What late-20 or early-30 something does not know the entire rap to Will Smith’s Fresh Prince of Bel-Air? One could likely get an entire room whistling the intro track to the The Andy Griffith Show, just with four notes, or easily breaking out into a soulful groove with The Jeffersons theme, “Movin’ On Up.”
Did we ever buy these records? Were these radio hits? With some exceptions, no. They were transmitted into our brains through repeated viewings like a side note introducing each half an hour (or hour)-long program, but in hindsight they’re left with us as maybe the most tangible memory of each show.
In honor of the great music television has given us, here are the 10 best TV themes of all time:
10.
- Show: Gilligan’s Island
- Song: “The Ballad of Gilligan’s Isle“
- Writers: Sherwood Schwartz and George Wyle
- Performers: The Wellingtons (original version), the Eligibles (second season version)
This sea shanty is a classic, sure, but what makes it truly great is its ability to clearly communicate the show’s complicated premise in just one minute.
9.
- Show: Family Guy
- Song: “Family Guy Theme Song“
- Writer: Walter Murphy
- Performed by: Cast and Walter Murphy and His Orchestra
If not for the “Family Guy Theme Song,” this list wold include All in the Family‘s “Those Were the Days” — but this excellent parody that transitions to a full show tune one-upped that classic with a melody that’ll stick with you all day long.
8.
- Show: The Andy Griffith Show
- Song: “The Fishin’ Hole“
- Writers: Earle Hagen and Herbert Spencer
- Performed by: Earle Hagen
That’s some mighty fine whistling there, calling back to a simpler time and place. “The Fishin’ Hole” actually has lyrics too, written by Everett Sloane, all about just going down to the fish in’ hole without a care in the world.
7.
- Show: Friends
- Song: “I’ll Be There For You“
- Writers: David Crane, Marta Kauffman, Michael Skloff, Allee Willis, Phil Sōlem, Danny Wilde
- Performed by: The Rembrandts
In 1995, this song was a hit! It topped a number of Billboard charts, including the pop charts for radio airplay. How many of us have tried (and maybe failed) to get that clapping part just right, or to recreate the intro video in some fountain?
6.
- Show: The Jeffersons
- Songs: “Movin’ On Up“
- Writers: Ja’net Dubois and Jeff Barry
- Performer: Ja’net Du Boise
Written and performed by Good Times star Ja’net Dubois, “Movin’ On Up” sets the context of the show without giving too much away, and will leave you clapping and singing along right through the first scene. Was there ever a more fun theme?
5.
- Show: True Blood
- Song: “Bad Things“
- Writer: Jace Everett
- Performed by: Jace Everett
Even though this song was originally released in 2005 to little acclaim, it found a new life with True Blood in 2008 as the perfect match for the show. It’s swampy, dirty, sexy, dangerous and just perfect.
4.
- Show: The Simpsons
- Song: “The Simpsons Theme“
- Writer: Danny Elfman
After 26 seasons of The Simpsons, the theme composed by Danny Elfman in 1989 is probably every American’s favorite piece of orchestral music. Or, at least the most recognizable.
3.
- Show: Peter Gunn
- Song: “Peter Gunn“
- Writer: Henry Mancini
Mancini’s theme to “Peter Gunn” is an awesome mix of jazz and rockabilly that’s led to covers by Duane Eddy, Jimi Hendrix, Aerosmith, Pulp, Sarah Vaughn, The Cramps, Quincy Jones and more.
2.
- Show: Cheers
- Song: “Where Everybody Knows Your Name“
- Writers: Gary Portnoy, Judy Hart Angelo
- Performed by: Gary Portnoy
It’s sappy but warms the soul and resonates: Who doesn’t want to go someplace where everybody knows your name? And they’re always glad you came… I mean, you just want to be where you can see our troubles are all the same… It’s just true, you know?
1.
- Show: Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
- Song: “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air“
- Writers: Will Smith, J. Townes, Quincy Jones III
- Performed by: The Fresh Prince
That a show could open with a nearly two-minute theme is a testament to this tracks’ greatness, detailing Will Smith’s harrowing journey from West Philly to sit on his thrown as the prince of Bel-Air.
