# TV Shows where the theme song doesn't really fit **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** tv-shows-scripted, music\ **Created:** [June 11, 2021, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-where-the-theme-song-doesnt-really-fit/944040 "2021-06-11T12:57:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2021, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-where-the-theme-song-doesnt-really-fit/944040/21 "2021-06-14T14:07:51Z")
I’ve been watching Star Trek: Enterprise on Hulu for the first time (having entirely missed it when originally broadcast) and the [theme song](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5J-FOalYVCk) sounds weird to me; I’m so used to the orchestral themes of the other Star Trek TV shows and movies. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2021, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-where-the-theme-song-doesnt-really-fit/944040/22 "2021-06-14T15:16:27Z")
The opening theme sucked (every Trek fan I knew hated it), but the closing music was pretty good. They should have thrown out the former and gone with the latter. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/QgPOw8fogn4/maxresdefault.jpg "Archer's Theme ending credits") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgPOw8fogn4) ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@salinqmind1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind1)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2021, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-where-the-theme-song-doesnt-really-fit/944040/23 "2021-06-15T03:16:51Z")
I love that song! I made sure to never miss the opening back in the day, love it now… The SHOW was a bit slow and downbeat, there was plenty of comedy but it wasn’t stupid ‘lookit-tha-bucket-stuck-on-goober’s-head’ haw haw comedy. I felt there was a realistic vibe with these struggling characters, they would be ill served by merry circus music. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2021, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-where-the-theme-song-doesnt-really-fit/944040/24 "2021-06-15T20:26:09Z")
That’s horrible, in a cheesy, 80s Bryan Adams kind of way. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@salinqmind1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind1)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2021, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-where-the-theme-song-doesnt-really-fit/944040/25 "2021-06-16T16:59:10Z")
‘Taxi’ theme song… Whimsical and a bit melancholy, like the theme song from ‘Days and Nights of Molly Dodd’ was. I wonder if both shows were made by the same people… ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2021, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-where-the-theme-song-doesnt-really-fit/944040/26 "2021-06-16T17:27:42Z")
Among Anime fans, the most mentioned theme song that does not match the show is Narutaru, (Shadow Star) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/SIF5BLyh3Mk/hqdefault.jpg "narutaru op") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIF5BLyh3Mk) It is about dragons that befriend kids in the present. [Looks like fun… until after a few episodes, it turns into 100% nightmare fuel](https://manga.fandom.com/wiki/Shadow_Star). ---
**Author:** ![notadoctorshh](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/notadoctorshh/32/9286_2.png) [@notadoctorshh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notadoctorshh)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2021, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-where-the-theme-song-doesnt-really-fit/944040/27 "2021-06-17T10:37:56Z")
Speaking of anime, I always thought that the first opening song of _Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso_ (Your Lie in April) is sooo misleading. Sure, it’s all funs and games at first, but wait until you reach halfway of the series. 😃 [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/ZZSd3pq8Yqk/maxresdefault.jpg "Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso OP 1 with lyrics") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZSd3pq8Yqk) ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2021, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-where-the-theme-song-doesnt-really-fit/944040/28 "2021-06-17T16:43:03Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > The theme to _Taxi_ was kinda slow and downbeat for a comedy. I think it fits with Judd Hirsch’s character, though. Alex Reiger is basically [Harry](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TG9V6Xpi7Bc) without the drugs. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2021, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-where-the-theme-song-doesnt-really-fit/944040/29 "2021-06-17T17:35:08Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > The opening theme sucked (every Trek fan I knew hated it), but the closing music was pretty good. They should have thrown out the former and gone with the latter. Not to mention the Mirror Universe opening, which certainly made me sit up and take notice. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/sfbsZRbwbJ4/hqdefault.jpg "STAR TREK ENTERPRISE 'In a Mirror, Darkly' Opening Titles (HQ)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfbsZRbwbJ4) ---
**Author:** ![willjackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/willjackson/32/8187_2.png) [@willjackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/willjackson)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2021, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-where-the-theme-song-doesnt-really-fit/944040/30 "2021-06-19T12:10:59Z")
Alien Nation was the worst one ever. 🤣 [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/sxbtRx1mMWM/maxresdefault.jpg "Alien Nation Opening and Closing Credits and Theme Song") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxbtRx1mMWM) ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@salinqmind1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind1)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2021, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-where-the-theme-song-doesnt-really-fit/944040/31 "2021-06-19T14:34:29Z")
Oh, my…I never watched Alien Nation because, ugh, But that theme song is appalling! ---
**Author:** ![willjackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/willjackson/32/8187_2.png) [@willjackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/willjackson)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2021, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-where-the-theme-song-doesnt-really-fit/944040/32 "2021-06-19T15:11:25Z")
> [@salinqmind1](#): > > Oh, my…I never watched Alien Nation because, ugh, But that theme song is appalling! I know, right? I mean what the heck was on David Kurtz’s mind when composing it. Sounds like a theme for alien’s mating lmao. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2021, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-where-the-theme-song-doesnt-really-fit/944040/33 "2021-06-19T16:49:43Z")
_Game of Thrones_ was weirdly upbeat. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/yjvEdXDYgY4/maxresdefault.jpg "Game of Thrones - 90's Intro VHS style") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjvEdXDYgY4) ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2021, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-where-the-theme-song-doesnt-really-fit/944040/34 "2021-06-19T23:30:06Z")
I really like the _Alien Nation_ theme. But it doesn’t fit the visuals. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2021, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-where-the-theme-song-doesnt-really-fit/944040/35 "2021-06-21T18:06:11Z")
Space:1999 I remember as a kid watching the intro. Action packed space scenes with a kick-ass funky theme song to match. Then the show would start. …zzzzzzzzzzzzz… ---
**Author:** ![veryfrank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/87869e/32.png) [@veryfrank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/veryfrank)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2021, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-where-the-theme-song-doesnt-really-fit/944040/36 "2021-06-21T18:09:18Z")
The great, very missed Television Without Pity site said about the theme song to Perfect Strangers that it was overpromising things a bit. When you watched that show, did you think about “Standing tall! On the wings of my dreams!”? 80’s style over-earnest aspiration hasn’t aged well. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2021, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-where-the-theme-song-doesnt-really-fit/944040/37 "2021-06-21T18:38:30Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > there are plenty of connections, including Drake saying “be seeing you” When McGoohan was on Columbo (playing a spy (and The Killer)) he said “Be seeing you” and wore a jacket that, if it wasn’t the same one, was very similar to the one in The Prisoner. I guess he did escape the Village at the end after all. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2021, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-where-the-theme-song-doesnt-really-fit/944040/38 "2021-06-21T19:01:55Z")
> [@TimfromNapa](#): > > McGoohan always maintained that The Prisoner was not a sequel and Number 6 was not intended to be John Drake. Nevertheless, two Prisoner novelizations called the character “Drake”. I think a lot of people just assumed that it was the same character. McGoohan seemed to love playing secret agents. I have to admit, I love the themes to both shows. I have a copy of the opening with the music as originally dubbed. It’s the same music, but it doesn’t fit right. The version as I saw it (I don’t know if it was recut for the series or for the American market) has the music much better timed to the action shown on the screen. (I can’t find it on YouTube now. I’m not referring to longer and shorter versions of the opening – the original opening has the music very badly timed to the drama on the screen. I never saw it until I ot a set with extras on DVD) ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2021, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-where-the-theme-song-doesnt-really-fit/944040/39 "2021-06-21T20:03:46Z")
> [@TimfromNapa](#): > > True, Johnny River’s hit song probably referred to the, then, new Bond world. As such, though, it was not really pertinent to the world of Dangerman. Lew Grade, the producer of Dangerman, gave McGoohan the greenlight to do The Prisoner as long he agreed to stretch the new series from the intended 6 episodes to 16 and that he make a couple more Dangerman episodes in color. McGoohan always maintained that The Prisoner was not a sequel and Number 6 was not intended to be John Drake. Given the way McGoohan wrapped up The Prisoner, with the much loved/hated finale’ I have long believed the show was more about the creator himself. In the end, he, himself was Number 1. The three color episodes are among the worst TV shows I’ve ever seen - going against absolutely everything Dangerman was about. I agree that the song didn’t have a lot to do with the show. No Drake girls, after all. Of course McGoohan would always deny that Number Six was Drake - it would cost him a lot not too. Interestingly, the second Prisoner novelization, by David McDaniel begins “Drake woke.” And goes on with more or less the Arrival scene. I don’t think the name Drake is used thereafter. The first novelization, but Thomas Disch, doesn’t use it as all according to my quick check. If there is a third novel I’m not aware of it. The book, btw, is copyrighted 1969. Ace 67901. I took the ending to mean that we are all our own jailers, and that we can’t blame others for our imprisonment. YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2021, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-where-the-theme-song-doesnt-really-fit/944040/40 "2021-06-21T20:08:41Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Nevertheless, two Prisoner novelizations called the character “Drake”. I think a lot of people just assumed that it was the same character. McGoohan seemed to love playing secret agents. Missed this in my last post. I don’t see Drake in the Disch novel at all, and, as I said, only at the very beginning of the McDaniel novel. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-where-the-theme-song-doesnt-really-fit/944040.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-where-the-theme-song-doesnt-really-fit/944040.md?page=3)