An on-point opening song of a TV show has an underrated impact on the audience, whether it’s zestful Friends tune that always fires you up or a cryptic House MD opening track, luring your imagination into another puzzle yet to be unraveled.
A theme song is an essential element of the show’s identity and plays an important role in shaping its unique public image.
Let’s see what’s so special about these ten songs by both acknowledged and less well-known artists that helped them to make it to screens as popular TV series’ themes.
Alabama 3 – Woke Up This Morning (The Sopranos)
The slow and sleazy intro to the cult mafia TV series belongs to English band Alabama 3. “Woke Up This Morning” was released in 1997 and quickly found its purpose in becoming the perfect theme for the dark criminal world of The Sopranos. It has everything a theme for gangster TV series could ask for: badass slow tempo, coarse vocals, and, of course, spot-on lyrics about someone born under a bad sign, cursed and doomed for bad luck – in this case, the “sad clown” Tony Soprano.
The Dandy Warhols – We Used To Be Friends (Veronica Mars)
Rob Thomas, the creator of one of the most acclaimed teen drama series Veronica Mars, knew from the very beginning that “We Used To Be Friends” by America’s brit-pop ambassadors The Dandy Warhols would be the theme of his noir mystery series. The protagonist of the series Veronica is a girl whose life took a dark turn when her best friend was murdered. Although the lyrics in “We Used To Be Friends” aren’t too fun either, the catchy and energetic pop-rock instrumental and the bright, fun moments in Veronica’s world are there to remind that life goes on.
Frank Sinatra – Love and Marriage (Married… With Children)
What’s a more genius way to create a comical effect if not by merging two juxtaposing ideas together? In this case, the idyllic, bright Frank Sinatra’s song “Love and Marriage” and an apathetic, tragicomic life of Al Bundy? Carried by a warm and lively jazz orchestra, this 1955 ditty refers to the wholesome, pure concept of marriage, which seems ironic, to say the least, in terms of the flawed, ever-discontent Bundy family.
Washed Out – Feel It All Around (Portlandia)
This sketch comedy series satirizing the life of Portland’s hipsters is perhaps the most “indie”, but nonetheless critically acclaimed TV show on this list. The show’s opening song “Feel It All Around” (2009) was produced by a chillwave pioneer Washed Out, who was ruling every indie-head’s playlist around the time the show first aired. When listening to this track, you can instantly notice the lush, lo-fi sound aesthetics and a nostalgic atmosphere that sounds idle and dreamy at the same time. Although Portlandia’s scripts are neither dreamy nor nostalgic, this unexpected theme choice only supports its status as a quirky, non-conventional hipster TV show.
RJD2 – A Beautiful Mine (Mad Men)
It didn’t take long for Mad Men to gain an immense recognition – and the same goes to its opening song, endowing the show with tension carried by moving strings and restless percussion. “A Beautiful Mine” was written in 2006 by producer RJD2 and rapper Aceyalone and is still being hummed across the world thanks to the admired TV show. And it’s no wonder why, as it perfectly corresponds to the show’s character on the dramatic level. Besides, urban hip hop instrumental piece is surely an original theme choice, considering that Mad Men is set in the 1960s.
Tom Waits – Way Down The Hole (The Wire)
Although The Wire never received any major awards, today the world knows it as notable TV drama series exploring acute social and political issues in Baltimore, Maryland. Its theme song “Way Down The Hole” was written by Tom Waits, and each season featured a different version of the song recorded by various artists. There are several reasons why “Way Down The Hole” is a perfect theme choice for this crime series. On top of grim melodic layers and coarse vocals, the song also shares the same themes as the show, such as the conflict between good and evil, betrayal, and injustice.
Joan Jett – Bad Reputation (Freaks and Geeks)
Canceled after only one season, Freaks and Geeks remain one of the most beloved teen comedy-drama series with a great cast of now widely-recognized comedians. And what’s a better theme song for a show portraying the teenage drama and rebellion, than the Joan Jett’s infamous punk rock single “Bad Reputation”? In fact, reputation is quite an important topic in Freaks and Geeks, as the show revolves around a “good girl” Linsday who gradually transitions from geek to a rebellious freak despite ruining her reputation.
The Who – Won’t Get Fooled Again (CSI Miami)
You’ve probably seen the popular meme centered around CSI Miami’s protagonist Horatio Caine saying a dramatic one-liner while putting on his sunglasses, followed by “YEAAH”. Well, this joke wouldn’t have such an effect if not for the show’s opening theme by The Who. Their single “Won’t Get Fooled Again” features a powerful scream by band’s vocalist Roger Daltrey which is exactly what brings both the meme and the show to perfection. Other than that, the powerful classic rock hit about revolution and distrust of the establishment can be applied to the show in respect to Caine’s tendency to question the morals of society.
Massive Attack – Teardrop (House M.D.)
One of the most-watched TV series in the world, House M.D. opens with “Teardrop” – a 1998 song by a British trip-hop group Massive Attack. This track was shrewdly chosen for its unique tempo that resembles a human heartbeat. Besides, its gentle, melancholic atmosphere perfectly captures the sad genius of the show’s main character, Dr. Gregory House.
Heinz Kiessling – Temptation Sensation (It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia)
If you’ve ever watched It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia, you know the type of shenanigans its characters engage in. Their daily lives are based on mischievous schemes, shocking, sociopathic behavior fuelled by excessive drinking. And yet the sitcom’s theme song is poles apart: it’s a gentle and bright orchestral jazz piece from the 50s by German composer Heinz Kiessling, which you could easily imagine in a romantic, innocent old movie. One more example proving that unusual juxtaposition of despicable and tender works wonders in comedy shows.
