You know when you hear "So no one told you life was gonna be this way -- your job's a joke, you're broke, your love life's D.O.A...." and you immediately think of Rachel, Ross, Monica, Chandler, Joey and Phoebe?
Well, plenty of TV shows take their theme from a legitimate song release. Here are our favourites.
Friends: I'll Be There For You - The Rembrandts
With Friends producers David Crane and Marta Kauffman, as well as The Rembrandts band members Phil Sōlem and Danny Wilde involved in the writing process, this is possibly the most famous TV-theme-turned-pop-song. Originally 45 seconds long, the composition was later re-recorded as a full-length song about a year after the show's premiere -- and seven years after the series ended, it is still played all over the world. Some people are still trying to get the timing of the "clap clap clap clap" right....
Scrubs: Superman - Lazlo Bane
Executive producer Bill Lawrence credits star and narrator Zach Braff with nominating the song as the show's theme. Braff later directed the music video for Lazlo Bane, which features behind-the-scenes footage from the show's set.
True Blood: Bad Things - Jace Everett
Country singer-songwriter Jace Everett released "Bad Things" on his self-titled album as well as a single in 2005 but it failed to chart. After being chosen as the vampire drama's theme in 2008, the song became a hit, charting in Norway, Sweden and the UK in 2009.
How To Make It In America: I Need A Dollar - Aloe Blacc
Rapper, singer and producer Aloe Blacc lent his incredibly catchy track to the HBO series that premiered free on YouTube and iTunes last year. Both parties must be happy with the outcome, as the musician credits the show for giving him more exposure, and a second season of the dramedy is currently in production.
Frieeeeeeeeeeeends :''D<3
The theme from Friends doesn't count. It started as a TV theme, became famous and was turned into a full-length song later, only on the back of it being famous. Making it a "TV theme made famous as a song", not the other way around.
Too much modern stuff. Where are song themes from older shows, such as "Welcome Back" by John Sebastian (from "Welcome Back, Kotter"), "Believe It Or Not" by Joey Scarbury (from "The Greatest American Hero"), and "With A Little Help From My Friends" by Joe Cocker (from "The Wonder Years"?
Um, you realized 'Little Help From My Friends' was a hit before that show, right?
Cleaveland Rocks - The Drew Carey Show, Five Oclock World - The Drew Carey Show ( I wonder what i am watching at the moment)
Save Me - Smallville
unfortunately the gavin degraw track was famous before oth. now oth has absolutely mutilated that song! anyone unlucky enough to still be watching oth, myself included, will know the humiliation of the cover tracks at the start of every episode. don't get caught watching oth...it's embarrassing
Um, "Smallville"? "Charmed"?
Big Love used Beach Boy's God Only Knows well, I always think of Veronica Mars when I hear We Used To Be Friends by The Dandy Warhols, Joan Jett's Bad Reputation always brings Freaks & Geeks to mind, 5 O'Clock World recalls Drew Carey's show and Wheels On Fire reminds of Ab Fab.
Good work splitting the article up into 3 pages to increase your commercial hits.
I can recall a few more - what about: 1) Joey Scarbury - Believe It Or Not [The Greatest American Hero] / 2) They Might Be Giants - Boss Of Me [Malcolm In The Middle] / 3) BJ Thomas - As Long As We've Got Each Other [Growing Pains] / 4) The Bodeans - Closer To Free [Party Of Five] / 5) Pet Shop Boys - Absolutely Fabulous [Absolutely Fabulous] / 6) Vonda Shepherd - Searchin' My Soul [Ally McBeal] / 7) The Presidents Of The USA - Cleveland Rocks [The Drew Carey Show] / 8) Paula Cole - I Don't Want To Wait [Dawson's Creek] / 9) Full Blown Rose - Free Me [Tru Calling] / 10) John Sebastian - Welcome Back [Welcome Back Kotter] / 11) Andrew Gold - Thank You For Being A Friend [The Golden Girls]moreless
The Soprano's Woke Up This Morning by Alabama3 one of best TV themes ever.
To the people below rabbiting on, this article is about THEME songs which then becoming hit songs as a result of being a theme song not generic songs used throughout a show. The "theme" song for Greys is infinitely forgettable and they stopped using it ages ago which is ironic given how important music is to the show.I hate the way some shows don't have opening titles or a theme song, it's an important part of setting the tone for a show. Also it's just greed - if they don't have opening titles they can sell more advertising space. Ergh
also agree with Lady_Lancaster about Charmed !
gavin degraw, I dont want to be, for One tree hill!!! All i do when I hear that song is think of the show!!Also and more importantly, Greys anatomy is EXTREMELY FAMOUS for making bands famous by playing their music in the background - Snow patrol, The fray, Brandi Carlile just to name a few!
I should probably add that the OC made the majority of songs and bands debuting on the show famous...
I'm sorry, what?! How is "California" by Phantom Planet not here? It probably should be number 1...
Here with Me by Dido. used in Roswell
house- massive attack: teardrop
Out of the ones you listed, I love the theme from "Friends", M.A.S.H. and also I love the "Charmed" theme song, the one from "Angel" as well as the theme music from"Buffy". Some songs ARE badly chosen, but often, they can be the be all and end all of a show as well.