |website=[[Classic FM]]}}</ref> The harmony used in "Frolic" reflects the whimsical nature of the music; according to Paul Christiansen, a musicologist specialising in music for advertisements:{{Sfn|Christiansen|2021|p=636}}
+The song's melody is played on a mandolin and features a downward-moving chromatic line atop various [[Seventh chord|seventh chords]], which also move downwards.{{Sfn|Christiansen|2021|p=636}}<ref>{{Cite web |last=Roberts |first=Maddy Shaw |date=30 September 2021 |title=Curb Your Enthusiasm soundtrack: who composed the music including iconic theme song 'Frolic'? |url=https://www.classicfm.com/discover-music/periods-genres/film-tv/curb-your-enthusiasm-soundtrack-theme-song-frolic/ |website=[[Classic FM (UK)|Classic FM]] |access-date=15 April 2023 |archive-date=15 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230415110420/https://www.classicfm.com/discover-music/periods-genres/film-tv/curb-your-enthusiasm-soundtrack-theme-song-frolic/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The harmony used in "Frolic" reflects the whimsical nature of the music; according to Paul Christiansen, a musicologist specialising in music for advertisements:{{Sfn|Christiansen|2021|p=636}}
 {{Block quote|text=[...] the melody and harmony just "spin their wheels" – that is, there is no discernible melodic or harmonic progression.}}
 == Reception and legacy ==
-The song proved successful with audiences due to its synergy with ''Curb Your Enthusiasm''{{'s}} themes and comedic nature. According to [[Rob LeDonne]], an American writer, "Frolic" is a classic theme song and "has firmly planted itself in the pantheon of television theme song history".<ref name=":4" /> Steven Rasch, an editor of the ninth series of Curb Your Enthusiasm, commented on the song's usage in the show as light relief. He stated:{{Sfn|James|2017|p=80}}
+The song proved successful with audiences due to its synergy with ''Curb Your Enthusiasm''{{'s}} themes and comedic nature. According to [[Rob LeDonne]], an American writer, "Frolic" is a classic theme song and "has firmly planted itself in the pantheon of television theme song history".<ref name=":4" /> Steven Rasch, an editor of the ninth season of ''Curb Your Enthusiasm'', commented on the song's usage in the show as light relief. He stated:{{Sfn|James|2017|p=80}}
-{{Blockquote|text=Music is our tool to bring the mood back up and cue the audience to laugh [...] It’s this enjoyable circus track that has good energy and counterbalances the sour humor in the show.}}"Frolic" is regularly included on various lists of "the best television theme songs", usually achieving somewhat high placings:
+{{Blockquote|text=Music is our tool to bring the mood back up and cue the audience to laugh [...] It's this enjoyable circus track that has good energy and counterbalances the sour humor in the show.}}"Frolic" is regularly included on various lists of "the best television theme songs", usually achieving somewhat high placings:
-* [[Rotten Tomatoes]]: "The 21 Best TV Theme Songs of the Past 21 Years" – No. 8<ref>{{Cite web |last=Giles |first=Jeff |date=15 April 2019 |title=The 21 Best TV Theme Songs of the Past 21 Years |url=https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/article/best-tv-theme-songs/ |website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]}}</ref>
+* [[Rotten Tomatoes]]: "The 21 Best TV Theme Songs of the Past 21 Years" – No. 8<ref>{{Cite web |last=Giles |first=Jeff |date=15 April 2019 |title=The 21 Best TV Theme Songs of the Past 21 Years |url=https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/article/best-tv-theme-songs/ |website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |access-date=15 April 2023 |archive-date=15 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230415121728/https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/article/best-tv-theme-songs/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
-* [[Entertainment Weekly]]: "The 25 best TV theme songs of the 21st century" – No. 8<ref name=":1" />
+* ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'': "The 25 best TV theme songs of the 21st century" – No. 8<ref name=":1">{{Cite magazine |last=Snierson |first=Dan |date=24 January 2020 |title=The 25 best TV theme songs of the 21st century |url=https://ew.com/tv/best-tv-theme-songs-21st-century/ |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |access-date=28 April 2023 |archive-date=28 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230428194021/https://ew.com/tv/best-tv-theme-songs-21st-century/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
-* ''[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]]'': "The 50 Best TV Theme Songs of All Time" – No. 22<ref>{{Cite web |last=Techler |first=Graham |date=17 November 2022 |title=The 50 Best TV Theme Songs of All Time |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/best-songs/the-50-best-tv-theme-songs |website=[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]]}}</ref>
+* ''[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]]'': "The 50 Best TV Theme Songs of All Time" – No. 22<ref>{{Cite web |last=Techler |first=Graham |date=17 November 2022 |title=The 50 Best TV Theme Songs of All Time |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/best-songs/the-50-best-tv-theme-songs |website=[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]] |access-date=15 April 2023 |archive-date=15 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230415121727/https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/best-songs/the-50-best-tv-theme-songs |url-status=live }}</ref>
-=== Use in meme culture ===
+=== Meme culture ===
+[[File:Directed by Robert B. Weide.jpg|thumb|"Directed by [[Robert B. Weide]]" title card]]
-"Frolic" has been used as a meme to highlight awkward or embarrassing scenarios. In these memes, the song is played over short video clips, such as those of Steve Harvey announcing the wrong winner of Miss Universe 2015 or La La Land being mistakenly given the [[Academy Award for Best Picture]] in 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cotter |first=Padraig |date=18 June 2019 |title=How The Curb Your Enthusiasm Theme Spawned A Hilarious Meme |url=https://screenrant.com/curb-your-enthusiasm-theme-memes/ |website=[[Screen Rant]]}}</ref> Michelini has acknowledged the song's usage in this capacity, stating that the meme "works in his favor".<ref name=":2" />
+"Frolic", along with the ''Curb Your Enthusiasm'' credit sequence starting from "Directed by [[Robert B. Weide]]",<ref>{{Cite web |last=Weide |first=Robert B. |date=2020-04-05 |title=Robert B. Weide: My life as a meme after 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' |url=https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2020-04-05/meme-directed-by-robert-weide |access-date=2024-08-29 |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |language=en-US}}</ref> has been used as a meme to highlight awkward or embarrassing scenarios. In these memes, the song is played over short video clips, such as those of [[Steve Harvey]] announcing the wrong winner of [[Miss Universe 2015]] or ''[[La La Land]]'' being mistakenly given the [[Academy Award for Best Picture]] in 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cotter |first=Padraig |date=18 June 2019 |title=How The Curb Your Enthusiasm Theme Spawned A Hilarious Meme |url=https://screenrant.com/curb-your-enthusiasm-theme-memes/ |website=[[Screen Rant]] |access-date=15 April 2023 |archive-date=15 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230415110419/https://screenrant.com/curb-your-enthusiasm-theme-memes/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Michelini has acknowledged the song's usage in this capacity, stating that the meme "works in his favor".<ref name=":2" />
-The song's popularity is such that it was used as a ringtone by Steven Spielberg, who stated that the song "makes [him] smile".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Arnold |first=Chuck |last2=Tan |first2=Michelle |date=21 August 2006 |title=Picks and Pans Review: What's Your Ringtone? |url=https://people.com/archive/picks-and-pans-review-whats-your-ringtone-vol-66-no-8/ |website=[[People (magazine)|People]]}}</ref> It has been used by Dustin Ballard in his mashup project [[There I Ruined It]], where it was combined with Metalica's ''Enter Sandman.''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Young |first=Simon |date=8 November 2022 |title=Here's that Curb Your Enthusiasm and Metallica mash-up you didn't know you needed |url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/heres-that-curb-your-enthusiasm-and-metallica-mash-up-you-didnt-know-you-needed |website=[[Metal Hammer]]}}</ref>
+The song's popularity is such that it was used as a ringtone by [[Steven Spielberg]], who stated that the song "makes [him] smile".<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Arnold |first1=Chuck |last2=Tan |first2=Michelle |date=21 August 2006 |title=Picks and Pans Review: What's Your Ringtone? |url=https://people.com/archive/picks-and-pans-review-whats-your-ringtone-vol-66-no-8/ |website=[[People (magazine)|People]] |access-date=30 April 2023 |archive-date=30 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230430152304/https://people.com/archive/picks-and-pans-review-whats-your-ringtone-vol-66-no-8/ |url-status=live }}</ref> It has been used by Dustin Ballard in his mashup project [[There I Ruined It]], where it was combined with Metallica's "[[Enter Sandman]]".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Young |first=Simon |date=8 November 2022 |title=Here's that Curb Your Enthusiasm and Metallica mash-up you didn't know you needed |url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/heres-that-curb-your-enthusiasm-and-metallica-mash-up-you-didnt-know-you-needed |website=[[Metal Hammer]] |access-date=30 April 2023 |archive-date=30 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230430152304/https://www.loudersound.com/news/heres-that-curb-your-enthusiasm-and-metallica-mash-up-you-didnt-know-you-needed |url-status=live }}</ref> A remix of "Frolic" produced by [[DJ Green Lantern]] was used as the backing for the [[Snoop Dogg]] song "[[BODR|Crip Ya Enthusiasm]]". The track appeared on his album, ''[[BODR]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tharpe |first=Frazier |date=11 February 2022 |title=Watch Snoop Dogg Rap Over the Curb Your Enthusiasm Theme |url=https://www.gq.com/story/snoop-dogg-crip-your-enthusiasm |website=[[GQ]] |access-date=15 April 2023 |archive-date=15 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230415110419/https://www.gq.com/story/snoop-dogg-crip-your-enthusiasm |url-status=live }}</ref>
 == Notes, references and sources ==
@@ Line 43: / Line 54: @@
 === References ===
 {{Reflist}}
-https://www.nme.com/news/curb-your-enthusiasm-theme-composer-responds-to-internet-memes-2008772
-https://www.gq.com/story/snoop-dogg-crip-your-enthusiasm
-https://www.vice.com/en/article/z45879/curb-your-enthusiasm-theme-song-meme-interview
-https://www.ethanhein.com/wp/2021/curb-your-enthusiasm/
 === Sources ===
 * {{Cite book |last=Burlingame |first=Jon |title=Music for Prime Time |date=3 March 2023 |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |isbn=9780190618308}}
 * {{Cite book |last=Christiansen |first=Paul |title=The Oxford Handbook of Music and Advertising |date=10 February 2021 |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |isbn=9780190691240 |pages=625–642 |chapter=From the Subliminal to the Ridiculing |doi=10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190691240.013.19 }}
-* {{Cite document |last=Corbella |first=Maurizio |year=2020 |others=Translated by Daniela Travaglini |title=Morricone/Nicolai: The sound dimensions of a mysterious synergy |journal=}}
+* {{Cite AV media notes |last=Corbella |first=Maurizio |year=2020 |translator=Daniela Travaglini |title=Morricone/Nicolai: The sound dimensions of a mysterious synergy |work=Ennio Morricone/Bruno Nicolai, Dimensioni sonore: Musiche per l'immagine e l'immaginazione|publisher=Dialogo|url=https://www.academia.edu/61123652/Morricone_Nicolai_The_sound_dimensions_of_a_mysterious_synergy}}
 * {{Cite magazine |last=James |first=Daron |date=26 September 2017 |title=No Cutting Corners With Return of 'Curb' |department=Artisans |magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |issn=0042-2738 |oclc=810134503}}
 * {{Cite book |last=Lavery |first=David |title=The Essential HBO Reader |date=18 January 2008 |publisher=[[University Press of Kentucky]] |isbn=9780813172651 |editor-last=Edgerton |editor-first=Gary R. |series=Essential Readers in Contemporary Media and Culture |chapter=Curb Your Enthusiasm |author-link=David Lavery |editor-last2=Jones |editor-first2=Jeffrey P. |editor-link2=Jeffrey P. Jones}}
@@ Line 63: / Line 66: @@
 * {{Cite interview |last=David |first=Larry |subject-link=Larry David |interviewer=[[Paley Center for Media]] |title=Curb Your Enthusiasm - Larry David on Theme Song (Paley Center) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4z0y4vTLok |date=29 July 2009}}
+* {{Cite interview |last=Michelini |first=Luciano |interviewer=Luciano |title=The 71-Year-Old Composer Behind the 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' Theme Song is Here for Your Memes |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/z45879/curb-your-enthusiasm-theme-song-meme-interview |publisher=[[Vice (magazine)|Vice]] |date=8 March 2017}}
 * {{Cite web |last=Reily |first=Emily |date=29 November 2016 |title=The 10 Funniest Uses of the Curb Your Enthusiasm Theme |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/comedy/curb-your-enthusiasm/the-10-funniest-uses-of-the-curb-your-enthusiasm-t |website=[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]]}}
 * {{Cite web |last=Schroeder |first=Audra |date=24 March 2016 |title=New website lets you add 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' theme to any video |url=https://www.dailydot.com/upstream/curb-your-enthusiasm-theme-youtube/ |website=[[The Daily Dot]]}}
+{{Curb Your Enthusiasm|state=collapsed}}
+{{La bellissima estate|state=collapsed}}
+[[Category:1974 compositions]]
+[[Category:Songs written for films]]
+[[Category:Circus music]]
+[[Category:Songs used as jingles]]
+[[Category:Comedy television theme songs]]

v t e Curb Your Enthusiasm
Episodes	"Seinfeld" "No Lessons Learned"
Related	Recurring roles Guest stars Awards and nominations Larry David Seinfeld "Frolic"

v t e La bellissima estate
Media	Gianluca Bennati "Frolic"
Related articles	Curb Your Enthusiasm Sergio Martino