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What tv show has the best theme song? (lemmy.world)

submitted 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) by bizarroland@lemmy.world to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world

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Recently started watching old 90s and 80s shows just for the fun of it, because I'm bored with all of the new stuff that's coming out, and I fell into Knight Rider.

My review of the show so far aside, it's got straight up the most banger theme music I have heard in a TV show in a very long time.

https://youtu.be/lxhWxv_5bQ0

It got me wondering what other TV shows have really great theme songs?

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[-] Maiq@piefed.social 134 points 1 week ago

Tank! Cowboy Bebop

[-] bizarroland@lemmy.world 30 points 1 week ago

I fuck with this hard.

This is the kind of music I would play to psych myself up for some hardcore diamond star level shenanigans.

I feel like now I need to watch Cowboy Bebop because I've never seen it.

[-] ripcord@lemmy.world 21 points 1 week ago

It's in my top 10 favorite shows of all time.

And I have REALLY good taste.

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[-] Maiq@piefed.social 11 points 1 week ago

One of my all time favorites! Well worth the watch. Saw a few episodes of the live action and dug that too.

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[-] gothic_lemons@lemmy.world 85 points 1 week ago

Umm the duck tales theme song reigns supreme

[-] bizarroland@lemmy.world 20 points 1 week ago

Have you seen the beat-matched version of the DuckTales theme song where Beyonce is dancing to it from the video Single Ladies?

It's amazingly on point.

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[-] ThePowerOfGeek@lemmy.world 72 points 1 week ago

Game of Thrones has got to be up there. Very catchy and fairly unique, but it really captures the essence of (the best parts of) the show.

The themes to Foundation and Severance are also both really in tune with their respective shows.

But for me, the theme to The Expanse is my favorite. Again, it captures the essence of the show, and also like the show it's pretty underrated.

[-] Ashtear@piefed.social 22 points 1 week ago

The Expanse is the only show I've never once skipped the opening credits on, even on rewatch. The song's a pitch-perfect mood throughout the whole series, and a great length, too. Doesn't overstay its welcome.

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[-] panda_abyss@lemmy.ca 12 points 1 week ago

Did you guys sing along?

Thrones yeah, game of thrones yeah, game of fucking thrones!

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[-] pokeman@piefed.zip 58 points 1 week ago

I've always loved the X-Files intro, it fits so well and has stuck with me ever since I first watched it.

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[-] bamboo 57 points 1 week ago

Has to be X-Men Animated Series

[-] bizarroland@lemmy.world 15 points 1 week ago

This is the theme song that plays for an ADHD person the first time the Adderall kicks in.

banger

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[-] nyctre@piefed.social 43 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Surprised nobody's mentioned Firefly yet. It's really good.

Also Pokemon , duh!

Dexter's is also really good. The video too, not just the song. Fitting and eerie and also makes me hungry every time.

True blood also fun and catchy

Also really enjoy Halt and catch fire for that 80s synth vibe.

Also, peaky blinders! Nick cave's voice is just...yeah xD

Stranger things? Cheers? Friends? Community? Lots of pretty good ones out there. Hard to choose, really.

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[-] shadmere@lemmy.world 39 points 1 week ago

I never really watched it, but the theme from Airwolf is just amazing.

https://youtu.be/ULfmowbNlK0

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[-] BeigeAgenda@lemmy.ca 39 points 1 week ago

Neon Genesis Evangelion

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGJAsXX8dJw

[-] bizarroland@lemmy.world 12 points 1 week ago

Damn, okay, so when it comes to classic legendary anime, Neon Genesis Evangelion is definitely high up there, but I feel like there's a really strong contender in serial experiments Lains "Duvet" by Boa.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MM8RufZr5lw

If they were to duke it out to the death, I don't know which one would win.

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[-] showmeyourkizinti@startrek.website 38 points 1 week ago

Best of all time?
The Peacemaker season 1 Theme slaps and really sets the tone for rest of the show.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_mrr3UNALww&pp=0gcJCU8Co7VqN5tD&ra=m

Best of the 80’s? The Greatest American Hero.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=72MxOo5koto&ra=m

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[-] djdarren@piefed.social 36 points 1 week ago

Not a single vote for Cheers?

Madness.

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[-] backalleycoyote@lemmy.today 34 points 1 week ago

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[-] circuitfarmer@lemmy.world 29 points 1 week ago

Star Trek: Enterprise. The first theme song. "it's been a long rooaaad...."

Leave your hate here, please. 👇

[-] bizarroland@lemmy.world 15 points 1 week ago

I could not make it through this song.

I love TOS and the next generation, but that theme song would stop me in my tracks every single time. I kind of understand why you're saying people would leave hate for it.

Like going from the soaring orchestral, grand, majestic themes from the next generation, and even the 60s space-optimistic Mahler-esque theme songs from T.O.S. to that sad sap Bon Jovi knockoff acoustic ballad is such a letdown.

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[-] wuphysics87@lemmy.ml 26 points 1 week ago

Fresh Prince

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[-] BunnyKnuckles@startrek.website 26 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

The correct answers were: MASH and The Wonder Years.

[-] Libb@piefed.social 11 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

+1, MASH has wonderful theme/song. It's also a type of series we probably need to watch today more than ever.

You mentioning MASH made me think of another oddball movie: Kelly's heroes, the 70s one with Sutherland/Eastwood and Savalas. As a young boy in the 70s, this was one of my favorite movies. It still holds a sweet spot in my heart now almost 60 ;)

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[-] Slovene85@sh.itjust.works 26 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Mission impossible https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pPTCOLbLWxM

and Peter Gunn. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Emg_6ANjWzo

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[-] queerlilhayseed@piefed.blahaj.zone 25 points 1 week ago

Bojack Horseman comes to mind. It has some similarity to one of my other favorites, Mad Men

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[-] Apeman42@lemmy.world 21 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

That depends. If you want the old style "explain the show" theme song, it's Bruce Campbell's 90s pirate adventure Jack of All Trades.

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8kckp1

[-] bizarroland@lemmy.world 12 points 1 week ago

If you're talking about Bruce Campbell shows, it's like nothing really holds a candle to the theme song from The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. because everyone has heard that song because it's such a good song that America still uses it in the goddamn Olympics.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--2FWpjxhnE

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[-] lol_idk@piefed.social 21 points 1 week ago

Twin Peaks

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[-] JeeBaiChow@lemmy.world 21 points 1 week ago

Gummi bears, ducktales, airwolf

[-] tacotroubles@lemmy.world 20 points 1 week ago

Golden girls of course!

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[-] SoGrumpy@lemmy.ml 19 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

MASH

https://youtu.be/QOS6kfR9u4s

[-] MrRubik@lemmy.world 18 points 1 week ago

Easy. Firefly

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[-] BLAMM@lemmy.world 18 points 1 week ago

Miami Vice https://youtu.be/dEjXPY9jOx8

I might edit this later with more.

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[-] eyesonthetoad@lemmy.zip 16 points 1 week ago

Pink Panther!

[-] khannie@lemmy.world 16 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

The really old spider man cartoon is a straight up banger.

"Is he strong? Listen bud,
He's got radioactive blood"

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[-] Donebrach@lemmy.world 15 points 1 week ago

Tank! by the Seatbelts for Cowboy Bebop is probably one of the best openers of all time for anything.

[-] Exatron@lemmy.world 15 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

The Muppet Show

Farscape

Reboot

One Piece (especially "We Are")

The Simpsons

Futurama

Animaniacs

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[-] DandomRude@lemmy.world 15 points 1 week ago

Na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na... BATMAN!

[-] YeahIgotskills2@lemmy.world 15 points 1 week ago

Airwolf for the win.

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[-] normalentrance@lemmy.zip 15 points 1 week ago

Inspector gadget had a pretty great one for a cartoon. Also an honorable mention for giligans Island.

[-] mondomon@lemmy.world 14 points 1 week ago

Cowboy Bebop. TANK! by The Seatbelts is peak.

[-] lemmy_get_my_coat@lemmy.world 14 points 1 week ago

Gotta be Gravity Falls

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[-] Species8472@discuss.tchncs.de 14 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Star Trek: Voyager. An absolute masterpiece. Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, X-files, Baywatch.

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[-] SaraTonin@lemmy.world 13 points 1 week ago

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

[-] RampantParanoia2365@lemmy.world 13 points 1 week ago

Enterprise. It's been a long time.

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[-] snoons@lemmy.ca 13 points 1 week ago

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex (S01) OP

It's the only anime OP I can actually listen too other than Tank!. Full song

[-] iamericandre@lemmy.world 12 points 1 week ago

The Sopranos

Hill Street Blues

Dawsons Creek

[-] chicken@lemmy.dbzer0.com 12 points 1 week ago

I thought Dark and Severance had good ones.

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this post was submitted on 25 Apr 2026

199 points (100.0% liked)

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