BLOGS

TV Shows that Desperately Need Theme Songs

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."

24: "I Wanna Be Sedated" by the Ramones
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?

20 Comments

November 6, 2009 6:23 PM
Heather
Reply

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.

November 6, 2009 6:31 PM
Cat
Reply

Personally, I am obsessed with the Fringe theme song and would be very annoyed if it was switched for any Red Rider song.

November 6, 2009 6:55 PM
A.J, Simon
Reply

I blame Seinfeld for the death of the theme song.

Best theme songs of all time:

Cheers
Sanford and Son
Nightman

November 6, 2009 6:59 PM
tvgirl48
Reply

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.

November 6, 2009 7:15 PM
nick
Reply

hey, i like the dollhouse theme song...

November 6, 2009 7:54 PM
Dan
Reply

re: Chuck's opener. I assume they're paying Cake royalties even though they are only using

November 6, 2009 10:28 PM
Punstressak
Reply

Hee. ITA with most of these.

November 6, 2009 10:53 PM
Lyna
Reply

My favorite theme songs are those of MST3k and Pete and Pete.

November 7, 2009 4:54 AM
Andy Bluebear
Reply

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.

November 7, 2009 11:37 AM
chas87
Reply

Brothers & Sisters needs to play "We Are Family" as their theme. That or "Burning Down The House".

November 7, 2009 12:35 PM
athlios
Reply

I haven't watched House in a couple years, but I LOVE Teardrop by Massive Attack.

November 7, 2009 1:29 PM
Brixtonville
Reply

I think Supernatural's should probably be "As Heaven is Wide" by Garbage.

November 7, 2009 5:22 PM
Rose
Reply

Grey's Anatomy's theme was Cosy in the Rocket by Psapp

November 7, 2009 5:39 PM
Chelsea
Reply

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.

November 9, 2009 4:25 AM
Grace
Reply

I've always loved the theme song for The Office.

November 9, 2009 5:33 PM
Hima
Reply

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...

November 10, 2009 8:33 AM
schumitza
Reply

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

November 10, 2009 8:38 AM
schumitza
Reply

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!

November 11, 2009 3:52 PM
Azy
Reply

Seriously? The theme song from Firefly was the best. I sing it to my baby at night,that's how great it is.

December 1, 2009 12:54 AM
fuschiaj
Reply

'Barney Miller' and 'Angel' get my vote for best music only themes. Lyrics Award goes to the classic 'Laverne and Shirley'.I will now step out of the WayBack machine.

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