Top 10 Catchiest TV Theme Songs
These are the top 10 most catchy TV theme songs! For this list, we'll be going over the television theme songs with music and lyrics that you just can't seem to get out of your head. We'll be including both animated and live-action TV shows, but excluding songs without words and those not originally written for the shows in question.
#10: “Saved by the Bell” (1989-92)
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The anthem of the gang at Bayside High is one toe-tappingly good song. While the wailing guitar riffs and energetic piano establish the theme’s memorable beat, the words themselves focus on the all too familiar feelings many students have of being one step behind when starting their day - with their salvation being a last minute arrival before the bell rings. Originally, the show’s producer, Peter Engel, didn’t want its title in the theme song, but upon hearing the finished product, he understandably changed his tune.
#9: “DuckTales” (1987-90; 2017-)
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Woo-ooo! The theme song to this classic, as well as current, Disney animated show is utterly infectious, regardless of the decade. The original is a bit brassier, while the rebooted version is more string-oriented. The lyrics remain almost the same though, and emphasize Scrooge and the gang’s adventures and the many strange things they encounter along the way, with creative rhymes that has helped the song work its way into our brains and hearts for decades. Like life in Duckburg, the “DuckTales” theme is like a hurricane that will sweep you off your feet: webbed or otherwise!
#8: “Cheers” (1982-93)
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If there’s a better anthem for bar culture, we sure haven’t heard it! The theme to the long running bar-based sitcom “Cheers” starts with a slow and melancholy piano before switching to a more upbeat tempo along with introducing guitar, drums, and more while maintaining the core bar room piano sound. The words themselves offer memorable enticements of a place “where everybody knows your name” and where to relax from the pressures of everyday life. With its nostalgic, comforting message and unique sound, the “Cheers” theme “sure would help a lot” of us “take a break from all our worries.”
#7: “The Addams Family” (1964-66)
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The 1960s are a veritable goldmine for memorable theme songs and the first on our list is this macabre delight. “The Addams Family” theme song perfectly encapsulates its show’s goofy, yet sinister tone, using a combination of a distinctive, thundering harpsichord and snapping fingers for a beat unlike any other song out there. The lyrics also help underscore the gothic atmosphere of the series, using unusual rhymes for a mysterious, spooky, and “altogether ooky” song. Half a century later, and we still recognize the notes whenever someone hums this creepy tune.
#6: “Gilligan’s Island” (1964-67)
Arguably one of the most famous theme songs ever, the intro to “Gilligan’s Island” is also one of the catchiest. Musically similar to a mix between a sea shanty and ‘60s beach music, the words are almost entirely devoted to exposition, detailing how the crew and passengers of the S.S. Minnow came to be shipwrecked on the titular island, while also introducing the major characters. Fun fact: the original black and white version omitted the Professor and Mary Ann. A rollicking theme from a classic show, “The Ballad of Gilligan’s Isle” is sure to get your head bobbing along to its iconic melody.
#5: “Full House” (1987-95)
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Titled “Everywhere You Look,” the theme from “Full House,” like the show itself, is pure comfort food. The sound is primarily rooted in pop, though there are also some notable saxophone moments in it. Meanwhile, the version used for the sequel series, “Fuller House,” has more guitar and the distinct vocals of Carly Rae Jepsen. Lyrically-speaking, although starting off with some musings on the fast-paced modern world, what makes “Everywhere You Look” so pervasive is the chorus and the sweet sentiments it espouses - that everyone has someone who cares for them.
#4: “The Flintstones” (1960-66)
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Yabba-dabba-doo! The famed theme for the world’s first animated sitcom, “Meet the Flintstones” is the perfect way to introduce and memorialize the “modern Stone Age family” in our collective consciousness – since it’s so very memorable. Scored by a large Jazz band and sung in harmony by 5 singers, the theme details the premise of the show and its setting using fun and upbeat lyrics. All in all, the Flintstones and their song will ensure that we all “have a gay old time” listening to them for many years to come.
#3: “Pokémon” (1997-)
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The original opening theme for the “Pokémon” anime’s English dub, this song features a soaring pop rock tune with lyrics that emphasize the importance of friendship, adventure, self-improvement, and (of course) capturing every Pokémon. The song has become the anthem to the massive multimedia franchise, even climbing near the top of some Billboard charts and has been stuck in the heads of aspiring Pokémon masters worldwide for decades. With its inspirational message and a beat as “monstrously catchy” as the show’s premise, the “Pokémon” theme is among the addictive adventure show themes in tv history.
#2: “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” (1990-96)
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The theme to Will Smith’s breakout sitcom series put the other expository intro songs on our list to shame. Against the backdrop of a distinctive hip hop beat, the song, known as “Yo Home to Bel-Air,” details the background of protagonist Will on his journey from West Philadelphia to posh Bel-Air with his aunt and uncle, as well as his reasons for leaving home. With its rapped vocals delivered with Will Smith’s legendary charisma, it’s no wonder this catchy song is the prince of our list. [However, the king is still to come!] Before we get to our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions: “The Brady Bunch” (1969-74) “Malcolm in the Middle” (2000-06)
#1: “Friends” (1994-2004)
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Titled “I’ll be There for You” and sung by The Rembrandts, the “Friends” theme song is the ultimate in catchy TV anthems. Featuring a pop/rock sound and vocal harmonies reminiscent of the Beatles, the song also features clapping to punctuate several moments, encouraging listener participation. Meanwhile, the lyrics speak to the difficulties faced in everyday life and how we can find comfort in our friends. Topping charts in multiple countries, the song’s popularity is no doubt down to its ability to “be there” for us whenever we need it to.
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