Sunday, 25 January 2009

• The Greatest Television Theme Songs of All Time

  By Miss T
  

  

  When Josh Groban performed this pretty humorous "Television Theme Songs Medley" at the 2008 Emmys, I laughed for a good two minutes. Afterward, I was working out and lo and behold I had at least thirty television theme songs on my iPod. For me, the most distinctive theme songs of all time are the following:

  1. Buffy the Vampire Slayer- Of course I have to throw the Buffster in somewhere. Still, despite the adrenaline rush I get from all that fictional vampire slayage, Nerf Herder knows how to pound out the music in the most hardcore gothic-rocker way imaginable. Appropriately exciting theme song for what may be the best show ever (biased opinion of course). Sometimes (twice a year), I even use it while I'm running (moderately paced walking).

  2. Brady Bunch - Here's a story...of a lovely lady...hair of gold...man named Brady. Lalala. And thus begins each  Brady sunshiny episode.

  3. Fresh Prince of Belair - Now here's a theme song you really need to pay attention to especially if you begin watching young Will's sitcom in later seasons. Basically, the theme song gives you the whole saga in about 2 minutes: poor Philly kid who loves to play street ball moves to Belair to live with his wealthy aunt and uncle. Unfortunately, this quality theme song was performed at every freaking school talent show. But boy oh boy, it sure riled up the audience!

  4. Golden Girls - Florida warmth and apple pie scrumptiousness all wrapped up in a touching song about friendship. When I first heard this theme song and saw the show was about old lady friends, I literally teared up. I was five. Yet as I grew in age, I also grew more suspicious that the theme song was some sort of ironic gesture, considering how Dorothy and Blanche glare at poor Rose whenever she springs up with a St. Olaf tale. Or when Sophia bluntly calls Blanche a slut. Guess that's what friends are really for--to give it to you straight!

  5. Clueless - If you were an elementary school girl when this 1996 show rose to popularity during ABC's TGIF night, then you knew all the words. You'd grip your feather pen from Limited Too, tug your pink knee socks up, and aspire to be the "polaroid of perfection." Sigh.

  6. Growing Pains - I don't know why but the baby pictures transitioning to current, adult photos of the cast members really thrilled me. The theme song montage made so incredibly ebullient that even if I had no time to watch the show I would at least try to catch the opening credits. (Kinda pathetic of me but that's what happens when your parents don't let you do sleepovers because they are overly protective immigrants). I especially loved the acapella version.  Moreover, Kirk Cameron was also one of my first crushes (shh) so the Seaver family had to make it onto this list. Show me that smile.....ooo SHOW ME THAT SMILE :)

  7. Full House - An vast, opening overture of the Golden Gate Bridge, a picnic at the park, a little Olsen twin safely buckled into her carseat, and a grinning John Stamos...Need I say more? The 1990's era sure knew how to do television theme songs the grand way!

  8. Lamb Chop's Play Along - A  sarcastic talking lamb and Shari Lewis rapping? Count me in! I seriously have this on my playlist. The theme song is so addicting just like its closing credits (Song That Doesn't End). (I wonder if people ever know that I'm listening to this during a tiny portion of my commute. Perhaps that's why they give me strange looks?)

  9. Life Goes On - Obladi Oblada ...Life Goes On. A true Beatles gem revived by a simple show about everyday family joys and struggles. My favorite part was how the show recorded its own version of the Beatles classic so as to save a ridiculous amount of funding on theme song loyalties alone. I absolutely adored this realistic and honest show. Also, does the name Corky ring a bell? Yeaaaah. Holla atcha boy!

  10. Happy Days - These days are ah-AH--AH-AH-ah-ah...All I have to say is that I'm glad the producers of the show decided to go with this rather than "Rock Around the Clock" which was the original song choice. Although I could only follow reruns of the show, it still brings me so much nostalgic pleasure. I sure dance my heart out whenever I hear it. Jukeboxes, drive-in movie theaters, the wholesome Cunninghams, the Fonz's office in the bathroom...Heeeeeeeey.

  Wow. That was a bit unnecessarily long but thankfully theme songs themselves are brief and enjoyable.

  Anyway, which theme songs are most memorable to you? Which ones are your favorites? Porque? 

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