The popular children’s program, Reading Rainbow, made a comeback over the weekend with a new host, and artist Bukola from Vancouver had the privilege of reimagining the iconic theme song.
Expressing her excitement via email, Bukola shared, “I’m still in disbelief that I am the vocalist for the new Reading Rainbow theme song. It’s truly an honor.”
Originally composed by Steve Horlick, Dennis Neil Kleinman, and Janet Weir for the show’s debut in 1983, the Reading Rainbow theme song was initially sung by Tina Fabrique for 16 years. Subsequently, Bahamian singer Johnny Kemp and later Chaka Khan recorded different versions until the show went off the air in 2006.
Bukola reminisced about watching the show with her sister, who along with their father, adored the theme song and sang it throughout their home. The artist’s opportunity arose through a contact from the Vancouver International Film Festival Amp program, leading to a demo request from Sony for the Reading Rainbow reboot. Following the submission of her version, Bukola landed the job about a month later.
Collaborating with her vocal coach, Lorraine Lawson, and producer, Anthony Anderson, Bukola aimed to pay tribute to the original song while incorporating her artistic touch. She particularly enjoyed adding vocal layers and harmonies, which enhanced the magical feel of their rendition. The mixing of the song by Steve Smith was also acknowledged for its excellence.
The revival of Reading Rainbow commenced on October 4, with the first of four episodes airing on YouTube. The new host, Mychal Threets, known as Mychal the Librarian, was introduced in the episode, which featured guests Jamie Chung from The Hangover Part II and III, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach from The Bear, demonstrating reading to cats at a local animal shelter.
Bukola’s rendition of the theme song, keeping the original lyrics intact, serves as a fitting introduction to the show’s new era. Describing her inspiration, Bukola stated, “Listening to [Tina Fabrique’s] recording and various live performances always felt like a warm hug. I knew that I wanted the people who listened to the new version to also feel like they were being wrapped in a warm embrace when they heard the song.”