12 Iconic TV Theme Songs

Posted by izilda | August 24, 2016 | MUSIC

Photo Credit: parade.com

We all have a special connection with TV theme songs. They make the show instantaneously recognizable and set the tone for each episode. They also trigger some of our fondest childhood memories.

Between the ‘60s and the ‘90s TV witnessed the golden years of theme songs. From The Muppet Show, Cheers, Scooby-Doo to Mission:Impossible, hundreds of TV theme songs swayed generations of viewers. We’ve picked 12 of them.

1. Little House on the Prairie (1974-1983)

Who doesn’t remember the three sisters running down the hill and Carrie’s cute fall? The Little House on The Prairie theme song is as cheesy as it gets but it’ll always put a smile on your face (plus it was the only thing on TV when you were sick off school).

2. Happy days (1974-1984)

The famous Happy Days intro was only used from season 3 onwards. Written by Norman Gimbel and Charles Fox (the men behind ‘Killing Me Softly with His Song’), the theme song hit the charts coming in at no.5 in 1976.

3. Pokémon (1998-)

“I wanna be the very best like no one ever was”, the first few seconds of the famous cartoon are etched in our memories: Mew and Mewtwo flying majestically outside of Earth’s stratosphere while Ash Ketchum stares up at the stars. Pure manga magic.

4. Hawaii Five-O (1968-1980)

The Hawaii Five-O theme is also Hawaii University’s fight song.

5. The Pink Panther (1969-1979)

The 60s was the decade of jazzy theme songs most notoriously The Pink Panther with its groovy opening title composed by Doug Goodwin.

6. The Addams Family (1964-1966)

The Addams Family theme song is instantly recognizable with its finger-snaps. Quirky and eclectic like the show’s characters, the song was written and arranged by Vic Mizzy the famous Hollywood composer.

7. The Flintstones (1960-1966)

Initially the theme song sounded too much like Bugs Bunny’s Merry Melody “This Is It”. So in season 3 the song was ditched for the famous version we know today.

8. The Big Bang Theory (2007-)

Performed by Barenaked Ladies, this is one of the most recent prominent TV sitcom theme songs.

9. The Simpsons (1989-)

The theme song was composed by Danny Elfman in 1989. When you hear the ‘biblical’ opening, you know you’re in for some top notch American satire.

10. Malcolm In The Middle (2000-2006)

‘Boss Of Me’ was sang by alternative rock band They Might Be Giants and was a worldwide hit. The song even won a Grammy in 2002.

11. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990-1996)

“Now this is a story all about how/My life got flipped-turned upside down…” Every kid who grew up in the 90s should be able to rap this song and dance like Carlton.