With the rise of streaming services, many shows have forgone thelengthy title sequence at the beginning of an episode. Additionally, the “skip introduction” button has meant that manyviewershave forgone the title sequence, even for those shows which have stuck with it. However, from the conception of cable TV shows, theopening creditshave been a staple of many shows, primarily due tothe song that plays over them.
The song that plays over the opening credits of a show, or thetheme song,has become so closely tied with many shows that when the song is played in a context outside the show, it can actually be a bit disorienting. Some of these tracks, while so closely associated with the TV show they introduce, are also done by legendary artists, making them iconic in their own right. These ten tracks are exactly that: incredible songs, performed by renowned artists, to introduce a classic TV show.
Freaks and Geeks
The true definition of a “cult classic,“Freaks and Geeksonly ran for one season, but with one of the most star-studded casts in the history of television. The opening credits featured James Franco, Linda Cardellini, Seth Rogen, and Jason Segel all posing for their high school picture day in a truly iconic scene, set toJoan Jett & the Blackhearts' hit single, “Bad Reputation.“Set in a small suburban town in Michigan, the angsty high school dramedy became largely associated with the equally angsty lyrics of its legendary theme song.
9"God Only Knows” by the Beach Boys
Big Love
When one thinks of the Beach Boys, especially with one of their greatest hits being “Good Vibrations,” the word “eerie” doesn’t typically come to mind. However, that is exactly the feel of their song"God Only Knows” as it plays in the opening scene of HBO’sBig Love.Bill Paxton, Jeanne Triplehorn, Chloë Sevigny, and Ginnifer Goodwin play the patriarch and matriarchs of a polygamous family, and in the opening credits, they swing around, dancing with one another on ice skates as “God Only Knows” plays over the notably eerie scene.
8"Superhero” by Jane’s Addiction
Entourage
Adrian Grenier stars as actor Vincent Chase in the HBO comedyEntourage, which follows him and his entourage, comprised of his two best friends and his older brother. The opening credits follow the group as they drive along a street lined with neon lights in Hollywood, with “Superhero” by Jane’s Addiction playing in the background.Perry Farrell’s high-pitched vocals are the perfect soundtrack for the entourage’s downtown drive,with a perfectly hardcore ending to the opening credit sequence as Farrell shouts “Oh yeah, oh yeah,” and all four guys get out of their convertible and shut their doors in an overhead shot.
7"Feel It All Around” by Washed Out
Portlandia
Another cult classic,Portlandiais the brainchild of SNL alum Fred Armisen and Sleater Kinney guitarist Carrie Brownstein. Produced bySNLcreatorLorne Michaels,Portlandiais an odd, campy sketch comedy show, whose theme song isthe ethereal techno track “Feel It All Around” by Washed Out, a one-man synth-driven artist who has developed somewhat of a cult following himself. The opening sequence is a series of shots throughout Portland, with the dream-like synthesizer sequence of “Feel It All Around” helping to situate us in the city.
6"I Don’t Wanna Be" by Gavin DeGraw
One Tree Hill
High school dramas have been defining generations for decades, but not many of these shows have had theme songs that truly defined the fanbase. The opening credits ofOne Tree Hillwere accompanied byGavin DeGraw’s only song to chart in the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100, “I Don’t Wanna Be.“The lyrics resonated deeply, perhaps even subconsciously to a degree, with the show’s young viewers, giving Gavin DeGraw a whole new set of fans andOne Tree Hilla theme song that set the show apart from the other high school dramas of its time.
5"Uncontrollable Urge” by Devo
Ridiculousness
The introduction of “Uncontrollable Urge” is among Devo’s most widely recognizedguitar riffsand subsequent vocals. MTV’sRidiculousness, which is more of a PG-13 version ofAmerica’s Funniest Home Videos,utilizes that song’s introduction as its theme song. The opening credits are complete with the show’s host, Rob Dyrdek, singing the iconic vocals, which is just the word"Yeah,“repeated 12 times. Though the show does not include a full opening credit sequence, the use of Devo’s song has earned its lead vocalist Mark Mothersbaugh roughly one million dollars in royalties each year the show has been on air (viaUSA Today).
4"Short Skirt Long Jacket” by CAKE
Chuck
NBC’sChuckis a spy thriller action comedy starring Zachary Levi, Yvonne Strahovski, and Joshua Gomez. The show is fraught with thematic elements reminiscent of action, comedy, thriller, and even drama, makingCAKE’s “Short Skirt Long Jacket” the perfect theme song to accompany the show’s animated opening credit scene.The show utilized an instrumental version of the song as its theme, but even sans lyrics, it is an iconic track in its own right. The bass line and horn section in the bridge are the perfect way to build the suspense characteristic of a very suspenseful show.
3"Superman” by Lazlo Bane
Scrubs
While there are countless medical dramas on TV, there aren’t many medical comedies. Zach Braff and Donald Faison star inthemedical comedy,Scrubs,which boasted a short and sweet opening credits scene with Lazlo Bane’s “Superman” as its theme.The song is an earworm, with sound effects that align perfectly with the visual effects ofScrubs' opening credits.The lyrics,“I can’t do this all on my own / No, I know I’m no Superman / I’m no Superman,“are a tangible metaphor for the beloved sitcom. Simply put, the song and show combination is an entertainment match made in heaven.
2"Low Rider” by War
George Lopez
Anyone who has fallen asleep with the TV on any time after the year 2002 knows exactly what it’s like to wake up with a start tothe sound of “Low Rider” by War and the slow-motion visual of George Lopez jumping on a trampoline. The opening credits ofGeorge Lopezbecame a staple of late-night television from the time the show premiered and were undeniably tied to the song. The cowbell, deep staccato vocals, and the legendary saxophone solo did wonders as the theme song to Lopez and the rest of the cast in the light-hearted opening scene.
1"Changes” by Charles Bradley
Big Mouth
Originally written by Ozzy Osbournefor heavy metal band Black Sabbath’s fourth studio album, Charles Bradley recorded an R&B, soul version of “Changes” which was subsequently used as the theme song for Netflix’sBig Mouth, an adult cartoon series about growing up, particularly through the lens of puberty. Bradley’s throaty vocals as he sings"I’m going through changes,“paired with the animated visual of a tree growing taller and transitioning into the main character getting taller as well,tells us everything we need to know about Nick Kroll and John Mulaney’s smash-hit comedy.
