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Theme from Mission: Impossible

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"Theme from Mission: Impossible" is the theme tune of the American espionage TV series Mission: Impossible (1966–1973). The theme was written and composed by Argentine composer Lalo Schifrin and has since gone on to appear in several other works of the Mission: Impossible franchise, including the 1988 TV series, the film series, and the video game series.

Overview[]

The theme is written in a 5/4 time signature, which Schifrin has jokingly explained as being for mutant people with five legs.[1]

The Morse code for M.I. is two dashes followed by two dots; if a dot is one beat and a dash is one and a half beats, then this gives a bar of five beats, exactly matching the theme's underlying rhythm.[2] It has been suggested that Schifrin consciously used the Morse code as a starting point for his composition, but this cannot be verified. Schifrin did write that he used Morse code as a method for obtaining an unusual rhythmic pattern for his theme to the film The Concorde... Airport '79.[3]

Schifrin's working title for the song was "Burning Fuse".[4] Schifrin compared his writing process to writing a letter: "When you write a letter, you don’t have to think what grammar or what syntaxes you're going to use, you just write a letter. And that’s the way it came." He estimated that he wrote the main theme in 90 seconds and completed the full arrangement in three minutes.[4]

The actor Martin Landau, who played the character Rollin Hand on the show, attended the recording session for the theme song. "Lalo raised his wand to the musicians and I heard 'Dun, dun, da-da, dun, dun, da-da' for the first time, and it was deafening", Landau recalled. "Lalo interrupted the band and said, 'No, no, it should be like this.' They resumed and before we could say anything, they had recorded it. I was stunned. It was so perfect. I came out humming that tune."[4]

Reception[]

The original single release peaked at number 41 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and 19 on the magazine's Adult Contemporary chart in 1967. Also in that year, two years before Leonard Nimoy began playing the role of Paris in Mission Impossible, the theme appeared on the album Leonard Nimoy Presents Mr. Spock's Music from Outer Space. (Nimoy did not perform on the song.)[5]

Awards[]

The theme won for the Best Instrumental Theme at the 10th Grammy Awards held on February 29, 1968.[6][7] Schifrin also won the Grammy for Best Original Score Written For A Motion Picture Or A Television Show.[8] In 2017, the 1967 recording of the Theme from Mission: Impossible by Lalo Schifrin on Dot Records was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.[9]

Schifrin's version, as performed with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, received a nomination for the Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance for the 39th Grammy Awards held in 1997. The Clayton and Mullen version was also nominated for the same award in the same edition.[10]

Track listing[]

  • 7" single
  1. "Mission: Impossible" – 2:31
  2. "Jim on the Move" – 3:12

Charts[]

Chart (1967) Peak
Position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[11] 39
US Billboard Hot 100 41
US Easy Listening (Billboard) 7

Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr. version[]

In 1996, the theme was remade by U2 members Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen, Jr. for the soundtrack to the film. The duo recorded two versions of the song, the main theme and another subtitled "Mission Accomplished". The main theme was used during the end credits. Unlike the original, the majority of this version is in common time, with the exception of the intro. The single was released on June 3, 1996 by Mother Records. The accompanying music video was directed by English singer, songwriter, musician and music video director Kevin Godley.[12]

Critical reception[]

Larry Flick from Billboard wrote that Clayton and Mullen "cover the film's instantly recognizable theme, effectively funking it up for the '90s with a shuffling jeep beat". He complimented Lalo Schifrin's melody as "suspenseful and compelling as ever" and added, "It'll give fans of the TV show a fun jolt while entertaining a whole new generation."[13] Dave Sholin from the Gavin Report commented, "Those not familiar with this piece of music A) are under five years of age, B) have been living with Theodore Kaczynski for the past 25 years, or C) are not aware of television. This interpretation by half of U2 will be heard by millions of moviegoers expected to see what's been anticipated as the film of the summer. Try cranking this up and driving around the hills of San Francisco! Very cool."[14]

Richard Smith from Melody Maker noted that the Mission Impossible theme "has been weirded and danced up with lots of (not desperately imaginative) This tape will self destruct-type samples laid over the top."[15] A reviewer from Music Week gave it four out of five, adding that the song "should be massive".[16] Music Week editor Alan Jones stated, "They have successfully updated it while retaining its more memorable motifs and drafted in mixers including Junior Vasquez, Guru and Goldie to give it a variety of dance floor flavorings."[17] Jordan Paramor from Smash Hits gave the single three out of five.[18]

Chart performance[]

The instrumental became a worldwide hit. In the United States, it peaked at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 and received a gold certification, selling 500,000 copies there.[19] It additionally peaked at number one in Finland, Hungary and Iceland, number two in Australia and Ireland, and number seven in the United Kingdom.

Track listings[]

CD single[]

MUMTT75 / 576470-2[]

  1. "Theme from Mission: Impossible" – 3:27
  2. "Mission: Impossible Theme (Mission Accomplished)" – 3:05

12-inch single[]

12MUM75 / 576471-1[]

  1. "Theme from Mission: Impossible" – 3:27
  2. "Theme from Mission: Impossible" (Junior's Hard Mix) – 8:50
  3. "Mission: Impossible Theme (Mission Accomplished)" (Dave Clarke Remix) – 4:30
  4. "Mission: Impossible Theme (Mission Accomplished)" – 3:05
  5. "Mission: Impossible Theme (Mission Accomplished)" (Cut the Red Not the Blue) – 4:35
  6. "Theme from Mission: Impossible Theme" (Junior's Hard Dub 1)– 7:44

MUMCD75 / 576471-2[]

  1. "Theme from Mission: Impossible" – 3:27
  2. "Theme from Mission: Impossible Theme" (Junior's Hard Mix-Edit) – 4:10
  3. "Mission: Impossible Theme (Mission Accomplished)" – 3:05
  4. "Mission: Impossible Theme (Mission Accomplished)" (Cut the Red Not the Blue) – 3:05
  5. "Mission: Impossible Theme (Mission Accomplished)" (Dave Clarke Remix – 4:30

Charts[]

Weekly charts[]

Chart (1996) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[20] 2
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[21] 4
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[22] 15
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[23] 14
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[24] 10
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[25] 15
Canada Dance/Urban (RPM)[26] 8
Denmark (IFPI)[27] 7
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[28]
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[29] 1
France (SNEP)[30] 18
Germany (GfK)[31] 6
Hungary (Mahasz)[32] 1
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[33]
Ireland (IRMA)[34] 2
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[35] 15
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[36] 18
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[37] 7
Norway (VG-lista)[38] 4
Scotland (OCC)[39] 12
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[40] 5
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[41] 9
UK Singles (OCC)[42] 7
US Billboard Hot 100[43]
US Adult Pop Airplay (Billboard)[44] 23
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[45] 2
US Dance Singles Sales (Billboard)[46] 4
US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[47] 10
US Cash Box Top 100[48] 6

Year-end charts[]

Chart (1996) Position
Australia (ARIA)[49] 21
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[50] 30
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[51] 79
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[52] 69
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[53] 96
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[54] 43
France (SNEP)[55] 52
Germany (Official German Charts)[56] 42
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[57] 11
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[58] 21
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[59] 40
UK Singles (OCC)[60] 64
US Billboard Hot 100[61] 66
US Dance Club Play (Billboard) 38
US Maxi-Singles Sales (Billboard) 37

Certifications[]

Region Certification Certified units / Sales
Australia (ARIA)[62] Gold 35,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[63] 5,000*
United States (RIAA)[64] 500,000^
*Sales figures based on certification alone.
^Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Other cover versions and renditions[]

Jazz organist Jimmy Smith recorded a cover version for his 1968 album Living It Up.

One cover version was recorded by French No Wave artist Lizzy Mercier Descloux on her 1979 album, Press Color.

A version of the theme was used during the panty raid sequence of the 1984 movie Revenge of the Nerds.

An arrangement of the theme was composed by Bruce Broughton for the pound escape sequence in 1993's Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey. The song transitions from the theme to original music and was included in the expanded Intrada Records soundtrack release, the track simply being titled "Mission: Impossible".

Rhythm section and production duo Sly and Robbie recorded a cover version for their 1997 album Mambo Taxi, a reggae and dub reworking of classic film themes.

The theme's melodies form the basis of Limp Bizkit's 2000 single "Take a Look Around", which was recorded for the soundtrack of the second film.

Russian ethnic band Bugotak recorded a Russian-language rap song with ethnic Siberian instruments based on "Take a Look Around", the theme and "Empty Spaces" by Pink Floyd, entitled "Missiya Maadai-kara nevypolnima".

American rapper Kanye West and producer Jon Brion created a remix version at the end credits of the third film.

Brave Combo covered the theme as a "deep groove cumbia" on their 2008 album, The Exotic Rocking Life.

Houston rapper Chamillionaire, remixed the theme song for his canceled third album Venom in 2010.[65]

In 2010, a fictionalized account of Lalo Schifrin's creation of the Mission: Impossible tune was featured in a Lipton TV commercial aired in a number of countries around the world.[66]

Tiësto created a dance remix version of the theme to promote the fourth film in the series Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (2011).[67]

In January 2013, violinist and dancer Lindsey Stirling and the Piano Guys, Steven Sharp Nelson (cello) and Jon Schmidt (piano), released their interpretation of the "Theme from Mission: Impossible". The arrangement is true to the Schifrin original, but also employs a passage with a liberal use of the Piano Sonata in C by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart K. 545 first movement and a self-composed passage to end the piece. The arrangement was introduced with a music video having a comedic cloak and dagger theme. Two official copies of the video have garnered nearly 10.7 million views (as of April 2021) on Lindsey Stirling's YouTube channel and over 20 million views on The Piano Guys YouTube channel (as of April 2021).

For the promotion of the fifth film Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation (2015), Japanese guitarist Miyavi covered the theme.[68]

The theme was used in a series of commercials for Etsy during the 2023 Christmas season.[69]

An arrangement was played during the closing ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics during the segment where Tom Cruise retrieves the Olympic Flag from Paris en route to Los Angeles.

The 2024 Indian Tamil film The Greatest of All Time by filmmaker Venkat Prabhu had an Indianized cover version of the theme created by music composer Yuvan Shankar Raja when the main character jumps off a skyscraper in Bangkok after accomplishing a crucial mission. Earlier, a short clip from the same scene was played in the Telugu and Hindi versions of the film's trailer.[70][71]

References[]

  1. ↑ Koppl, Rudy (2000). Lalo Schifrin on Creating Mission: Impossible. Soundtrack & Cinemascore Webpage. Soundtrack Magazine. Retrieved on August 27, 2013.
  2. ↑ Edwards, Chris (July 14, 2023). 'Mission: Impossible' stars Simon Pegg and Rebecca Ferguson reveal theme song's secret Morse Code meaning. NME. Retrieved on January 5, 2024.
  3. ↑ Schifrin, Lalo (Decemver 1, 2011). Music Composition for Film and Television. Amazon.com. Berklee Press.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Chilton, Martin (November 20, 2018). 'I didn't have a clue what the show was about' – The story behind the iconic Mission: Impossible theme tune. The Independent. Archived from the original on May 7, 2022.
  5. ↑ Billboard: Lalo Schifrin Chart History. Billboard. Retrieved on March 9, 2012.
  6. ↑ Campbell, Mary (March 1, 1968). Up, Up and Away Picks Up 6 Grammy Record Awards. Google Newspapers. Vancouver Sun. Retrieved on May 1, 2011.
  7. ↑ 1967 Grammy Award Winners. Grammy Awards. Archived from the original on October 12, 2013. Retrieved on May 1, 2011.
  8. ↑ Lalo Schifrin. Grammy.com.
  9. ↑ GRAMMY Hall of Fame. Grammy.com.
  10. ↑ Winners & Nominees. Grammy Awards. Retrieved on January 17, 2022.
  11. ↑ RPM Top 100 Singles - March 23, 1968. Collections Canada. Archived from the original on October 16, 2021.
  12. ↑ Video: Mission: Impossible (Adam Clayton & Larry Mullen). U2tour.de. Retrieved on June 15, 2022.
  13. ↑ Flick, Larry (April 27, 1996). Single Reviews. Billboard. Retrieved on February 5, 2020.
  14. ↑ Sholin, Dave (April 19, 1996). Gavin Picks > Singles. Gavin Report. Retrieved on April 16, 2018.
  15. ↑ Smith, Richard (May 18, 1996). Singles. Melody Maker. Retrieved on May 14, 2024.
  16. ↑ Reviews. Music Week (May 25, 1996). Retrieved on August 18, 2021.
  17. ↑ Jones, Alan (May 4, 1996). Talking Music. Music Week. Retrieved on August 16, 2021.
  18. ↑ Paramor, Jordan (June 4, 1996). Singles. Smash Hits. Retrieved on December 1, 2024.
  19. ↑ Best-Selling Records of 1996. Billboard. BPI Communications Inc. (January 18, 1997). Retrieved on May 8, 2015.
  20. ↑ Adam Clayton & Larry Mullen - Theme from Mission: Impossible (Song). ARIA Top 50 Singles. Archived from the original on November 12, 2013. Retrieved on May 3, 2018.
  21. ↑ Adam Clayton & Larry Mullen - Theme from Mission: Impossible (Song). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Archived from the original on December 15, 2013. Retrieved on May 3, 2018.
  22. ↑ Adam Clayton & Larry Mullen - Theme from Mission: Impossible (Song). Ultratop 50. Archived from the original on November 9, 2023. Retrieved on May 3, 2018.
  23. ↑ Adam Clayton & Larry Mullen - Theme from Mission: Impossible (Song). Ultratop 50. Archived from the original on November 14, 2023. Retrieved on May 3, 2018.
  24. ↑ Top RPM Singles: Issue 3027. RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Archived from the original on October 5, 2016. Retrieved on May 3, 2018.
  25. ↑ Top RPM Singles: Issue 3028. RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Archived from the original on August 12, 2020. Retrieved on May 3, 2018.
  26. ↑ Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 3015. RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Archived from the original on April 8, 2022. Retrieved on May 3, 2018.
  27. ↑ Top National Sellers. Music & Media (August 3, 1996). Retrieved on June 25, 2018.
  28. ↑ Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media (September 7, 1996). Retrieved on June 25, 2018.
  29. ↑ Adam Clayton & Larry Mullen - Theme from Mission: Impossible (Song). Musiikkituottajat. Archived from the original on August 3, 2022. Retrieved on May 3, 2018.
  30. ↑ Adam Clayton & Larry Mullen - Theme from Mission: Impossible (Song). Les classement single. Archived from the original on December 5, 2013. Retrieved on May 3, 2018.
  31. ↑ Adam Clayton & Larry Mullen - Theme from Mission: Impossible (Song). GfK Entertainment Charts. Archived from the original on January 20, 2025. Retrieved on May 3, 2018.
  32. ↑ Top National Sellers. Music & Media (November 30, 1996). Retrieved on June 25, 2018.
  33. ↑ Íslenski Listinn NR. 174 Vikuna 15.6. – 21.6. '96. Dagblaðið Vísir (June 15, 1996). Retrieved on April 7, 2018.
  34. ↑ Adam Clayton & Larry Mullen - Theme from Mission: Impossible (Song). Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved on May 3, 2018.
  35. ↑ Nederlandese Top 40 – Week 32, 1996. Dutch Top 40. Retrieved on May 3, 2018.
  36. ↑ Adam Clayton & Larry Mullen - Theme from Mission: Impossible (Song). Single Top 100. Archived from the original on December 10, 2013. Retrieved on May 3, 2018.
  37. ↑ Adam Clayton & Larry Mullen - Theme from Mission: Impossible (Song). Top 40 Singles. Archived from the original on May 22, 2017. Retrieved on May 3, 2018.
  38. ↑ Adam Clayton & Larry Mullen - Theme from Mission: Impossible (Song). VG-lista. Retrieved on May 3, 2018.
  39. ↑ Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100. Official Charts Company. Retrieved on May 3, 2018.
  40. ↑ Adam Clayton & Larry Mullen - Theme from Mission: Impossible (Song). Singles Top 100. Retrieved on May 3, 2018.
  41. ↑ Adam Clayton & Larry Mullen - Theme from Mission: Impossible (Song). Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved on May 3, 2018.
  42. ↑ Official Singles Chart Top 100. Official Charts Company. Retrieved on May 3, 2018.
  43. ↑ Adam Clayton Chart History (Hot 100). Billboard. Retrieved on May 3, 2018.
  44. ↑ Adam Clayton Chart History (Adult Pop Songs). Billboard. Retrieved on May 3, 2018.
  45. ↑ Adam Clayton Chart History (Dance Club Songs). Billboard. Retrieved on May 3, 2018.
  46. ↑ Adam Clayton Chart History (Dance Singles Sales). Billboard. Retrieved on December 22, 2021.
  47. ↑ Adam Clayton Chart History (Pop Songs). Billboard. Retrieved on May 3, 2018.
  48. ↑ U.S. Cash Box Charts. Pop Music History. Retrieved on December 27, 2022.
  49. ↑ ARIA Top 50 Singles for 1996. ARIA. Retrieved on June 8, 2021.
  50. ↑ Jahreshitparade Singles 1996. AustrianCharts.at. Retrieved on October 28, 2018.
  51. ↑ Jaaroverzichten 1996. Ultratop. Retrieved on October 28, 2018.
  52. ↑ Rapports annuels 1996. Ultratop. Retrieved on October 28, 2018.
  53. ↑ RPM Year End Top 100 Hit Tracks. Library and Archives Canada. RPM. Retrieved on May 3, 2018.
  54. ↑ 1996 Year-End Sales Charts: Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media (December 21, 1996). Retrieved on December 18, 2019.
  55. ↑ Tops de L'année | Top Singles 1996. SNEP. Retrieved on June 8, 2021.
  56. ↑ Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 1996. GfK Entertainment. Retrieved on August 7, 2015.
  57. ↑ Árslistinn 1996. Dagblaðið Vísir (January 2, 1997). Retrieved on May 30, 2020.
  58. ↑ Årslista Singlar, 1996. Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved on May 30, 2020.
  59. ↑ Swiss Year-End Charts 1996. SwissCharts.com. Retrieved on October 28, 2018.
  60. ↑ Najlepsze single na UK Top 40–1996 wg sprzedaży. Hosting1642755.az.pl. Archived from the original on June 4, 2015. Retrieved on March 28, 2019.
  61. ↑ Billboard Top 100 – 1996. Billboardtop100of.com. Retrieved on May 30, 2020.
  62. ↑ ARIA Top 50 Singles for 1996. ARIA. Retrieved on June 8, 2021.
  63. ↑ New Zealand single certifications – Larry Mullens & Adam Clayton – Mission: Impossible Theme. Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved on November 20, 2024.
  64. ↑ American single certifications – Larry Mullens & Adam Clayton – Mission: Impossible Theme. Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved on November 12, 2018.
  65. ↑ Chamillionaire – Mission Impossible (Steven Rowin beat). YouTube (November 22, 2010).
  66. ↑ Lipton Lalo Mission Impossible. The Inspiration Room (May 1, 2010). Archived from the original on May 3, 2010. Retrieved on July 16, 2017.
  67. ↑ Mission: Impossible – Theme (Tiësto Remix). YouTube (December 14, 2011). Retrieved on July 24, 2018.
  68. ↑ 『ミッション：インポッシブル／ローグ・ネイション』×MIYAVI (Mission: Impossible Theme) (Official Music Video). YouTube. Retrieved on July 31, 2018.
  69. ↑ Etsy Tackles Your 'Impossible' Holiday Missions. Muse by Clios (October 31, 2023). Retrieved on March 13, 2025.
  70. ↑ The GOAT (Official Trailer). YouTube (August 17, 2024). Retrieved on September 14, 2024.
  71. ↑ Thalapathy is the GOAT (Official Trailer). YouTube (August 17, 2024). Retrieved on September 14, 2024.

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