These are the best TV theme tunes of all time
One of the greatest composers of film and television passed away this week. Angelo Badalamenti is best known for his work with David Lynch. Although he has written countless Lynch films, it was his beautiful and haunting score for Twin Peaks that did it for us.
With that in mind, we wanted to take a look at the best TV show theme tunes of all time. We’ve just given away one of these, of course, but it’s part of 10 amazing tunes that will become your catchy tunes for weeks to come.
Oh, and we’ve tried to narrow down the big ones, namely the ones that only have a theme tune – vocals can’t be the main gist of the tune unless it’s the lyrics you make up in your head.
Unfortunately, that means the likes of Cheers, South Park and Friends didn’t make it. But the following amazing theme tunes do…
Bet on TV theme tunes
1. twin peaks
There aren’t many on this list that can boast of being both one of the best scores of all time and a rave anthem at the same time, but that’s exactly what we have with Angelo Badalamenti’s sumptuous Twin Peaks. Made famous by Moby’s sample, but the original theme is a master class in ethereal beauty. Apparently, this haunting master class was written in just 20 minutes, about the same time it takes Dale Cooper to enjoy a cup of Joe.
Photo credit: ABC
2. The A Team
The voiceover, spoken with military precision by radio news anchor John Ashley, is a fantastic way to introduce the people and plot of The A-Team, but it’s the stirring “Punch the Air” score that sets this score on cemented the A-list. Mike Post knew he had to deliver something special. He’d already done The Rockford Files and Hill Street Blues, so he knew his stuff. With the help of arranger Pete Carpenter, some military drums and a little homage to Cream’s Sunshine Of Your Love, they nailed it.
Photo credit: NBC
3. MASH
Yes, there are lyrics and vocals in Suicide Is Painless (poignant lyrics heard in the film), but the song used in the M*A*S*H TV show omitted those. It’s a beautiful, sad song with no lyrics and one that is at odds with the comedy pouring over M*A*S*H. When M*A*S*H wanted to be serious – as any wartime comedy should be – it did so beautifully and this tune captures that dark wartime feel.
Photo credit: CBS
4. The simpsons
Yes, the words The Simpsons are sung at the beginning, but we let that go by our own rules as most of the song is Danny Elfman’s lively, jazzy theme song. There’s a good reason Elfman’s score is one of the best ever. It’s so over the top, so obnoxious, that it shouldn’t be used for a simple cartoon. The Simpsons was, and still is, far from that — and this theme more than reflects that.
Photo credit: Fox Television
5. Impossible Mission
Never has a score felt like a bomb is about to explode as to the point as Misson: Impossible. The brilliant Lalo Schifrin is behind it and it’s packed with Easter eggs. From the start he uses a morse code beat that spells MI, while the 5/4 arrangement means you’re constantly on edge throughout the whole thing. It’s exciting, visceral and up to par with that other spy tune. Not even the likes of Limp Bizkit could ruin the beauty of the thing, though they tried damn well.
Photo credit: ABC
6. Doctor Who
Even today, Doctor Who’s theme song is unlike anything you’ve heard before. Because behind it was a musical genius. Delia Derbyshire is a musical pioneer who paved the way for electronic music, with the Chemical Brothers and others citing her as an influence. Ron Grainer wrote the theme tune, but it was Derbyshire and her genius with electronic instruments that gave it that otherworldly feel that still resonates today.
Photo credit: BBC
7. successor
HBO has always been fantastic at picking theme tunes (we’re assuming The White Lotus theme will be seen as a future classic) and Succession is among the best. Its crashing piano chords, wild strings, and restless mix of classical music and hip-hop beats (much like Kendall Roy’s rapping rich boy) add to the tense, evil vibe that surrounds the entire Roy legacy. Behind it is the amazing Nicholas Britell, who also recently added a beautiful bass-filled majesty to Andor.
Photo credit: HBO
8th. game of Thrones
Another HBO smash that was so good the creators of House Of The Dragon thought they couldn’t top it, so they just reused it for their own theme song. Ramin Djawadi is the composer and he switched from film to television to make this rousing Westeros Overture, which encapsulates the myriad houses and their struggle for the Iron Throne in a rather lengthy 2:30 minute sequence. Bet you didn’t skip it once.
Photo credit: HBO
9. The Pink Panther
The Pink Panther theme tune was originally used in the Inspector Clouseau films (which were always a disappointment as a kid as the Pink Panther you knew and loved was used in the title scene and little else but a diamond’s name). It was reused as the theme tune for the much more kid-friendly Pink Panther show and is a de dum treat.
Photo credit: NBC
10. knight rider
It was a tough choice between the Knight Rider, AirWolf, and Street Hawk theme (performed by the amazing Tangerine Dream), but just as the latter two feel like “tributes” to the Knight Rider show, so do their theme tunes. Not that we can blame them as the Knight Rider theme is the 80’s incarnation. Behind this is Stu Philips, who also made the amazing original Battlestar Galactica theme. Before that he produced for greats like Nina Simone. It’s a synth-wave classic, and justifiably a beat that’s been used ever since—most notably by Busta Rhymes for his 1998 anthem Turn It Up.
Photo credit: NBC
