Neon Fire to Reunite for "Reunion" Theme Song

2008 marks the 30th Anniversary of Neon Fire (1978-1998), the group responsible for inventing the dance music genre known by the 90s as "freestyle" by being the first artists to merge electro-funk with straight pop in the early 1980s, first on experimental numbers in 1982, then on the fully realized dance club hit, "On Another Highway", in 1983. Quite a fluke for a band that was simply making a brief departure from their usual styles. How we lasted for twenty years with all the infighting and bad blood can only be attributed, in my opinion, to the fact that the principal members of NF were, and continue to be today, best friends.

In discussing with what sort of theme song the new Street Fighter TV show should open, a number of decisions were arrived at. Firstly, the 30-second TV version of the theme will have to be as exciting as any other classic TV themes from our youth that prevented us from leaving the room for a snack during the opening credits. Also, after I got bumped up from Associate Producer on the show to Producer, it gave me Carte Blanche to decide to compose the theme song myself. Third, it occurred to me that, since Neon Fire was already slated to record a 30th Anniversary Reunion single this year, why not ask Neon Fire to do the theme? After all, the theme is to be entitled, "Reunion". What better way to celebrate both the reunion of the Street Fighters and give a great opportunity to Neon Fire to do a come-back record at the same time? Finally, we all agreed that I should approach this thing as if I'd been commissioned to compose a theme for a James Bond 007 film. No, I don't mean songs like "Nobody Does it Better", "For Your Eyes Only" or, what was that one by Madonna? Oh, yeah, "Die Another Day". In descending order I think the first two are decent pop tunes, particularly Carly Simon's, but I've always felt that a 007 movie demands of a composer to rise to that occasion and not simply write a pop song that will be featured in a film. That's the mindset that will go into the creation of this song for "Street Fighter Reunion" (think in terms of "Goldfinger" and "Live and Let Die").

Just as we here at Bear Feet Productions and MateMedia are intent upon creating one of the greatest TV pilots ever made, we also, as the newly reunited Neon Fire, will endeavor to create one of the greatest TV themes in recent years. That's certainly the plan and the single will be recorded at our old studio, 6/8, in New York City, and with our stalwart engineer from our final days in the 1990s, Perkin Barnes. When released it will be made available on our old label, Power Voltage Records. A feeling not of nostalgia so much as resurrection pervades this entire Street Fighter project at this time. I'm very excited.

On a side note, the first really big battle between two major Street Fighters is tentatively set to be shot somewhere between September 11th to the 15th in Brooklyn.

I'll keep you posted.