The 'Mission: Impossible' theme, composed by Lolo Schifrin, features a distinctive pattern of notes that encode the initials 'MI' for 'Mission: Impossible.' Schifrin, who had never seen the TV series before composing the theme, created it in a mere three minutes under pressure. Its jazzy sound and unique rhythm have helped it become synonymous with spy adventures, especially as Tom Cruise's character continues to embody the theme's essence in the ongoing film franchise. Schifrin reflects on the unexpected success of the motif, which has left a lasting impression on audiences.
Schifrin wrote the theme without seeing any of the series. 'All I knew was that it would start with the lighting of a fuse,' Schifrin told the Washington Post.
'I sat at my desk and wrote that theme in exactly one and a half minutes,' he told Emmy magazine in 2016. 'It was not inspiration; it was a need to do it. It was a little mission - impossible!'
Schifrin's jazzy spy motif has not just survived but thrived through many a dangerous mission over the years, sending Cruise's Ethan Hunt off running to do the impossible.
'Really, I had no idea this theme would catch on like it did,' Schifrin told the Washington Post. 'It was some kind of magic connection with people.'
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