When we think about our favorite TV shows, we often think about the characters and key moments that make them so addictive. But thereโs no mistaking the power and resonance of the theme songs that run in tandem with the opening credits. In addition to setting the mood, a showโs theme song can add yet another layer to a show that can transcend the programs themselves. Some theme songs become synonymous with the shows themselves, and others help establish and define the careers of the musicians that perform them.
Some opening credits feature existing works, like A&Eโs Duck Dynasty theme โSharp Dressed Manโ by ZZ Top, while others are created specifically for a show, like Regina Spektorโs โYouโve Got Timeโ for Netflixโs Orange Is The New Black.
Some theme songs take on lives of their own and manage to get stuck in our heads regardless of genre or lyrics. The โMain Titleโ for HBOโs Game of Thrones is a great example of a catchy instrumental piece that most watchers probably wouldnโt listen to otherwise. Other shows, however, leverage the power of more accessible genres and styles, like the pop infused โSecretโ by The Pierces for ABC Familyโs Pretty Little Liars and the country-tinged โWords I Never Saidโ by Lupe Fiasco for MTVโs Teen Wolf. So regardless of how old or new a song isโor even what genre it hails fromโtheme songs resonate with listeners well beyond their TV experiences, and their digital track sales prove it.
