Listmania

[yendi]

The 10 best TV theme songs from the last ten years:

10. "Searching my Soul," Vonda Shepherd, Ally McBeal
9. "Spongebob Squarepants Theme," Painty the Pirate Painting, Spongebob Squarepants
8. "Goin' Down to South Park," Les Claypool, South Park
7. "Radio Free Roscoe Theme," Skye Sweetnam, Radio Free Roscoe
6. "Teen Titans, Go!" Puffy Ami Yumi, Teen Titans.
5. "Where You Lead," Carole King, Gilmore Girls
4. "Ballad of Serenity," Sonny Rhodes, Firefly
3. "I Wonder Why the Wonder Falls," Andy Partridge, Wonderfalls
2. "Boss Of Me," They Might be Giants, Malcolm in the Middle
1. "Superman," Lazlo Bane, Scrubs

Note: I'm not counting Veronica Mars, The Sopranos, or any of the three CSI shows -- all of which would be top five contenders -- as they all used pre-released songs that had a following before the shows came out. Also, yes, I was very tempted to toss the Freakazoid! theme in here, but it's technically been just over ten years since the series ended. I also decided to stick to songs -- no instrumentals, not even the Buffy theme -- just to make this one easier to narrow down. I'm sure I omitted at least one great theme song, as we all have our favorites (and mine certainly shift often enough). I'm also sure that I omitted the theme song from Friends. I'm sure that there's no overlap between those last two sentences.

The 10 worst TV theme songs from the last ten years:

10. "Faith of the Heart," Russell Watson, Star Trek: Enterprise
9. "Faith of the Heart," Russell Watson, Star Trek: Enterprise
8. "Faith of the Heart," Russell Watson, Star Trek: Enterprise
7. "Faith of the Heart," Russell Watson, Star Trek: Enterprise
6. "Faith of the Heart," Russell Watson, Star Trek: Enterprise
5. "Save Me," Remy Zero, Smallville
4. "Faith of the Heart," Russell Watson, Star Trek: Enterprise
3. "Faith of the Heart," Russell Watson, Star Trek: Enterprise
2. "Faith of the Heart," Russell Watson, Star Trek: Enterprise
1. "Faith of the Heart," Russell Watson, Star Trek: Enterprise

(And yes, I'm aware that this violates my rules above, as FotH appeared in Patch Adams. But, A) the song just sucks that much, and B) it was Patch fucking Adams, which only makes it worse.

Comments

[terracinque.livejournal.com]

On first glance I thought "Where's 'You're not the boss of me now?' before remembering that's not the title.

It's a good list, inasmuch as I'm familiar with the shows/songs (I've never heard four of them). I can't think of any glaring omissions, although I personally really like the Futurama and Batman Beyond themes.

10. "Faith of the Heart," Russell Watson, Star Trek: Enterprise
...
1. "Faith of the Heart," Russell Watson, Star Trek: Enterprise

One might almost be forced to conclude you're making some sort of point there.

Also, "Remy Zero rocks!"

[yendi]

I can't think of any glaring omissions, although I personally really like the Futurama and Batman Beyond themes.

As I noted in regards to Nerf Herder's nifty Buffy theme, I left off instrumentals, as there are simply too many great songs there.

And poor Pete Ross.

[terracinque.livejournal.com]

As I noted in regards to Nerf Herder's nifty Buffy theme, I left off instrumentals

Oops! Missed that. But you also remind me of Darling Violetta's brooding, atmospheric Angel theme, which I've always liked.

Also, the Friends theme song was from too long ago, assuming "from the last ten years" refers to each theme's first appearance, so it was a categorical rather than a spiteful omission on your part.

[mgrasso.livejournal.com]

You know, the more I think about this...

Doesn't it seem sort of silly and weird and retrograde for TV shows to have theme songs? I mean, in the days of radio, I can understand why; you wanted to have a signature that people could identify and then know they should stay tuned in. And in the old days of television, so much stuff was atavistically held over from radio I can see why they'd have silly theme songs. But these days, practically every show on TV still has a theme. In fact, the only one I can think of that doesn't is Lost.

[yendi]

Honestly, it doesn't strike me as silly at all. Mind you, thinking that a show must have a theme is a bit much (the folks on Lost were wise here), but throughout TV history, there have been some amazing theme songs that have enhanced the shows themeselves, whether it's the ones listed here (including shows like Veronica Mars), or older ones. Imagine Married With Children without "Love and Marriage," or Cheers without "Where Everybody Knows Your Name."

Like anything that people take for granted, it should be questioned regularly (or lampooned when necessary -- there's a reason that the Spongebob theme made this list), but I do think a good theme still can enhance a show.

Put another way, why shouldn't TV follow the same pattern as movies?

[unblinkered.livejournal.com]

Aaaaargh.....you have just managed to earworm me with three songs simultaneously! I didn't even know that was possible!

[terracinque.livejournal.com]

Or, imagine The Patty Duke Show without "But they're cousins! Identical cousins, and you'll find...!"

[hughcasey.livejournal.com]

Oh, come on! FotH wasn't THAT bad!

It should just be listed once. As the worst.

But there are a LOT of other bad TV themes out there...

[yendi]

My original list had FotH listed in all ten slots. It really is that bad.

Most of the other shows that come to mind (like, say, that horrible Dido theme on Roswell) just strike me as mediocre, but ymmv.

[stilldocked.livejournal.com]

"Where You Lead" was off Carole King's Tapestry album though...

[yendi]

I'd thought that was one of the songs added to the reissue?

[stilldocked.livejournal.com]

TtBomK, it was on the original album. I remember hearing it growing up...my mom loves the album.

While it is not always authoritative, Wiki (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tapestry_%28album%29#Original_vinyl_release) lists it on the original vinyl.

[brak55.livejournal.com]

"Where You Lead" was on the original tapestry (I'm old and I had the original vinyl); however, this is a new recording with her daughter, so I'd qualify it.

[corwinok.livejournal.com]

You have left "Wild Challenger" by Jindou from Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo off of the top 10 best list. Unintelligible J-Pop gibberish rocks my world.

[yendi]

I deliberate skipped anime themes, as there's so much damned good music out there, it needs its own category. That said, I've never seen or heard that particular one.

[corwinok.livejournal.com]

You need to check it out some time; it's hilarious. It makes fun of all things anime and manga. It defies comprehension, and I've found that often I need to just sit back and let the pretty pictures wash over me rather than try and make any sense of anything I'm seeing :)

Here's some more info (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobobo-bo_Bo-bobo)

[phinnia.livejournal.com]

The theme from House (Massive Attack's 'Teardrop') totally needs to be on list #1. :-D

[yendi]

I'm pretty sure that was an already-released song. Also, they only use the instrumentals on the show.

If you're counting ending themes, this one deserves a spot on the worst....

[alladinsane.livejournal.com]

"And Forever...", Robbie Danzie with Naoki Takao, Big O(closing theme)

Why must they close a shopw featuring a giant robot smashing other giant robots and lots of buildings with such empty soulless schmaltz?

Re: If you're counting ending themes, this one deserves a spot on the worst....

[yendi]

I've only seen one episode of that show, and don't remember the music at all, alas.

That said, no anime ending theme could ever top FLCL's.

[volta]

The MitM theme is called "Boss Of Me" on the Dial-A-Song: 20 Years... track list.

[yendi]

Noted and edited. Thanks.

[dorsey.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty sure that the Scrubs theme was also pre-released. I seem to recall the story that Zach Braff suggested the song as the theme because he was listening to the CD when they were filming the pilot.

[yendi]

So Wikipedia claims, but since that album came out in 2002, and Scrubs is from 2001, I'm skeptical. At best, I could see it having been played at clubs, but I'm still considering that legit.

[dorsey.livejournal.com]

Well the song was also on the Tao of Steve soundtrack which came out in 2000, so maybe that's where he'd heard it.

[litch.livejournal.com]

What about the theme for The Batman? It's not quite an instrumental.

[beldar.livejournal.com]

So "PowerPuff Girls" Theme or "Angry Beavers" (there's kind of a vocal there!) didn't make the cut?

And I'm guessing the genius theme to "Earthworm Jim" (which I can still sing from memory) is too old (since it came out same time as Freakazoid!).

There should be a list for instrumental themes, so as to pay tribute to:
-"Buffy" theme
-"Angel" theme
-"Dog on Fire" (The Daily Show theme)
-"Batman Beyond" theme
-"Men in Black" (animated series) theme
and maybe stretch the time frame to get in the "Kids in the Hall" theme

And I agree COMPLETELY with your 10 worst list, except that No. 5 should also be: "Faith of the Heart," Russell Watson, Star Trek: Enterprise
It's. Just. That. Bad.

[philrancid.livejournal.com]

Hey Yendi.

You probably already know this, but the Anchor Bay website says that they're releasing Cemetery Man today.

I think I need to hit the video store.

[amokk]

All right, so these last two posts tell me that movie-wise we're similar, but music-wise we're polar opposites. 'Cause I liked Faith of the Heart and I wonder wtf is wrong with your head for even knowing who/what sings the Spongebob song.

[chaoticmatter.livejournal.com]

... damn it, now I have Freakazoid stuck in my head.

[experimentego.livejournal.com]

You have obviously never enjoyed the pleasure of being drunk in a karaoke bar. To understand the TRUE VALUE is to understand the sheer genius of "Faith of the Heart"'s karaoke power.

And Remy Zero is responsible for human suffering. Really. The lead singer traveled back in time and put a sock puppet of a snake on his penis and tempted Adam and Eve. This is how human suffering came to be.