Top 10 Best 80s TV Theme Songs
#10: “Inspector Gadget” (1983-86)
The man responsible for this theme song, Shuki Levy, was also behind the themes for “Power Rangers” and “Digimon”, two other themes that live on in the heads of 80s kids. When you hear those opening notes of “Inspector Gadget”, it’s clear what’s coming, and it’s impossible not to sing along. The song was influenced by Edvard Grieg’s “Hall of the Mountain King”, which can easily be heard (and perhaps not unheard) once you’re in on this secret. The song is a classic in the hearts of many, and poor Stephen Skratt, who was tasked with revamping the tune for the Netflix reboot, was subject to much scrutiny upon the trailer’s release. You just can’t compete with nostalgia.
#9: “The Greatest American Hero” (1981-83)
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Do you remember “The Greatest American Hero”? That one show about a substitute teacher who gets a superpowered suit from aliens? No? Neither do we, but we’re willing to bet you remember the theme song. Composed by Mike Post and Stephen Geyer, the tune made it to number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song is such a pop culture staple that it still shows up every so often; for example, in shows such as “Seinfeld” and “Family Guy”. ‘Believe it or not’, the show itself actually aired for 3 seasons, and a total of 45 episodes. Can you name one episode? No? Well, can you sing the theme song? Heck yes!
#8: “Saved By The Bell” (1989-93)
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Ah, remember the 80s, when we’d get up early to watch Saturday morning shows? We’d be so excited that school was out for two days, yet we’d all tune in to watch a show…about school! The theme song for “Saved By The Bell” was composed by Scott Gayle, the man who is also responsible for “Blossom’s” theme. Apparently, Gayle was given explicit instructions not to include the name of the show in the opening song, but disobeyed these orders and managed to impress in doing so. The song was rebooted and covered by rapper Lil Yachty for the 2020 version, but it doesn’t just have that same nostalgic feel to it. And the new show lacks gigantic grey portable phones… We’re just saying.
#7: “Knight Rider” (1982-86)
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That futuristic synth sound! The theme song to “Knight Rider” is one which features a short narrative explanation at the beginning, just to remind us all of what we we’re watching. This was a popular technique in the old days, for some reason. The show was a hit with all members of the family: dad for the action, mom for the handsome lead, and kids for the incredible innovation that was the sentient talking car. Composed by Stu Phillips and Glen A. Larson, the theme song was sampled from a classical song by Léo Delibes, and was played using not one, but as many as six synthesizers! That was the height of cool in the 1980s, kids.
#6: “Full House” (1987-95)
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Remember the TGIF TV line-up? Of course you do! It was all of our cheesy family favorites in one place, and we loved every minute of it. “Full House” was at the top of the list for many of us, with its existential plots and moments of deep introspection… Just kidding. But that one time Stephanie drove the car into the kitchen was pretty hilarious. And Uncle Jesse not aging since then is pretty great. And realizing Uncle Joey really isn’t funny now that we’re adults… Well, that kind of sucks. In any case, the show’s theme, “Everywhere You Look”, by Jesse Frederick and Bennett Salvay, had the habit of getting stuck in our heads for hours after we heard it. Don’t deny it, you wanted a seat in that convertible.
#5: “The A-Team” (1983-87)
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Here’s another intro that opens with an explanation of the show. Did TV producers in the 80s think everyone had terrible memories? “The A-Team” were the coolest team in the mid-80s. With Mr. T. in the mix, we pity the fool who doesn’t share this opinion. The tune has stood the test of time, and still makes itself known in the occasional musical cameo. Back in 2013, “The Today Show’s” Al Roker revealed that he plays the song in the morning to get “jazzed” for the day. (Apologies for that mental image.) The song was composed by Pete Carpenter and TV theme genius Mike Post, a man whose name you’ve likely seen in many show credits.
#4: “Reading Rainbow” (1983-2006)
One of the most memorable children’s programs for 80s kids, “Reading Rainbow” was a great way to encourage literacy and education. LeVar Burton, the host, was (and still is) a much-beloved personality, and we always adored gathering ‘round for a story with him. The opening theme really sparked wonder. It went through three different versions in the show’s 23-year run, but the original will always have a special place in our hearts. It was definitely one of the best after-school shows on air. But don’t take our word for it…
#3: “DuckTales” (1987-90)
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While we’re on the topic of songs that get endlessly stuck in our heads, who else remembers running home after school to catch the afternoon showing of “DuckTales”? Composed by Mark Mueller, a popular songwriter for pop stars and TV alike, the tune introduced us to the eventful town of Duckburg. We got to join Scrooge McDuck and his grand-nephews as they solved mysteries and rewrote history! 80s kids were always up for a little d-d-d-danger! The tune has stood the test of time, as it was re-recorded for the 2017 reboot without many changes. It was also covered by Panic at the Disco’s frontman Brendon Urie on the “Tonight Show”.
#2: “The Golden Girls” (1985-92)
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Did you think we’d forget about this one? A little different from the entries on this list, the song was originally recorded in 1978 as a single by artist Andrew Gold. It was then re-recorded by vocalist Cynthia Fee and trimmed down to serve as the opening for the show. Gold claimed the song took only about an hour to write, and we can safely assume he had no idea how popular it would become. Our four favorite golden age ladies would grace our screens every week, and the title sequence was definitely something we’d look forward to watching. The show was also responsible for introducing a whole new generation to the incredible Betty White, which is truly priceless. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
“Family Ties” (1982-89)
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“Miami Vice” (1984-90)
Synthesized Guitar & The Show That Spawned Millions of Tacky Suits
“Night Court” (1984-92)
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“Family Matters” (1989-98)
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“Star Trek: The Next Generation” (1987-94)
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The Orchestral Theme Song that Boldly Goes Where No One Has Gone Before
#1: “Cheers” (1982-93)
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This one really has a special place in our nostalgic hearts. “Cheers” was one of the most successful sitcoms of the 1980s. In fact, a poll done by GQ magazine in 2013 saw it voted the best comedy show of all time. The theme song was created by Gary Portnoy and Judy Hart Angelo. Fun fact: their initial two song submissions had been rejected by producers! “Where Everybody Knows Your Name” was the winning tune, and really made us feel welcome in that Bostonian bar of regulars. Sometimes, you do want to go where everybody knows your name…to drink responsibly, of course, and take a taxi home.
