Cartoon Clash 4 - What the Duck!

Welcome to the first installment of a two part series of "Cartoon Clash." In these next articles I'll be reviewing cartoon theme songs that are based on ducks.  Today I'll be reviewing  "Quack Pack" and "The Mighty Ducks." If ducks and/or hockey are not your thing I would sit out this review.

Quack Pack:  (September 1996 - December 1996)

Quack Pack

Catchiness: Teenage rebellion and ducks, what more could you possibly ask for in a theme song? Something better than this song.  I hate to be Debbie Downer, but this one is not very good. 

The song is composed of a lite grunge flavor rock  of the 90s with duck related  lyrics. The theme song starts with a classical number from a Donald Duck cartoon. The kids interrupt the show, and play clips from "Quack Pack" while the rock theme song starts.  I would expect this kind of show. given the cast of characters, to have a theme song design like this.

The show has a catchy chorus using the word "Quack." The chorus is "Quack ,Quack, Quack Pack"  I won't give the show too much heat for relying on a simple chorus. Repetition is key to any song getting stuck in your head.  Overall the song production is okay ;it is just hard to hear in certain areas, due  to the sound effects going on. 

Lyrics: The song is about teenage angst of  the Ducks that Donald Duck raises.  Every line in the song has the word, "quack" in it. I get they wanted to make the show about ducks ,but including too many lines of the word "quacking" is a bit excessive. Don't believe me? Here is an example of the song lyrics below.

“I feel like Quacking so, I think I will

I’m gonna Quack Quack until I get my thrill.”

Revised Rude Teenager Version.

I feel like crapping so, I think I will

I’m gonna mock mock until I get my thrill.

Memorability:  At the time this is what  kids and teenagers were listening too ,Grunge Rock.  I can't fault them for choosing this genre to make the show theme song about. I have strong feelings that the rock music and vocals provided, don't mix well in this case. There is conflicting interest between the sound effects and the vocals. As a result the song's final mix sounds messy.   I'm sure I thought this was awesome to listen too back then, but looking back this is a bad theme song. 

Notes: I listened to the ending credits theme song as well, and it is an improvement over the opening credits. The song is filled with more guitar work and less vocals; however, why on Earth did they include Donald Duck bad laugh in the song.


One last thing: I didn't need to hear Tommy Pickles scream ,"oh" in the beginning of the rock section.  I get enough of that in the "Rugrats." I feel bad for Donald Duck during this series.  These kids have to be torture especially if  he had this kid.

The Mighty Ducks: (September 1996- January 1997)

The Mighty Ducks

Catchiness:  If you learn anything from watching the show opening it is all about  hockey, hockey, and more hockey. The show sticks with a simple, but easy formula for a 90s cartoon theme song. A rock theme song with clear vocals.  The show sticks with repetition of two words, "Ducks Rock" as its main chorus. I'm okay with that since  simple is always better. The show's theme song shines through all of the sound effects.

Lyrics:  The show keeps the duck mentions down to one. I counted only one mention of “Quacking” so I’m happy about that since that other show mentions it way too many times.  The lyrics explain why the ducks are on Earth, and are trying to save the world. Additionally, the lyrics are full of hockey related references.  

Memorability:  There are a lot of lines to this song, so I highly doubt you’ll remember the verses. “Ducks Rock” is at most you’ll remember from hearing this song.  

Notes: Good rock theme and the lyrics are decent. The show was only on for one season.  I only thing I bet will remember about  this show is the amount of hockey stuff you see in the opening credits. For example, the asteroids in the beginning are shape like hockey pucks. That is not a complaint against the show since I'm a hockey fan in real life.

Enough Musical Analysis: Who won the battle?

The Mighty Ducks (3.5/5)

Quack Pack (2.5/5)

I felt that "The Mighty Ducks" theme song had more creative care put into it compare to "Quack Pack". "Quack Pack's" theme song seems desperate to me. I get they are ducks ,but overusing the word "quack" is too much.  Donald Duck and kids screaming at me while I'm listening to this song didn't help its case for it either.  I would have give it a higher score if those noises were not in there. While "Quack Pack" had a catchier theme song it lack the interesting music and clear vocals. I could understand everything that "The Mighty Ducks" theme song was singing about, and the music production was excellent.  

In other words hockey wins this one out.  Ducks Rock! I wish this series was on longer.

Coming Soon Part 2! Take a guess in the comments which shows are next to be reviewed. Hint: They have "Duck" in the title.