Why did WWF use that shitty version of Flair's theme?

[DiBiase is Good]

I'm talking about this crappy version of what is basically the opening part of Also sprach Zarathustra by Strauss (or as some know it, the "2001 theme".
I remember on Flair's Superstars debut back in 1991 he used the "classic" version (this one) but it changed to that crappy WWF version which always sounds out of tune to me soon after.
The recording was made in the 19th century so surely it was in the public domain? Although, I'm not 100% sure on the law around recordings as such, as songs like Happy Birthday to You were also published in the nineteenth century and have only recently been made out of copyright.
Was it to distance themselves from the WCW version? Even if it is obviously the same tune.
But even stranger is that when Flair returned to WWE in 2001, after WWE had bought out WCW, they used the classic version of the theme. However, on some WWE events from the following year (Vengeance and SummerSlam) they used that piss-poor version.
IIRC, they also used it for Buddy Landell when he appeared for that one PPV in late 95.

[________ has left the building]

Because WWF wanted all of their wrestlers to have WWF original themes. And that WWF theme was awesome, guy.

[DiBiase is Good]

Feb 3, 2016 16:46:14 GMT -5 ________ has left the building said:

Because WWF wanted all of their wrestlers to have WWF original themes. And that WWF theme was awesome, guy.

Each to their own but I don't recall hearing anyone say that theme was awesome before. I'm sure there are definitely more out there.

[SkullTrauma]

I like his WWF theme more than his real theme.

[Milkman Norm]

Really? His really theme is a great piece of music. The WWF theme was just a copy of the original.

[James Fabiano]

Feb 3, 2016 16:58:09 GMT -5 Milkman Norm said:

Really? His really theme is a great piece of music. The WWF theme was just a copy of the original.

Was it, by chance, a...Jimmy Hart Version?

[Mayonnaise]

Not a bad theme but is off when you're use to the original.

As for why, I am guessing that WWE wanted to own everything about it. Own the recording, the actual song and anything else possible which would not be possible with the classic.

[YAKMAN is ICHIBAN]

Feb 3, 2016 16:38:19 GMT -5 DiBiase is Good said:

I'm talking about this crappy version of what is basically the opening part of Also sprach Zarathustra by Strauss (or as some know it, the "2001 theme".
I remember on Flair's Superstars debut back in 1991 he used the "classic" version (this one) but it changed to that crappy WWF version which always sounds out of tune to me soon after.
The recording was made in the 19th century so surely it was in the public domain? Although, I'm not 100% sure on the law around recordings as such, as songs like Happy Birthday to You were also published in the eighteenth century and have only recently been made out of copyright.
Was it to distance themselves from the WCW version? Even if it is obviously the same tune.
But even stranger is that when Flair returned to WWE in 2001, after WWE had bought out WCW, they used the classic version of the theme. However, on some WWE events from the following year (Vengeance and SummerSlam) they used that piss-poor version.
IIRC, they also used it for Buddy Landell when he appeared for that one PPV in late 95.

There's a difference between when a song is written down as a composition and a recording of it. Presumably WCW still had to pay a license to use some specific symphony's recording of the song, or hire one to record it for them.

WWE may have simply wanted to use their own version for their incessant need to brand everything.

The copyright status of Happy Birthday was premised on a copyright claim based on some 1935 piano arrangements. The recent court case found that Warner Bros. copyright was limited to that specific piano arrangement and not to the song generally. The court didn't actually hold that Happy Birthday is in the public domain, but as WB was the only party claiming to have a copyright on the song it is effectively in the public domain (and would likely be there legally as well if that issue ever comes up again in a court case).

[Milkman Norm]

Feb 3, 2016 17:06:26 GMT -5 James Fabiano said:

Feb 3, 2016 16:58:09 GMT -5 Milkman Norm said:

Really? His really theme is a great piece of music. The WWF theme was just a copy of the original.

Was it, by chance, a...Jimmy Hart Version?

I thought it was a Jim Johnston thing.

[Bub (BLM)]

For what it's worth to the discussion, he has the crappy WWF version in the most recent video game, despite having the real tune in past games.

["Mr Wonderdick" Dick Dastardly]

I loved his WWF theme.

[ICBM]

The real theme change crime committed by WWE was first using Bill Goldberg's no kidding WCW theme from Exodus then switching to an inferior WWE creation that just did not create the same excited anticipation

[auph10imitated]

I much prefer his WWF one, probably because thats mainly what I knew him from. I didnt even realise there was a difference until this thread haha. I just remember it being used at Wrestlemania 8 and that version always sticks in my mind when I think of his theme

[A Platypus Rave]

Feb 4, 2016 6:35:11 GMT -5 ICBM said:

The real theme change crime committed by WWE was first using Bill Goldberg's no kidding WCW theme from Exodus then switching to an inferior WWE creation that just did not create the same excited anticipation

I am probably the only person that really doesn't hear a difference

[The Dark Order Inferno]

I want present day Flair to come out to a version of his theme that suits his current persona of human trainwreck.

[No Longer a Produceman]

Feb 4, 2016 11:47:24 GMT -5 The Dark Order Inferno said:

I want present day Flair to come out to a version of his theme that suits his current persona of human trainwreck.

So, Charlotte's theme then?

[Malcolm]

Feb 4, 2016 10:52:11 GMT -5 A Platypus Rave said:

Feb 4, 2016 6:35:11 GMT -5 ICBM said:

The real theme change crime committed by WWE was first using Bill Goldberg's no kidding WCW theme from Exodus then switching to an inferior WWE creation that just did not create the same excited anticipation

I am probably the only person that really doesn't hear a difference

I hear the difference, but I am probably the only person that likes the WWE version a little better.

[Dr. Mantis Toboggan]

What I always found weird was that I first heard of Flair during his WWF run and never saw him in the little WCW I had seen at the time(the only one I really remembered was, obviously, Sting). But from that run on, my family and I had always associated the real "2001" song with him, but I really should only know him using the WWF version. It got to the point where when I got around to seeing his WWF run again years later, I was confused to hear a ripoff rather than the genuine article. I'm guessing that the WWF version was enough of an approximation to let you know exactly what it was a ripoff of.

It's happened to me before where things I thought I remembered well from my days of watching WWF as a young kid were not even close to how they actually were.

[ICBM]

Feb 4, 2016 13:08:40 GMT -5 Malcolm said:

Feb 4, 2016 10:52:11 GMT -5 A Platypus Rave said:

I am probably the only person that really doesn't hear a difference

I hear the difference, but I am probably the only person that likes the WWE version a little better.

It's a fine theme, it just pissed me off they changed him, his gear etc. They tried to give him color in skits and all that and it just wasn't Goldberg.

[James Fabiano]

I am another who liked the 1991-93 theme....I hear Bobby Heenan going "WOOOOOO!" over the commentary whenever I listen to it.