Television shows are 30 percent about the content, 5 percent about the ads, 25 percent about the cute boy in the show, and 40 percent about the theme song. Movies may be more widely recognized by their theme songs (think Jurassic Park, Star Wars, or James Bond), but theme songs are absolutely integral to television shows. Which shows have the intro that you don’t skip when you’re watching Netflix, the ones you sing in the car, the ones that you’ll always remember? Look no further, I’ve got it all right here.
“The Pink Panther Theme” (The Pink Panther): Henry Mancini
Duh nuh, duh nuh, duh nuh duh nuh duh nuh duh nuh duh nuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuh dununununuh.
“Tuyo” (Narcos): Rodrigo Amarante
Pablo Escobar is an eccentric, emotional man, so it is fitting that the main title for Narcos has just as much heart. “Tuyo” (Spanish for “yours”) may be in Spanish, and I may have taken German, but I can’t resist that silky guitar and those passionate vocals. It makes me feel like I should be putting back shots of tequila and getting into a fight in a back alley bar in Medellín. It truly takes you places.
Daredevil Opening Titles: John Paesano
Mysterious, silky, and dramatic: high pitches combine with deep bass to create a superhero feel. If you were to close your eyes while listening, you would feel powerful, as if you were the true hero of the story. It is far superior to its Netflix-original-superhero-show counterparts Luke Cage and Jessica Jones, whose theme songs are decent enough, but you’ll still skip them to get to the show 30 seconds faster.
Game of Thrones Theme: Ramin Djawadi
Game of Thrones may be the most popular television show in the world (or at least the most frequently pirated), and being so, it requires a memorable title sequence. The song moves you in multiple ways, mostly having a similar effect to Daredevil’s theme in that it evokes a feeling of power. You truly feel as if you are the queen (or king) of dragons, soaring through the clouds and conquering far off lands.
“I’ll Be There for You” (Friends): The Rembrandts
I must be honest; I have only seen two or three episodes of Friends. Luckily this playlist is not about the show. “I’ll Be There For You” may be more popular even than Friends itself. I mean, come on, the song is as ageless as Jennifer Aniston.
“The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”: DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince
When some people say they can rap, they don’t mean they know all the lyrics to “King Kunta” or “No Role Modelz”; they mean they can recite each syllable of “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.” I can’t do either, so props to those who can. Will Smith struck gold with this one, and as a child I assume I shared the ritual of bopping my head to the beat and singing along. Or at least trying to.
House of Cards Theme: Jeff Beal
Politics is a slippery slope, whether you’re Jacob Silcoff ’17 with your unrelenting logic and endless stream of chatter or the strong, stoic, and deceitful type like Francis Underwood. Jeff Beal somehow combines both approaches to government to make one song. Chills trickle down your spine as you listen to the evil undertones while the trumpet, the one hopeful and pure sound, tries to warn the listener of the vile and evil things coming your way. If this year’s election is any indicator of things to come, the House of Cards reality may not be so bad. Possibly the best aspect of it is the feeling of excitement you get when you hear the song, just from knowing that another episode is beginning.
Pokémon Original Theme: Pokémon X
Every Saturday I would thunder down the stairs to watch the best two hours of television my ten-year-old self could ever dream of. Yu-Gi-Oh!, Pokémon, Ben 10, and Teen Titans (before the Go! version) still have a special place in my heart. The Pokémon theme song preaches about true friendship and camaraderie in a catchy manner. Those who don’t know the words to the song get so jealous that they’ll try to make fun of those who do, although you can’t hear the haters when you’re belting out “gotta catch ‘em alllll!”
“You’ve Got Time” (Orange Is the New Black): Regina Spektor
Spektor, who recently performed at the State Theatre here in Ithaca, wrote and performed “You’ve Got Time” for this Netflix original. It’s catchy and upbeat, contrary to the show’s subject of female prison life. However, it does well introducing you to the themes of the show, all the while providing a tune you can hum along to while forgetting the sad and serious issues. Not too happy, not too serious: just right.
Phineas and Ferb Theme: Bowling For Soup
There are few television shows that everyone knows, but this is one of them. It rightfully gets a special song to start it off. Just as wacky as the show, the Phineas and Ferb theme song is a boatload of fun. Bowling For Soup has a very distinct sound and culture surrounding them and their music, and it pairs masterfully with the story of Phineas and Ferb. The childish ambition and zeal of the show mirror the voice of Jaret Reddick, Bowling For Soup’s lead vocalist.
Honorable Mentions
These don’t quite make the list, but they’re worth mentioning.
Jimmy Neutron Theme: Brian Causey
“Departure!” (Hunter X Hunter): Masatoshi Ono
Dexter Main Title: HIM