Elektra Entertainment

Background

Elektra Entertainment was a music entertainment subsidiary of Elektra Records.

1st Logo (1984-1989)

Visuals: There is a color bar test card. Pieces of the test card fall off to reveal a black television tube on a shady tan/cream gradient background with "elektra" written in an orange cursive font below the TV tube with "ENTERTAINMENT" in black below "elektra". As the logo zooms in, an orange sunrise occurs in the TV tube. The logo shines, and it fades to black.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: There are sound effects of glass shattering followed by two dramatic notes. Then, a calm piano/harp tune plays as the logo shines. When the logo fades to black, there is a another shattering glass sound effect.

Availability: It appears on some music videos on VHS during this era.

2nd Logo (1989-2004)

Visuals: On a yellow background, there is a blue capital "E" in the background. Suddenly, a red lowercase "e" bounces into view and hops towards the capital "E", which slowly bumps closer to the screen. The lowercase "e" bounces around a bit until landing and balancing on the tip of the capital "E", which turns black, hops and lands on its lower corner as the background turns to an ultramarine-blue gradient color with a spotlight, and the text "Elektra Entertainment" appears in a sans serif font. A registered mark appears on the corner of the screen.

Variant: A variant without the registered mark also exists, which appears on the VHS release of Metallica: Live S**t: Binge & Purge.

Technique: Cel animation produced by The Ink Tank and directed by R.O. Blechman, based on the original logo design by Pentagram.

Audio: Strange background music from some type of percussion instrument with vibraphone notes synced with the bouncing of the letters. A low-pitched "BOING!" plays when the lowercase "e" lands on the capital "E".

Audio Trivia: The low-pitched "BOING!" sound effect heard in this logo is a portion of "Audio Fidelity, Boings (1st boing)", but low-pitched.

Availability: Found on all music video releases by Elektra.

Also seen on the very first Nickelodeon U.S. VHS releases from 1989.
It also appeared on The Best of Friends VHS and DVD volumes after the music video featuring the full theme song.