With the rise of streaming companies, many exhibits have forgone the prolonged title sequence at first of an episode. Moreover, the “skip introduction” button has meant that many viewers have forgone the title sequence, even for these exhibits which have caught with it. Nevertheless, from the conception of cable TV exhibits, the opening credits have been a staple of many exhibits, primarily as a result of the track that performs over them.
The track that performs over the opening credit of a present, or the theme song, has turn into so intently tied with many exhibits that when the track is performed in a context exterior the present, it could really be a bit disorienting. A few of these tracks, whereas so intently related to the TV present they introduce, are additionally executed by legendary artists, making them iconic in their very own proper. These ten tracks are precisely that: unbelievable songs, carried out by famend artists, to introduce a traditional TV present.
10
“Unhealthy Popularity” by Joan Jett & the Blackhearts
Freaks and Geeks
The true definition of a “cult traditional,” Freaks and Geeks solely ran for one season, however with probably the most star-studded casts within the historical past of tv. The opening credit featured James Franco, Linda Cardellini, Seth Rogen, and Jason Segel all posing for his or her highschool image day in a very iconic scene, set to Joan Jett & the Blackhearts’ hit single, “Unhealthy Popularity.” Set in a small suburban city in Michigan, the angsty highschool dramedy turned largely related to the equally angsty lyrics of its legendary theme track.
9
“God Solely Is aware of” by the Seashore Boys
Massive Love
When one thinks of the Seashore Boys, particularly with one in every of their biggest hits being “Good Vibrations,” the phrase “eerie” would not sometimes come to thoughts. Nevertheless, that’s precisely the texture of their track “God Solely Is aware of” because it performs within the opening scene of HBO’s Massive Love. Invoice Paxton, Jeanne Triplehorn, Chloë Sevigny, and Ginnifer Goodwin play the patriarch and matriarchs of a polygamous household, and within the opening credit, they swing round, dancing with each other on ice skates as “God Solely Is aware of” performs over the notably eerie scene.
8
“Superhero” by Jane’s Dependancy
Entourage
Adrian Grenier stars as actor Vincent Chase within the HBO comedy Entourage, which follows him and his entourage, comprised of his two finest buddies and his older brother. The opening credit comply with the group as they drive alongside a avenue lined with neon lights in Hollywood, with “Superhero” by Jane’s Dependancy enjoying within the background. Perry Farrell’s high-pitched vocals are the proper soundtrack for the entourage’s downtown drive, with a wonderfully hardcore ending to the opening credit score sequence as Farrell shouts “Oh yeah, oh yeah,” and all 4 guys get out of their convertible and shut their doorways in an overhead shot.
7
“Really feel It All Round” by Washed Out
Portlandia
One other cult traditional, Portlandia is the brainchild of SNL alum Fred Armisen and Sleater Kinney guitarist Carrie Brownstein. Produced by SNL creator Lorne Michaels, Portlandia is an odd, campy sketch comedy present, whose theme track is the ethereal techno observe “Really feel It All Round” by Washed Out, a one-man synth-driven artist who has developed considerably of a cult following himself. The opening sequence is a collection of pictures all through Portland, with the dream-like synthesizer sequence of “Really feel It All Round” serving to to situate us within the metropolis.
6
“I Do not Wanna Be” by Gavin DeGraw
One Tree Hill
Highschool dramas have been defining generations for many years, however not many of those exhibits have had theme songs that really outlined the fanbase. The opening credit of One Tree Hill have been accompanied by Gavin DeGraw’s solely track to chart within the high ten of the Billboard Sizzling 100, “I Do not Wanna Be.” The lyrics resonated deeply, even perhaps subconsciously to a level, with the present’s younger viewers, giving Gavin DeGraw an entire new set of followers and One Tree Hill a theme track that set the present other than the opposite highschool dramas of its time.
5
“Uncontrollable Urge” by Devo
Ridiculousness
The introduction of “Uncontrollable Urge” is amongst Devo’s most widely known guitar riffs and subsequent vocals. MTV’s Ridiculousness, which is extra of a PG-13 model of America’s Funniest House Movies, makes use of that track’s introduction as its theme track. The opening credit are full with the present’s host, Rob Dyrdek, singing the long-lasting vocals, which is simply the phrase “Yeah,” repeated 12 occasions. Although the present doesn’t embrace a full opening credit score sequence, using Devo’s track has earned its lead vocalist Mark Mothersbaugh roughly a million {dollars} in royalties annually the present has been on air (through USA Today).
4
“Brief Skirt Lengthy Jacket” by CAKE
Chuck
NBC’s Chuck is a spy thriller motion comedy starring Zachary Levi, Yvonne Strahovski, and Joshua Gomez. The present is fraught with thematic components paying homage to motion, comedy, thriller, and even drama, making CAKE’s “Brief Skirt Lengthy Jacket” the proper theme track to accompany the present’s animated opening credit score scene. The present utilized an instrumental model of the track as its theme, however even sans lyrics, it’s an iconic observe in its personal proper. The bass line and horn part within the bridge are the proper method to construct the suspense attribute of a really suspenseful present.
3
“Superman” by Lazlo Bane
Scrubs
Whereas there are numerous medical dramas on TV, there aren’t many medical comedies. Zach Braff and Donald Faison star in the medical comedy, Scrubs, which boasted a brief and candy opening credit scene with Lazlo Bane’s “Superman” as its theme. The track is an earworm, with sound results that align completely with the visible results of Scrubs‘ opening credit. The lyrics, “I am unable to do that all by myself / No, I do know I am no Superman / I am no Superman,” are a tangible metaphor for the beloved sitcom. Merely put, the track and present mixture is an leisure match made in heaven.
2
“Low Rider” by Struggle
George Lopez
Anybody who has fallen asleep with the TV on any time after the yr 2002 is aware of precisely what it is wish to get up with a begin to the sound of “Low Rider” by Struggle and the slow-motion visible of George Lopez leaping on a trampoline. The opening credit of George Lopez turned a staple of late-night tv from the time the present premiered and have been undeniably tied to the track. The cowbell, deep staccato vocals, and the legendary saxophone solo did wonders because the theme track to Lopez and the remainder of the solid within the light-hearted opening scene.
1
“Modifications” by Charles Bradley
Massive Mouth
Initially written by Ozzy Osbourne for heavy steel band Black Sabbath’s fourth studio album, Charles Bradley recorded an R&B, soul model of “Modifications” which was subsequently used because the theme track for Netflix’s Massive Mouth, an grownup cartoon collection about rising up, notably by the lens of puberty. Bradley’s throaty vocals as he sings “I am going by modifications,” paired with the animated visible of a tree rising taller and transitioning into the principle character getting taller as effectively, tells us all the pieces we have to learn about Nick Kroll and John Mulaney’s smash-hit comedy.
