Top 10 Best Scooby Doo Franchise Songs
#10: “Hex Girl”
“Scooby-Doo! and the Witch's Ghost” (1999)
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The “Scooby-Doo” franchise possesses a long and rich history of original pop tunes punctuating various sequences. “Hex Girl” from 1999 follows in that rich tradition, albeit with a more aggressive and modern-day approach. The song is taken from that year’s direct-to-video film, “Scooby-Doo! and the Witch's Ghost,” and features an animated band known as, you guessed it, the Hex Girls. Their theme song shows up early on, and it’s very much indicative of a late ‘90s, gothic-influenced hard rock. “Hex Girl” is super spooky, but also possesses an incredible sense of melody, with a chorus to (pardon the pun) die for.
#9: “What's New, Scooby-Doo?”
“What's New, Scooby-Doo?” (2002-06)
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One of the great things about the “Scooby-Doo” universe is how it’s been embraced by multiple generations. As a result, each iteration of Mystery Incorporated has tried to differentiate itself from the last. The animated series “What’s New, Scooby-Doo?” from the 2000s featured an eponymous theme song that was performed by Simple Plan. The band was arguably reaching its creative zenith around this time, so the collaboration makes perfect sense. Thankfully, the tune embraces everything bright and cheerful about “Scooby-Doo,” while also staying true to the band’s pop-punk style. It’s a case of conceptual symbiosis where all of the musical parts fit perfectly.
#8: “The New Scooby and Scrappy-Doo Show” Theme
“The New Scooby and Scrappy-Doo Show” (1983-84)
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Make no mistake, Scrappy-Doo is not the reason we included this one. But we’re not here to get into the controversy and debate surrounding the canine nephew. After all, this tune succeeds because of the way it adheres to the franchise’s penchant for mystery and monsters. We’re even treated to a short instrumental break where the spooky atmosphere is perfectly established, and we’re all aboard for the ride. This theme admittedly isn’t very long, but it sort of feels like a warm blanket that takes us back to our childhoods and makes us feel safe.
#7: “The Scooby-Doo Show”
“The Scooby-Doo Show” (1976-78)
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Hey kids, do you remember when it was the job of every Saturday morning cartoon to explain the premise to its audience? “The Scooby-Doo Show” definitely does, but that’s not a bad thing. The theme tune features a chorus of voices, in addition to the sound of Shaggy Rogers and Scoob himself. It’s colorful, upbeat, and lays out the series’ mystery framework while also perhaps playing down the Halloween atmosphere of “Scooby”’s earlier incarnations. In other words, this is a song perfectly suited for a bowl of the sugariest cereal imaginable, and the comfiest PJs you own.
#6: “Pretty Mary Sunlight”
“Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!” (1969-70; 1978)
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Danny Janssen is one of the songwriters who’s shared his talents with the “Scooby-Doo” gang over the years. “Pretty Mary Sunlight,” which he co-wrote with Austin Roberts, is one of his many, many highlights. It’s a wonderful mixture of 1960s/’70s pop and mild psychedelia, a tune that could be adapted for just about anyone. In fact, country music legend Jerry Reed performed his own version of it on an episode of “The New Scooby-Doo Movies.” His take even boasts some cool new guitar elements for good measure, a funky deviation on what was already one of “Scooby”’s best and most righteous tunes.
#5: “A Pup Named Scooby-Doo!”
“A Pup Named Scooby-Doo” (1988-91)
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Many kids who grew up in the late eighties and early nineties will probably possess fond memories of watching this unique take on Scooby-Doo and our Mystery Incorporated crew. The opening theme to “A Pup Named Scooby-Doo” possesses a nice ‘n nostalgic throwback to the 1950s, a doo-wop tune with tons of charm. It fits in perfectly with the show’s premise of a younger core gang solving crimes with an adorable Scooby-Doo, who still happens to be a growing puppy. There’s a fun innocence to the melodies at play that makes this title theme utterly impossible to resist.
#4: “The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo”
“The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo” (1985)
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Now this is the good stuff. Monster-loving kids of all ages will likely delight in hearing horror icon Vincent Price deliver the opening narration of “The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo.” The theme song wastes absolutely NO time in getting down to business, as Price’s booming voice gives way to – and later blends with – blaring horns, creating the perfect haunting atmosphere. “The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo” is a great addition to the franchise’s classic horror history, and serves as a cool entry point for young kids and their parents. It’s only fitting, then, that this song is spooky yet cool and super approachable for anyone seeking to check out the underrated show.
#3: “I Can Make You Happy”
“The New Scooby-Doo Movies” (1972-73)
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The practice of recycling songs was relatively commonplace for animation houses like Hanna-Barbera. “I Can Make You Happy” was initially sung by Austin Roberts for the original “Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!” series. But it’s the Davy Jones version from “The New Scooby-Doo Movies” that won our hearts. The late Monkees member delivers so much warmth in his performance, underlining the song’s sunshine and sparkle. “I Can Make You Happy” has some great instrumental accompaniment, as well. Ultimately, it’s the voices of both Jones and Roberts that ensure it’ll live on as a true “Scooby-Doo” classic.
#2: “Tell Me, Tell Me”
“Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!” (1969-70; 1978)
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One should never underestimate the power of a great “na-na-na.” Austin Roberts certainly seemed to know this when he laid into the vocals of “Tell Me, Tell Me,” for an episode of “Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!” The song was penned by Danny Janssen and Susan Steward, and is a glorious slice of unadulterated pop brilliance. This is the kind of bubblegum tune that’s largely gone the way of the dodo, but TV reruns can thankfully remind us of how great this stuff can sound. The songwriting is economical, but not lazy, and the result is a perfectly constructed earworm that you’ll never forget.
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
“Love the World”, “Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!” (1969-70; 1978)
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“Seven Days a Week”, “Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!” (1969-70; 1978)
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“It's Terror Time Again”, “Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island” (1998)
Legitimately Spooky & Hard-Hitting Stuff
“Earth, Wind, Fire, and Air”, “Scooby-Doo! and the Witch's Ghost” (1999)
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#1: “Scooby Doo, Where Are You?”
“Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!” (1969-70; 1978)
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Sometimes, the best answer is the most obvious one. There are a lot of great “Scooby-Doo” songs out there, but the OG theme song will always be special. There are a few different versions, including the first season iteration sung by Larry Marks. It’s Austin Roberts’ version, which debuted in season two, that’s probably best known by many fans, though. Roberts infuses his voice with an almost British Invasion-inspired twang, leaning into the show’s ‘60s and ‘70s aesthetic, and it works wonders. Of course, no matter which version is playing, we find ourselves bopping along. Indeed, “Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?” is considered a true, instantly recognizable classic today, for extremely good reason.
What song do you most associate with the “Scooby-Doo” franchise? Let us know in the comments!
