Bill Potts Appreciation Day: Bill’s Theme by Murray Gold
Sheet Music and Arrangement by Richard Lloyd
I think it was the Grand Moff Steven himself who pointed out how a new companion is as much a tonal shift for Doctor Who as a new Doctor.
This isn’t just limited to how the show is written or looks, but also includes how it sounds. With every new companion Murray Gold completely reinvents himself and the show, a fact made even more impressive considering that he has been one of the view constant members of doctor who production since its revival in 2005. And while he could just phone it in and give us some string chords whenever we are meant to feel sad, he still goes all in and gives us thematic leitmotifs each more hummable than the other. His themes are as much part of creating memorable characters than the actors’ performances.
Bill’s theme is perhaps most notable for being mostly percussion driven and quiet. Both of these things are true for much of season 10’s score, establishing a clear difference to the romantic string music previously heard on the show during Miss Oswald’s time in the Tardis. You can also hear a female choir and an e-piano in the background, giving the piece a slightly 70’s r&b feel.
But the main thing about Bill’s theme is the playful piano melody, which has a sort of daydream quality to it. It is not only incredibly catchy (after the first listen alone, it was stuck in my head for days), but it also captures Bill’s character extremely well. It start’s out slow and quiet, but cheerful nonetheless. After just the first eight bars the melody comes to a halt and starts from the beginning, getting higher and brighter until it almost reaches a point of triumph. Just before it can do so, however, it slightly loses its momentum and collapses into a sad chord. Not sad in the way a violin can be sad but in the way Bill feels when her foster mother can’t be bothered to buy her a Christmas present. It really is the perfect theme for her.