When I learned about the Seinfeld tidbit that they tried to add nonsense lyrics to the theme but failed, I started thinking about theme songs over the years that stick in your head despite the fact that they're presented without lyrics. There are more shows than you think that fit into that category, and they're not all one-hour dramas (where most lyric-less theme songs can be found). Adam put up a list of them in December. But there are particular ones that have adhered themselves to my cerebral cortex to the point where I probably hum them in my sleep:(Click on the name of the show to hear a sound clip from each theme)
Bonanza: There are lyrics for this famous theme song, but they were rarely, if ever, presented on the series. But everyone over the age of 32 probably knows the twangy refrain, which bounces along and peaks at a three-note declaration that makes you feel like you're out on the Ponderosa with Hoss and Little Joe.
M*A*S*H: In the movie MASH (no asterisks), the song "Suicide Is Painless" had lyrics, but they were depressing as all hell (Robert Altman's never been the most sunny director out there). But when the movie was translated to TV, the words were eliminated and the pace picked up a bit, especially during the end credits. Even in its TV-fied version, though, it was still a downbeat match for the darker themes that the show explored. Which version do people remember more? Well, if you know the lyrics by heart, you're a much more well-rounded person than I am.
Sanford and Son: This isn't the only evidence that Quincy Jones is a musical genius, but it's certainly his most visible (that and Michael Jackson's Thriller). Subtitled "The Streetbeater", it's an infectious combination of bass, harmonica, and keyboard. To this day, it's just about the funkiest theme song ever created. I never really understood the musical description of "filthy" until I really got a chance to listen to this song. Now I understand.
What's Happening: When I bought a copy of Henry Mancini: Greatest Hits (yes, I know... I'm supercool, huh?), I expected to hear a few classic theme songs: "The Pink Panther Theme", "Peter Gunn", "Baby Elephant Walk" (not a theme, but Homer Simpson danced to it, so it counts). But my ears were shocked -- shocked! -- to hear another classic TV theme: the swirling trumpets and souful harmonica of the theme to What's Happening. And who can for get the deep "Bowwww.... Bowwww" sound throughout? I forgot how great that song was, and how it's outlasted Rerun on the pop culture landscape. It's just weird to think that the third-funkiest theme song ever was written by the same guy who wrote "Moon River".
(The second-funkiest is the Match Game theme. By the way, one of Mancini's other famous TV themes, for Newhart, wasn't on the Greatest Hits CD. Maybe MTM's rights fees were too expensive.)
ER: James Newton Howard's theme effectively conveys the ever-quickening pace of a big-city emergency room, smashing from the cold opening into the first notes of the theme, then building and building until the pay-off as the featured cast member (Eriq LaSalle, Paul McCrane, and now Laura Innes) pumps a fist or bursts through the door. The show may suck now, but the theme always gets me pumped up for the upcoming episode, no matter how mopey it turns out.
TV Squad Ten: Cartoon women who should have Playboy centerfolds
Six Mad Men characters who are in limbo after the finale
Fact or Fiction: Big Bang, Brothers & Sisters and CSI
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
6-02-2006 @ 10:27AM
Regina said...
One of the other greatest instrumentals is Get Smart - that one always got stuck in my head for a while after hearing it.
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6-02-2006 @ 10:30AM
Jennifer said...
My favorite non lyric tune is from the 80's show Remington Steele, also a Henry Mancini tune.
My current one though is the Curb Your Enthusiasm theme, Frolic by Luciano Michelini. I find myself humming that one all the time and have it set as my ringtone. Makes me smile when I hear it.
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6-02-2006 @ 11:00AM
Mike Hoffpauir said...
Well I looked at the other list and was shocked not to see Buffy TVS (I have a long version on my computer)
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6-02-2006 @ 11:05AM
Raychel said...
I don't know if it had lyrics to begin with, but I like the House opening credits theme. That combined with the quick shot of Hugh Laurie's face at the beginning, it gives me chills every time.
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6-02-2006 @ 11:06AM
scott mclendon said...
Who wrote the "Law&Order" theme? The old "Mission:Impossible" theme was good,too.
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6-02-2006 @ 11:10AM
Porchland said...
"The Munsters": I almost hesitate to list that one for fear that some of you will spend the next few months trying to rid it from your brains.
Also, the theme from "Cold Case" gets stuck in my head a lot, and the catchy little theme from "The Practice" apparently occupies the entire space that formerly held my memories of the eighth grade.
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6-02-2006 @ 11:25AM
Toby OB said...
I'd add that tubular bell shiny metal assiness of the 'Futurama' theme song, opening and end credits versions.
Others on my list:
'The Wild, Wild West'
'The Prisoner'
'The Rockford Files'
'Doctor Who' (one of the older versions)
'The West Wing'
'The Twilight Zone'
'The Dick Van Dyke Show' as well as 'The New Dick Van Dyke Show'
and
'Captain Kangaroo' - yes, 'Captain Kangaroo'. I just wish I could hang up that damned ring of keys to stop it when it invades my dreams!
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6-02-2006 @ 11:46AM
Myron said...
For some reason the opening song from "Taxi" always makes me sad. I'd put it in the haunting category.
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6-02-2006 @ 11:47AM
Ron said...
The Felicity theme song, not the one with lyrics - the first one, will forever haunt my brain.
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6-02-2006 @ 11:55AM
ghp said...
Mike Post had a bunch of great themes back in the day. Of particular note, IMO, were the themes from _Magnum P.I._ and _The White Shadow_.
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6-02-2006 @ 12:17PM
Lampbane said...
I'm going to second on the Massive Attack song that House M.D. uses.
Instead of BtVS though, I find the Angel theme far more haunting and memorable.
On the goofier side, how about the Powerpuff Girls theme? There aren't a lot of shows where the characters hum their own theme music, but here, it makes sense.
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6-02-2006 @ 12:20PM
The Mind Robber said...
Knight Rider had a dark, mysterious vibe for what was overall cheezy show.
SF shows usually stay with me; the new BSG has a really unique sound; Farscape was different, both versions. I really love the them for Angel.
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6-02-2006 @ 12:25PM
Margaret said...
I'd definitely second the Mike Post reference -- LA Law, Hill Street Blues, The Rockford Fies, The A-Team -- I'll be humming all day.
Another theme I've always loved was Barney Miller.
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6-02-2006 @ 12:39PM
Chris W said...
A-Team is my favorite, Hawaii 5-0, Addams Family, Inspector Gadget, Doug (you heard me!), L&O, Monk (I know it's not instrumental but I sing it all the time), Bewitched, King of the Hill, Nip/Tuck gives me goosebumps but I can't hum it, ER's a classic, and American Idol is unescapable!!
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6-02-2006 @ 12:48PM
Hoo Haa said...
One of the ones that always stuck in my mind is the theme from "High Chaparral"
http://timstvshowcase.com/highchaparral.html
http://www.kfcplainfield.com/sound/highchaparral.wav
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6-02-2006 @ 12:50PM
Jennifer said...
I read everyone's comments and I didn't see 'I Dream of Jeannie'. I have that go through my head and I want to dance like Jennie in the cartoon.
I better go turn on the radio to stop that.
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6-02-2006 @ 1:03PM
Preston said...
I love theme songs from TV shows. I got a 55-minute CD of NBC's theme songs in January of '04 and played it on a road trip in Alabama and Arizona in July of 04. They LOVED it--recognized most of them! I thought that Seinfeld had a famous bass guitarist playing on it not a keyboardist--it has a bluesy kind of vibe to it. The writer was on point about What's Happening! I thought that song was done in one take, all the ah-wah-wahhh-wahhh-wah-wah-wah-wah-wah in that song. Has that soul thing going in it! I still love that one! Knight Rider's theme has had a second life on rap songs--hip-hop artists still love to sample parts of it. Very adventurous. He was right about Sanford and Son, very catchy. All of the Cosby Show theme songs from 1984 to 1992 were excellent! Gimme A Break is still a trip, with its dorky sounding piano. I still like to scream like a heavy metal singer of Gimme a Break at the song's end. Singer Mario sampled it on a song from his album--brought back memories. I still like the Match Game theme song--thought it was as long as a 3-minute pop song, but it's very short. Same with Price is Right. I don't know why some TV producers don't like to have theme music in their shows today--they define what the show is about.
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6-02-2006 @ 1:16PM
Allen Mendelsohn said...
It begins and ends with Night Court. The funkiest, jazziest, coolest TV theme ever. Awesome opening bass riff, and a blaring saxophone that is ringing in my head right now.
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6-02-2006 @ 2:27PM
Toby OB said...
Just wanted to add two more:
Northern Exposure
St. Elsewhere
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6-02-2006 @ 6:06PM
Labontae said...
The Greatest American Hero. Best theme song ever!
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