I started a thread about this because I think that these pieces of music are so dramatic and are the epitome of the boardroom.

Do you prefer:

The music from Series 1-4:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OysCIOLERgA

The music from Series 5-8:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhC0Cra1k-s

The music from Series 9 onwards:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ME50QGw_5z0 (Can be heard from 54.03 onwards)

Note: There have been other variations but these are the three regulars.

My personal favourite is the original. Very tense. I feel that the second incarnation is actually too dramatic and it overplays the whole situation. And the one they have used this series I hated initially, but I am now used to it and it has a very modern, pop-like, feel to it, yet it is still tense.

I think the 2nd one from Series 5-8 is the best personally. The latest version is lacking those dramatic timpani drums from 2:15 onwards that the 1st and 2nd versions have, and I think that's more effective than the current arrangement.

I think the 2nd captures the spirit of the cut-throat atmosphere of the boardroom perfectly, but the change in melody when they exit the building and get into the taxi is tinged with sadness which I like.

It's a great composition, but personally I think the 2nd version is the best. I don't really like the 3rd version at all, they've removed some elements which I think added effect.

The second one is over the top.

The current one is innocuous.

Definitely I prefer the original.

It's a tough choice.

I prefer the first half of the first theme, as the second one's a bit jazzy.
But I love the way the second one really goes in for the kill at 1:20. It has more power and emotion to it, especially from 1:57 onwards. It really makes you feel the pain and regret of being fired.

You can tell you've heard this theme too much when you instinctively add the 'bla-bla-bla, you're fired', 'you two go back to the house, I'll see you on the next task', *hugs*, *fired candidate leaves in a taxi*, 'back at the house......', 'one job, now only such-and-such candidates remain', 'next time....' ect along to the music.

Huh! I'd never noticed the theme switched between S4 and S5.

Think S5 wins it. I don't really like the S9 one yet, lacks a climax. I sort of "got" it in the Dubai episode - some of the throaty, gurgling synths really crank the tension up, very ominous after an incredibly tense boardroom - but yeah, lacks a climax. Fired candidates are dismissed with a whimper, rather than a bang.

I was rather hoping that they were playing a long game, with the current firing music. Playing the new one for a few weeks, 'til we forgot about the old one, so they could bring the heavier one back with a vengeance when they were doing a dramatic double firing. Let it settle, let us assume they've got away with it, then bring in the old theme. As it happened, they didn't, cos it was Kurt and Natalie being double-fired, and it was therefore the least surprising double firing the show's done - of course they were both fired, look at them! I do miss the clever things they did with the music, though. S8 loved it - week two boardroom, the track keeps looping round for what feels like a full five minutes. Incredibly tense - great music, in all its iterations.

Incidentally, S9 isn't Dru Masters' favourite iteration of the theme, either...

"They asked me to take the big drums out for ep1 - ho hum. "
(They'll be back later on, though, right?)
"I hope so..."

Listening back to the S9 one again, there are some incredibly cool details that I never really picked up on when I was expecting something different. I love the triumphant walk back to the taxi.

I agree rwebster. I prefer the part of the Seriess 9 tune when they walk into the taxi to that part in the earlier themes.