I love watching a show's opening credit sequence. They're like mini-films. However, I'm sure others have noticed this, but it seems like more and more shows are foregoing a full-blown credit sequence and instead opting for a brief title placard while the credits roll during the opening scenes of a given show. Take Grey's Anatomy. They used to have a pretty nifty show open complete with sex in a hospital bed. Now it's gone. Boo to that. I like seeing the credits and it's lousy that some shows have tossed it in favor of what probably ends up being a few extra seconds of time for ad buyers to purchase. Oh well. Some shows still have a lengthy open and with that comes some good music. Here are some of my favorites (old and current) in no particular order.
1.) C'mon C'mon by The Von Bondies [Rescue Me] - Awesome tune. It's loud. It's angry. And it goes perfect with the imagery of a fire engine roaring down a Manhattan avenue. I'm not sure if it's still on the F/X website, but there used to be a blurb about how Denis Leary picked music for Rescue Me and apparently he stumbled onto this song one day while his son was listening to it. Good find.
2.) Title Theme by JJ Abrams [Alias] - This is a short instrumental that I think most folks are probably familiar with. I can't get enough of it though. After much effort, I was able to record the theme off one of my Alias DVDs. I converted it to an MP3, looped it about 30 times, and then burned it to a CD. I don't care what you're doing. By playing the Alias theme, it makes whatever your task is that much cooler. Picture yourself cleaning the toilet while jamming out to "bumph... bwaa naa naa... dunph... dwa nah nah." Those are actual words. Sure.
3.) Calling All Friends by Low Stars [What About Brian] - I've been humming this song for weeks now and just this morning I finally decided to track it down. Not an easy task. But twenty minutes of Google searches finally led me to this MySpace page. The band is called Low Stars and the tune is really good. I love the opening sequence to What About Brian and how they cut it together using the drum beat from this song. Good stuff.
4.) California by Phantom Planet [The OC] - Stop lying to yourself. You may hate the show but this song is just way too catchy to not like it. I'll leave it at that.
5.) Teardrop by Massive Attack [House] - This is just such a cool song and the fifteen seconds we get of it at the beginning of House unfortunately doesn't do it justice. It's not an instrumental as some believe. There are lyrics and they're very good. I just love relaxing, beer in hand, with this song on. It's very soothing for whatever reason.
So there you go. I'm not saying these are the best TV themes. They're just some of my favorites. I feel like this could spark a good debate though. What else needs to be on the list?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
11-27-2006 @ 9:45AM
Andrew Liptak said...
We Used to Be Friends, by the Dandy Warhols, used for the Veronica Mars theme song. The one for season 3 is decent, but the complete version for seasons 1 and 2 is amazing.
Some of my other favourites are the Stargate SG-1/Atlantis themes, Firely, Battlestar Galactica, Babylon 5, and the Prison Break theme.
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11-27-2006 @ 9:46AM
Diana said...
The Wire's credit song, Tom Wait's "Way Down In The Hole."
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11-27-2006 @ 9:46AM
seth brundle said...
I cant listen to the 'Alias' theme without watching the intro - the later intro where he hits you with a machine gun of Sydney hotness. Its mind-blowing.
'Teardrop' was overplayed by the time it became the theme for House, IMHO.
You missed my favorite - "We Used To Be Friends" by the Dandy Warhols on Veronica Mars. I like the remix they did with it this season too.
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11-27-2006 @ 9:46AM
Dave said...
Great topic!
Here's my Top5 in reverse order:
5) ER
I heard they dropped the opening sequence (I don't watch ER anymore). What a shame! Great music, very dynamic with a great build-up.
4) Dexter
I'll never understand why they omitted this fantastic opening sequence in the pilot. Very well done and with a real love for detail. Surely took an awful long time to shoot and edit...
3) Carnivale & Rome
Both with music from Jeff Beal and both very well done. The carnivale soundtrack is better with its creative orchestration and interesting melodies. The blending of the different cards in the opening sequence is incredible. Rome on the other hand is more dynamic and has a lot of details for those with a good knowledge of mythology... ;-)
2) Six Feet Under
Absolutely stunning opening track by Thomas Newman with beautifully arranged pictures, perfectly in sync with the music. I could watch this a thousand times over, just great.
1) Twin Peaks
Without doubt the best opening sequence of a TV show ever. Perfectly sets the mood for the whole series with its almost static shots and features the most beautiful track of Angelo Badalementi ("Falling").
I'm sure I missed some older ones from the 80s... anyone?
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11-27-2006 @ 9:46AM
MrsEldubya said...
"We Used To Be Friends" by the Dandy Warhols is one of the few opening credits I still watch.
"A Little Less Conversation" by Elvis for Las Vegas is one of my favorites too.
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11-27-2006 @ 9:47AM
henry casey said...
I'm also in the We Used To Be Friends camp. No other theme song NOT made for the show fits it's show better.
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11-27-2006 @ 9:56AM
S said...
I think I read somewhere the JJ Abrams wrote the Alias theme song. I think he did Felicity's too.
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11-27-2006 @ 9:56AM
Maail said...
Angel theme music...Nothing can beat that violin piece and the great drum beat :)
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11-27-2006 @ 9:57AM
ana said...
The "House" theme changed a little after the first episode. I noticed it because I liked the first version more.
It´s a pity that the opener for "Grey´s Anatomy" is gone. Very well done! And the "Monk" theme from Randy Newman is great. But my all time favorite is the "Six feet under" theme.
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11-27-2006 @ 9:57AM
ana said...
How could I forget "Dexter"??? GREAT!!!!
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11-27-2006 @ 10:10AM
biggs said...
I like the opening music for the Wire season 4. Sucks that they decide to change it every season though.
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11-27-2006 @ 10:11AM
Douglin said...
Deadwood & Firefly - Both really set the mood for the show
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11-27-2006 @ 10:48AM
cass said...
Battlestar Galactica....the song is great (I have no idea what its called) and I also love the bit where they flash a bunch of scenes from the show. Instant spoilers!
Firefly theme song
Psych theme, "I know, you know" by the Friendly Indians
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11-27-2006 @ 10:48AM
Carl Winslow said...
Every season of The Wire. Fantastic song.
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11-27-2006 @ 10:48AM
jonli said...
The theme from Ed - Foo Fighters' "Next Year".
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11-27-2006 @ 10:48AM
mike said...
Not even close
Rockford Files
Simon and Simon
Riptide
Hill Street Blues
Mike Post does the best themes.
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11-27-2006 @ 10:48AM
AC said...
Definitely the theme from The Office as well!
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11-27-2006 @ 11:12AM
TomB said...
Six Feet Under!!
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11-27-2006 @ 11:28AM
SJ said...
-Rescue Me has an awesome opening sequence.
-The Wire's different opening sequences for every season are brilliant. I am loving the 4th season's opening sequence and theme.
-The one I'm currently in love with is Dexter's theme and sequence. So delicious and creepy.
-"Woke up This Morning" - Brilliant song which sets up The Sopranos perfectly.
-Oz's opening was creepy and great too. They used the song in South Park too in one episode.
-Although I hated the show, "Charmed" had a great theme song. Can't remember the song's name right now though.
-Although I love BSG, I HATE the opening sequence. The song doesn't fit, and the mini-spoilers they give away don't do it for me.
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11-27-2006 @ 11:41AM
Luca said...
My favorite tv theme is:
1- Over There
2- Alias
3- 24
4- Prison Break
5- NCIS
and The Simpsons :-)
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