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Next Monday we'll look at the Best TV Theme Songs of All Time. But while we lament the lack of a Cheers or M*A*S*H or Sanford & Son theme song in today's TV landscape, we've picked our 12 favorite theme songs from TV shows that are still in production. In the era of TiVo, the little ditties opening today's shows seem to be littler and dittier than their predecessors (I guess if people are going to fast forward through them anyway, why spend the effort?). But here are 12 that make us put down that remote:
[note: Sesame Street would have made this list until I realized they've pretty much ruined it.]
12. Friday Night Lights - W.G. "Snuffy" Walden
Veteran TV composer W.G. "Snuffy" Walden has scored music for a long list of TV shows, including thirtysomething, The Wonder Years, Roseanne, Ellen, My So-Called Life, Felicity and all three of Aaron Sorkin's masterpieces. For FNL, I just hope the former Windham Hill journeyman is sharing his royalty check with Explosions in the Sky, whose "Your Hand in Mind" featured prominently in the film the show was based on. The style and melody sound like a more accessible version of the Texas post-rockers' atmospheric riffing. Still, it's a great opening to a show that's not just for the booster-club set. [Thanks, Spencer, for the correction. And thanks, subversiveIRONY, for this YouTube mash-up with Coach.]
11. Chuck - "Short Skirt/Long Jacket" by Cake
The music supervisors at NBC used songs by The National and Bon Iver in the same episode, and they nail the opening credits with an instrumental version of Cake's "Short Skirt/Long Jacket."
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I really like the song from Lipstick Jungle. Not a big fan of the show otherwise (But I watch it for Paul Blackthorne... shameless plug for his site in 3...2...1... www.paulbalckthorne.com) Thanks for posting the whole song. We just get the 40 second clip in the credits.
The theme song to "Friday Night Lights" is by WG "Snuffy" Walden, and was written especially for the show. "Your Hand In Mine" has been used during different episodes, as well as during the "FNL" movie, which you show in your clip, but is NOT the theme song.
These are all examples of theme music, but, technically, a song has to have lyrics, so some of these (including the excellent Dexter and Dr. Who themes) don't classify as "theme songs."
Honorable mention to the Barenaked Ladies for the theme song to Big Bang Theory
what? "cosy in the rocket" by psapp from the show grey's anatomy didn't make the list?
its a mainstream tv show that went out on a limb to use a song by a toytronica band, and yet it gets no recognition? this completely boggles me.
what about the office theme song?????
come on
the scrantones
it says so much without saying a word
thats deep
Randy Newman? Are you kidding me? The guy writes the most fingernails-on-chalkboard music on the planet and his own horrid nasal honking just makes it worse. I stopped watching Monk largely because the theme music always made me reach for the "mute" button on the remote. The perky guitar piece at the end of the show is far superior and should have stayed as the theme.
Not a classic (yet!), and not the most widely known show (regretably), but the VLA with the theme from Damages..."when I am through with you, there won't be anything left." Perfect lyrics, mood and opening montage.
Who decided to overlook RJD2's song "A Beautiful Mine" from Mad Men? www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcRr-Fb5xQo
The song is great, it fits together with the fantastic title sequence, the show won the Emmy for best drama about a month ago, and the whole thing was spoofed by the Simpsons for their last "Treehouse of Horror."
My vote would be for "Dexter;" glad to see it made the list. I agree with Jack Manfred that the theme music from "Mad Men" should have been included; excellent mood music, plus the graphics set the tone for the show.
Lipstick Jungle? Are you kidding me? You include that but totally ignore the theme from The Big Bang Theory? I totally agree with Dr. Who's ranking, as well as True Blood and a couple of others, but I am astonished that you missed the brilliant and catchy Big Bang theme.
Jace Everett needs to be sharing his royalty checks with Chris Isaak. It's the least he could do for ripping him off.
Where's the theme from The Big Bang Theory? The Barenaked Ladies have created a fun theme song that emphasizes the show's wonderful quirky nerdiness...
You can free up one spot on your list, because (sadly) Scrubs ended last spring.
Flight of the Conchords needs to be on this list.
Oh, and isn't over yet, it's coming to ABC for it's final season.
If "Flight of the Conchords" used "Business Time" for its theme music, it'd be #1 on this list.
Dexter's theme song is perfect for it, and has a such a weird atmosphere about it that I made it my phone ringtone.
Scrubs' I'm No Superman is a great song as well....
In general I think however that a measure of a great theme song is music that you can associate to a show without having ever seen it (like the Xfiles, The Simpsons, Friends, Seinfeld, Sex and the City, etc)
House theme song is my favorite
Josh, please tell me you don't watch Lipstick Jungle. I think I might have to cancel my subscription on that fact alone ;)
Don't worry, Rupert. Never seen an episode. I just had to listen to the theme song for research purposes. No, seriously.
can you tell me where you got the music for the show dexter i am also trying to get it for a ringtone thanks.
what a s hitty top choice. What about the reality shows? SURVIVOR? American Idol? Dancing with the Stars? Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? All the other still-running game shows?
Desperate Housewives? Grey's? Two and a Half Men?
Most of the list is ok but I'm shocked that House intro didn't make that list. Full song Teardrop by Massive Attack.
And more suprized about Survivor.
Hmm Battlestar Galactica theme song is also very good for me but in this case I may be blinded by total, complete and incurable fanaticism for this show ;)
Spot on!
Agreed on King of the Hill, Monk, Family Guy, and Phineas and Ferb.
House should be on there, though.
And this list makes me sad the Sopranos are off the air.
Woke up this morning ... Got myself a gun
Oh, and King of Queens had a great song, too, but that's not running I think.
What really makes me sad is that I couldn't remember the Simpson's theme. I'm so un-American.