Given his history with TV and film projects, Ed Robertson initially had plans to turn down the request from The Big Bang Theory. The frontman had lots of work that never made it onto the air, and didn't want to repeat this formula once again. However, his agent kept nagging about the opportunity, while his wife also encouraged him to take on such a project, especially given the potential.
Robertson revealed with Metro, "I mentioned to my wife that I had a conference call with this song that I hadn't been able to write, and she asked who the call was with," Robertson said.
Robertson then realized after a call with Chuck Lorre that he wasn't competing against anyone else for the gig. Within five-minutes during a shower, Robertson had come with the entire song and as they say, the rest is history. Well... not so fast.
We throw it back to the start of The Big Bang Theory, even before the show was underway for this particular moment. Ed Robertson sends Chuck Lorre a rough version of the song, which happens to be an acoustic alternative. Lorre fell in love with this version - however, it wasn't what Robertson had in mind. He turned down Lorre's request to use that version of the song given that it didn't include the rest of the Barenaked Ladies.
Lorre tells THR, "Twelve years ago, [Barenaked Ladies lead singer] Ed Robertson sent a demo of that theme song — just him and an acoustic guitar. I thought it was great and I said, 'That's our theme song.
The song was altered with the entire group, and there's really no denying the success and impact.
Lorre went on to reveal, "One of the gifts of being part of this series all these years was Ed Robertson, and the Barenaked Ladies have just given us an enormous boost. That theme song gives you such a good feeling at the beginning of every episode. It's a remarkable little piece of music. I defy anybody to listen to that song and not smile."
Not only was the song a hit, but the acoustic version wasn't scrapped, and used during the show's most important episode.
Upon Chuck Lorre's request, The Big Bang Theory theme song using its acoustic version was revived for the finale, and what a moment it turned out to be. Lorre was granted the request, and it made the finale that much more special.
"I always loved that acoustic version. I called Ed a month or so ago and asked him if he would consider re-recording an acoustic version, slowing it down, singing it out of time so that it's somewhat free of a time signature and use it for the last scene just over the characters having dinner.
"I just thought maybe it would be appropriate to go back to that acoustic version, slow it down, imbue it with a melancholy mood and take us out and that be our last piece of the finale," Lorre said.
Lorre was spot on with his vision, while Robertson himself admits the theme song completely changed his life for the better.
"It's been like having a hit multiple times a year for over a decade. It's been life-changing. The song has been very good to me,' he continued. 'And to my family. And to my grandchildren's family."
"That song changed my life,' he reflected.
A great piece of business for both sides.
