Can You Guess The TV Show From The First Line Of Its Theme Song?
- by Jamie Gerber
- – on
- in Movies and TV
It's not that easy to write an amazing theme song. The piece not only needs to capture the essence of the series, but has to be a catchy tune as well. If the creators are really lucky, they might even find an existing song that sums up the show perfectly. Often, a TV theme becomes as iconic as the series itself. Some of the melodies on this quiz are likely to get stuck in your head the moment you think about them. Others might be a little less obvious.
Writing a great television theme is almost a lost art at this point. These days, many shows simply have a title card or a brief instrumental. While this works for some series, others could've benefited from a bit more thought going into their intro.
Are you an avid TV watcher? In order to ace this quiz, you'll need to be. There are songs on here that date back to the ‘60s, as well as current tunes, and everything in between. Some of these are impossible to miss, but others might just stump you. Take this quiz and find out, Can You Guess The TV Show From The First Line Of Its Theme Song?
Sunny day, sweeping the clouds away
This theme is the oldest song that can be heard on this musical series, dating back to its inception in 1969. Joe Raposo, whose name will appear more than once on this quiz, composed the song. He co-wrote the lyrics with Jon Stone and Bruce Hart, and the former considered the tune “a musical masterpiece and a lyrical embarrassment”. A harmonica player by the name of Jean "Toots" Thielemans and a choir comprised of children performed the opening and closing themes of the show.
A long time ago, we used to be friends, but I haven’t thought of you lately at all
This song was sung by the Dandy Warhols, first appearing on their 4th studio album, Welcome to the Monkey House. It may not have been written for the series, but this tune about the bitter end of a former friendship perfectly encapsulates it. The music of the Dandy Warhols has been used on the show more than once and the band’s frontman, Courtney Taylor-Taylor even made an appearance. He sang Nazareth’s “Love Hurts” at an open mic night during the second season.
So no one told you life was gonna be this way
Love it or hate it, this sitcom remains fairly ubiquitous in syndication, despite the fact that the series took its final bow in 2004. “I’ll Be There for You” was a song by the Rembrandts that wound up becoming a hidden track on their third album, LP. The tune was co-written by the producers of the show and clocked in at just under a minute long. However, the song become so popular that the Rembrandts record label told them that they had to rerecord it as a full song.
A horse is a horse, of course, of course
This theme song was written by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans, and sung by the former. He was only meant to be the singer until a professional could be found, but the producers liked Livingston’s vocals. Twenty after this show went off the air, interest in its theme was revived when a preacher by the name of Jim Brown claimed that if played in reverse, satanic messages were audible in the song. According to Brown, the phrases "Someone sung this song for Satan" and "the source is Satan" could be heard.
Little boxes on the hillside
Although Malvina Reynolds wrote this tune in 1962, it was the cover version sung by Pete Seeger that actually became a hit just one year later. However, Reynolds’s original version became the opening theme for this series in the mid-2000s. After the show’s first season, various bands covered the opening number, including Elvis Costello, Jenny Lewis, Man Man and the Mountain Goats. Reynolds was a political activist and wrote this satire of suburbia after seeing all the housing developments being built in the Westlake District of Daly City, California.
Here we come, walkin’ down the street
Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart wrote this theme specifically for a certain series in 1966. However, this infectious tune became a hit single in its own right. The melody is very loosely based on the Dave Clark Five song, "Catch Us If You Can". Its lyrics speak to the emerging youth counterculture of the time. Although this series followed the exploits of a fictional band, life began to imitate art when that band managed to write a huge string of hits.
Here’s the story of a lovely lady, who was bringing up three very lovely girls
This theme song actually gives a detailed explanation of the show’s premise. The series ran from 1969-1974. Its creator, Sherwood Schwartz, along with Frank De Vol, penned the tune that ran over the opening credits, which was performed by the Peppermint Trolley Company. However, after season 1, members of the cast sang the theme, allowing the characters to tell their own story. The memorable title sequence was actually created by Howard A. Anderson, Jr., a pioneer in visual effects of the time.
Yes, no, maybe, I don’t know
“Boss of Me” was a song performed by beloved rock band, They Might Be Giants. It won the group their first Grammy Award in the “Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media” category. The song served as the theme for this TV show, which ran for seven seasons, beginning in the early 2000s. It appeared on the soundtrack and remains one of the band’s most well known tunes. The song’s music video revolves around the series as well.
I can’t do this all on my own
This song, performed by Lazlo Bane, served as the theme for a popular medical TV show. The tune is titled, “Superman” and was actually suggested to the series creator by one of the show’s stars. It perfectly sums up the characters’ imperfections, highlighting that although they are medical professionals, they are far from perfect. The version of the song used for the opening credits of the series was largely the same as Lazlo Bane’s original, although it was recorded at a faster tempo.
Come and knock on our door
This American series was based on a British show called Man of the House and aired for eight seasons, beginning in 1977. Joe Raposo – the same guy who composed “Can You Tell Me How to Get to Sesame Street? – wrote this this theme. Julia Rinker and Ray Charles, but not the Ray Charles that you’re thinking of, performed it. This Ray Charles became best known for writing “Fifty Nifty United States”, a song in which the fifty states are alphabetized and set to music.
Stop runnin’ now, I’m already dead
Deadboy & the Elephantmen recorded “Stop, I’m Already Dead” for their 2005 album, We are the Night Sky. It’s the perfect choice to kick off this series, which is very loosely based on the comic of the same name. The opening sequence is actually drawn by the same artist who drew the comic. This criminally underrated show was adapted by the brilliant minds behind Veronica Mars and continues to raise the bar with every season. If you haven’t watched, you really should!
Give us any chance we’ll take it
“Making Our Dreams Come True” was performed by Cyndi Grecco – it was the title track on her album – and became a hit when this show first aired in 1976. This famous opening credits scene begins with a Yiddish-American hopscotch chant, “One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, Schlemiel, Schlimazel, Hasenpfeffer Incorporated!” It has been reenacted several times in pop culture, most famously in Wayne’s World. The series was actually a spinoff, as the main characters appeared on another show first.
I was working hard at a New York job, making dough, but it made me blue
Every episode of this unique, award winning musical series contains two or three original songs. Often these tunes cleverly satire a genre of music, from hip-hop to indie to grunge. The opening sequence of the first season featured the main character explaining the show’s premise. It is difficult to classify the series, which seamlessly blends elements of comedy, drama and musical theater. The show revolves around a character whose entire life changes after watching a particularly insightful commercial for Truly Happy Truly Butter.
If you walk through the Garden, you better watch your back
The incomparable Tom Waits wrote “Way Down in the Hole” for his 1987 album, Frank’s Wild Years, and it was used as the theme for this series. With each season, the opening credits changed and a different artist covered the song. This show took an interesting musical approach. Rather than using a traditional score or overlaying tunes, the series employed diegetic music, as in songs that the characters on the show could hear, such as music playing in a store or on a car radio.
They’re creepy and they’re kooky
Well, it’s pretty impossible to read those words and not get that toe tapping, finger snapping theme song stuck in your head. However, if for some reason you’re just not hearing it, we’ll drop some hints. Longtime Hollywood composer, Vic Mizzy, arranged this theme for a series that ran from 1964-1966. The show was actually based on cartoon strip that debuted in 1938. This fictional family has not only served as the inspiration for this TV show, but also several films, an animated series and even a musical.
Now this is a story all about how my life got flipped, turned upside down
The star of show wrote this theme song, with music composed by the legendary Quincy Jones. Its lyrics brought the audience up to speed on the show’s premise and the music was often used to bridge the gap between scenes. An internal feud led to one of the stars being replaced with a different actress midway through the series. The actress who lost her job remains angry to this day, despite the fact that the last episode of the show aired in 1996.
Woke up this morning, got yourself a gun
"Woke Up This Morning" appears on the 1997 Alabama 3 album, Exile on Coldharbour Lane, although the version that plays during the opening credits of this show is the “Chosen One Mix”. Frontman Rob Spragg wrote the song after hearing about the Sara Thornton murder case. The song includes a loop of famed bluesman Howlin’ Wolf and due to the fact that it’s about “a woman who’s had enough and gets a gun”, Spragg finds the type of anthem that it became to be very ironic.
When you came in, the air went out
This show, created by Alan Ball – who also created Six Feet Under – ran for six seasons and was based on a series of novels written by Charlaine Harris. Its theme song, “Bad Things” was written and recorded by country singer Jace Everett in 2005 for his eponymous album. This show took the world by storm when it first aired, with just the right mix of horror and camp, and a truly relevant metaphor running throughout. However, it failed to continue captivating viewers in later seasons.
Well we’re moving on up to the East Side
This sitcom managed to make it on air for eleven seasons, totaling 253 episodes from 1975-1985. Ja’net Dubois – who starred in another beloved series of the time – and Jeff Barry wrote “Movin’ On Up”, which was sung by the former, along with a gospel choir. Sammy Davis, Jr later covered the song. Along with his wife at the time, Ellie Greenwich, and Phil Spector, Barry has co-written many other incredibly famous songs, such as “Do Wah Diddy Diddy” and “Da Doo Ron Ron”.
Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name
“Where Everybody Knows Your Name” is one of the most easily recognizable theme songs on this quiz. Gary Portnoy – who also performed the track – along with Judy Hart Angelo and Julian Williams wrote this tune, which has certainly become just as iconic as the show itself. The song’s title became the tagline for the series. It’s the pitch perfect opening for a TV show about a much beloved bar. As difficult as it is to believe, what became one of the highest rated shows of the time was almost canceled in its first season due to low ratings.
Take my love, take my land, take me where I cannot stand
Sonny Rhodes, the self-proclaimed “Disciple of the Blues”, performed this track, which was written by the series creator before the show was even greenlit. This space opera has quite a loyal fan base, who are still clamoring for a revival, despite the fact that the series has been off the air for quite some time. Interestingly, NASA used this theme on an actual spaceship! It was the wakeup song for Robert L. Behnken and his crewmembers on STS-130 in 2010.
It seems today that all you see is violence in movies and sex on TV
Walter Murphy, best known as the mastermind behind disco megahit “A Fifth of Beethoven”, wrote the theme music for this long running animated sitcom. The series was originally canceled in its 3rd season, but thanks to DVD sales and syndication, it not only received a stay of execution, but also became one of the longest running American animated shows. It has spawned films, video games and even novels, and was ranked by TV Guide as the 9th Greatest TV Cartoon of all Time.
Thank you for being a friend
Alright, if this one’s unfamiliar to you, it’s possible that you may have been living under a rock, so welcome back to civilization! This song was original written and recorded by Andrew Gold in 1978. However, it was later covered by Cynthia Fee and used as the theme for this much beloved sitcom, which aired from 1985-1992. Despite the unbreakable bonds of friendship implied by this track, not all of these stars were fond of one another when the cameras were turned off.
You take the good, you take the bad
This spinoff became one of the longest running sitcoms of the ‘80s, with a total of 209 episodes over the course of nine seasons. Al Burton, Gloria Loring and her husband at the time, Alan Thicke – best known for his role as Jason Seaver on Growing Pains – composed this theme song. These three also wrote the theme for the show’s parent series, which was sung by Thicke. However, this famous opening lyric was actually not in the original version of the track.
Hangin’ out, down the street, the same old thing we did last week
Although somewhat under the radar, ‘70s power pop band, Big Star, was one of the most influential acts in rock & roll. This song appeared on their seminal debut, #1 Record, but was covered by Todd Griffin in order to be the opening for the first season this TV show. Cheap Trick later rerecorded the track and their version was used as the theme for the duration of the series. They changed the ending of the tune, by quoting a line from their own song, “Surrender”.
Now the world don’t move to beat of just one drum
This sitcom ran for eight seasons from 1978-1985 and spawned a very successful spinoff. The series, known for its “Very Special Episodes” – as in installments dealing with controversial issues – and one character’s very well known catchphrase, has in later years, unfortunately, also become known for the rise and fall of its child stars. Sadly, one died at thirty-four, the other at forty-two. Thankfully, the third managed to clean up in the ‘90s and now tours schools to warn about the dangers of drug use.
California, here we come, right back where we started from
“California”, a song about driving U.S. Route 101 to see a show, appeared on Phantom Planet’s second album, The Guest, in 2002. It received much more attention when it became the theme for this series just a year later. The band’s original lineup featured actor Jason Schwartzman – best known for his work with director Wes Anderson – on drums. While inarguably a teen drama, this series definitely separated itself from the pack, proving much more intelligent than many of its contemporaries.
Hello world, here's a song that we’re singin’
This musical sitcom launched the career of 70s teen idol, David Cassidy. As difficult as it is to believe, he was originally told to lip-sync with the rest of the cast. However, shortly before shooting, Cassidy convinced the producer that he could, in fact, sing. He and one other actor on the series were the only ones allowed to use their real voices. “Come On, Get Happy” was actually the second, although much better known theme song for this show.
What would you do if I sang out of tune?
“With a Little Help from My Friends” was, of course, originally a Beatles tune off of their landmark 1967 album, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Joe Cocker radically rearranged the song when he covered it in 1968, although the most famous iteration would be his Woodstock performance of it. His version of the track became even more widely known when it was used as the opening theme for this much loved, Emmy winning television show. The series ran for six seasons, beginning in 1988.
Just sit right back and you’ll hear a tale, a tale of a fateful trip
Sherwood Schwartz – creator of both this series and The Brady Bunch – wrote this theme song with George Wyle. Interestingly, the original pilot for the show featured a Calypso theme song, composed by John Williams! Going by Johnny Williams at the time, he actually wrote other music for the show as well, before being replaced by Gerald Fried. Williams then went on to become the most well-known film score composer of all time, creating iconic scores for everything from Star Wars to Harry Potter.
Dance your cares away, worries for another day
The amazing Jim Henson created this delightful musical series centered on lovable puppets. Music was integral to the show, with every episode featuring at least two or three original songs. A Canadian poet by the name of Dennis Lee, along with Philip Balsam wrote the tunes. The undeniably infectious theme song for this show actually reached number 33 on the British music charts. This series ran for a total of 96 episodes over the course of five seasons from 1983-1987.
I don’t give a damn about my reputation
NBC canceled this brilliant series far too soon, without even airing every episode of its first season. One of the best aspects of the show was the way that it managed to implement music, finding the perfect song to match up with the characters’ emotions. Although its use of music was key, this did make releasing the show on DVD expensive and time consuming, because the creators did not want to replace a single tune. The theme used for the opening credits was “Bad Reputation”, co-written by Joan Jett for her 1980 debut album.
I am the son, and the heir
You might know this tune as “How Soon is Now?” by The Smiths. It was originally a B-Side, but has since appeared on compilation albums. However, the version used as the theme for this supernatural TV show was a cover by Love Spit Love, a splinter group of Psychedelic Furs. This iteration was initially recorded for The Craft, which made it all the more appropriate to serve as the opening for this show, which certainly had very similar subject matter.
Somebody save me
This Remy Zero track, taken off of their 2000 album, The Golden Hum, definitely captured this essence of this series. Due to its immense popularity, the show lasted longer than anyone thought it would – and longer than some feel that it should have. Although many stories had been told about this DC character prior to the series, it chronicled a piece of their history that no one knew too much about. The creators did make some pretty radical adjustments, but the show remains loved.
If you’re out on the road, feeling lonely and so cold
“Where You Lead” is a Carole King tune that can be found on her landmark 1971 album, Tapestry. A rerecorded version with revised lyrics, sung by King and her daughter, Louise Goffin, was used as the theme for this series. Although the show’s creator approached King, using a new iteration of the tune that would be more reflective of the show thematically was her own idea. King even had a recurring role in the series as the proprietor of the town music store.