Fave TV theme song that already existed as a song

[jo]

Rolling Stone magazine's TV critic, Alan Sepinwall, asked an interesting question of his followers on BlueSky earlier this week:

What is your favorite TV theme song that already existed as a song before the show was created? For example, The Wire using “Way Down in the Hole” or Outlander using "Skye Boat Song". Songs that were created specifically for a show (e.g. “Strange Game” for Slow Horses) don't count.

Comments

[bleodswean]

Far From Any Road by The Handsome Family for True Detective!

[jo]

I knew I'd have too many to pick one fave. The minute I'd think of one, another would pop into my head. So before my list gets out of hand, I'll go with the following:

"Hollow Talk" by Choir of Young Believers, for the Danish–Swedish police series Bron/Broen (The Bridge)
"Paint it Black" by the Rolling Stones, Tour of Duty
"Reflections" by Diana Ross and the Supremes, China Beach
"Five O'Clock World" by the Vogues, The Drew Carey Show (interestingly, the Vogues' version was used only in season 2 while other seasons featured covers of the song performed by other artists)
"Bad Reputation" by Joan Jett, Freaks and Geeks
"Obla Di Obla Da" by The Beatles, Life Goes On
"Baba O'Riley" by The Who, CSI NY

[valoise]

I'd forgotten about Tour of Duty. That was an excellent use of the Stones' song.

[shipperslist]

"Hollow Talk" by Choir of Young Believers, for the Danish–Swedish police series Bron/Broen (The Bridge)

I was about to come say this. It's such a wonderful, wonderful song.

[jo]

Nice to know someone else has heard of it!

[yourlibrarian]

Funny, when I saw your question two themes popped into my head, one of them Paint It Black for Tour of Duty. That's a song that gets used a good bit (though not as much as Under Pressure) but it just fit that show so well.

One of my problems is that very often I don't know that a theme I'm hearing is an existing song. I would with all but your first one because they're older songs. However, in the WB heyday of the pop song as theme song, there were a number of good choices I see others have already mentioned. My favorite though was Dido's Here With Me which was used for Roswell.

[jo]

One of my problems is that very often I don't know that a theme I'm hearing is an existing song.

That happens to me a lot these days, both with theme songs and (maybe more often) a song that starts at the end of an episode and carries on over the end credits. I only realize it's a "real" song because my phone identifies it and tells me what it is. I really don't follow popular music at all, so am just not at all familiar with newer (i.e. since the 2000s) stuff.

[misbegotten]

Woke Up This Morning by Alabama 3 used by The Sopranos. Not my favorite off the album, but way up there.

Tell That Devil by Jill Andrews for Wynona Earp.

We Used To Be Friends by The Dandy Warhols for Veronica Mars.

[lirazel]

I thought of VMars too!

[corvidology]

Wynonna was excellent but then it was in general.

[rogueslayer452]

"Tell That Devil" was such a good use for Wynonna Earp, the vibe fit incredibly well. :)

[corvidology]

I loved CSI's use of The Who songs as themes, particularly good with the original series, Who are You?

Also, using Bad Things by Jace Everett for True Blood was perfect.

[rogueslayer452]

Yeah, every time I hear any The Who song I immediately associate it with CSI. Obviously the original series is memorable, though thanks to how often it is meme'd "Won't Get Fooled Again" as CSI: Miami's theme definitely ranks as being the most memorable for that, lol.

[corvidology]

Ah, I have to admit to loving the original CSI not so much the later years but never getting hooked on any of the others.

[rogueslayer452]

I only watched CSI (the original, also the earlier seasons and not so much the later seasons), and bits of CSI: Miami and CSI: NY. You can't beat the original, though.

[corvidology]

Agreed. I tried to watch Miami and NY but couldn't get hooked. I didn't like as wide a range of the characters and found the cases less interesting - Miami got seriously overwrought pretty quickly as well.

[jo]

Of the Who songs used, Baba O'Riley is definitely my fave, and CSI:NY is the best of the three series, IMO -- if only because it had actual weather! And New York accents! But most of all, Gary Sinise.

[corvidology]

I'll stick with original flavour. ;D

I tried Miami and NY but didn't get hooked.

[rocky41_7]

"Teardrop" by Massive Attack that was the opener for "House"

[nyctanthes]

I'm pretty fond of the Beach Boys "God Only Knows" for Big Love.

[jo]

That's a great song -- I can't stay I've ever heard of that show, but my fave version of God Only Knows is this promo done for BBC Music back in 2014: https://youtu.be/XqLTe8h0-jo?si=vtvfqUUUvEwfkaZH

[valoise]

I have a feeling the show hasn't aged well, but I used to think the use of Sinatra's Love and Marriage was a perfect fit for Married With Children.

[mcbangle]

Oh yes, that sound was such a good (ironic) fit for that show! I didn't particularly like Married... With Children, but I used to leave the channel on Fox after The Simpsons just to watch the opening credits!

[veritas_poet]

Aw, your icon! Childhood memories for sure. Oh, to be that gorgeous for 5 minutes of my life... Ah, well. LOL!

[executrix]

Every time an episode of Slow Horses started I muttered, "The Worst Spies in London is RIGHT THERE!"

[dickinsons]

"Bad Things" by Jace Everett, True Blood.
"If I Had a Heart" by Fever Ray, Vikings.

[rogueslayer452]

"Bad Things" was such a good song, and I loved the opening credits True Blood had for it as well.

[delphi]

Peaky Blinders using "Red Right Hand" by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds!

[veritas_poet]

Carry On Wayward Son, by Kansas, is the unofficial theme of SUPERNATURAL.

I loved the song growing up. With the connection to the show, I came to love it infinitely more. Slightly surpassing even The X-Files (which is saying a lot, a lot!), SPN was my heart and soul. It's like it was made for me. I like to say, I * am * Dean Winchester. I... even bought a ring like his. (Yes, I'm a grown woman!)

But I STILL haven't see the finale. Not even the final season. It was always an emotionally draining show, especially in later seasons. Real Life imploded for me during that time. I just couldn't handle it. I'm still somewhat recovering, so I still haven't had the heart. I've been hiding from spoilers since then.

[rogueslayer452]

"I Don't Want To Wait" by Paula Cole for Dawson's Creek
"How Soon Is Now?" by Love Spit Love for Charmed
"Teardrop" by Massive Attack for House M.D.
"Secret" by The Pierces for Pretty Little Liars
"We Used To Be Friends" by The Dandy Warhols for Veronica Mars
"Hit The Road Jack" by Ray Charles for Unhappily Ever After

A lot of these songs kind of became part of the show, in a way, that whenever you hear the song outside of the show you still associate it with the show itself. For example, anything by The Who will always be associated with any CSI. Although the biggest issue is with royalties where songs will be replaced through streaming/DVD sales (such as the case with Dawson's Creek) which is really a bummer because it doesn't feel right anymore. Yes, it's just a song, but again the song became the identity of the show itself.

[luvbarryfefe]

They replaced Paula's song on the Dawson's Creek DVDs? Noooooo! And I just got ahold of the complete series not long ago. You're right. That is part of the show's identity. *weeps in fangirl*

[starfleetbrat]

I think these were all real songs before the show:


Malcolm in the Middle - "Boss of Me" by They Might be Giants
Friends - "I'll Be There For You" by The Rembrandts
The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy (1980s tv series) - "Journey of the Sorcerer" by the Eagles
Gentleman Jack - “Gentleman Jack" by O'Hooley & Tidow
Peaky Blinders - "Red Right Hand" by Nick Cave
True Detective S1 - "Far from Any Road" by The Handsome Family
True Detective S2 - "Nevermind" by Leonard Cohen
True Detective S4 - "Bury a Friend" by Billie Eilish

[misbegotten]

TMBG wrote "Boss of Me" for Malcolm! They actually won their first Emmy for it. :D

[tinny]

They've all been mentioned already... but:

Dawson's Creek (I also would have liked their first choice of title song, which was One Hand In my Pocket by Alanis Morissette, but they couldn't get the license there, either)

and Veronica Mars.

(And Married with Children wouldn't have occurred to me, but yes, that was a fun one!)

I always thought that the theme song for Mad About You was an existing song, but apparently not, Paul Reiser composed it for the show. Huh.