TOP 5 TV THEME SONGS
There is a great new show that recently debuted on HBO called Bored to Death. It is from the amazing author Jonathan Ames and stars Zach Galifanakis, Ted Danson, and Jason Schwartzmann who formerly drummed for Phantom Planet and is currently fronting the band Coconut Records.
When it came time to write a theme song Ames and Schwartzmann teamed up to pen a fantastic one. Musically it’s jazzy with lonely horns to set the mood. It sounds like late nights in boozy clubs with a femme fatale one one arm and a whiskey in the other. And like all great theme songs, it brings the viewer up to speed and spells out the shows themes repeating “shadows in the city,” “plus expenses” letting the viewer know that Schwartzman’s character is bored to death because he’s “lonely.”
After watching the show though, I was reminded that there hasn’t been a great tv theme in a long time. All the iconic themes in recent memory have been wordless like Law & Order, The Simpsons or The X-Files. And I really miss those cheesy songs. With that said, here are the five greatest TV Theme Songs of all time, judged by their pop song quality, their importance to the show, and how many words I remember to them.
1. Full House
Is there ever a time when someone asks “Whatever happened to…?” that you don’t finish their sentence with “predictability, the milkman, the paperboy, evening TV.” Whenever you get too bogged down, and disillusioned just pop this song on and everything will come back together.
2. Spongebob Squarepants
A controversial pick, but how can you argue with the best example of modern tv themesongery. It’s got everything you would want with call and response, flutes and a gruff pirate. (And have you heard Avril Lavigne’s version? Oh my.)
I knew and loved this song before I had ever heard of a show called The Jeffersons. I think that explains itself.
The antithesis of “Moving On Up,” this song is depressing like when you move back in with your parents. A weird song for Gabe Kaplan’s sitcom but somehow it fits.
5. Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air
Frat boys, teenage girls, even our mothers know and love this song. Talk about a crowd pleaser. The show has been off the air for thirteen years but is still guaranteed to be played at all the best parties.
And that’s my list. Apologies to Cheers, but after living in Boston for a few years, I’d rather be punched in the teeth than hear that song again.
-DJ Bears!
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