I must say I quite like Capes. Sadly I missed the first TX because my laptop got a virus so I've been distracted trying to sort that out, but after looking on youtube it doesn't seem bad. The visuals are simple but bright and colourful whilst the music is rather light and does reflect the mood somewhat. I'm undecided whether or not I prefer this or the 'plinky-plonky' edit, similarly I'm unsure whether or not the music does fit the visuals totally. However, as people have said, the ident is nothing special neither musically nor visually.
I believe it was Paul Clark who mentioned that none of the audios of the current set stand up to the Rhythm and Music ones. I totally agree - listening back to the full set earlier on in the week did show how much better they were compared to the current bunch.
On a note related to cylon's question, I ought to say that while Helicopter seems to have been one of those 'growers' for most people, who got used to it over time, I for one have honestly viewed it quite positively ever since the first day it was shown in the new year - I thought the circle element was plain weak, but I appreciated it in far greater measure just for the serious and down-to-earth tone it set, through both the visuals and music.
Further reason why I liked it from day 1 isn't difficult for me to work out. Back in 2007 we'd had a spate of high production but out-of-the-ordinary idents: a space rover launched to some foreign planet, magic fairies and bendy trees (before serious news, no less), shop signs coming to life (as they do), and creepy robotic women...
I can understand some people might like this wackiness, but by the time we'd reached the end of the year, I was getting slightly tired (and perhaps concerned) of seeing that short succession of surreal idents straight out of fantasyland - on BBC1 of all places, the flagship channel.
It was Helicopter that finally counteracted this 'unreal ident' streak and helped to inject a dose of needed gravitas and real-world sensibility into the identity of BBC 1 - to me, it was a real breath of fresh air, and greatly needed.
I believe it was Paul Clark who mentioned that none of the audios of the current set stand up to the Rhythm and Music ones. I totally agree - listening back to the full set earlier on in the week did show how much better they were compared to the current bunch.
I hated those idents but agree that the music works. The problem with the circle music is the hook coming in far too late. Capes was on before New Tricks and once again you couldn't hear the hook because the announcer drowned it out. With the balloons and the R & M idents the hook was in the first few seconds then the announcer talked afterwards. They really do need to sort this out. Maybe they can do some work experience at Channel 4 to see how it should be done? And if it's one thing I realy hate it's when they show an ident that doesn't form up before the programme starts! Surely they can pick one of a suitable length so that this doesn't happen?
They had another short version of Capes before the news on BBC1 at 6.00pm. Just out of interest are there any idents on BBC1 that you hated initially but now quite like?
The Capes ident is growing on me, although I think it would be more suited to BBC 2.
My favourite out of the set is Bikes. My least favourite is Forest - the music goes right through me. It plays before every BBC One programme on the iPlayer as well, which is getting very irritating especially as the ident stops so abruptly at the end. A gradual fade-out would make it more bearable.
The Capes ident is growing on me, although I think it would be more suited to BBC 2.
My favourite out of the set is Bikes. My least favourite is Forest - the music goes right through me. It plays before every BBC One programme on the iPlayer as well, which is getting very irritating especially as the ident stops so abruptly at the end. A gradual fade-out would make it more bearable.
I'm surprised that you don't like Forest. But it seems that the less fantastical ones are quite popular such as Bikes and Kites.
I think of the original set Bikes and Windows have my favourite music.
I think the Capes ident is ok, nothing great. I can't help but feel the end of it is just a bit, drab?
I think if the round-a-bout in the middle was covered in grass, the ident would feel more colourful. I think it looks a bit bland with just a big grey blob.
Re Capes, I much prefer the prototype music over the nondescript replacement which made the final edit. Its glugging, rain-like quality matched the visuals far better and the ident as a whole would have been perfect for those many dank autumnal days where pretty much the whole country is enveloped in rain.
I've never liked Hippos. I'm not sure why, but I just don't 'get' it. It doesn't seem suitable at all for the state broadcaster's main channel. Call me old fashioned, but I used to be very proud of BBC 1's symbol (COW and Lambie-Nairn eras mainly, but also the Baloon) and I felt it said a lot not only about the corporation, but also the country. The R&M idents were woeful and although I like the circles idents more, they're still not a patch on having a single 'identity' for a channel IMO.
Re Capes, I much prefer the prototype music over the nondescript replacement which made the final edit. Its glugging, rain-like quality matched the visuals far better and the ident as a whole would have been perfect for those many dank autumnal days where pretty much the whole country is enveloped in rain.
With the original Capes music some people didn't like it but it suited the raindrops and water falling. If BBC2's Mirror ident can have two pieces of music I think Capes should as well with the current music and the music on the draft version.