I grew up with the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon. Some of my first memories are of watching the show. So that iconic theme has always been a part of my life and always will be. I’ll forget my own name before I forget Leonardo leads and Donatello does machines. And you know why? Because that song is freaking awesome. It’s one of the best themes in history, and it only gets better with age. It also gets better when you class it up, like one musician has done. She recorded all ten parts in a cello-only cover.
It’s both fearsome and radical. And that’s a fact, Jack.
While some of us have used quarantine time to catch up on old TV shows and movies, musician Samara Ginsberg has been recording multi-part cello covers, all by herself, of those old TV shows and movies. Her latest is a fantastic rendition of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. It unquestionably sounds more elegant played by cellos, but it still rocks.
This version also highlights the depth the song has, despite having been composed for a kid’s cartoon.
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It’s also impossible not to hear the lyrics in your head while listening. I wish the Declaration of Independence was as ingrained in my head as the line “Michelangelo is a party dude” is.
Ginsberg’s other social distancing cello covers include the Knight Rider theme. It’s so good, we hope they reboot the show just so it could use this version.
She also played the title track from the Inspector Gadget cartoon. It’s impossible not to sing along with it.
The theme song from Thundercats is also absolutely fantastic with cellos.
But the highlight of the collection might be her cover of Star Wars‘ “Imperial March” by John Williams.
That’s another song that has always been in my life and always will be. But what’s clear now is, my life also needs more cellos in it.
Featured Image: Samara Ginsberg
