RetroCrush is in the midst of releasing yet another exhaustive list. This time, it's the Top 100 TV Theme Songs of All Time. Personally, I'd be hard pressed to name 100 TV shows, period, so I once again find myself in awe/stupefied horror at Robert Berry and company's committment to the craft of pop culture rankology.
That said, I simply had to see where my own personal favorites ranked compared to his. Granted, they're only up to #44 so far (The Dukes of Hazzard), so consider this a cheap preemptive strike, fueled (or weakened) by a night spent watching the MI-5 marathon on A&E and drinking cheap beer:
10. The HBO Theme
You know the one: the camera swoops down over that miniature city, then out into space to confront the looming Home Box Office logo before it drowns the earth in Beastmaster reruns. I remember this from the early '80s, though I have no idea if it's still used.
9. Battlestar Galactica (#89)
Hey, this was impressive classical music to a 12 year-old, and it went a long way towards disguising the fact that 75% of the show's space battle footage consisted of recycled shots from the pilot episode.
8. M*A*S*H (#68)
This probably would've been a more effective song if they'd kept the original version with the lyrics, but CBS wanted more of a slapstick comedy in the beginning. And by the end, Alan Alda had such a hammerlock on the creative direction I fear the irony would've been lost. Still ranks way up there for me, however.
7. The X-Files
This is included less for any musical prowess displayed, and more for the fact that when the show originally aired - on Friday nights - I knew it signaled the beginning (or continuation) of 2 1/2 days of crippling alcohol consumption. Then Fox moved the show to Sundays and that small comfort was shot to hell.
6. The Muppet Show (#48)
"Why don't you get things started?" Would merit inclusion solely for Gonzo's revolving trumpet gag, as far as I'm concerned.
5. The Sopranos (#82)
Why did I think Gibby Haynes of the Butthole Surfers had something to do with this? I think one of the guys in Alabama 3 must look like him. Either way, a tight little song.
4. Battle of the Planets
This was first syndicated on one of our local TV stations in 1977, and I used to hum the theme while running home from school in order to catch it at 4:00. The hotheaded Jason was my favorite, before I came to appreciate the sublime beauty of Princess and the daring use of her panties as a plot device.
3. The Rockford Files
Another classic TV show that has yet to be honored with a DVD release, and with one of the all-time greatest theme songs to boot. Where else can you get James Garner, Bo Hopkins, Issac Hayes, and Noah Beery in one show? Not counting The Love Boat, that is.
2. Sanford and Son
An amazingly upbeat theme song for a show depicting the lives of an old black man and his son barely living above the poverty line. I expect this to be in RC's top 10.
1. Barney Miller
The closest thing a nine year-old kid living in Utah ever got to funk, and I've never forgotten it.
I can't include The Simpsons theme (#62) because I'm sick of it, frankly. It's a great slice of Elfmanism, but hearing it upward of 10,000 times at this point has caused it to curdle a bit in my mind.
Adn while I'm sure Miami Vice will rank highly, Jan Hammer gets no love here.
Here's my list of all time favorite TV show theme songs:
1. Peter Gunn
2. Perry Mason
3. The Outer Limits
4. Twelve O' Clock High
5. The Love Boat
6. Frasier
7. Gidget
8. The Patty Duke Show
9. Bonanza
10. The High Chaparral
11. Law and Order
12. Hill Street Blues
Yeah, I know. I'm giving away my age, but, they just don't write theme songs like these anymore! Sorry, I couldn't limit myself to ten.
Superfriends is right up there.
I'm surprised not to see more of the staples of childhood afternoon television: The Brady Bunch, The Flintstones, The Jetsons, The Beverly Hillbillies. Crappy songs, but memorable.
And I can't neglect the Japanese portion of my TV heritage. For memorableness, it's a toss-up between Speed Racer (covered by Two Nice Girls) and Star Blazers ("Evil men with evil schemes/They can't destroy all our dreams").
HELLO? "Welcome Back Kotter" anyone? Actually a top 10 hit. Doesn't the marketplace matter anymore in our judgement of these things?
But, seriously, I agree with TTTWLAMs list. The theme from Underdog RULES.
That HBO theme was a great pull -- but does it count as a TV show theme? If network IDs count, I'd vote for the original MTV intro, with the rocket going up and the astronaut planting the MTV flag on the moon. Talk about music that instantly evokes a feeling or a period.
I have a hard time thinking that any theme song, ever, can beat the Rockford Files.
I can't believe no one has mentioned the theme from All in the Family! Hearing Jean Stapleton screech out "those were the daaaays" at the end of the song is unbeatable.
If we are including cartoons, I vote for Mighty Mouse. It's a great theme song, made even better by the Andy Kaufman interpretation.
If we are including cartoons, I have to add Jem and the Holograms ...
We must stop Internet lists. I fully realize that I’ve contributed to this problem, but it has to be dealt with. Movies, songs, albums, books—even fucking TV show themes... * By Christ, Michele has mobilized an army of millions...all contributing......
| --Posted to Sanity's Edge on Jan 12, 2005 10:04 AM:. |
I came accross this website looking for some sheet music for my 13 yr old son who has recently taken up bass guitar. My husband and I are getting tired of listening to AC/DC and was trying to find some sheet music (bass lines) for the Barney Miller theme song. Can anyone help me find it. I can't seem to even locate it in any music stores either!!! thanx lonsdale@sympatico.ca
It should be obvious to all that my television tastes ceased their evolution, except for a few brief hiccups, in 1978.
My top 10, in no particular order except for #1:
) "The Twilight Zone"
) "Underdog"
) "Night Court"
) "The Love Boat" (I'm all about the schmaltz and smarm)
) "The Rockford Files"
) "Sledge Hammer!"
) "The Incredible Hulk Theme" (breaks down into two parts--the intro is great with that repetitive keyboard and Ted Cassidy voice over, and then the haunting "lonely hitchhiker" ending)
) "The Muppet Show"
) "Spectreman" ("In a flash, Like a flame, Faster...Than a Plane, Mystery...Is the Name...of SPECTREMAN! Pow-wer, From Space! Here to save, The Human Race! Yet they'll nev-ver know the face...of SPECTREMAN!" Bitchin' wah-wah jam. "We will nev-ver know the source, Of his power and its force, as he guides this plan-net's course!" Frenzied keyboard. "SPECTREMAN!!!")
#1) "The Superfriends" (especially the extended 3 minute funky version I found on a record, which I sadly lost long ago)