In simpler terms, many outstanding TV theme tunes were previously popular songs or hit tracks reused as themes. These are melodies specifically composed for the series, such as those timeless classics that still sound fresh, but they’re all fantastic songs to begin with.
Similar to The Who creating a theme song for the CSI series, or Jane’s Addiction providing a track for Entourage, we are focusing on instances where bands contributed original music specifically composed as TV themes, excluding covers or reworked versions of popular songs like The Beatles’ “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da,” which was used in the show Life Goes On. Here is our list of standout songs that were transformed into iconic TV theme tunes.
“Who Are You” – CSI
Each series in the CSI collection has consistently employed tunes by The Who as their opening themes, establishing an appealing harmony across the shows. Remarkably, the initial show, either CSI or later CSI: Las Vegas, utilized “Who Are You,” and this selection turned out to be so effective that when CSI: Miami debuted as the first spinoff, its producers opted for the same musical choice.
“California” – The O.C.
In 2002, the band Phantom Planet released their second album titled “The Guest, ” which featured the catchy tune “California.” This song proved fitting for the TV series The O.C., one of the most California-inspired shows out there. An interesting tidbit about the song is that Phantom Planet’s drummer during that time, and on this particular track, was actor Jason Schwartzman.
“I Don’t Want To Wait” – Dawson’s Creek
The song ‘I Don’t Want to Wait’ was initially released in 1996 as part of Paula Cole’s second album, entitled This Fire. Later, it was selected as the theme tune for the popular TV series Dawson’s Creek, airing on The WB. As a result, the song itself climbed up the charts, reaching number 11 on Billboard.
“Bad Reputation” – Freaks And Geeks
19 years after Joan Jett declared her “Bad Reputation” to be of no concern, this anthem was adopted as the theme tune for the brief but memorable series “Freaks and Geeks.” Much like the show itself, the song has endured long past its original run on television.
“With A Little Help From My Friends” – The Wonder Years
To create an authentic TV show set in the ’60s, it pays off to delve into the rich vein of fantastic rock and soul music from that time period. Shows like “The Wonder Years” wisely incorporated a lot of terrific tunes from the era, even featuring a popular theme song from a musician who scored his first hit with it in 1968. The rendition of The Beatles’ “With a Little Help from My Friends” by Joe Cocker ended up being more successful than the original version by The Beatles themselves, and it was this song that opened each episode of “The Wonder Years”.
“We Used To Be Friends” – Veronica Mars
One of the exceptional cult bands hailing from the late ’90s/early ’00s was The Dandy Warhols. Their tune, “We Used To Be Friends,” was selected as the theme for Veronica Mars, and it couldn’t have been a more fitting pick for the series. Like the show, the band boasts a dedicated fanbase that ensures both the song and the show will endure in people’s memories.
“Way Down In A Hole” – The Wire
In the first season of “The Wire,” the Blind Boys of Alabama performed a cover of Tom Waits’ song “Way Down in the Hole.” However, the good news is that the second season of this HBO series includes Tom Waits’ original version of the song. The third, fourth, and fifth seasons continue with cover versions of the track.
“C’mon, C’mon” – Rescue Me
The band known as The Von Bondies weren’t widely recognized until their track “C’Mon, C’Mon” was selected to serve as the theme tune for the television series Rescue Me, starring Denis Leary. During its seven-season run, this song played during the opening credits and ultimately achieved significant popularity for the band.
“Teardrop” – House
Despite being colossal in the UK, Massive Attack hasn’t quite achieved the same level of popularity as a band in the United States. However, their trip-hop electronic music has made a significant impact, particularly with the release of numerous stellar albums. Their third album, Mezzanine, is arguably their most famous, and one of its standout tracks, “Teardrop”, was used as the theme song for the TV show House. Interestingly, a more generic tune has been utilized in streaming platforms and syndication versions instead.
“Reflections” – China Beach
Few television shows focus on Vietnam, but there are numerous movies that depict the war. These films often include hit songs from that time period, and it’s fortunate that one popular show about the Vietnam War, such as “China Beach,” also incorporated great tunes. For instance, they selected “Reflections” by Diana Ross & the Supremes – a smart pick indeed.
“Save Me” – Smallville
The song “Save Me” served as the main track on the album titled “The Golden Hum” by the band Remy Zero. This song was somewhat released on September 10th, 2001. A week following this release, the television series Smallville premiered, adopting “Save Me” as its theme tune. Although it achieved modest success for the band, regrettably, Remy Zero disbanded prior to producing a subsequent album.
“Woke Up This Morning” – The Sopranos
In 1997, “Woke Up This Morning” by Alabama 3 was a lesser-known tune in the U.S., but it made waves in the UK. However, its popularity skyrocketed when it was chosen as the theme song for the TV series The Sopranos. Each week, as viewers heard the distinctive HBO audio cue before the song’s rhythm kicked in while Tony drove from New York City to his home in New Jersey, it became one of those goosebump-inducing moments.
“Love And Marriage” – Married… With Children
Despite its reputation for being crass, it’s quite remarkable that the show “Married… With Children” chose the timeless tune of one of the most refined singers ever, Frank Sinatra, as its theme song. Interestingly, the iconic opening sequence featuring a fountain in Chicago was perfectly complemented by the classic “Love and Marriage.
“Little Boxes” – Weeds
Back in 1962, I stumbled upon a songwriting gem penned by Malvina Reynolds titled “Little Boxes.” I shared this catchy tune with my dear friend and folk music legend, Pete Seeger. Although it achieved modest success for him in 1964, it was Reynolds’ rendition that truly took off years later when it was adopted as the theme song for the hit TV series “Weeds” on Showtime.
“Superhero” – Entourage
Jane’s Addiction experienced their greatest success with hit songs in the early 90s, prior to disbanding (temporarily) in 1994. They reunited in 2001 and eventually produced their third full-length studio album, titled “Strays.” While some fans might argue that it was their fourth album considering their debut live album known as “XXX“, most people would count it as their third. One of the standout tracks from this album was “Superhero,” which gained wide recognition when it was chosen as the theme for HBO’s series, Entourage.
“Stand” – Get A Life
The unconventional sitcom “Get A Life,” featuring Chris Eliot, surprisingly secured a theme song hit from the famous band REM, who are known for their reluctance to commercialize their music. Notably, R.E.M.’s “Stand” from the album “Orange” was a massive hit, and it was unexpected that they would let one of their songs be used in a TV show. However, given the extraordinary nature of the program, it fit perfectly with its unique appeal.
“Rock Around The Clock” – Happy Days
It’s true you might be wondering, “Hold on, wasn’t ‘Happy Days’ known for its own tune?” Yes, indeed! However, it was only in the show’s second season that the well-known theme song became popular. In the first season, the Bill Haley and the Comets hit “Rock Around The Clock” was used instead.
“Jessica” – Top Gear
Hold on! It appears that Top Gear played a cover version of ‘Jessica’ by The Allman Brothers Band.” In actuality, “the old Top Gear,” which aired from the 70s to the late 90s, used the original version by The Allmans.
“Wanted Dead Or Alive” – Deadliest Catch
Reality shows often choose popular tunes to set the mood. Consider “The Deadliest Catch,” which brilliantly selected Bon Jovi’s “Wanted Dead or Alive” as its theme. It’s hard to imagine a more fitting tune for this show, and it’s unlikely that anyone could compose one that surpasses it.
“Straight Up And Down” – Boardwalk Empire
One innovative approach taken by the creators of HBO’s Boardwalk Empire was their use of a contemporary tune, specifically “Straight Up and Down” by The Brian Jonestown Massacre. Given that the series is set in the 1920s, it might seem unusual to incorporate such a modern song. However, the way it fits within the narrative is flawless.
“Low Rider” – The George Lopez Show
The use of War’s classic hit “Low Rider,” one of the finest Chicano rock songs ever, in The George Lopez Show, while somewhat predictable, remains effective.
“What A Wonderful World” – Family Matters
In many instances, you might assume that the iconic sitcom “Full House” had a distinctive theme tune all its own, and you’d be correct. For much of its duration, it did indeed have its own theme song. However, for the initial five episodes in Season 1, the show opted to use Louis Armstrong’s timeless classic “What A Wonderful World” instead.
“Carry On My Wayward Son” – Supernatural
Reframing the statement, we can say: While “Carry On My Wayward Son” by Kansas might not seem an immediate fit for a fantasy series like Supernatural, it’s hard to imagine any other song representing the theme of the show apart from this 1970s hit now.
“Tea For The Tillerman” – Extras
As a dedicated film and music enthusiast, I reckon “Tea For The Tillerman” by the legendary Cat Stevens would be an ideal fit for Ricky Gervais’ show, Extras. This song might not have been a chart-topper back then, but it served as a beautiful conclusion to the album of the same name that made waves when it dropped in 1970.
“Bad Boys” – COPS
As a devoted fan, I’ve had the pleasure of witnessing the enduring legacy of COPS, a TV staple that’s been gracing our screens since 1989, in one form or another. Over the years, we’ve collectively watched more than 1000 episodes unfold, each episode kicking off with the iconic tune “Bad Boys” by reggae pioneers Inner Circle.
“Closer To Free” – Party Of Five
As a devoted movie enthusiast, I can’t help but share an exciting moment in my musical journey – when the BoDeans struck gold with their tune “Closer To Free” from our fifth album. This particular song got the privilege of being the theme music for the hit TV series, Party Of Five. The show’s success catapulted our single to new heights, reaching as high as #16 on the charts!
“Bad Things” – True Blood
In 2005, Jace Everett, a talented singer-songwriter, put out “Bad Things”. Unfortunately, it didn’t resonate much with the general public at first. However, when the tune was selected as the theme for the popular HBO series “True Blood”, both the song and the show gained traction among fans of the series, ultimately becoming hits.
“Livin’ On The Edge” – Ice Road Truckers
Stepping into the shoes of my esteemed cousin who found success with shows like “Deadliest Catch” and “Ice Road Truckers”, I must say that this series has once again turned to the anthems of yesteryears for inspiration. For the initial four seasons, it chose the hard-hitting ballad “Livin’ On The Edge” by Aerosmith – a fitting selection indeed.
“Next Year” – Ed
During its four-season run, NBC’s Ed garnered a devoted fanbase, yet the musical group whose theme tune they were, The Foo Fighters, are far from being a niche act. Instead, they have long been and continue to be one of the most influential bands globally. Their song “Next Year” is just one example among many of their successful hits.
“Flagpole Sitta” – Peep Show
I can’t help but feel disheartened when I realize that Harvey Danger, the band behind “Flagpole Sitta,” which dropped in 1997, is often labeled as a one-hit wonder. They truly deserve more recognition for their talent. However, it seems that “Flagpole Sitta” was their only hit, but what an enduring hit it’s proven to be! It’s still ubiquitous, even two decades after its debut. Remarkably, it even became the theme song for the final eight seasons of the British show Peep Show.
“Where You Lead” – The Gilmore Girls
The TV series Gilmore Girls has proven to be an unexpectedly lasting favorite among viewers, even though it stopped airing nearly two decades ago. The program continues to hold a special place in the hearts of its audience. Notably, the theme song for the show, “Where You Lead,” by Carole King, is also an enduring classic. Interestingly, King reworked and recorded the theme song specifically for the show with Louise Goffin.
“Forever Young” – Parenthood
The television series, Parenthood, made a significant achievement by securing Bob Dylan’s “Forever Young” as its main theme. Known for his guarded approach to his music, it was quite an accomplishment to win Dylan’s approval for the use of this song.
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2025-01-29 16:39