BLOGS
The recent loss of Vic Mizz, composer of the Addams Family theme song, reminded one Wall Street Journal writer that the modern TV theme song is a rare bird, indeed. While we love the theme songs for Chuck, How I Met Your Mother and The Big Bang Theory, many of our favorite shows are only a few chords, or a vague melody with some la-la-las. We went through our DVRs and picked out the show openers that need to start kicking ass, preferably with some good, old-fashioned rock 'n roll. Here are the songs we want to hear, even though we're sure the rights would be impossible to get for most of them, and the rest would need to be covers performed by other bands. They'd still be improvements.
Heroes: "We Don't Need Another Hero" by Tina Turner
Sample Lyrics: "Out of the ruins, out from the wreckage, can't make the same mistake this time. / We are the children, the last generation, we are the ones they left behind. / And I wonder when we are ever gonna change, living under the fear, 'till nothing else remains. / We don't need another hero."
The Vampire Diaries: "Jeepster" by T. Rex
Sample Lyrics: "The wild winds blow upon your frozen cheeks. / The way you flip your hip it always makes me weak. / 'Cuz you're my baby, 'cuz you're my love. / Oh girl, I'm just a jeepster for your love. / I said girl, I'm just a vampire for your love. / I'm gonna suck you!"
Gossip Girl: "Tell That Girl to Shut Up" by Transvision Vamp.
Sample Lyrics: "Well, we used to be the best of friends / Now all that's gonna have to end. / But there's just one thing that I can't see / How she's got you hanging up on me. / You better tell that girl to shut up. / You better tell that girl I'm gonna beat her up."
Lost: "Island In the Sun" by Weezer
Sample Lyrics: "On an island in the sun / We'll be playing and having fun / And it makes me feel so fine / I can't control my brain. / We'll run away together. / We'll spend some time forever. / We'll never feel bad anymore."
Dollhouse: "Been It" by the Cardigans
Sample Lyrics: "Baby boy, your face is pretty and your life's a toy. / Master man, I'm never better than your latest plan. / I've been your mother, I've been your father, who can ask me for more? / I've been your sister, I've been your mistress, maybe I was your whore?"
Grey's Anatomy: "The First Cut Is the Deepest" by Sheryl Crow
Sample Lyrics: "I still want you by my side / Just to help me dry the tears that I've cried. / And I'm sure gonna give you a try. / If you want, I'll try to love again. / The first cut is the deepest. / But when it comes to bein' lucky, he's cursed. / But when it comes to lovin' me, he's worst."
Supernatural: "Ramble On" by Led Zeppelin
Sample Lyrics: "Mine's a tale that can't be told, my freedom I hold dear. / How years ago in days of old, when magic filled the air... / Got no time to for spreadin' roots, the time has come to be gone. / And to our health we drank a thousand times, it's time to ramble on."
FlashForward: "Fly Like an Eagle," by the Steve Miller Band
Sample Lyrics: " Time keeps on slippin', slippin', slippin'... into the future. / I want to fly like an eagle / To the sea. / Fly like an eagle / Let my spirit carry me. / I want to fly like an eagle / 'Till I'm free. / Oh, oh, there's a solution. / Tick, tock, tick."
Sample Lyrics: "Twenty-twenty-twenty-four hours to go. / I wanna be sedated. / Nothin' to do and no where to go-o-oh. / I wanna be sedated. / Just get me to the airport, put me on a plane. / Hurry, hurry, hurry, before I go insane. / I can't control my fingers, I can't control my brain."
Fringe: "Lunatic Fringe" by Red Rider
Sample Lyrics: "Lunatic fringe / I know you're out there. / You're in hiding / And you hold your meetings. / We can hear you coming. / We know what you're after. /
We're wise to you this time. / We won't let you kill the laughter."
The Mentalist: "Read My Mind" by the Killers
Sample Lyrics: "The teenage queen, the loaded gun / The drop dead dream, the Chosen One / A southern drawl, a world unseen / A city wall and a trampoline. / Before you jump, tell me what you find when you read my mind."
Castle: "Paperback Writer" by the Beatles
Sample Lyrics: "It's the dirty story of a dirty man / And his clinging wife doesn't understand. / His son is working for the Daily Mail. / It's a steady job but he wants to be a paperback writer. / It's a thousand pages, give or take a few / I'll be writing more in a week or two. / I can make it longer if you like the style / I can change it round and I want to be a paperback writer."
Any alternate suggestions? What TV shows do you think need theme songs?
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Led Zep is mandatory for SPN but I have always thought Island in the Sun was great for Lost. Even better is if Rivers came on screen to sing it.
Personally, I am obsessed with the Fringe theme song and would be very annoyed if it was switched for any Red Rider song.
I blame Seinfeld for the death of the theme song.
Best theme songs of all time:
Cheers
Sanford and Son
Nightman
Supernatural would probably be saturated with Zeppelin if the music rights weren't so damn expensive. But I still like Carry On Wayward Son as their unofficial theme song. How about the Supernatural sitcom opening from last night? :-)
If more shows made theme songs as well as Chuck's or even Dexter's I would be very happy. Chuck's opener rules.
hey, i like the dollhouse theme song...
re: Chuck's opener. I assume they're paying Cake royalties even though they are only using
Hee. ITA with most of these.
My favorite theme songs are those of MST3k and Pete and Pete.
Er, I know they haven't used it for a long time, but Grey's Anatomy has a theme song. "Nobody Knows" by...PSAPP? Not sure who did it, but they stopped using it 1/2 way through the second or third season I think.
Brothers & Sisters needs to play "We Are Family" as their theme. That or "Burning Down The House".
I haven't watched House in a couple years, but I LOVE Teardrop by Massive Attack.
I think Supernatural's should probably be "As Heaven is Wide" by Garbage.
Grey's Anatomy's theme was Cosy in the Rocket by Psapp
The theme song for Breaking Bad only lasts for like 5 seconds, but it is 5 seconds of pure MAGIC. Holy crap do I love that tiny piece of music.
I've always loved the theme song for The Office.
I also love the Mad Men theme song (A Beautiful Mine by RJD2) - amazing. I am generally happy with the short catchy themes that currently exist. Here's a theme song puzzler from the past: The Quantum Leap theme song was the longest song ever, and it only had TWO leads! Never got that...
I think that the NCIS franchize really needs a makeover in terms of theme song. Just take inspiration from CSI, all three theme songs are great
Oh, and btw, I think that what Psych is doing with the theme song, I mean adapting it to their episode when it is relevant is fabulous. Just fabulous!
Seriously? The theme song from Firefly was the best. I sing it to my baby at night,that's how great it is.