# TV shows which use existing songs for themes. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 18, 2016, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-which-use-existing-songs-for-themes/763205 "2016-08-18T20:21:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2016, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-which-use-existing-songs-for-themes/763205/81 "2016-08-21T13:03:59Z")
The brilliant, short-lived WB satirical comedy “Grosse Pointe” used Tom Jones’s “Sex Bomb.” — [Grosse Pointe - Intro - YouTube](http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ct10rx14bmc) ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Greenjeans](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.greenjeans/32/551_2.png) [@Mr.Greenjeans](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Greenjeans)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2016, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-which-use-existing-songs-for-themes/763205/82 "2016-08-21T14:23:17Z")
In the mid-70s, The CBS Sports Spectacular used part of ELO’s “Fire On High” as their intro. After that, they used a version of Aaron Copeland’s “Fanfare For The Common Man.” (I remembered the ELO song. Thanks to Wikipedia for reminding me of the Aaron Copeland song.) ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Greenjeans](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.greenjeans/32/551_2.png) [@Mr.Greenjeans](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Greenjeans)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2016, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-which-use-existing-songs-for-themes/763205/83 "2016-08-21T14:29:33Z")
Another one: Chris Elliott’s short-lived Fox show Get A Life used R.E.M.'s “Stand” for its theme song. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2016, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-which-use-existing-songs-for-themes/763205/84 "2016-08-21T15:26:27Z")
> [@Mr.Greenjeans](#): > > Another one: Chris Elliott’s short-lived Fox show Get A Life used R.E.M.'s “Stand” for its theme song. I can’t believe that hasn’t been mentioned already! > [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > The George Lopez Show used “Low Rider” by War. > > Thought of another: [Get A Life](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Get_a_Life_(TV_series)) starring Chris Elliott, used “Stand” by REM. > [@Richard\_John\_Marcej](#): > > The hilarious Chris Eliot sit-com **Get A Life** used the R.E.M. song _“Stand”_ as it’s theme song, but when the show ran in reruns they used some incidental music in place of “Stand” since, I guess, they didn’t get the rights. Not sure if it was restored for the DVD. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Greenjeans](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.greenjeans/32/551_2.png) [@Mr.Greenjeans](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Greenjeans)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2016, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-which-use-existing-songs-for-themes/763205/85 "2016-08-21T15:52:12Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > I can’t believe that hasn’t been mentioned already! Yeah, I really suck. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_John\_Marcej](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Richard\_John\_Marcej](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_John_Marcej)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2016, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-which-use-existing-songs-for-themes/763205/86 "2016-08-21T16:19:58Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Like About You" covered by Lillix > Bosom Buddies - cover of Billy Joel’s “My Life” I hadn’t seen _Bosom Buddie_s in over a decade or so, but had remembered they used a cover version of “My Life” as the theme. (here’s that cover version: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2gCfwILUVc](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2gCfwILUVc) ) Okay, it’s not Joel but it was tolerable. So, a few years ago METV ran _Bosom Buddies_ reruns in their summer season. When I watched it for the first time I noticed that they no longer used the cover version of “My Life” and instead had this really insipid, generic song for the theme: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GW1PqGsuXPM](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GW1PqGsuXPM) I can understand on losing the rights to an original song after a period of years and not being able to afford to continue, just for syndication, but to lose the rights for a cover version? How much could that cost? ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2016, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-which-use-existing-songs-for-themes/763205/87 "2016-08-21T16:40:51Z")
> [@Richard\_John\_Marcej](#): > > I can understand on losing the rights to an original song after a period of years and not being able to afford to continue, just for syndication, but to lose the rights for a cover version? How much could that cost? There are two copyrights in a musical recording—(1) musical composition (held by the composer/songwriter or a music publishing company) and (2) sound recording (held by the recording artist or record label). To get rights to use a recording in a TV show (synchronization rights), you need to get both sets of permissions. The composer of “My Life” (Billy Joel) is the same whether or not you’re using Billy Joel’s recording or Gary Bennett’s recording, so you still are likely going to have to pay Billy Joel rates. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2016, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-which-use-existing-songs-for-themes/763205/88 "2016-08-21T16:50:06Z")
> [@TCMF-2L](#): > > It “is” the theme tune to Friends. As in it was written as the theme tune for the show and only later recorded in a longer version as a single. > > TCMF-2L I suspect the same is true of Wynonna Earp’s theme song “Tell That Devil” by Jill Andrews given the date on the single’s release and the premiere of the show are both 4.1.2016. Anyway, “Bad Things” by Jace Everett was used for True Blood’s theme song. The extremely short-lived Glory Days used Tricky’s “Excess” as its theme. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2016, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-which-use-existing-songs-for-themes/763205/89 "2016-08-21T17:07:40Z")
Robert Duncan’s “Gunfight Epiphany” was the theme for “Terriers,” but I don’t know whether it was originally written for the show. [Rob Duncan - Gunfight Epiphany (Terriers Theme Song) - FULL - YouTube](https://youtu.be/qD8Kh7Pmzho) ---
**Author:** ![Karen\_X2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/90db22/32.png) [@Karen\_X2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Karen_X2)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2016, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-which-use-existing-songs-for-themes/763205/90 "2016-08-22T16:24:54Z")
“In The Street” - theme to “That 70’s Show” Written and performed by Big Star first season, then covered by Cheap Trick from 2nd season on. ---
**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:** [August 22, 2016, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-which-use-existing-songs-for-themes/763205/91 "2016-08-22T17:23:26Z")
Leslie Nielsen’s\*\*\* Police Squad!\*\*\* recycled the theme music from Lee Marvin’s _ **M Squad** _. ---
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-which-use-existing-songs-for-themes/763205/92 "2016-08-23T22:06:57Z")
In the early '60s there was a show called “The Roaring '20s” and I believe they used the Charleston as their theme music. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-which-use-existing-songs-for-themes/763205/93 "2016-08-23T22:21:40Z")
Oh, I just remembered another show. _The Good Life_, with Larry Hagman and Donna Mills as a couple who decide to use domestic service as their _entree_ into the affluent lifestyle they couldn’t manage to achieve as middle-class drones. The series aired in 1971, and used a Tony Orlando cover of a pop song recorded in 1963 by Tony Bennett. ---
**Author:** ![jrbor76](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9e8a1a/32.png) [@jrbor76](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jrbor76)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-which-use-existing-songs-for-themes/763205/94 "2016-08-23T22:48:27Z")
A few more notable ones that I can’t believe haven’t been added yet: _Freaks and Geeks_ used “Bad Reputation” by Joan Jett. _Hell’s Kitchen_ uses “Fire” by the Ohio Players (and it kicks _ass_). _Crime Story_ used “Runaway” by Del Shannon, although IIRC, he recorded a new version for use on the show some twenty-odd years after the original. ---
**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:** [August 24, 2016, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-which-use-existing-songs-for-themes/763205/95 "2016-08-24T00:24:41Z")
> [@TV\_time](#): > > In the early '60s there was a show called “The Roaring '20s” and I believe they used the Charleston as their theme music. Don’t think so… https://www.youtube.com/embed/CZHWLUqeHuY?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque&list=RDEp92_vMCzgc ---
**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:** [August 24, 2016, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-which-use-existing-songs-for-themes/763205/96 "2016-08-24T00:26:21Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Oh, I just remembered another show. > > _The Good Life_, with Larry Hagman and Donna Mills as a couple who decide to use domestic service as their _entree_ into the affluent lifestyle they couldn’t manage to achieve as middle-class drones. The series aired in 1971, and used a Tony Orlando cover of a pop song recorded in 1963 by Tony Bennett. … And David Wayne, I think, was their employer. All three went on to do _ **Dallas** _. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2016, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-which-use-existing-songs-for-themes/763205/97 "2016-08-24T00:48:33Z")
I’m not sure if the new version has it but Top Gear used a cover of the Allman Brothers tune Jessica. ---
**Author:** ![breezman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@breezman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/breezman)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2016, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-which-use-existing-songs-for-themes/763205/98 "2016-08-24T02:52:58Z")
**That '80s Show** used “Once in a Lifetime” by the Talking Heads as its theme. ---
**Author:** ![fiddlesticks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddlesticks/32/18129_2.png) [@fiddlesticks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fiddlesticks)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2016, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-which-use-existing-songs-for-themes/763205/99 "2016-08-24T12:58:15Z")
The _Curb Your Enthusiam_ theme song was taken from a stock music catalog. It’s called “Frolic”. Pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty sure it’s days as anything other than accompanying awkward moments is over though. ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2016, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-which-use-existing-songs-for-themes/763205/100 "2016-08-24T13:39:55Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Most TV shows have theme songs created for them. … I’d actually challenge this statement and say that it appears fewer TV programs have dedicated songs than those that adopt previously published songs. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-which-use-existing-songs-for-themes/763205.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-which-use-existing-songs-for-themes/763205.md?page=6)