General Television Theme Songs topic

[KHCast]

So as the title implies, this topic will be about TV. But mainly about songs. Theme songs. Be it the show theme song, a characters theme song, whatever! What is it? Why do you like it. On the opposite side, if you wish, what is your least favorite theme song from a series you like?

 

These two are probably right now my all time favorite theme songs for a TV show.

 

Yusei's theme

The use of orchestrated instruments and that "in the moment" feel really make this stand out from the entire series for me. It's just so...epic. Like "it's time to start this shit for real now."

 

Next we have this little gem

 

This.Song.

I am not going to lie. This song really sums up quite a bit of my childhood.  And I'm sure many of you also love this song to pieces. It's so iconic for so many people. The show and this song went down as one of Disney's most amazing things to produce. It represented cartoon disney shows for me. I seriously cannot think of anything bad about this song at all. I just wish it was longer....

[Chaos Warp]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=uK349Q2mvLI

 

As much as Sonic X is heavily flawed even in the Japanese version I still really love this song. Very high energy.

 

 

The full version is even better.

Edited June 29, 2013 by Chaos Warp

[Brad]

 

GOTTA GO FAST

TO SAVE OUR MOM

...

Edited June 29, 2013 by Symbotic

[Nix]

This.  Fucking.  Show.  If you don't know a handful of Pokemon's themes, there's something wrong with you, or you've been deprived of your childhood.  If there is something wrong with you for some strange reason (note: there isn't anything wrong with you even if you don't know them), drop everything and listen.  Nothing can beat the early Pokemon themes; they get you ready for an adventure of varying quality and that's what Pokemon is all about: exploring new worlds, getting stronger and stronger, and becoming the best that you can be.

 

Honorable mention:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-kYiDbG39s

 

This song is stupid.

 

Stupid lyrics, stupid guitar solo, stupid everything.  Megas is one of those shows that isn't ashamed of being stupid; it knows it's stupid, incredibly so, but Megas rolls along with it and tells its jokes perfectly and that's what makes it so smart.  So this song is stupid, but it's perfectly stupid, and that's what makes it awesome.

Edited June 29, 2013 by Nix

[KHCast]

I should probably just put this in the OP, but I just hate seeing that edit thing.

 

 

One of my favorite theme songs for a cartoon. How could I forget this? Anybody who mentions Code Lyoko will most likely think of this song. It is so nostalgic for me. Yeah a little corny and dated, and the lyrics are cheesy, but it's still pretty kickass. Speaking of Code Lyoko...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHbWT26MfVU

 

Song just screams "I am going to fucking kill you." It's creepy,epic, and really fits X.A.N.A. Whenever you here this, you know something dangerous is about to happen. Just loved hearing this when someone got possessed. Then you here that digital static when the symbol for Xana appears in their eyes.

 

And then CL went down the shitter when Evolution came along with this boring, unmemorable piece.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwdljDuLBX4

Edited June 29, 2013 by Schnitzel

[Soniman]

 POKEMANS!!!

 

 

 

Now, as I'm sure a lot of you know, when it came to cheesy opening themes, the 4Kids opening for Pokemon were the fucking best! They got you pumped to watch the show, it's all about being awesome, kicking ass and being the mother fucking Pokemon Master! Here are my absolute favorites.

 

 

 

 

So legit. Now, the new themes aren't.....bad, but they fail to capture the raw spirit and vigor the originals had, and that's fine, these will always live on as great themes in my mind.

Edited June 29, 2013 by Soniman

[Echidna Adventurer CC14]

This is one of my favorite songs EVER. Afro Gunso from Sgt. Frog combines a catchy tune, a funky disco beat, and various references to afros to create one of the dancin'-est ending themes around. Simply put, DIS ES MAH JAAAAAAAM.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwhTRBmew8o

Admit it, you CANNOT listen to this song without going "ABARE ABARE AAAAAAAABARE!!!" at least seven times in the span of a minute. You just can't.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iu55WqBHEms

After three seasons of the same memorable, yet lacking theme song, Digimon Frontier stepped things up a bit by providing us with something completely new, yet very fitting for the brand new world that it tosses us into. Wasn't too fitting for the dubs of movies 4 through 6, but whattayagonnado? AH YAH OOH AH!

Edited June 29, 2013 by CC14 the Vipester

[Gregzilla]

I don't actually watch Dragon Ball Z (unless Abridged counts) so I'm not sure if this was actually used in the show or if it's a remix.  But regardless, it is absolutely kickass.

 

 

It is incredibly catchy and cool while still being incredibly intimidating as a villain theme.  I feel like it has two awesome functions: to make people dance, and to make them crap their pants in fear.  I can't say that about many villain themes.

[Ferno]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0ov2ZIgC88

 

You knew this was coming. you knew.

 

This earworm of a song is pretty much the reason I became interested in taking a closer look at this show a few years back and then finding out that it was actually pretty great. Even if I wasn't a fan, I'd still really like the song itself. It, and it's many remixes are catchy as fuq, in any language.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pme-E9fOnIE

Edited June 29, 2013 by Inferno

[Patticus]

I suppose it's only to be expected that a forum like this would have so much anime in a thread like this, which is fine as some of them do have some lovely scores, so I'm gonna bang things up a notch with an absolutely fantastic non-cartoony TV show theme. I will probably post several more, from this and other shows.

 

 

BAM! Things just got kicked up a notch.

I chose the above track because it is one of the most haunting, memorable pieces of music I have encountered in a TV show. Strong words, I know, and I am quite aware that a lot of TV shows have very nice music, but this... oh, this is something else. The original British version of the supernatural show Being Human has a wonderful soundtrack, and I would strongly recommend purchasing it if you like these pieces. Speaking of pieces, plural, as a bonus to anyone who liked the above track,, I hope you will enjoy the below piece too (which sadly is over a minute shorter than the OST CD version, but still long enough to haunt me):

No other supernatural-themed show has a better soundtrack. None.

[KHCast]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwhTRBmew8o

Admit it, you CANNOT listen to this song without going "ABARE ABARE AAAAAAAABARE!!!" at least seven times in the span of a minute. You just can't.

 

Goddamn! I don't even like Power Rangers and I'm in love with this thing! 

 

Anyway, since we seem to be going into the Anime side of things now, I think this would be the perfect time for this

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSky6F1JwUs

 

Admit it. This is amazing, and you know it. (Although it's FMA, it's to be expected.lol)

[Soniman]

Well now since Vepstar is talking about the Sentai, I have to move on to more cheesy ass themes, this time from Power Rangers!

 

 

 

The Pokemon themes had shades of 90s cheese, well this EXUDES it. Power Rangers from it's conception to the present day has never failed to deliver a narmy theme song (though some have so much narm that it's just awful MYSTIC FORCE). I never really said it here but im a pretty big Power Rangers fan, so I just love these kinds of themes, never failed to get me excited to watch dude in multicolored spandex beat the shit out of dude in goofy costumes.

[Da Blu Hedgie]

I know nobody would mention, these themes, but ehhh whatever.

 

Boondocks: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgRGpbVYZz0

 

I always find myself bobbing my head and the opening clips are put together very well, I never fast forward through this opening, it never gets old, yah maybe not the best argument, but maybe I'll expand later.

 

Same for this opening:

 

Aqua Teen Hunger Force: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-6k_NHP0II

 

Yep, just a wierd, crazy opening, that fits the mood of the show well.

 

Ok animated comedies aside: 

 

I Also want to mention this opening from one piece, yes, one opening was mentioned, how about 2: 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sy1U431QFY0

 

I never understood the lyrics, but the song's pretty catchy.

 

Ok, so everyone, mentioned pokemon, yah those themes were catchy, till battle frontier, after that ehhh. 

 

Someone, mentioned cell's theme already, ok I think I'm good now.

Edited June 29, 2013 by Sunic Man

[Blue Wisp]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWbwY0DK_OU

One of the most catchy theme songs in TV history, that's for sure. Got a great rhythm, and that clapping is really an outstanding part of it. But if I may say so, the "unofficial" extended version makes it really better. Still an awesome song though.

Edited June 29, 2013 by Raiden

[a mystery]

I'd just like to give a very unhonorable mention to this little recent cartoon:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2r-GBn3e3o

 

Yeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaahh...

 

An inside joke is that due to albeit this theme being terrible in my opinion, I love the rest of the cartoon's music, leading me to deny this theme's status as music every time I compliment its soundtrack.

 

Make of that what you will.

[Speederino]

I'm constantly humming this one. Shame it feels like a eulogy now.

 

[#AR]

Aw man, Pokemon was discussed and this wasn't said:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p09hhXbsB9c

 

Despite the fact that Team Rocket were almost as goofy as it got when it came to villains, this song is just totally awesome. It's got a flamboyant, menacing feel to it that gives me chills to this very day.

 

Speaking of anime, I guess I should post my favorite anime opening here:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6zDfxZ4NcE

 

This one speaks for itself.

[Chaos Incarnate]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqvsUs-iQvg

 

Cowboy Bebop's theme song is memorable because of what it accompanies: you get a lot of stuff happening all at once. It's fast paced, energetic jazz that gets you pumped up for a fight.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEx9r5enZsk

 

What's not to love about Batman: The Animated Series' theme song? It starts off dark and brooding, becomes tense when you see the bank blow up in the intro, becomes even more tense, dark, and heroic when Batman is fighting the thugs, and ends brooding once again. This is easily the most iconic song in the history of Batman, even more than the Batman '89 theme. Yeah, I said it.

Edited June 29, 2013 by Chaos Incarnate

[SkyLlama]

This is going to be some of the very few shows I remember from my childhood and they won't all cartoons as I'll end up making several posts.

 

 

I got to watch this cartoon once a week at my grandparents house when I went overnight. They lived somewhere that they could pick up the TV station from New Brunswick, whereas we did not.

 

It's one of the very earliest cartoons I remember and I recall liking it quite a bit, but I've not watched it in ages.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=JLVe1NkQA78&feature=endscreen

 

Sometime later in my childhood we somehow managed to get satellite TV and this is something I remember quite fondly. I liked the show and watched it quite regularly when I was younger. I remember being amused by the cranky guy with the cigar, but I don't remember his name now.

 

I should download it and watch it some, but I can't be bothered with my puny 160gb HD.

 

 

Holy crap do I like this show. I started watching it when I was younger and still do whenever I can. This is the version of "Suicide is Painless" with no words, which fits the show really well. Frankly it's awesome along with the show. I really don't think they could have chosen something better to go along with the show.

 

Mash is still one of my favourite shows and I've got every episode of it.

[iDEATH]

So much of this thread just hits me right in the childhood.

 

Here's a couple of my faves.

 

Come on, how badass is this song. That bass line, finger snaps. those growling vocals. Such an awesome song. And it's about a pink shark, it's officially the greatest song ever.

 

 

if you're ever writing a song about skeletons it better have a xylophone in it. This one's just so cute. It takes me back to my preschool years instantly. It's so damn cute.

[Yoko/葉子]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hIgPwqEPYY

Should be no surprise that I love "Infinity" from Lost Universe since it is in my top 5 list of anime.

Edited June 29, 2013 by Elpizo von Megumi

[Spin Attaxx]

I fucking LOVE this intro. It sound freakin' epic (which the show pretty much is), which is more than I can say for most kids cartoons nowadays. The ending credits version even more:

Edited June 29, 2013 by Spin Attaxx

[Thigolf]

Okay, this is a german theme song, so I'll probably be the only one who mentions this song.

 

Around 2000, Disney produced a Junglebook spin-off called Jungle Book Cubs which showed the childhood of the animals we've seen in the Jungle Book. Of course, it had a theme song.

 

So, you might wonder, why do I post the german version of the song? Quite simple: It heavily differs from the original and is a funk version of Bare Necessities. The reason why this theme is so close to my heart is becaue it introduced me to one of my favorite music genres.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mY6n46Wrwv4

[Ducktor Naldush]

Y' know, this reminds me of something that happened not too long time ago. I was chatting with some American guy about cartoons from our childhood, since he was wondering what kind of cartoons I, an Italian, watched when I was a kid. And we began discussing about Batman, the animated series. At some point I said " I still hum the lyrics of the theme song every now and then" and he was all like "Lyrics? BtAS theme song didn't have lyrics!" And it finally dawned on me; cartoon theme songs sometimes DO define our childhood. For him, that kickass show had a dark and very atmospheric theme song, and he had fond memories of that. But, thinking about the very same cartoon, I had fond memories of another theme song, completely different and somehow very upbeat.  This theme song, to be exact.

 

 

People outside Italy usually hate this theme song, but for me...when I was a little kid...this was Batman. And I wouldn't want it any other way.

[JonoD]

I fucking LOVE this intro. It sound freakin' epic (which the show pretty much is), which is more than I can say for most kids cartoons nowadays. The ending credits version even more:

 

Hell YES Farthing wood! Magical intro! Speaking of another magical intro from a show not too dissimilar actually...

 

 

This to me, is about as perfect as a show intro gets. It's beautifully shot, it's awesomely composed, and it puts you in the perfect mood/transports you to exactly the right state of mind for what's coming up. Simply cannot fault it.

 

 

As for another theme I absolutely love... Robot Wars. All my yes Robot wars:

 

 

No idea why... Its another one of those themes which is instantly recognisable and gets you ready for carnage!