It’s easy to not think of theme music as “real” music. We don’t tend to listen to them outside they show or movie they were crated for. At least, that’s how it may seem. In reality, theme music is some of the most enduring music there is. And many of them have gone on to become huge hits in their own right.
Take a look at 10 theme songs written for TV or movies that became hits!
“Miami Vice”
It’s rare that an instrumental charts on the Billboard Hot 100, even rarer that it tops the chart! Nevertheless, the Miami Vice theme did exactly that. This exceptionally ’80s theme managed to hit number one without a single lyric! While it certainly did the show it was made for justice, it also highlights the power of a strong melody. It’s proof you don’t need a single word to create a lasting hit.
The Miami Vice theme was the last instrumental song to hit no. 1 until 2012, when the “Harlem Shake” went viral.
“New York, New York”
Did you know this song, made wildly popular by Frank Sinatra, was written for a film? “New York, New York” was originally created for Martin Scorsese’s 1977 film New York, New York, and was performed on screen by the incredible Liza Minnelli.
While that fact is often overlooked or forgotten, the song has gone on to great and lasting popularity on its own. It has been widely covered by countless bands and artists, but Sinatra’s has solidified itself as the definitive version, regardless of its film origins.
“Lose Yourself”
Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” is undoubtedly one of the rapper’s biggest hits, and was written for his hit movie 8 Mile. While this fact hasn’t been forgotten in the same way “New York, New York’s” beginnings have, the song has remained iconic and popular long after the film has begun to fade.
The song is instantly recognizable, and there is never any doubt of who is performing, and it becomes easy to forget where it came from.
“I’ll Be There For You”
Given the massive success and popularity of the show Friends, it’s not surprising the theme song became popular as well. The Rembrandts’ “I’ll Be There For You” quickly became ont of the most instantly recognizable theme songs in TV history. The song peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay Chart in the U.S. and made impressive showings on the charts of many other countries as well. It offered cross-generational appeal, and even now, decades after the show’s end, its recognizability and popularity continue.
“Knocking on Heaven’s Door”
Like some of the other songs and artists on this list, “Knocking on Heaven’s Door” has become one of Bob Dylan’s most iconic songs. It’s been famously covered by Guns N’ Roses, and Jimi Hendrix, and latter becoming the definitive version for many fans.
But while many don’t even know this is a Bob Dylan song, fewer still know that it was originally written for The 1973 film Pat Garret and Billy the Kid, in which Dylan also acted.
“Take My Breath Away”
Top Gun was one of those movies where every song on the soundtrack was an absolute smash, which can make it hard to remember which songs were actually on that soundtrack. For example, the smash hit “Take My Breath Away” by Berlin. Sure, if you were around to see the movie when it came out, or had the VHS to play it on repeat you might remember that this song came from Top Gun, but younger audiences may not have any idea.
“Endless Love”
The film Endless Love is probably most notable for featuring Tom Cruise in his first major movie (even f his role was small), but not much more. The theme song by the same name however, by Diana Ross and Lionel Richie, remains a lasting love song. Thirty years later, people around the world still slow dance to this iconic ballad.
“The Ballad of Jed Clampett”
The best TV show theme music set the scene for what the audience can expect (see “I’ll be There for You, a show about and for friends). And thanks to this stellar theme, you can jump right into The Beverly Hillbillies on any episode and understand what’s going on. “The Ballad of Jed Clampett” acts as the perfect quick exposition for viewers to understand how these folk got from the backwoods to Rodeo Drive. What’s more, it’s become apart of country music history and is often imitated–but never duplicated.
“9 to 5”
“9 to 5,” the theme written for the film of the same name starring Dolly Parton, Lily Tomlin, and Jane Fonda is one of those rare hits that has outlived the movie it was made for. That’s not to say the movie 9 to 5 isn’t iconic itself, but the song has gone on to become an enduring anthem for hard-working office workers.
“T.S.O.P. (The Sound of Philadelphia)”
No list of popular TV and movie themes would be complete without MFSB’s “T.S.O.P.”–the very first TV theme song to ever hit the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Moreover, this was one of the very first disco songs to achieve that honor, helping to user in a new age of popular music.
“T.S.O.P.” changed what TV themes could be. No loner where they just intros to other media; MFSB proved they could be art and popular in their own right.
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