# Popular songs used as tv or movie themes **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 12, 2008, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-used-as-tv-or-movie-themes/437280 "2008-02-12T14:45:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Yodalicious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yodalicious/32/8195_2.png) [@Yodalicious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yodalicious)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-used-as-tv-or-movie-themes/437280/1 "2008-02-12T14:45:11Z")
On the way to work this morning “My Life” by Billy Joel came on the radio. I love this song; think it’s one of Billy’s best. Of course, Bosom Buddies came to mind since the song was used as the opening theme to the show. “My Life” was released in 1978 and Bosom Buddies premiered in 1980. So, I was wondering, have any other popular songs become themes to tv shows or movies after their original release? ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-used-as-tv-or-movie-themes/437280/2 "2008-02-12T14:46:54Z")
“Rock Around the Rock” used for the first season of “Happy Days” “Love and Marriage” used for “Married…with Children.” Irony at its best. ---
**Author:** ![SaharaTea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SaharaTea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SaharaTea)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-used-as-tv-or-movie-themes/437280/3 "2008-02-12T14:58:17Z")
_The Wonder Years_: “With a Little Help From My Friends” - Joe Cocker (orginally by The Beatles) ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-used-as-tv-or-movie-themes/437280/4 "2008-02-12T15:41:04Z")
“Who Are You” and “Won’t Get Fooled Again” by the Who are themes for the various CSI’s. ---
**Author:** ![tanstaafl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba8739/32.png) [@tanstaafl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tanstaafl)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-used-as-tv-or-movie-themes/437280/5 "2008-02-12T16:32:55Z")
[QUOTE=PunditLisa] “Who Are You” and “Won’t Get Fooled Again” by the Who are themes for the various CSI’s. [/QUOTE] For _CSI_ and _CSI: Miami_ respectively. And _Baba O’Riley_ is used for _CSI:NY_. ---
**Author:** ![Lunar\_Saltlick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/977dab/32.png) [@Lunar\_Saltlick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lunar_Saltlick)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-used-as-tv-or-movie-themes/437280/6 "2008-02-12T16:43:13Z")
_Tea for the Tillerman_ for _Extras_, and \*Handbags and Gladrags \* for _The Office_. ---
**Author:** ![want2know](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/50afbb/32.png) [@want2know](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/want2know)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-used-as-tv-or-movie-themes/437280/7 "2008-02-12T16:56:17Z")
“Stand” by REM for _Get a Life_ Not sure if they were hits before they were themes, but: “Closer To Free” by the Bo-Deans for _Party of Five_ “I Don’t Wanna Wait” by Paula Cole for _Dawson’s Creek_ ---
**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:** [February 12, 2008, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-used-as-tv-or-movie-themes/437280/8 "2008-02-12T17:00:58Z")
The oddest choice ever: John Prine’s “Illegal Smile” for **The Texas Wheelers**. Why a song about smoking marijuana was chosen as a theme song for a comedy about a bunch of motherless kids (including Gary Busey and a pre- **Star Wars** Mark Hamill) and their ne’er-do-well father (Jack Elam) is hard to comprehend. There’s also “Ob La Di, Ob La Da” (though sung by the show’s cast) in **Life Goes On**. ---
**Author:** ![Chez\_Guevara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@Chez\_Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chez_Guevara)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-used-as-tv-or-movie-themes/437280/9 "2008-02-12T17:17:22Z")
[QUOTE=Lunar Saltlick] \*Handbags and Gladrags \* for _The Office_. [/QUOTE] I was just about to post an essay on this song. It was written by Mike D’Abo and first charted at #33 in the UK for Chris Farlowe in December 1967, but later became better known as a Rod Stewart standard. A few months after _The Office_ aired over here the Stereophonics released a version which reached #4 in December 2001. The theme to the TV programme is actually sung by Fin, then a session musician but formerly the singer with Waysted. If you already knew this I forgive you. ---
**Author:** ![42fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/b487fb/32.png) [@42fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/42fish)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-used-as-tv-or-movie-themes/437280/10 "2008-02-12T17:19:17Z")
“Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans” by Louis Armstrong for ‘Frank’s Place’ “Lady Madonna” covered by Aretha Franklin for ‘Grace Under Pressure’ “Reflections” by Diana Ross and the Supremes for ‘China Beach’ “In the Streets” by Alex Chilton (covered by the show cast) for ‘That 70s Show’ “Cleveland Rocks” by Ian Hunter (covered by the show cast) and “Five O’Clock World” by the Vogues for different seasons of ‘The Drew Carey Show’ An instrumental riff from “Corona” by the Minutemen for ‘Jackass’ ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-used-as-tv-or-movie-themes/437280/11 "2008-02-12T17:42:09Z")
[QUOTE=Chez Guevara] I was just about to post an essay on this song. It was written by Mike D’Abo and first charted at #33 in the UK for Chris Farlowe in December 1967, but later became better known as a Rod Stewart standard. A few months after _The Office_ aired over here the Stereophonics released a version which reached #4 in December 2001. The theme to the TV programme is actually sung by Fin, then a session musician but formerly the singer with Waysted. If you already knew this I forgive you. [/QUOTE] My favorite version is was done by a group lead by trumpet player Bill Chase. He had a too brief run with a jazz-rock fusion band in the early '70s. ---
**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:** [February 12, 2008, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-used-as-tv-or-movie-themes/437280/12 "2008-02-12T17:48:08Z")
“As Time Goes by” for **[As Time Goes By](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0105943/)** **Murphy Brown** used to use snippets of popular Motown songs as a theme; the song was changed every episode. ---
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-used-as-tv-or-movie-themes/437280/13 "2008-02-12T17:56:41Z")
A cover version of **How Soon Is Now?** by the Smiths was used for the opening credits of the series “Charmed.” It was previously used on the soundtrack of the film “The Craft.” The series and the film had nothing to do with each other except that they were both about modern-day witches, with which the song has absolutely nothing to do. “Life on Mars?” and “Ashes to Ashes” are named for David Bowie songs. I haven’t seen the series and I don’t know if they use the actual music in any way. ---
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-used-as-tv-or-movie-themes/437280/14 "2008-02-12T17:58:47Z")
[QUOTE=42fish] “Cleveland Rocks” by Ian Hunter (covered by the show cast) and “Five O’Clock World” by the Vogues for different seasons of ‘The Drew Carey Show’ [/QUOTE] In the final season these two songs (along with “Moon Over Parma”) were covered by a number of guest bands. ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-used-as-tv-or-movie-themes/437280/15 "2008-02-12T18:02:38Z")
Joan Jett’s “Bad Reputation” was used for _Freaks & Geeks_. ---
**Author:** ![Darwins\_Finch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darwins_finch/32/20304_2.png) [@Darwins\_Finch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darwins_Finch)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-used-as-tv-or-movie-themes/437280/16 "2008-02-12T18:06:07Z")
[QUOTE=42fish] “Reflections” by Diana Ross and the Supremes for ‘China Beach’ [/QUOTE] And the contemporary _Tour of Duty_ used the Stones’ “Paint it Black”. ---
**Author:** ![Lunar\_Saltlick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/977dab/32.png) [@Lunar\_Saltlick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lunar_Saltlick)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-used-as-tv-or-movie-themes/437280/17 "2008-02-12T18:12:14Z")
[QUOTE=Chez Guevara] …If you already knew this I forgive you. [/QUOTE] Thanks for forgiving me. I’m not sure _why_ you’re forgiving me, but I’ve done enough rotten things in my life that I’ll never turn my back on a little forgiveness. For what it’s worth, I did check out the history of the song before posting. It’s a popular song, covered many times. And it was used as a TV show theme. So I posted. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-used-as-tv-or-movie-themes/437280/18 "2008-02-12T18:56:32Z")
_Dave’s World_, a sitcom based on the writings of Dave Barry, used _You May Be Right_ by Billy Joel. The pre-Urkel _Family Matters_ used Louis Armstrong’s recording of _What A Wonderful World_. The short-lived _That '80s Show_ used _Eighties_ by Killing Joke [QUOTE=42fish] “Lady Madonna” covered by Aretha Franklin for ‘Grace Under Pressure’[…] “In the Streets” by Alex Chilton (covered by the show cast) for ‘That 70s Show’ “Cleveland Rocks” by Ian Hunter (covered by the show cast) and “Five O’Clock World” by the Vogues for different seasons of ‘The Drew Carey Show’ [/QUOTE] The first of those quoted by me was actually _Grace Under Fire_. Although _That '70s Show_ used the cast for the first season of the theme song, it was re-recorded by Cheap Trick for subsequent seasons. And _Drew Carey_’s rendition of _Cleveland Rocks_ was not performed by the cast, but by The Presidents of the United States of America. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-used-as-tv-or-movie-themes/437280/19 "2008-02-12T19:27:18Z")
Does the William Tell Overture count? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-used-as-tv-or-movie-themes/437280/20 "2008-02-12T19:41:12Z")
Not sure how popular it was before, but Rod Stewart’s “Faith of the Heart” was sung by Russel Watson as the theme for _Star Trek: Enterprise_. And the Beatles’ “In My Life” was the theme song from _Providence_. The Romantics’ “What I Like About You” was the theme for the TV show of the same name. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-songs-used-as-tv-or-movie-themes/437280.md?page=2)