# Great theme song music. Post a link, please! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 26, 2018, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-theme-song-music-post-a-link-please/818621 "2018-07-26T15:22:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2018, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-theme-song-music-post-a-link-please/818621/1 "2018-07-26T15:22:38Z")
[The original, full version of Hawaii 5-0](https://youtu.be/hwhvByj8YG8) has to be one of the best ever. In my estimation, the only something by Lalo Schiffrin could come close. I’ll leave the lesser mentioned theme to [Mannix](https://youtu.be/-r-L69M7rfU) for reference. Oh but wait, how can I not count [Streetbeater AKA Sanford and Son](https://youtu.be/O20Sljxmy9M) on my list of favorites? I can’t. Or leave out [Angela (Taxi)](https://youtu.be/pptFCbYuOIM) or the extended [Barney Miller Theme](https://youtu.be/roHYXrLhmHc) I obviously have a thing for old, old instrumental, sort of jazzy theme songs. What’s your favorite TV theme song? ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2018, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-theme-song-music-post-a-link-please/818621/2 "2018-07-26T15:55:43Z")
[Magnum, P.I.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBIgXhiOpeQ) [Simon & Simon](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41ftkM_y6Ck) I kind of preferred _Simon & Simon_’s theme from their first season. An [instrumental version](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsWCG3D9cd8) played in the opening credits, and a [sung version](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hZa5rrC9ag) played in the closing credits. My all-time favorite is probably [Battlestar Galactica](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHp9oZPqs8E) ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2018, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-theme-song-music-post-a-link-please/818621/3 "2018-07-26T16:10:05Z")
Oh, man, not fair, there are too many: [Theme from SWAT.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHDg96-ZN_U) Third season [Lost in Space](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tp1bEpmmGMs). FYI, the song immediately following, "The Streetbeater,’ on Quincey Jones’ album, “You’ve Got it Bad Girl,” was rather popular on '70s TV: “[Chump Change](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6OHSfBfCe4),” co-written by Bill Cosby. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2018, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-theme-song-music-post-a-link-please/818621/4 "2018-07-26T16:13:01Z")
[Mannix](https://youtu.be/BjlH3iwnT7o) ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2018, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-theme-song-music-post-a-link-please/818621/5 "2018-07-26T16:29:28Z")
[I Spy](https://youtu.be/vW8gS1dNS_M) [Secret Agent Man](https://youtu.be/bG0u3-Gbu88) [The Wild Wild West](https://youtu.be/xuCuf5tvTqE) ---
**Author:** ![gregorio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/fbc32d/32.png) [@gregorio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gregorio)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2018, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-theme-song-music-post-a-link-please/818621/6 "2018-07-26T16:33:42Z")
Rockford Files: [The Rockford Files Theme - Mike Post - 1974 - YouTube](https://youtu.be/ufAilKMW6Fs) Miami Vice: [- YouTube](https://youtu.be/lLuf8rJAbyY) Cowboy Bebop: [Cowboy Bebop OST 1 - Tank! - YouTube](https://youtu.be/n2rVnRwW0h8) ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2018, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-theme-song-music-post-a-link-please/818621/7 "2018-07-26T16:36:57Z")
Two from Canada: “[Having an Average Weekend](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebHfMRw--sE)” - Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet (Kids in the Hall Theme) The theme from [Little Mosque on the Prairie](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0GEXa3hTaQ), which I don’t think is an original song (it may be a folk song perhaps?) but I can’t find the info. Maybe someone here can help… One from England: The theme from [Hustle](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Me9Zs-YLRc) ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2018, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-theme-song-music-post-a-link-please/818621/8 "2018-07-26T16:37:01Z")
Egad. Now I have the [Wonder Woman](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1rBZIzr49k) theme stuck in my head, alternating with [Grizzly Adams](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9fzHBJU1Oo) Curse you, **Biggirl**!!! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2018, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-theme-song-music-post-a-link-please/818621/9 "2018-07-26T16:37:51Z")
[Dilbert](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJFXa-xLO8Y) [Jonny Quest](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIhEpjnaNlo) [Mission: Impossible](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGSUjuSBt1A) [The Munsters](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFCnvH2E-6A) [Peter Gunn](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oysMt8iL9UE) ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2018, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-theme-song-music-post-a-link-please/818621/10 "2018-07-26T16:39:31Z")
My favorite is the Fifth Doctor version of the [Doctor Who Theme.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyI-5e1IrEo) But probably the best is the theme to the [It’s Garry Shandling’s Show](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cWbkWTYwTw&t=0m30s) More recently, the theme for Season Two of [Crazy Ex-Girlfriend](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJe2Fkf5i5g): silly, goofy, and incredibly dark. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2018, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-theme-song-music-post-a-link-please/818621/11 "2018-07-26T16:43:32Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > [Mannix](https://youtu.be/BjlH3iwnT7o) Oops, missed the mention in the OP :smack: [The Avengers](https://youtu.be/6aUAT3obi08) ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2018, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-theme-song-music-post-a-link-please/818621/12 "2018-07-26T16:50:23Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > [Mannix](https://youtu.be/BjlH3iwnT7o) Know how I know you only read the title of the OP? Oops, missed the catch! ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2018, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-theme-song-music-post-a-link-please/818621/13 "2018-07-26T16:52:44Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > [I Spy](https://youtu.be/vW8gS1dNS_M) > [Secret Agent Man](https://youtu.be/bG0u3-Gbu88) > [The Wild Wild West](https://youtu.be/xuCuf5tvTqE) These are great! Secret Agent Man is in my top 10. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2018, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-theme-song-music-post-a-link-please/818621/14 "2018-07-26T16:56:41Z")
Since I love it so much, here’s the full version of [Secret Asian Man.](https://youtu.be/6iaR3WO71j4) You cannot convince me Johnny Rivers isn’t saying “Asian”. ---
**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2018, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-theme-song-music-post-a-link-please/818621/15 "2018-07-26T17:02:20Z")
Old instrumental jazzy theme songs? This sounds like a job for [Jonny Quest](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TNWSGCiBzg)! ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2018, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-theme-song-music-post-a-link-please/818621/16 "2018-07-26T17:09:15Z")
[Madmen](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vD12mZiFPtM) [The Sopranos](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDDkCiUhHCc) [Mr. Lucky](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9-8Wxv6m2k) (another Mancini theme) [The Pink Panther](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OPc7MRm4Y8) (ditto) [Dingo](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXwXfektvOc) (Miles Davis) [Breaking Bad](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilfYnhXD-bE) ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2018, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-theme-song-music-post-a-link-please/818621/17 "2018-07-26T17:15:02Z")
> [@mbh](#): > > Egad. Now I have the [Wonder Woman](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1rBZIzr49k) theme stuck in my head, alternating with [Grizzly Adams](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9fzHBJU1Oo) > > Curse you, **Biggirl**!!! > > 🙂 And now I have it stuck in _my \* head. Nertz to you, \*\* mbh_\*:o _“in her satin tights, fighting for our rights and the old red, white and bluuuuuuuue”_ There used to be a lot of great theme songs and I know I’m not the only one who sang along with them at every airing, amiright? It seems broadcast tv has gotten away from that kind of thing but many of the series you see on the streaming channels use great ones. Most recently I watched a mini series called \*Safe \* (on Hulu, I think?) that had a Barns Courtney song called [Glitter & Gold](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrV90gXmOpA) . That one stayed in my head for weeks (ting ting). \*Peaky Blinders \* features Nick Cave’s [Right Red Hand](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrxePKps87k) and is really fitting. - True Blood\*'s [Bad Things](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_l7TsfPNOHM) is a masterpiece to the ears and the eyes (until you get to part with the smooshed possum). On the other side of the coin, [You’ve Got Time](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBITGyJynfA) became increasingly annoying each time I heard it; not to mention the clogged pores, white heads and moles of the women in the title sequence. Blech. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2018, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-theme-song-music-post-a-link-please/818621/18 "2018-07-26T17:16:56Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > But probably the best is the theme to the [It’s Garry Shandling’s Show](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cWbkWTYwTw&t=0m30s) Yeah!!! I was 7 when that show came on and I remember thinking that was the funniest thing! No one ever seemed to know what I was talking about when I’d reference it when\* The Larry Sanders Show\* came up… ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2018, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-theme-song-music-post-a-link-please/818621/19 "2018-07-26T17:20:02Z")
> [@gregorio](#): > > Rockford Files: [https://youtu.be/ufAilKMW6Fs](https://youtu.be/ufAilKMW6Fs) > > Miami Vice: [https://youtu.be/lLuf8rJAbyY](https://youtu.be/lLuf8rJAbyY) > > Cowboy Bebop: [https://youtu.be/n2rVnRwW0h8](https://youtu.be/n2rVnRwW0h8) Oh, hells yeah! to Cowboy Bebop. > [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > Oh, man, not fair, there are too many: > > [Theme from SWAT.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHDg96-ZN_U) > > Third season [Lost in Space](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tp1bEpmmGMs). Oh yes. Man so many good ones! Being pre-teen little girls, me and my aunt were not overly fond of action cop shows but we turned the channel to SWAT every week just to hear the theme song. We would switch channels when the song was done. > [@ZipperJJ](#): > > Two from Canada: > > “[Having an Average Weekend](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebHfMRw--sE)” - Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet (Kids in the Hall Theme) > > The theme from [Little Mosque on the Prairie](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0GEXa3hTaQ), which I don’t think is an original song (it may be a folk song perhaps?) but I can’t find the info. Maybe someone here can help… I thought Kids In The Hall theme song was a Canadian radio hit that they took as there own. Kinda like Big Bang Theory’s Bare Naked Ladies theme song, even though that song wasn’t a hit, just something they sang in concert. You guys are making my boring Thursday into a Theme Music [Bonanza!](https://youtu.be/JZ7z49weIE0). Thanks guys! ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2018, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-theme-song-music-post-a-link-please/818621/20 "2018-07-26T17:42:54Z")
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