The X-Files (composition)#Triple X version

"The X-Files" typically used more instrumental music than most hour-long dramas. According to the "Behind the Truth" segment on the Season 1 DVD, Mark Snow created the echo effect on his famous X-Files theme song by accident. Snow said that he had gone through several revisions, but Chris Carter felt that something was not quite right. Carter walked out of the room and Snow put his hand and forearm on his keyboard in frustration. Snow said, "this sound was in the keyboard. And that was it."

The whistle melody comes from an old sample from the Proteus line of synth products called "Whistling Joe" and the whistling of Snow's wife, Glynn.{{Cite web|last=Greiving|first=Tim|date=January 22, 2016|title=As 'X-Files' Returns, Meet The Man Behind The Theme Song|url=https://www.npr.org/2016/01/22/463971641/as-x-files-returns-meet-the-man-behind-the-theme-song|access-date=July 9, 2020|website=All Things Considered|publisher=NPR|language=en}}

The single debuted at number two on the UK Singles Chart on March 30, 1996, and stayed there for three weeks. In France, the single entered the chart at number 42 on April 6, 1996, and climbed to number two four weeks later. It remained for five weeks at this position, behind Robert Miles's hit "Children", then topped the chart for a sole week, becoming the second instrumental number-one hit on the French charts.{{citation needed|date=May 2018}} It totaled 12 weeks in the top ten and 30 weeks in the top 50. The single re-charted in October 1998, but remained in the lower positions.

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UK CD and 12-inch single; European CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=The X-Files|others=Mark Snow|year=1996|type=UK CD single liner notes|publisher=Warner Bros. Records|id=W0341CD, 9362-43693-2}}{{cite AV media notes|title=The X-Files|others=Mark Snow|year=1996|type=UK 12-inch single sleeve|publisher=Warner Bros. Records|id=W0341T, 9362-43693-0}}{{cite AV media notes|title=The X-Files|others=Mark Snow|year=1996|type=European CD single liner notes|publisher=Warner Bros. Records|id=9362-43693-9}}

1. "The X-Files" (original version) – 3:25
2. "The X-Files" (Terrestrial mix) – 4:20
3. "The X-Files" (P.M. Dawn remix) – 3:59

UK cassette single{{cite AV media notes|title=The X-Files|others=Mark Snow|year=1996|type=UK cassette single sleeve|publisher=Warner Bros. Records|id=W0341C, 5439-17645-4}}

1. "The X-Files" (original version) – 3:25
2. "The X-Files" (Terrestrial mix) – 4:20

German maxi-CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=The X-Files|others=Mark Snow|year=1996|type=German maxi-CD single liner notes|publisher=Warner Bros. Records|id=9362 43722-2}}

1. "The X-Files" (main theme) – 3:25
2. "The X-Files" (DJ Delicious remix) – 5:19
3. "The X-Files" (Ravers Nature remix) – 6:02

German 12-inch single{{cite AV media notes|title=The X-Files|others=Mark Snow|year=1996|type=German 12-inch single sleeve|publisher=Warner Bros. Records|id=9362 43722-0}}

:A1. "The X-Files" (DJ Delicious remix) – 5:19

:B1. "The X-Files" (Ravers Nature remix) – 6:02

:B2. "The X-Files" (main theme) – 3:25

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French CD and 12-inch single (remixes){{cite AV media notes|title=The X-Files|others=Mark Snow|year=1996|type=French remix CD single liner notes|publisher=Warner Bros. Records|id=9362-43758-9}}{{cite AV media notes|title=The X-Files|others=Mark Snow|year=1996|type=French remix 12-inch single sleeve|publisher=Warner Bros. Records|id=9362-43758-0}}

1. "The X-Files" (Secret Sessions extended mix) – 6:22
2. "The X-Files" (Secret Sessions radio edit) – 4:19
3. "The X-Files" (Map Mystery mix) – 5:27
4. "The X-Files" (Terrestrial mix) – 4:20

Australian CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=The X-Files|others=Mark Snow|year=1996|type=Australian CD single disc notes|publisher=Warner Bros. Records|id=9362436932}}

1. "The X-Files" (main title)
2. "The X-Files" (Flexifinger Terrestrial mix)
3. "The X-Files" (P.M. Dawn remix)

Japanese mini-CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=The X-Files|others=Mark Snow|year=1996|type=Japanese mini-CD single liner notes|publisher=Warner Bros. Records|id=WPDR-3031}}

1. "The X-Files"
2. "The X-Files" (P.M. Dawn remix)

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• Composed by Mark Snow
• Terrestrial mix: remixed and produced Flexifinger
• P.M. Dawn remix: guitar by Cameron Greider, remixed by P.M. Dawn, synthesizers by Henry Hay and Maurice Luke, recorded and mixed by Michael Fossenkemper
• Ravers nature remix: produced and remixed by John Bogota, Pedro Ferrari and Roy Ströbel
• Secret Session remixes: produced by Special Agents for MAP Productions, engineered and mixed by RoBo
• Map Mystery mix: produced and mixed by Moorcroft and Prins for MAP Productions, engineered and programmed by TK for MAP Productions

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{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=France|type=single|artist=Mark Snow|title=Main Theme X. Files|award=Gold|relyear=1996|certyear=1996|access-date=November 7, 2020}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|title=X-Files Theme|artist=Mark Snow|type=single|award=Silver|relyear=1996|certyear=1996|id=8372-2615-1|access-date=November 7, 2020}}

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{{Infobox song

| name = X-Files

| cover = X-files (DJ Dado).jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = DJ Dado

| album = The Album

| B-side = "The X-Files" remixes

| released = 1996

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = * Dream trance{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EHcoDwAAQBAJ&dq=The+X-Files+dj+dado&pg=PA96|first=Riccardo|last=Sada|title=EDM E Dio Mixa|date=19 June 2017|page=97|publisher=Nobook |isbn=9788898591305 |accessdate=3 April 2023}}{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4WuyEAAAQBAJ&dq=The+X-Files+dj+dado&pg=PA186|title=Hüsker Dü?|date=7 March 2017|page=186|isbn=9783744886802 |accessdate=3 April 2023 |last1=Pistole |first1=Peter |publisher=BoD – Books on Demand }}

• dance{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-album-mw0000414672|title=DJ Dado - The Album |accessdate=3 April 2023|work=AllMusic}}
• trance
• house{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m6IjEAAAQBAJ&dq=The+X-Files+dj+dado&pg=PT73|first=Andrew J.|last=Turvill|title=Sweet Dreams|date=25 March 2021|publisher=Grosvenor House |isbn=9781839755330 |accessdate=3 April 2023}}
• techno{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hK0rPUF85loC&dq=The+X-Files+dj+dado&pg=PA538|first=David|last=Mansour|title=From Abba to Zoom|date=June 2005|page=538|publisher=Andrews McMeel |isbn=9780740751189 |accessdate=3 April 2023}}
• disco{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8_0ZBwAAQBAJ&dq=The+X-Files+dj+dado&pg=PR12|first=Sharon R.|last=Yang|title=The X-Files and Literature|date=2007|page=xii|publisher=Cambridge Scholars |isbn=9781443815468 |accessdate=3 April 2023}}

| length = 3:57

| label =

• ZYX
• Subway

| writer = Mark Snow

| producer =

• DJ Dado
• Robert Gallo Salsotto

| prev_title = Face It

| prev_year = 1995

| next_title = Metropolis - The Legend of Babel

| next_year = 1996

}}

At the same time Snow's original version was experiencing chart success, Italian producer DJ Dado covered the song. His version became a top-10 hit in several countries, reaching number one in Denmark, though it failed to reach the top 10 in France and Germany. In the US, this version was featured on the Pure Moods compilation album 1997 re-release.

CD single

1. "X-Files" (DJ Dado paranormal activity mix) – 6:38
2. "X-Files" (Claudio Diva sub-dream activity mix) – 8:40

CD maxi

1. "X-Files" (radio edit) – 3:57
2. "X-Files" (DJ Dado paranormal activity mix) – 6:42
3. "X-Files" (Claudio Diva sub-dream paranormal activity mix) – 8:44

CD maxi

1. "X-Files" (radio edit) – 3:57
2. "X-Files" (DJ Dado paranormal activity mix) – 6:41
3. "X-Files" (Tom Wilson Dyme mix) – 6:38
4. "X-Files" (dV8 deviant mix) – 6:29
5. "X-Files" (freak bros area 51 mix) – 6:53
6. "X-Files" (Claudio Diva sub-dream paranormal activity mix) – 8:44

12-inch maxi

1. "X-Files" (DJ Dado paranormal activity mix) – 6:42
2. "X-Files" (Claudio Diva sub-dream paranormal activity mix) – 8:44

CD maxi – remixes

1. "X-Files" (2 Cowboys remix) – 5:07
2. "X-Files" (Reygroove remix) – 5:02
3. "X-Files" (Valez & L. Antolini remix) – 6:25
4. "X-Files" (Alex Voghi remix) – 6:25
5. "X-Files" (Miki B. remix – flute experience part I) – 8:38
6. "X-Files" (Moroldo & Mensi mix) – 4:35
7. "X-Files" (Hornbostel & M. Marvin remix) – 5:18
8. "X-Files" (Fabio Locati remix) – 6:18

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The song was also covered by Triple X. This cover was less successful than the original version or DJ Dado's cover, but it did reach number two in Australia and was certified Gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association.

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{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=1996|certyear=1996|certref=|access-date=November 7, 2020}}

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{{Infobox song

| name = The X-Tended File

| cover =

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = The X-Club

| album =

| A-side = The X-Tended File 7-inch Mix

| B-side = The X-Tended File 12-inch Mix

| released = April 22, 1996 (Australia){{cite web|url=https://i.imgur.com/7uVWZaB.png|title=New Releases – Product Available from : 22/4/96 (from The ARIA Report Issue No. 322)|publisher=ARIA|via=Imgur|access-date=December 11, 2017}}

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue =

| genre =

| length = 3:55

| label = Pro DJ International

| writer = Mark Snow

| producer = Clock

| prev_title =

| prev_year =

| next_title =

| next_year =

}}

A version by the X-Club was released in Australasia in 1996.

{{Infobox song

| name = The X-Files Theme

| cover = The X-Files Theme Japan.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = various artists

| album = The X-Files: The Album

| A-side = Tubular X

| B-side = {{ubl|"The X-Files Theme"|"The Source of Secrets"}}

| released = June 8, 1998 (Japan)

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue =

| genre =

| length = 3:53

| label = Twentieth-Century Fox

| writer =

• Mark Snow
• Mike Oldfield

| producer =

• Mike Oldfield and others

| chronology = Mike Oldfield

| prev_title = Women of Ireland

| prev_year = 1997

| next_title = Man in the Rain

| next_year = 1998

}}

"The X-Files Theme" was released as a Japan only EP in 1998{{cite web |url=http://www.hibernaculum.de/maxi-cd/tubular-x-jap/index.htm |title=Tubular X |publisher=Hibernaculum.de |language=de |access-date=April 17, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080324132957/http://www.hibernaculum.de/maxi-cd/tubular-x-jap/index.htm |archive-date=March 24, 2008 }} from the soundtrack album The X-Files: The Album for The X-Files movie.

The maxi-CD includes four remixes of Mark Snow's theme to the television series, The X-Files. Notably "Tubular X" is part Snow's theme and consists of parts of Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells. Another track from Oldfield also appears, "The Source of Secrets", the opening piece from his Tubular Bells III album, which also based upon the same theme from the original Tubular Bells.

1. "Tubular X" – Mike Oldfield – 3:53
2. "The X-Files Theme" – The Dust Brothers – 3:27
3. "The X-Files Theme" – Satoshi Tomiie radio edit – 4:17
4. "The X-Files Theme" – R.H. Factor Pop radio edit – 3:37
5. "The Source of Secrets" – Mike Oldfield – 5:33

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{{Reflist}}

{{X-Files}}

{{Mike Oldfield}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:X-Files (song), The}}

Category:1990s instrumentals

Category:1993 compositions

Category:1993 songs

Category:1996 singles

Category:1998 singles

Category:20th Century Fox Records singles

Category:DJ Dado songs

Category:Mark Snow songs

Tubular X

Category:Number-one singles in Denmark

Category:Number-one singles in Scotland

Category:SNEP Top Singles number-one singles

Category:Songs written by Mike Oldfield

Category:Television drama theme songs

Category:The X-Files music

Category:Warner Music Group singles

Category:ZYX Music singles