20 of the Best Live Action Theme Songs

I bet you thought I wasn't going to get around to live action shows with dope theme songs after I ran through the animated shows that have great theme songs with words!  But here we are.  About to enjoy some classic TV theme songs!

TV Show:
Car 54, Where Are You? (1961)

Why, Though:
I didn't watch the show.  But Fred Gwynne, of Munsters and My Cousin Vinny fame (according to me), is in it so you gotta respect it.  More importantly, this theme song is instantly fun to sing along with.  That and lyrics that actually give you some insight into what will happen in the show, is all I need really, word to the interview I did with the people behind Fare Trade on Spoiled Rotten Podcast.

TV Show:
The Addams Family (1964)

Why, Though:
Tell me you didn't grow up snapping your fingers and singing about Uncle Fester farting!  If not, you may be too young for this post.  May I interest you in a diddy by MC Hammer from the movie?  Probably still not current enough.  The point is that The Addams Family was ubiquitous during my childhood and I think it has a lot to do with the dope theme song.

TV Show:
Batman (1966)

Why, Though:
Much like The Addams Family, Batman had a banger of a theme song that even made its way into schoolyard chants.  Like the one about Batman crashing into a garbage can and Scooby Doo coming along.  Was that just me and my friends?  My fondness for the show has not aged as well though.  For more information on that listen to me and Jo talk about it while also watching The Lion King on the LDF Podcast!

TV Show:
The Jeffersons (1975)

Why, Though:
The Jeffersons didn't even need to have this great of a theme song, but here we are!  Sherman Hemsley was the man.  That bias opinion may be due to the fact that he always reminded me of my maternal grandfather.  They both could command a room and make me laugh.  Good on Nelly for getting Sherman in the "Batter Up" video!

TV Show:
The Facts of Life (1979)

Why, Though:
If I'm being real, I liked this theme song just fine, but when Cam & Juelz rapped over it, I was a much bigger fan.  I didn't watch the show, but it featured Kim Fields, who was a big part of my childhood in a show that will appear later.

TV Show:
The Greatest American Hero (1981)

Why, Though:
I have no intellectual reason for my love of this theme song.  I didn't even watch the show like that.  I think it was on while I was at my grandparents' place and the song stuck with me.  There's just something about it that seems hopeful.

TV Show:
Cheers (1982)

Why, Though:
Bruh, not only is this the first "adult" show I remember actually liking it's... well maybe that's just it.  I've been this singing this theme song since before I can remember.  Just a real feel good vibe.

TV Show:
Who's the Boss? (1984)

Why, Though:
I can't tell if the 80s really just knew how to create a good theme song or if I just grew up with these theme songs and, therefore, can't find any fault in them.  Like... some of these songs are just nice, they don't have any immediate connection to their shows.  It's not like they're listing characters and their traits.  No it's you who are wrong, these theme songs are amazing.  Let's keep it  moving.

TV Show:
The Golden Girls (1985)

Why, Though:
I once sarcastically sang lyrics of this theme song to a friend I thought wasn't being a good friend.  I don't know what you're supposed to do with that info other than know I loved the show and the theme song and used lines from the show and the theme song in my day to day life.  That's how good the song and show is.

TV Show:
Perfect Strangers (1986)

Why, Though:
It's all about the harmonica in this theme song.  I don't much care for the singer's voice but it can't drag this amazing song with excellent instrumentation.  What a heroic song this is!  Plus, the cousin Balki show, as it was known by everyone in my family and I assume yours, is pretty good on its own.

TV Show:
A Different World (1987)

Why, Though:
A Different World raised me.  It may be the only show that I've seen every episode of more than 7 times.  I'd watch it when it aired live with my parents then would tape it as it aired on TBS, back in the day.  I like this show so much I even referenced a deep cut character in a song called "The Game Needs Me"  The theme song would switch up depending on the season but this was my favourite iteration.

TV Show:
Family Matters (1989)

Why, Though:
I always loved the timbre of the singers voice on this song.  Plus the way the strings work on this song, retroactively make me mad that I didn't give it more respect before putting together this post.  Listen to Laura S. & I try to recreate a similarly iconic theme song while watching Misery on the LDF Podcast!

TV Show:
In Living Color (1990)

Why, Though:
Heavy D on the theme song duties?  YEP! I'm in!  Other than being the first place I saw Jim Carrey, Jamie Foxx, and Jennifer Lopez... I guess...  In Living Color, the black SNL, as it was known by me, and maybe my cousins, had this amazing theme song and overall great taste in music.

TV Show:
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990)

Why, Though:
Yo, if you don't know the words to this, or get hyped as soon as the first note drops, we probably aren't friends and could never be.  This has got to be the theme song to end all theme songs.  It's catchy, it's Hip Hop, and everyone, who matters, likes to sing along to it, regardless of political views or any other kind factors that may otherwise divide us.  It's the great equalizer.

TV Show:
Martin (1992)

Why, Though:
This is another theme song that I didn't give enough credit to when it was out.  Listening to it again to see if it would make the cut made me realize how great of a theme song the Martin theme song truly is.  Easy to sing along to due to the lack of complicated lyrics, and it sounds like a party that everyone is invited to!

TV Show:
Living Single (1993)

Why, Though:
I came for the Queen Latifah, stayed for the Kim Coles (who I didn't even recognize from In Living Color some how), and learned to love The Facts of Life's Kim Field and the best movie of 2017's Erika Alexander!  The 80s had some great theme song, but  the 90s had some great Black television going on.  Plus the theme songs definitely cashed in on the Hip Hop craze in a good way.

TV Show:
Moesha (1996)

Why, Though:
That's right!  Even Brandy had her own show and she had Usher, Fredro Starr... and her brother... on it!  I'm just a big Brandy fan so anytime she's singing I'll probably enjoy it.  But this is legitimately good right?  I'm not just stanning RIGHT?!

TV Show:
The Sopranos (1999)

Why, Though:
Stepping away from the Hip Hop influenced theme songs and into just a plain old cool theme song.  I also remember my mom using the landmarks during the title sequence to know when she could stop fast forwarding and get into the episode.  That didn't rub off on me.  I'm all about watching the full title sequence.  How else will I hear the dope music and get ready for the show?

TV Show:
The Wire (2002)

Why, Though:
The best show ever made was definitely going to have a pretty good theme song.  Although it took me a while to warm up to them, I ended up loving each season's take on the same song.  The 2nd season's take just happen to be what I was feeling today.  Season 4's New Jack Swing/R&B style is also pretty good.

TV Show:
Fresh Off the Boat (2015)

Why, Though:
I listed 5 reasons to watch this amazing show and the theme song was definitely one of them.  My enjoyment of Danny Brown notwithstanding, the song perfectly sets up the vibe for Fresh Off the Boat what with the main character loving Hip Hop so much and it being as quirky as some of the humour in the show.

-YG