The music from the animated Nickelodeon series Hey Arnold! continues to resonate with viewers who grew up in the 1990s. Its distinctive blend of styles introduced many to jazz, funk and hip-hop influences without their realizing it at the time.
Composer Jim Lang is now taking that music on the road. He will perform with his P.S. 118 All Stars band at several Southern California locations, including Pappy and Harriet’s in Pioneertown on October 26 and The Observatory in Santa Ana on November 29, according to LAist.
Lang told LAist reporter Robert Garrova that he did not set out to expose children to jazz. The exposure emerged as a side effect of the way the series developed.
He added that no music is too sophisticated for a children’s program. Young audiences possess a strong capacity to appreciate new and unexpected sounds, he said.
Lang credited the writers, animators and artists for creating the foundation that allowed the music to succeed. He described his role as staying out of the way so the visuals could guide the score.
Nickelodeon executives during that period encouraged unusual creative choices, Lang noted. The resulting performances now create a sense of shared recognition among audiences who connect with the familiar sound of the series.
This report is based on coverage by LAist: https://laist.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/hey-arnold-nickelodeon-music-tour