Top 5 TV Theme Songs
I'll just have to preface this Top 5 post by saying, holy shit. After thinking on this one for several hours, I began realizing that I could literally do a Top 50 on this topic. Hell, I thought my Top 5 Childood Cartoons was tough. Adding to the sheer number of great theme songs, was the difficult process of separating the theme song from the actual television show. There have been great theme songs for shitty TV shows, so I had to remember what this Top 5 is about. I'm sure I'll get some comments, telling me how wrong I am, but that's ok because I understand that inferior intellects sometimes like to voice their ridiculous opinions. So, without further ado...
5. The Munsters
Kicking off the list is the theme song from The Munsters. I realize that this one might get a bit of argument from the rogues' gallery. That's ok. I'm fine with a little bit of criticism. This tune was just a perfect mix of 60's surf music (think shades of Dick Dale), melodic creepiness, with a chorus echoing the show's comedic nature. Hell, just listening to it makes we want to get up and boogie a little bit. Yes, that's right, I said boogie.
4. Happy Days (Original)
There were two theme songs for Happy Days. One, the original, was performed by Bill Haley and the Comets. The other, more sucktacular, performed by The Four Freshmen. Honestly, there isn't even a comparison in quality. The original Happy Days song conveyed the feel of a show set in the 1950's...it was Happy Days. Its actually quite the study in the history of Happy Days to note the change in theme songs coincided with the change to the overall feel to the show (e.g. more Fonzie, introduction of Chachi, moving to a live studio audience, etc). Essentially, the changed marked the beginning of the end of Happy Days. That should say something about why this song is far superior.
3. Sanford & Son
There are just some TV Theme songs that invoke themselves in one's mind in certain situations. Sanford & Son is one of them. How many times have you seen a beat up truck, bed full of crap, tooling down the road, and this song pops into your head? How many times has that song been followed by a memory of a, Lamont, you big dummy, or, 'Lizabeth, I'm comin' ta join you honey, or my personal favorite, Champipple.... ? Just one of those tunes that is hard to get out of your head, and honestly, its not one that you really mind hanging out in the dark recesses of your mind.
2. The Dukes of Hazzard
Two words. Waylon Jennings. Is there anyone in my generation (and now this latest generation with the new movie (what is it now, Generation S, or something?)) that can't recite every single word to this classic theme song? C'mon, sing it with me now... Just some good 'ol boys...Never meanin' no harm...Beats all you never saw, been in trouble with the law since the day they was born. Pure bliss. I can still see the image from the intro...Denver Pyle as Uncle Jesse shaking his finger at the boys. Making their way, the only way they now how...That's just a little bit more than the law will allow... Yeeeeee (yeeee) - HAAWWW!!
1. Hill Street Blues
Never mind that the Stephen Bochco drama was one of the best television shows ever to grace the boob tube, the theme song is just unforgettable. Beautifully composed by Mike Post, the godfather of television theme songs, it delivers an emotional cornucopia of melody that fits masterfully to the gritty sentiment of the cop drama. Technically, the tune is great...richly textured, fantasic instrumental work. As well, it really conveys to the popular music of the time, almost like Lionel Ritchie could jump in and turn it into a Top 40 song. All in all, its one of those few songs that can actually tug at emotional heartstrings, both inclusive and exclusive of the television show itself.
Completely Massive List of Honorable Mention (or, Tied for #6)
Hawaii Five-O, The Love Boat, Bonanza, Good Times, Magnum P.I., Gilligan's Island, Welcome Back Kotter, Miami Vice, CHiPs, Barney Miller, The Greatest American Hero, Taxi, Hogan's Heroes, The X-Files, Cheers, The Jefferson's, Star Trek, Moonlighting, Batman, Lost in Space, M*A*S*H, Mission Impossible, What's Happening, The Odd Couple, The Wild Wild West, Rawhide, The Andy Griffith Show, The Price Is Right, My Three Sons, The Benny Hill Show
5. The Munsters
Kicking off the list is the theme song from The Munsters. I realize that this one might get a bit of argument from the rogues' gallery. That's ok. I'm fine with a little bit of criticism. This tune was just a perfect mix of 60's surf music (think shades of Dick Dale), melodic creepiness, with a chorus echoing the show's comedic nature. Hell, just listening to it makes we want to get up and boogie a little bit. Yes, that's right, I said boogie.
4. Happy Days (Original)
There were two theme songs for Happy Days. One, the original, was performed by Bill Haley and the Comets. The other, more sucktacular, performed by The Four Freshmen. Honestly, there isn't even a comparison in quality. The original Happy Days song conveyed the feel of a show set in the 1950's...it was Happy Days. Its actually quite the study in the history of Happy Days to note the change in theme songs coincided with the change to the overall feel to the show (e.g. more Fonzie, introduction of Chachi, moving to a live studio audience, etc). Essentially, the changed marked the beginning of the end of Happy Days. That should say something about why this song is far superior.
3. Sanford & Son
There are just some TV Theme songs that invoke themselves in one's mind in certain situations. Sanford & Son is one of them. How many times have you seen a beat up truck, bed full of crap, tooling down the road, and this song pops into your head? How many times has that song been followed by a memory of a, Lamont, you big dummy, or, 'Lizabeth, I'm comin' ta join you honey, or my personal favorite, Champipple.... ? Just one of those tunes that is hard to get out of your head, and honestly, its not one that you really mind hanging out in the dark recesses of your mind.
2. The Dukes of Hazzard
Two words. Waylon Jennings. Is there anyone in my generation (and now this latest generation with the new movie (what is it now, Generation S, or something?)) that can't recite every single word to this classic theme song? C'mon, sing it with me now... Just some good 'ol boys...Never meanin' no harm...Beats all you never saw, been in trouble with the law since the day they was born. Pure bliss. I can still see the image from the intro...Denver Pyle as Uncle Jesse shaking his finger at the boys. Making their way, the only way they now how...That's just a little bit more than the law will allow... Yeeeeee (yeeee) - HAAWWW!!
1. Hill Street Blues
Never mind that the Stephen Bochco drama was one of the best television shows ever to grace the boob tube, the theme song is just unforgettable. Beautifully composed by Mike Post, the godfather of television theme songs, it delivers an emotional cornucopia of melody that fits masterfully to the gritty sentiment of the cop drama. Technically, the tune is great...richly textured, fantasic instrumental work. As well, it really conveys to the popular music of the time, almost like Lionel Ritchie could jump in and turn it into a Top 40 song. All in all, its one of those few songs that can actually tug at emotional heartstrings, both inclusive and exclusive of the television show itself.
Completely Massive List of Honorable Mention (or, Tied for #6)
Hawaii Five-O, The Love Boat, Bonanza, Good Times, Magnum P.I., Gilligan's Island, Welcome Back Kotter, Miami Vice, CHiPs, Barney Miller, The Greatest American Hero, Taxi, Hogan's Heroes, The X-Files, Cheers, The Jefferson's, Star Trek, Moonlighting, Batman, Lost in Space, M*A*S*H, Mission Impossible, What's Happening, The Odd Couple, The Wild Wild West, Rawhide, The Andy Griffith Show, The Price Is Right, My Three Sons, The Benny Hill Show
posted by sethro at 10:09:00 AM
2 Comments:
Your top five lists are as weak as your hair disposal skills.
And Mr. Steve America, what would your Top 5 have been? I'd bet a shiny new quarter that one of them would be the theme to Magnum, P.I.
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