Top 10 TV Theme Songs

TV theme songs are more than just catchy tunes that play before each episode of your favorite show. They are also a way of setting the tone, introducing the characters, and creating a memorable impression on the viewers. Some TV theme songs are so iconic that they become part of pop culture, and you can instantly recognize them even if you haven’t watched the show in years.

But what makes a TV theme song great? Is it the lyrics, the melody, the singer, or the connection to the show? There is no definitive answer to this question, as different theme songs appeal to different tastes and preferences. However, some factors that can make a TV theme song stand out are:

Originality: A TV theme song that is written specifically for the show, rather than using an existing song, can show more creativity and uniqueness.

Relevance: A TV theme song that reflects the genre, mood, and premise of the show can help the viewers get into the right mindset and expectations.
Catchiness: A TV theme song that has a catchy hook, chorus, or refrain can make it easier to remember and sing along to.
Nostalgia: A TV theme song that evokes a sense of nostalgia, either for the era or the show itself, can create an emotional bond with the viewers.

Based on these criteria, here are our picks for the top 10 TV theme songs of all time:

10. The Rockford Files

This instrumental theme song by Mike Post and Pete Carpenter was composed for the 1970s detective show starring James Garner as Jim Rockford, a private investigator who lives in a trailer by the beach. The theme song features a catchy guitar riff, a harmonica solo, and a funky bass line that capture the laid-back and adventurous vibe of the show. The theme song won a Grammy Award in 1975 and was also used as a ringtone by Rockford himself in some episodes.

9. WKRP in Cincinnati

This original theme song by Tom Wells and Hugh Wilson was written for the sitcom about a struggling radio station in Cincinnati. The theme song is sung by Steve Carlisle, who plays a DJ who moves from Los Angeles to work at WKRP. The lyrics tell his story of leaving behind his glamorous life in LA for a new start in Cincinnati, where he hopes to find success and happiness. The theme song is upbeat and catchy, with a memorable chorus that ends with “WKRP in Cincinnaaaaaati”.

8. The Olympic Games on NBC

This majestic theme song by John Williams was composed for the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles but has been used by NBC for its Olympic coverage ever since. The theme song features a fanfare of trumpets, followed by a soaring melody played by strings and horns. The theme song evokes a sense of patriotism, pride, and excitement for the Olympic Games, as well as admiration for the athletes who compete for glory.

7. The Andy Griffith Show

This whistling theme song by Earle Hagen and Herbert Spencer was composed for the classic sitcom about Sheriff Andy Taylor (Andy Griffith) and his son Opie (Ron Howard) living in the small town of Mayberry. The theme song accompanies the opening credits, which show Andy and Opie walking to their fishing spot with their fishing poles. The theme song is simple and cheerful, reflecting the wholesome and humorous nature of the show.

6. Gilligan’s Island

This catchy theme song by Sherwood Schwartz and George Wyle was written for the comedy show about seven castaways who are stranded on an uncharted island after a storm. The theme song tells the story of how they ended up on the island, introducing each character by name and role. The theme song is sung by a group of male singers, with occasional interjections by some of the castaways. The theme song is fun and easy to sing along to, especially the chorus that goes “Here on Gilligan’s Isle”.

5. Cheers

This iconic theme song by Gary Portnoy and Judy Hart Angelo was written for the sitcom about a group of regulars who frequent a Boston bar called Cheers. The theme song is sung by Portnoy himself, who expresses his desire to go to a place where everybody knows his name, where he can relax and be himself. The theme song is warm and comforting, resonating with anyone who has ever felt lonely or stressed out.

4. Seinfeld

This quirky theme song by Jonathan Wolff was composed for the sitcom about four friends who live in New York and deal with everyday situations. The theme song features a bass guitar, a synthesizer, and various sound effects, such as finger snaps, lip pops, and scat vocals. The theme song is different for each episode, as Wolff would improvise the music based on the opening monologue by Jerry Seinfeld. The theme song is humorous and unconventional, matching the tone and style of the show.

3. The Office

This instrumental theme song by Jay Ferguson was composed for the mockumentary show about the employees of a paper company in Scranton, Pennsylvania. The theme song features a piano melody, accompanied by drums, guitar, and accordion. The theme song is upbeat and energetic, contrasting with the mundane and awkward situations that the characters face in their workplace.

2. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

This rap theme song by Will Smith and Quincy Jones was written for the sitcom about a street-smart teenager who moves from West Philadelphia to live with his wealthy relatives in Bel-Air. The theme song is performed by Smith himself, who plays the titular character. The theme song tells his story of how he got into trouble in his neighborhood, how his mother sent him to live with his aunt and uncle in California, and how he adjusted to his new life. The theme song is catchy and humorous, with clever rhymes and references.

1. Friends

This pop-rock theme song by The Rembrandts was written for the sitcom about six friends who live in New York and share their lives with each other. The theme song is sung by The Rembrandts themselves, who express their support and loyalty to their friends, no matter what challenges they face. The theme song is catchy and upbeat, with a memorable chorus that goes “I’ll be there for you”. The theme song is also accompanied by a montage of clips from the show, showing the characters having fun together.

Conclusion

TV theme songs are an important part of the TV-watching experience, as they can set the mood, introduce the characters, and create a lasting impression on the viewers. Some TV theme songs are so iconic that they become part of pop culture, and you can instantly recognize them even if you haven’t watched the show in years.

In this article, we have ranked the top 10 TV theme songs of all time, based on criteria such as originality, relevance, catchiness, and nostalgia. Of course, this ranking is subjective and based on our own opinions and preferences. You may agree or disagree with our choices, or have your own favorites that we did not include.

But one thing is certain: TV theme songs are more than just music. They are also stories, memories, and emotions that connect us to our favorite shows.

Most Asked Questions and Answers

Q: What is the longest-running TV show theme song?

A: According to Guinness World Records, the longest-running TV show theme song is “The Simpsons Theme” by Danny Elfman, which has been used for every episode of The Simpsons since its debut in 1989.

Q: What is the shortest TV show theme song?

A: According to Guinness World Records, the shortest TV show theme song is “Lost Title Theme” by Michael Giacchino, which consists of a single note played on a piano for about two seconds at the end of each episode of Lost.

Q: What is the most popular TV show theme song?

A: There is no definitive answer to this question, as different TV show theme songs may have different levels of popularity depending on various factors such as ratings, awards, sales, streams, downloads, views, likes, comments, etc. However, some possible candidates for the most popular TV show theme song are:

“I’ll Be There for You” by The Rembrandts (Friends)

“The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” by Will Smith (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air)
“Game of Thrones Theme” by Ramin Djawadi (Game of Thrones)
“Hawaii Five-O Theme” by Morton Stevens (Hawaii Five-O)

“Mission: Impossible Theme” by Lalo Schifrin (Mission: Impossible)

Q: What is the most covered TV show theme song? A: There is no definitive answer to this question either, as different TV show theme songs may have different numbers of covers depending on various factors such as popularity, genre, style, difficulty, etc. However, some possible candidates for the most covered TV show theme song are:

“The Flintstones Theme” by Hoyt Curtin (The Flintstones)

“Cheers Theme” by Gary Portnoy and Judy Hart Angelo (Cheers)
“The Muppet Show Theme” by Jim Henson and Sam Pottle (The Muppet Show)
“SpongeBob SquarePants Theme” by Mark Harrison and Blaise Smith (SpongeBob SquarePants)

“Pokémon Theme” by John Siegler and John Loeffler (Pokémon)

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Q: What is the most parodied TV show theme song? A: There is no definitive answer to this question either, as different TV show theme songs may have different numbers of parodies depending on various factors such as popularity, humor, style, etc. However, some possible candidates for the most parodied TV show theme song are:

“Gilligan’s Island Theme” by Sherwood Schwartz and George Wyle (Gilligan’s Island)
“The Brady Bunch Theme” by Sherwood Schwartz and Frank De Vol (The Brady Bunch)
“The Addams Family Theme” by Vic Mizzy (The Addams Family)

“The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” by Will Smith (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air)
“Friends Theme” by The Rembrandts (Friends)

Q: What is the most sampled TV show theme song? A: There is no definitive answer to this question either, as different TV show theme songs may have different numbers of samples depending on various factors such as popularity, genre, style, availability, etc. However, some possible candidates for the most sampled TV show theme song are:

“Sanford and Son Theme” by Quincy Jones (Sanford and Son)
“Knight Rider Theme” by Stu Phillips and Glen A. Larson (Knight Rider)
“The Twilight Zone Theme” by Marius Constant (The Twilight Zone)

“Doctor Who Theme” by Ron Grainer and Delia Derbyshire (Doctor Who)
“Jeopardy! Theme” by Merv Griffin (Jeopardy!)

Q: What is the most remixed TV show theme song?

A: There is no definitive answer to this question either, as different TV show theme songs may have different numbers of remixes depending on various factors such as popularity, genre, style, creativity, etc. However, some possible candidates for the most remixed TV show theme song are:

“Game of Thrones Theme” by Ramin Djawadi (Game of Thrones)
“Stranger Things Theme” by Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein (Stranger Things)

“Doctor Who Theme” by Ron Grainer and Delia Derbyshire (Doctor Who)
“Sherlock Theme” by David Arnold and Michael Price (Sherlock)
“Twin Peaks Theme” by Angelo Badalamenti (Twin Peaks)

Q: What is the most awarded TV show theme song?

A: There is no definitive answer to this question either, as different TV show theme songs may have different numbers of awards depending on various factors such as popularity, quality, competition, etc. However, some possible candidates for the most-awarded TV show theme song are:

“Hill Street Blues Theme” by Mike Post (Hill Street Blues)

“Peter Gunn Theme” by Henry Mancini (Peter Gunn)
“NYPD Blue Theme” by Mike Post and Steven Bochco (NYPD Blue)
“Sex and the City Theme” by Douglas J. Cuomo (Sex and the City)

“Downton Abbey Theme” by John Lunn (Downton Abbey)

Q: What is the most controversial TV show theme song?

A: There is no definitive answer to this question either, as different TV show theme songs may have different levels of controversy depending on various factors such as lyrics, message, context, reception, etc. However, some possible candidates for the most controversial TV show theme song are:

“Cop Rock Theme” by Randy Newman (Cop Rock)
“South Park Theme” by Primus (South Park)
“Married… with Children Theme” by Frank Sinatra (Married… with Children)

“Orange Is the New Black Theme” by Regina Spektor (Orange Is the New Black)
“13 Reasons Why Theme” by Selena Gomez (13 Reasons Why)

Q: What is the most emotional TV show theme song?

A: There is no definitive answer to this question either, as different TV show theme songs may have different levels of emotion depending on various factors such as lyrics, melody, singer, connection, etc. However, some possible candidates for the most emotional TV show theme song are:

“MASH Theme” by Johnny Mandel and Mike Altman (MASH)
“Angel Theme” by Darling Violetta (Angel)

“Six Feet Under Theme” by Thomas Newman (Six Feet Under)
“Grey’s Anatomy Theme” by Psapp (Grey’s Anatomy)
“BoJack Horseman Theme” by Patrick Carney and Ralph Carney (BoJack Horseman)