Handy v. Theme From Home Improvement (I'll Repair For You)

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Which is better - Theme From Home Improvement or Handy?

Handy
15
41%
Theme From Home Improvement (I'll Repair For You)
22
59%
 
Total votes: 37

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QuantumError
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Handy v. Theme From Home Improvement (I'll Repair For You)

Post by QuantumError »

For those of you who didn't know, back in the mid-90's, Al recorded a parody of the song I'll Be There For You, most well-known for being the theme to the hit TV show, Friends. The parody was joked around as having been written and recorded to have been the theme to the other hit TV show, Home Improvement. I don't know how much of that was ever true, but the premise was funny. The song is somewhat like our modern hit, Handy, and is about home repair. Theme From Home Improvement was never officially released, but was played live at concerts during that time. If you haven't heard I'll Repair For You, anyone with a browser and favorite search engine can find recordings of it quite easily.

Anyways, I'm curious for the discussion as to who prefers Handy and who prefers I'll Repair For You.


Right off the bat I will say that Handy recycles many of the jokes from Theme From Home Improvement. I don't find a problem with that, however, since Handy was released and the other never was.

But my vote goes for Theme From Home Improvement. My first and biggest reason is that I enjoy the original MUCH more. I also loved Friends and Home Improvement, so the blend was kinda nice. While I don't think it could have ever succeeded as a lead single, I think it could have easily replaced a second or third spot parody. But, I must say, I wasn't an Al fan during this time and I also didn't regularly watch either of these shows until the 2000's, so I can't speak for how big this could have been back then.

What do you all think?
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Re: Handy v. Theme From Home Improvement (I'll Repair For Yo

Post by Big Spoon »

Theme From Home Improvement all the way - easily one of my favorite concert-only songs. Whereas Handy is just pretty meh.
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Re: Handy v. Theme From Home Improvement (I'll Repair For Yo

Post by algonacchick »

I love "Theme From Home Improvement"! I think I actually like it more than the theme from "Friends". As far as "Handy", I think Al did a great job with a crappy song. It's cute and all, but TFHI wins hands down!

If you are saying that you prefer the theme from "Friends" to "Fancy", that I agree with, by a long shot.

Does that make sense?
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Re: Handy v. Theme From Home Improvement (I'll Repair For Yo

Post by TMBJon »

I'll be the first one to stand up for Handy. Because the subject matter is a more complicated (and, of course, worse) song, I think the end result is a much funnier version of the same premise.
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Re: Handy v. Theme From Home Improvement (I'll Repair For Yo

Post by algonacchick »

Wow, so far they're tied!
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Re: Handy v. Theme From Home Improvement (I'll Repair For Yo

Post by mellow weasel »

As I already mentioned elsewhere, I find "Fancy" rather irritating, which makes me skip "Handy" most of the time, so I vote for "I'll repair for you".
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Re: Handy v. Theme From Home Improvement (I'll Repair For Yo

Post by Well, Well, Well »

I'm tired of defending Handy but it is a much better song than I'll Repair for You.
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Re: Handy v. Theme From Home Improvement (I'll Repair For Yo

Post by Burger »

mellow weasel wrote:As I already mentioned elsewhere, I find "Fancy" rather irritating, which makes me skip "Handy" most of the time, so I vote for "I'll repair for you".
Exactly, Fancy is like nails grinding on a chalkboard for me. I like both actually. Handy is a huge improvement over fancy also.
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Re: Handy v. Theme From Home Improvement (I'll Repair For Yo

Post by Kevbo1987 »

I think "Handy" is a better-written song than "Theme from Home Improvement." To me, "Handy" improved on the concept.
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Re: Handy v. Theme From Home Improvement (I'll Repair For Yo

Post by Mad Genius »

Comparing "Handy" to the "Theme from Home Improvement (I'll Repair for You)" is like comparing apples to oranges. Considering periods that "Repair" and "Handy" were recorded, Al has managed to retool (no pun intended) an old idea, and manage to keep it fresh.
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