They say you can't judge a book by its cover, but I say that you can definitely judge a TV show by the lyrics of its opening theme song. Nowadays, not a lot of shows have theme songs with catchy lyrics that you can sing along too. And I just think that's a shame. Nothing brings the family together like a nice warm sing-a-long around the television set. Here are my five favorite theme songs to sing along to. What are your favorites? (Please don't say Friends.)5) The Family Guy- Sometimes I know all the words to this song and sometimes I don't. But I love the way I hit Stewie's high note on "Laugh and cryyyyyyy!" but I actually always say "F-ing crime!" cause that's what it sounds like he's saying(?) Plus, the choreographed number at the beginning encourages Broadway-style dancing from the comfort of my couch. Which basically means that I always raise my hands up in the air triumphantly during the big finale while never lifting my butt off the couch. It's Broadway for lazy people.
4.5) Laverne and Shirley- I don't know a single lyric to this song. I can't even understand what they are saying when they are skipping down the sidewalk. But damn it, simply humming it is pleasurable. And that parody in Wayne's World is classic.
4) Cheers- This song actually bums me out. Seriously. I think I teared up once. But I always sing along. Sad opening; funny show...somehow it works.
3) All in the Family- Okay, we could have probably lived without this opening, but then again we couldn't. What would we do on Thanksgiving weekend without countless Archie and Edith impersonations by drunken aunts and uncles all around the country?
2) Green Acres- Holy crap, this song is catchy. The lyrics are simple, and it's not hard to compete with the singing abilities of Eva Gabor. It's just a great opening theme song. I sometimes think that it's better than the show itself.
1) The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air- It's hard to have an opening theme song that literally explains the entire premise of the series in less than a minute. In fact, the only other one I can think of off the top of my head is Green Acres. But Fresh Prince is way better. It's catchy, it's cool, and even white people can sound good singing it...excuse me...rapping it.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
11-02-2005 @ 11:55AM
Hank Shiffman said...
Re: Fresh Prince explaining the premise. What about The Nanny? Or The Beverly Hillbillies?
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11-02-2005 @ 11:58AM
Sam Davis said...
How could you have omitted the greatest tv show theme song of all time: The Courtship of Eddie's Father. It was catchy, lyrical, touching and sweet just like the show itself.
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11-02-2005 @ 12:06PM
Jeff said...
I absolutely cannot believe you left off the Gilligan's Island theme song. Must have been a mistake.
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11-02-2005 @ 12:09PM
Evadne said...
For a long time I thought Stewie was saying "f-in' cry." Sometimes I still think that's what he's saying and sometimes I can hear "laugh and cry" clearly. That theme song gets old pretty quick for me, especially after I'm on episode five of a Family Guy marathon.
The various Drew Carey themes are kinda fun. Monk, too, even though I think the show is terrible. And the Cybill theme. Come to think of it, though, those are all real songs. I like to sing along to the Fairly Oddparents theme, but the "guava juice mongoose blah blah blah chocolate shake" part always trips me up. Also my sister in the next room telling me I'm too old for cartoons.
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11-02-2005 @ 12:15PM
Justin said...
I think the Family Guy theme song was originally "F'n Cry" in the first few episodes aired. But Fox made them change it. Now it is "Laugh and Cry".
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11-02-2005 @ 12:34PM
Michael Sykes said...
Walker, Texas Ranger. Clearly the best theme song ever:
In the eyes of the Ranger
The unsuspecting stranger
Had better know the truth of wrong from right
Cause the eyes of the Ranger are upon you
Any wrong you do he's gonna see
When you're in Texas look behind you
Cause that's where the Ranger's gonna be
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11-02-2005 @ 12:32PM
Jennifer said...
Hah I always think "f-in crime" too! Glad to know I'm not alone.
Hmm I think switch All in the Family with Gilligans, and that's pretty much my answer as well.
Now if you were talking theme songs without lyrics;
I Love Lucy, Angel, Get Smart, Magnum PI - come to mind... There are more, but it's early and I need coffee!
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11-02-2005 @ 12:38PM
Margaret said...
It's Gary Shandling Show
The sceond verse is my favorite:
This is the theme to Garry's Show,
The opening theme to Garry's show.
This is the music that you hear as you watch the credits.
Clever, and actually pretty hum-able. And Randy Newman! What else could you ask for?
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11-02-2005 @ 12:40PM
The Jeremy said...
Its "F'n Cry". Some people have wax in thar eardrums.
TV theme songs...
Angel. Knight Rider. Mission Impossible. Doctor Who. The X-Files. Kolchak the Night Stalker. The Prisoner. And a sped-up version of The Persuaders.
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11-02-2005 @ 1:38PM
Danny Edwards said...
Gilligan's Island
The Brady Bunch
The Beverly Hillbillies
The Flintstones
The Garry Shandling Show
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11-02-2005 @ 2:25PM
Brent McKee said...
I Love Lucy did have lyrics, and Desi even sang them on an episode of the show. The first two lines:
"I love Lucy and she loves me,
We're as happy as two can be."
Which sort of ironic given what happened. One gathers they liked the sex but weren't really great at the staying together part.
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11-03-2005 @ 8:10AM
Adam said...
It's Gary Shandling's Show.
I concur.
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11-03-2005 @ 2:32PM
LC said...
I always thought the theme to F-Troop was very catchy.
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12-03-2005 @ 4:01PM
Gidget said...
I can't believe you forgot the Adams family theme:
da da da dom *snap snap* da da da dom *snap snap* da da da dom da da da dom *snap snap* da da da dom *snap snap* da da da dom *snap snap* da da da dom da da da dom *snap snap*...... They're creepy and they're cooky MYsterious and spooky They're all together ooky The Adams family They're house is a museum where people come and see them They really are a SCRE-um the Adams family da da da dom *snap snap* da da da dom *snap snap* da da da dom da da da dom *snap snap*
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12-06-2005 @ 12:45PM
Candace said...
Three's Company's theme song makes a good sing-a-long if you have a partner to do it with. They have to have good timing, though. I also like the Facts of Life theme song. It sums up life so simply, look--You take the good. You take the bad. You take them both, and there you have the facts of life. How easy! As for the Fairly Oddparents, it's really mod, pea pod, buff bod, hotrod; obtuse, rubber goose, green moose, guava juice; giant snake, birthday cake, large fries, chocolate shake.
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12-09-2005 @ 10:53PM
Anime Lady PIMP said...
My favorite theme song lyrics are to 'Perfect Hair Forever'.The first eposides one.
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12-08-2005 @ 10:34PM
Sharon said...
CSI themes-nothing can compare. I'm looking for music w/o lyrics for Beverly Hillbillies & others. Suggestions?
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12-14-2005 @ 7:13PM
Tim Jorich said...
Didn,t you ever hear of "The Fall Guy". This has got to be in the top 5.
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12-15-2005 @ 9:29PM
Mike said...
Without a doubt the "Dukes of Hazzard" clearly has the #1 theme song of all time!!!
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11-25-2007 @ 10:51PM
Lucas said...
"Welcome Back, Kotter", "The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest", and "Law and Order" all have fantastic theme songs theme songs. Why aren't they on this list?
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