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The X-Files (composition)

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"The X-Files" is an instrumental written and produced by American film and television composer Mark Snow. On its parent album, The Truth and the Light: Music from the X-Files, the track is titled "Materia Primoris". It is a remixed version of the original theme Snow composed for the science fiction television series The X-Files in 1993. The composition was released as a single in 1996 and achieved chart success, particularly in France, where it reached number one on the SNEP Singles Chart. The composition has since been covered by many artists, including DJ Dado and Triple X; DJ Dado's version was a major hit in Europe while Triple X's version reached number two in Australia.

"The X-Files"
Single by Mark Snow
from the album The Truth and the Light: Music from the X-Files
B-side"The X-Files" remixes
Released1996 (1996)
Length3:25
Label
Songwriter(s)Mark Snow
Producer(s)Mark Snow
Music video
"The X-Files" on YouTube

Song information

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"The X-Files" typically used more instrumental music than most hour-long dramas. According to the "Behind the Truth" segment on the Season 1 DVD, Mark Snow created the echo effect on his famous X-Files theme song by accident. Snow said that he had gone through several revisions, but Chris Carter felt that something was not quite right. Carter walked out of the room and Snow put his hand and forearm on his keyboard in frustration. Snow said, "this sound was in the keyboard. And that was it."

The whistle melody comes from an old sample from the Proteus line of synth products called "Whistling Joe" and the whistling of Snow's wife, Glynn.[1]

Chart performance

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The single debuted at number two on the UK Singles Chart on March 30, 1996, and stayed there for three weeks.[2] In France, the single entered the chart at number 42 on April 6, 1996, and climbed to number two four weeks later. It remained for five weeks at this position, behind Robert Miles's hit "Children", then topped the chart for a sole week, becoming the second instrumental number-one hit on the French charts.[citation needed] It totaled 12 weeks in the top ten and 30 weeks in the top 50. The single re-charted in October 1998, but remained in the lower positions.

Track listings

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Credits

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  • Composed by Mark Snow
  • Terrestrial mix: remixed and produced Flexifinger
  • P.M. Dawn remix: guitar by Cameron Greider, remixed by P.M. Dawn, synthesizers by Henry Hay and Maurice Luke, recorded and mixed by Michael Fossenkemper
  • Ravers nature remix: produced and remixed by John Bogota, Pedro Ferrari and Roy Ströbel
  • Secret Session remixes: produced by Special Agents for MAP Productions, engineered and mixed by RoBo
  • Map Mystery mix: produced and mixed by Moorcroft and Prins for MAP Productions, engineered and programmed by TK for MAP Productions

Charts

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Certifications and sales

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
France (SNEP)[36] Gold 250,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[37] Silver 200,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

DJ Dado version

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"X-Files"
 
Single by DJ Dado
from the album The Album
B-side"The X-Files" remixes
Released1996
Genre
Length3:57
Label
Songwriter(s)Mark Snow
Producer(s)
  • DJ Dado
  • Robert Gallo Salsotto
DJ Dado singles chronology
"Face It"
(1995) 		"X-Files"
(1996) 		"Metropolis - The Legend of Babel"
(1996)

At the same time Snow's original version was experiencing chart success, Italian producer DJ Dado covered the song. His version became a top-10 hit in several countries, reaching number one in Denmark, though it failed to reach the top 10 in France and Germany. In the US, this version was featured on the Pure Moods compilation album 1997 re-release.

Track listings

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CD single

  1. "X-Files" (DJ Dado paranormal activity mix) – 6:38
  2. "X-Files" (Claudio Diva sub-dream activity mix) – 8:40

CD maxi

  1. "X-Files" (radio edit) – 3:57
  2. "X-Files" (DJ Dado paranormal activity mix) – 6:42
  3. "X-Files" (Claudio Diva sub-dream paranormal activity mix) – 8:44

CD maxi

  1. "X-Files" (radio edit) – 3:57
  2. "X-Files" (DJ Dado paranormal activity mix) – 6:41
  3. "X-Files" (Tom Wilson Dyme mix) – 6:38
  4. "X-Files" (dV8 deviant mix) – 6:29
  5. "X-Files" (freak bros area 51 mix) – 6:53
  6. "X-Files" (Claudio Diva sub-dream paranormal activity mix) – 8:44

12-inch maxi

  1. "X-Files" (DJ Dado paranormal activity mix) – 6:42
  2. "X-Files" (Claudio Diva sub-dream paranormal activity mix) – 8:44

CD maxi – remixes

  1. "X-Files" (2 Cowboys remix) – 5:07
  2. "X-Files" (Reygroove remix) – 5:02
  3. "X-Files" (Valez & L. Antolini remix) – 6:25
  4. "X-Files" (Alex Voghi remix) – 6:25
  5. "X-Files" (Miki B. remix – flute experience part I) – 8:38
  6. "X-Files" (Moroldo & Mensi mix) – 4:35
  7. "X-Files" (Hornbostel & M. Marvin remix) – 5:18
  8. "X-Files" (Fabio Locati remix) – 6:18

Charts

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Triple X version

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The song was also covered by Triple X. This cover was less successful than the original version or DJ Dado's cover, but it did reach number two in Australia and was certified Gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association.

Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[65] Gold 35,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

The X-Club version

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"The X-Tended File"
Single by The X-Club
A-side"The X-Tended File 7-inch Mix"
B-side"The X-Tended File 12-inch Mix"
ReleasedApril 22, 1996 (Australia)[66]
Length3:55
LabelPro DJ International
Songwriter(s)Mark Snow
Producer(s)Clock

A version by the X-Club was released in Australasia in 1996.

Charts

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Chart (1996) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[67] 93

The X-Files movie single and Mike Oldfield version

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"The X-Files Theme"
 
Single by various artists
from the album The X-Files: The Album
A-side"Tubular X"
B-side
  • "The X-Files Theme"
  • "The Source of Secrets"
ReleasedJune 8, 1998 (Japan)
Length3:53
LabelTwentieth-Century Fox
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Mike Oldfield and others
Mike Oldfield singles chronology
"Women of Ireland"
(1997) 		"The X-Files Theme"
(1998) 		"Man in the Rain"
(1998)

"The X-Files Theme" was released as a Japan only EP in 1998[68] from the soundtrack album The X-Files: The Album for The X-Files movie.

The maxi-CD includes four remixes of Mark Snow's theme to the television series, The X-Files. Notably "Tubular X" is part Snow's theme and consists of parts of Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells. Another track from Oldfield also appears, "The Source of Secrets", the opening piece from his Tubular Bells III album, which also based upon the same theme from the original Tubular Bells.

Track listing

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  1. "Tubular X" – Mike Oldfield – 3:53
  2. "The X-Files Theme" – The Dust Brothers – 3:27
  3. "The X-Files Theme" – Satoshi Tomiie radio edit – 4:17
  4. "The X-Files Theme" – R.H. Factor Pop radio edit – 3:37
  5. "The Source of Secrets" – Mike Oldfield – 5:33

References

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  1. ^ Greiving, Tim (January 22, 2016). "As 'X-Files' Returns, Meet The Man Behind The Theme Song". All Things Considered. NPR. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 19, 2019.
  3. ^ The X-Files (UK CD single liner notes). Mark Snow. Warner Bros. Records. 1996. W0341CD, 9362-43693-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  4. ^ The X-Files (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Mark Snow. Warner Bros. Records. 1996. W0341T, 9362-43693-0.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  5. ^ The X-Files (European CD single liner notes). Mark Snow. Warner Bros. Records. 1996. 9362-43693-9.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  6. ^ The X-Files (UK cassette single sleeve). Mark Snow. Warner Bros. Records. 1996. W0341C, 5439-17645-4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  7. ^ The X-Files (German maxi-CD single liner notes). Mark Snow. Warner Bros. Records. 1996. 9362 43722-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. ^ The X-Files (German 12-inch single sleeve). Mark Snow. Warner Bros. Records. 1996. 9362 43722-0.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. ^ The X-Files (French remix CD single liner notes). Mark Snow. Warner Bros. Records. 1996. 9362-43758-9.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. ^ The X-Files (French remix 12-inch single sleeve). Mark Snow. Warner Bros. Records. 1996. 9362-43758-0.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. ^ The X-Files (Australian CD single disc notes). Mark Snow. Warner Bros. Records. 1996. 9362436932.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. ^ The X-Files (Japanese mini-CD single liner notes). Mark Snow. Warner Bros. Records. 1996. WPDR-3031.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. ^ "Mark Snow – The X-Files". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  14. ^ "Mark Snow – The X-Files" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
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  16. ^ "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13, no. 19. May 11, 1996. p. 24. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
  17. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13, no. 23. June 8, 1996. p. 16. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
  18. ^ "Mark Snow: The X-Files" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat.
  19. ^ "Mark Snow – The X-Files" (in French). Les classement single.
  20. ^ "Mark Snow – The X-Files" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
  21. ^ "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13, no. 32. August 10, 1996. p. 11. Retrieved March 6, 2018.
  22. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – The X Files". Irish Singles Chart.
  23. ^ "Mark Snow – The X Files" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  24. ^ "Mark Snow – The X Files" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
  25. ^ a b "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  26. ^ "Mark Snow – The X-Files". Singles Top 100.
  27. ^ "Mark Snow – The X-Files". Swiss Singles Chart.
  28. ^ "Mark Snow Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
  29. ^ a b "Jaaroverzichten 1996" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved June 19, 2019.
  30. ^ a b "Rapports annuels 1996" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved June 19, 2019.
  31. ^ a b "Music & Media 1996 in Review – Year End Sales Charts" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13, no. 51/52. December 21, 1996. p. 12. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
  32. ^ a b "Tops de L'année | Top Singles 1996" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved November 7, 2020.
  33. ^ "Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 1996" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved August 7, 2015.
  34. ^ a b "Årslista Singlar, 1996" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved March 19, 2020.
  35. ^ "Top 100 Singles 1996". Music Week. January 18, 1997. p. 25.
  36. ^ "French single certifications – Mark Snow – Main Theme X. Files" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved November 7, 2020.
  37. ^ "British single certifications – Mark Snow – X-Files Theme". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved November 7, 2020.
  38. ^ Sada, Riccardo (June 19, 2017). EDM E Dio Mixa. Nobook. p. 97. ISBN 9788898591305. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  39. ^ a b Pistole, Peter (March 7, 2017). Hüsker Dü?. BoD – Books on Demand. p. 186. ISBN 9783744886802. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  40. ^ a b Mansour, David (June 2005). From Abba to Zoom. Andrews McMeel. p. 538. ISBN 9780740751189. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  41. ^ "DJ Dado - The Album". AllMusic. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  42. ^ Turvill, Andrew J. (March 25, 2021). Sweet Dreams. Grosvenor House. ISBN 9781839755330. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  43. ^ Yang, Sharon R. (2007). The X-Files and Literature. Cambridge Scholars. p. xii. ISBN 9781443815468. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  44. ^ "DJ Dado – X-Files" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  45. ^ "DJ Dado – X-Files" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  46. ^ "DJ Dado – X-Files" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  47. ^ "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13, no. 18. May 4, 1996. p. 30. Retrieved November 7, 2020.
  48. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13, no. 19. May 11, 1996. p. 22. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
  49. ^ "DJ Dado: X-Files" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat.
  50. ^ "DJ Dado – X-Files" (in French). Les classement single.
  51. ^ "DJ Dado – X-Files" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
  52. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (4.5. – 10.5. '96)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). May 4, 1996. p. 26. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
  53. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – The X Files". Irish Singles Chart.
  54. ^ "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13, no. 16. April 20, 1996. p. 20. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
  55. ^ "DJ Dado – X-Files". Singles Top 100.
  56. ^ "DJ Dado – X-Files". Swiss Singles Chart.
  57. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 19, 2019.
  58. ^ "Jahreshitparade Singles 1996" (in German). Retrieved June 19, 2019.
  59. ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1996" (in German). Retrieved June 19, 2019.
  60. ^ "Triple X – X-Files' Theme (Version Dance)". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  61. ^ "Triple X – X-Files' Theme (Version Dance)" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  62. ^ "Triple X – X-Files' Theme (Version Dance)" (in French). Les classement single.
  63. ^ "Triple X – X-Files' Theme (Version Dance)". Top 40 Singles.
  64. ^ "Triple X – X-Files' Theme (Version Dance)". Singles Top 100.
  65. ^ a b "1996 ARIA Singles Chart". ARIA. Retrieved November 7, 2020.
  66. ^ "New Releases – Product Available from : 22/4/96 (from The ARIA Report Issue No. 322)". ARIA. Retrieved December 11, 2017 – via Imgur.
  67. ^ "The Australian Top 100 Singles Chart – Week Ending 16 Jun 1996". ARIA. Retrieved December 11, 2017 – via Imgur. N.B. The HP column displays the highest peak reached.
  68. ^ "Tubular X" (in German). Hibernaculum.de. Archived from the original on March 24, 2008. Retrieved April 17, 2008.
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