I grew up in the 90s. That much is obvious with today’s topic. I’ve written about Hey Arnold before, but back then I focused way more on its cinematic side rather than its cultural and especially musical impact. Today, I want to shift that a bit and explain why this cartoon feels like one of the last windows that connected jazz, a genre that was already fading for many, with a broader audience. Especially kids who grew up watching this brilliant kid navigate life in a New York that felt strangely real.
From the opening theme to the background music that carries the emotions of each scene, jazz is everywhere in that show. It’s not just decoration, it’s the backbone. It gives rhythm to the dialogue, adds depth to what the characters are feeling, and quietly teaches you what good musical storytelling sounds like. It’s not random that so many of the best shows from the 90s leaned on genres like rock, jazz, and soul. There was intention behind that.
Think about it. Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, the original one, is still remembered for that explosive intro driven by heavy metal.
https://youtube.com/shorts/0VDj8JCOwL0?si=JWTZy7GXOxQPqcYx
https://youtu.be/1hJKhiew2O0?si=n2PoVktqKVwNE_hH
Goosebumps had that eerie, unsettling theme that mixed electronic sounds with an industrial edge. Those openings alone set the tone before the story even started. Music wasn’t an afterthought, it was part of the identity. And then you get to Hey Arnold. That’s where things slow down, breathe a little more. You can feel the influence of legends like Charlie Parker and Thelonious Monk in the atmosphere. It’s subtle, but it’s there, shaping everything. Honestly, I doubt a channel like Nickelodeon would take that kind of risk today. And if we look beyond that, shows like Saint Seiya brought a completely different musical palette, blending rock, synth, and pop in a way that felt huge. It was like a masterclass in how to score a story.
And of course, Dragon Ball Z. For me, that’s the crown jewel. Rock energy, but tailored for kids in a way that made it feel epic. When you look back at all of this, it’s almost impossible not to see why so many of us ended up loving these genres. That connection didn’t come out of nowhere. It was built slowly, episode after episode.
https://youtu.be/UXqdCpIUjfQ?si=4lDjZ30GYhGJC9-i
https://youtu.be/jSZYZYMR0Yg?si=DwuZd9w4aLfe3Mmk
Jazz, in particular, has always carried this reputation of being reserved for musicians, for people who study it, who understand it deeply. It’s something you learn in conservatories, something associated with technical mastery. There’s even that famous line from Charlie Parker about real musicians playing jazz. Whether you agree with that or not, it says a lot about how the genre sees itself.
I honestly don’t know how things are being scored today in the shows kids are watching. Maybe there are great things out there, maybe not. But I do know that what I experienced had a richness that stayed with me. And I’m not saying my generation had it better. I’m just saying that, for me, my taste, my curiosity, my love for music probably started right there, with Hey Arnold and everything that came with it.
https://youtu.be/UojxqsDJrwY?si=iTVgobDbONQgO_xv
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