| Changing Keys |
| Composer |
Merv Griffin |
| Released |
1983-09-19 |
| Title Origin |
Official |
|
Changing Keys' is an instrumental piece written by Merv Griffen. It has been used as the theme song for the NBC primetime game show Wheel of Fortune.
Games
Wheel of Fortune (NES)
The song plays at the title screen. As soon as the song plays, a PCM sample is heard of the audience shouting, "WHEEL! OF! FORTUNE!", making this one of the few Rare games to utilize PCM sound, the other being Pin-Bot (NES).
The song was arranged by David Wise by entering the music in assembly in Rare's sound driver by Chris Stamper.
The Junior Edition uses an identical arrangement. However, the Family Edition removed the song and replaced it with an original tune.
Wheel of Fortune (A2GS)
Plays at the title screen after the audience chant.
Wheel of Fortune (GB)
Plays at the title screen.
Wheel of Fortune: Featuring Vanna White (NES)
Plays at the title screen.
Barry Leitch gives this arrangement of the song a sort of electro-dance feel. It also uses arpeggios, giving it a European chiptune sound. The song is arranged in the key of E major.
Wheel of Fortune (SNES)
Plays during the title, copyright, and ending screens. The song is the same in the Deluxe Edition.
This arrangement is exactly the same as the Apple IIGS version.
Though the game credits both Barry Leitch and Ian Howe, Leitch stated that he arranged the music, which means Howe must have done sound effects.
Wheel of Fortune (GEN)
Plays during the title, copyright, and ending screens. Being that it's from the same sound designer as the SNES version, the arrangement in this version is identical to that of the SNES version. However, it plays a half-step flat, as well as playing considerably faster that the SNES version.
According to Leitch, the game's sound driver was written by the game's programmer, Rab Walker.
Wheel of Fortune (GG)
Plays during the title, copyright, and ending screens.
The Game Gear version of the song was done by Barry Leitch, who had also done the SNES and Genesis versions of the game, and as a result, the arrangement is identical to those versions. Interestingly, the arrangement seems to be a combination of both versions, having the same key as the SNES version while having the same tempo as the Genesis version.
Wheel of Fortune (SCD)
Plays during the title and ending screens.
