Beck apparently refused repeated bids to write the opening theme song for Mad Men. While the California troubadour remains cagey on the details, he appears to have been the first choice to score the series’ opening credits, ahead of RJD2.

This veiled revelation appeared as part of Beck’s recent Billboard cover story (via Stereogum) , during a discussion of the singer’s “poor instincts”. “Several years ago, he turned down repeated requests to write the theme song for a new cable TV series,” Billboard reported. Beck recalled the conversation: “It’s about ad executives in the 60s? They’re going to make a show about that? Really? Um, I don’t think so.”

Though Beck didn’t mention Mad Men by name, he did indicate that he is a fan of whatever this mysterious 60s ad show became. “Yeah, [it’s] just like the best show ever made!” he said. By the time Mad Men’s first episode aired, in July 2007, its opening credits used a version of RJD2’s hip-hop instrumental A Beautiful Mine.

“I wish I had more confidence,” Beck said. “I think that’s probably my Achilles’ heel. If I had more, I probably would have felt emboldened to make more interesting music earlier on, or really go for it in an artistic or songwriting sense.”

Beck’s 12th studio album, Morning Phase, is out this week. Later this year, he revealed, he hopes to release another LP, recorded with collaborators including Pharrell Williams.

