It can happen when you least expect it. You might be driving in your car, or you can be sitting at work. It could be while on a train heading home or in the middle of the night during a YouTube rabbit hole search. That faint yet recognizable song from yesteryear starts to creep into your head and the next thing you know you’re randomly singing the words to an old TV theme song. Don’t worry, it happens to us all.
A TV theme song is something that burns itself into our minds, never letting go, no matter if it’s been years since we saw the show. Maybe it’s because of the catchy tune or the brevity of the piece, but we all have a favorite theme that we can recite from beginning to end. We tend to look back at them fondly, taking us back to a time where things seemed easier.
TV theme songs are a thing of the past now, with networks opting to cut them out, jumping straight into the episode. Fortunately, we’ll always have the classics thanks to streaming services and local stations airing reruns.
Looking at songs with lyrics and not just melodies, here are the most addictive TV theme songs we can’t get out of our heads!
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
“Now this is the story all about how my life got flipped, turned upside down. And I’d like to take a minute just sit right there, and I’ll tell you how I became the prince of a town called Bel-Air.” You got the rest right?
Will Smith might not be a Spotify favorite now, but back in 1990 he and DJ Jazzy Jeff were a popular rap duo from Philly. Their comedic rap style got them on shows like Yo! MTV Raps and got Will his own series from NBC. Wildly successful, the sitcom’s theme has Will rapping and setting up the show’s premise in a nice edible bite. Once he made his way to Bel-Air, Smith never left as the man’s worth hundreds of millions now.
Cheers
Sung by Gary Portnoy and co-written with Judy Hart Angelo, the duo unwittingly created one of the most memorable theme songs in TV history. Premiering in 1982, the sitcom about the title bar in Boston revolved around a colorful and loud group of patrons that became friends to viewers each week. Not only did the show become a ratings juggernaut and an anchor for NBC’S “Must See TV,” but its theme song is considered to be the best ever.
The piece is pure ‘80s nostalgia, back to an era where people weren’t connected to their phones or the web and could just enjoy a beer with friends. I think we’d all like to go to a place “Where Everybody Knows Your Name” if we had the option.
Friends
You know what, I am always stuck in second gear!
We didn’t heed their warning when they told us that “life was gonna be this way.” Now, not only are we broke and our love life’s D.O.A., but this world is upside down! Did Nostradamus write this thing, because he could have!
Probably no better TV theme song better encapsulates the struggles of being a young adult trying to get by than the song to the cultural phenomenon hit, Friends. Not only did the ‘90s show make stars out of the likes of Jennifer Aniston and Courtney Cox, but it made The Rembrandts one hit wonders with their song “I’ll Be There For You.” It spawned a music video and the song topped Billboard’s Top 100 for eight weeks.
Gilligan’s Island
Did you know legendary composer John Williams wrote the original theme for the show? After the pilot, his version was scrapped for the famous and catchy song we all know and grew up on. Officially known as “The Ballad of Gilligan’s Isle,” the piece was written by show creator Sherwood Schwartz, along with George Wyle. The Wellingtons performed the song the first season, followed by The Eligibles thereafter.
Starting with “Just sit right back and you’ll hear a tale, a tale of a fateful trip…” the song about Gilligan and his castaway friends has taken a life of its own, covered and parodied by numerous singers and bands including “Weird Al” Yankovic.
Family Ties
When Johnny Mathis performs your theme song, you know it’s gonna be smooth. Premiering in 1982, this sitcom about a Middle-American family living during the decade of Reaganomics, made Michael J. Fox a star as the young Republican, Alex P. Keaton. The quirky Keaton clan edged out another ‘80s family, The Seavers from Growing Pains, as their theme song could have taken this spot as well.
While Mathis and Deniece Williams sang “Without Us”, there was another duo that sang it during the first season. Dennis Tufano and actress Mindy Sterling sang the original version that was written by Jeff Barry and Tom Scott. That’s right, Frau Farbissina, Dr. Evil’s favorite henchwoman from the Austin Powers films sang: “Sha la la la.”
The Jeffersons
“Fish don’t fry in the kitchen; Beans don’t burn on the grill”, are two takeaways that I got from this hit theme. The only song on this list that will make you get out of your seat and dance!
Created by Norman Lear and spun off from All in the Family, the sitcom became a socially relevant hit, helping mold the television landscape. To compete with All in the Family’s theme of “Those Were The Days” you have to come strong. That’s what we got with this theme telling the tale of George and Louise “Weezy” Jefferson’s move from Queens to Manhattan. Co-written by Jeff Barry, “Movin’ On Up” is infused with that gospel soul, as Ja’net Dubois performed the song with a gospel choir.
Three’s Company
In an alternate world, I’m living the life of Jack Tripper: sharing an apartment with my own Chrissy and Janet, getting into escapades as I stumble over furniture and end up at The Regal Beagle for a drink. Ah, a man can dream.
Back in reality, this sitcom favorite that debuted in 1977 about the antics of a young trio and their cranky landlords, taught us all about living arrangements. The composer of the upbeat theme is Joe Raposo who also created the themes for Sesame Street and The Electric Company. With the cast being filmed at the Santa Monica Pier, then in later seasons at the LA Zoo for the opening, Julia Rinker and Ray Charles (not that one) provided the singing that went over the groovy beats.
The Facts of Life
For the final spot I could have gone with a sentimental favorite like Saved By The Bell or an oldie like The Brady Bunch. But I think we’re all better off learning about The Facts of Life through the exploits of girls living in a boarding school with their housemother.
Some might be surprised that the late Alan Thicke wrote the theme along with Al Burton and his then-wife Gloria Loring (parents to Robin Thicke) who performed it as well. Alan, best known as the dad in Growing Pains, had a successful career as a composer prior to acting, writing and singing the theme for Diff’rent Strokes as well. A parting gift to us all, Alan’s song laid out the ways we should take the good and take the bad!
See what else made it into our Top 8 by visiting its official page.
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