Appearances in Popular Culture
The tune is perhaps most famous as the opening theme to the original BBC TV show Top Gear, and for the 2002 format of the show, albeit a modernised cover version. In one episode, James May recreated the tune using nothing but exhaust notes from several cars, while in another episode the tune in its full version was heard to be played over the radio (most likely Sacramento Area radio) of the cars which the three presenters tested in America (the Chevrolet Corvette C6 ZR1, the Dodge Challenger 2008 and the Cadillac CTS-V). During the 18th series of the show, ex Guns 'N' Roses guitarist Slash played his version of the tune. "Jessica" is also used for most international versions of Top Gear, including the US version, which used it as its theme only during the first season.
The tune was also featured in the movies Field of Dreams, Did You Hear About the Morgans?, Fear and Lassie, and was used as the opening theme tune for the Dr. Dean Edell radio show.
More recently, the tune was featured in the video game Guitar Hero II, in the "Relentless Riffs" section of the PlayStation 2 version and in the "Return of the Shred" section of the Xbox 360 version. It also made an appearance in the phone version of Guitar Hero 3 and has been released as DLC for most versions of Rock Band as of 20 November 2012.
In television series, "Jessica" has been featured in The Simpsons episode "Little Big Girl" and the episode "Randy in Charge" of My Name is Earl. In addition, during the Mystery Science Theater 3000 episode "The Thing That Couldn't Die", Tom Servo would mimic the first few bars whenever someone referred to a character named Jessica by name.
The tune was featured as background music to an AAMCO commercial.
The tune was featured on the "Local on the 8s" monthly playlists several times between 2000 and 2010 on The Weather Channel.
CFMJ Toronto's Leaf Talk with Andy Frost used the song to conclude its programs.
The tune is often played as background music on Angel Stadium of Anaheim's sound system as fans leave the stadium after an Angels loss.
The tune makes an appearance in the 2012 version of The Three Stooges during the scene where Curly tries to dislodge a peanut from the blow hole of a dolphin
Read more about this topic: Jessica (instrumental)
Famous quotes containing the words appearances, popular and/or culture:
“We often think ourselves inconsistent creatures, when we are the furthest from it, and all the variety of shapes and contradictory appearances we put on, are in truth but so many different attempts to gratify the same governing appetite.”
—Laurence Sterne (1713–1768)
“If our entertainment culture seems debased and unsatisfying, the hope is that our children will create something of greater worth. But it is as if we expect them to create out of nothing, like God, for the encouragement of creativity is in the popular mind, opposed to instruction. There is little sense that creativity must grow out of tradition, even when it is critical of that tradition, and children are scarcely being given the materials on which their creativity could work”
—C. John Sommerville (20th century)
“Our culture still holds mothers almost exclusively responsible when things go wrong with the kids. Sensing this ultimate accountability, women are understandably reluctant to give up control or veto power. If the finger of blame was eventually going to point in your direction, wouldn’t you be?”
—Ron Taffel (20th century)