Top 10 Theme Songs You Didn't Know Were Recorded by Pop Artists
#10: “Orange Is the New Black” (2013-19)
Regina Spektor When you have a show that portrays people in prison in a sympathetic light, you need a sensitive theme song. “Orange Is the New Black” accomplishes that with “You’ve Got Time,” a moving and empowering ballad from Regina Spektor. The Russian-American musician also covered “Little Boxes,” the theme song of creator Jenji Kohan’s previous series “Weeds.” “You’ve Got Time” immediately draws you in with its urgent piano melody and Spektor’s lyrics about being trapped and trying to grow as a person. It’s not explicitly about prison, but it works perfectly for the series and shows the right way to handle a sensitive subject matter.
#9: “Phineas and Ferb” (2007-15)
Bowling for Soup “Phineas and Ferb” fans know that music is key to the show’s DNA, so anything less than a great theme song would be unacceptable. Fortunately, this beloved animated series also got a beloved theme song, courtesy of rockers Bowling for Soup. The song, known as "Today Is Gonna Be a Great Day,” is brimming with energy. It establishes the adventurous nature of the two titular stepbrothers, as well as their adversarial relationship with sister, Candace. While the original theme song had a slower tempo, Disney requested a more upbeat one. That change was for the better, as the final theme received an Emmy nomination in 2008.
#8: “Fuller House” (2016-20)
Carly Rae Jepsen “Everywhere You Look,” the theme song to “Full House,” is one of the most iconic sitcom theme songs of all time. So, how do you create a theme song for a reboot? The best strategy is to keep the song but record it with a new artist. In this case, it was pop star Carly Rae Jepsen. She infused her version with the same infectious energy she brought to “Call Me Maybe.” Sure, it’s not a radical reinvention, but we watch “Fuller House” looking for comfort and familiarity. After all, “whatever happened to predictability?”
#7: “Malcolm in the Middle” (2000-06)
They Might Be Giants Has there ever been a theme song that captures youthful angst quite as well as the one for “Malcolm in the Middle?” “Boss of Me,” written and performed by cult rock band They Might Be Giants, is surging with attitude. It captures the relatability with how life feels stacked against you when you’re young. But the band had plenty of reason to smile, as the song became one of their biggest successes, hitting number 21 on the UK Singles Chart. The song even earned them their first Grammy Award. Sometimes, life isn’t so unfair after all.
#6: “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” (1997-2003)
Nerf Herder Don’t recognize the name “Nerf Herder?” If you’re a “Buffy” fan, you know at least one of their songs. The self-described “geek rock” band are known for their pop-culture-obsessed lyrics, like on the song “Van Halen.” However, the “Buffy” theme song is entirely lyrics-free, though it still gets us plenty pumped for some monster-fighting action. So, how did this Santa Barbara band end up with such a good gig? Apparently, we can thank star Alyson Hannigan, who reportedly recommended the band to series creator Joss Whedon. Lead singer Parry Gripp claims they got the job because the showrunners “were running out of money and needed something cheap.” It might’ve been cheap, but it sure is good.
#5: “The Big Bang Theory” (2007-19)
Barenaked Ladies The Barenaked Ladies had a hit song with “One Week,” but “Big Bang Theory” fans got to hear them for a lot longer than one week. For 12 seasons, the Canadian rock band brought us into the geeky world of Sheldon, Leonard, Penny, and other “Big Bang Theory” faves. But the lyrics start slightly before the show’s contemporary setting. To be specific, they start 14 billion years ago, when the universe is said to have first come into existence. From there, they rush through evolution and prehistoric and historic milestones throughout the ages before it ends. There aren’t many theme songs as educational as they are catchy.
#4: “One Day at a Time” (2017-20)
Gloria Estefan The 2010s version of “One Day at a Time” did a great job of reimagining the classic sitcom through a Latin-American lens. Much of the spirit of the original series is kept alive, like the inclusion of the euphoric theme song, “This Is It.” This version, however, is performed by one of the biggest names in Latin pop, Gloria Estefan. The new arrangement, courtesy of Estefan’s husband Emilio, features plenty of Cuban influence, and Estefan’s voice sounds as good as ever. We’re definitely going to “have a ball” whenever we hear this great theme song.
#3: “The Proud Family” (2001-05)
Solange Knowles feat. Destiny’s Child Having a TV series with a theme song performed by Solange Knowles and Destiny’s Child is like having a restaurant with caviar as a starter: it sets expectations high. “The Proud Family” is more than 20 years old, but the theme song still sounds as fresh as ever. Sisters Solange and Beyoncé Knowles, as well as the other members of Destiny’s Child, deliver a heartfelt R&B song about the many joys - and occasional frustrations - of dealing with family. Now if you’ll excuse us, we need to give our family a call.
#2: “The Affair” (2014-19)
Fiona Apple If there’s one artist who knows how to create drama with her music, it’s Fiona Apple. So, it’s only fitting that Apple’s song “Container” was used as the theme for this series about infidelity. The mostly a cappella arrangement allows Apple and her powerful vocals and descriptive lyrics to command your attention fully, and the additional bits of sonic detail work perfectly. Many theme songs are about comforting viewers, but this one is driven by tension, much like the series itself. We might not feel relaxed while watching “The Affair” intro, but thanks to this theme song, we’re always riveted.
#1: “That ‘70s Show” (1998-2006)
Cheap Trick It’s no “cheap trick” to get one of the best bands of the 70s to perform the theme song to your 70s-set sitcom. “In the Street” is the perfect song for the carefree, nostalgic vibes of “That ‘70s Show.” But it didn’t start with Cheap Trick. The song was originally penned by acclaimed power-pop band Big Star for their debut album, “Number 1 Record,” released in 1972. And for the show’s first season, it was performed by musician Todd Griffin. But for season two, Cheap Trick were brought in, and their version stuck around until the series’ end. Now, who’s in the mood to get some friends together and form “a circle?”