‘Ah they don’t make them like they used to’ is a phrase often bandied about by cranky old coots and accompanied by the shaking if a wrinkled fist. Well to this cranky old coot there is one corner of culture that has been let to whither through laziness and neglect...the TV Theme tune. Often more memorable that what followed it, these ditties wormed their way into our hearts via our ears and even the very sound of their opening bars can transport you back to a time spent goggling the box and humming it’s tunes!
A Country Practice
Often overlooked if not forgotten by it's neighbourly and surfing rivals, A Country Practice ran for 12 years from 1981 and over it's 1058 episodes introduced us to some wonderful characters like bespectacled busybody Esme Watson and the comedic capers of Bob Hatfield and Cookie. The theme music makes a flamin' galah of it's soapy and soppy rivals!
The Littlest Hobo
This free spirited stray would pad into various towns to sort out some residents crisis before jogging onto the next town be a hirsute hero there. Hobo by name and by nature, this mighty mutt would resist any attempts at adoption...maybe tomorrow he'd learn to settle down!
Dynasty
This soaptastic theme tune from Bill Conti the legend that also brought us the sonic wonders that from Falcon Crest, Rocky and Karate Kid (hero status assured) filled the front rooms of houses across the land every Friday Night as we'd await the latest shenanigans from the Carringtons and of course the scheming of shoulder padded Alexis!
Minder
Sung by the Terry himself, Denis Waterman, this cheeky classic was written by Waterman's wife Patricia and perfectly summed up the antics of Arfa and Tel. It also goes to show the power that theme songs had as it almost topped the UK charts back in 1980. Pukka!
My So-Called Life
Now considered one of the great teen dramas of all time, My So-Called Life incredibly only ran for 1 season back in 1994. Set at the fictional Liberty High School in the suburbs of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, it follows the emotional travails of several teenagers in the social circle of main character Angela Chase, played by Claire Danes and teenage girl dream hero Jordan Catalano played by Jared Leto.
Dogtanian and the Three Muskehounds
Textbook theme action here as we sing along to EVERY SINGLE WORD and hum this ear worm for the Dogtanian and the Three Muskehounds.
Animaniacs
4 fingered hands down one of the smartest kids cartoons of all time. Animaniacs was actually produced by Steven Spielberg who insisted on there being a big musical production in each show but none were as memorable as the opening sequence song.
Murder She Wrote
Jessica Fletcher left a trail of dead bodies behind that would have Hannibal Lecter lock HIMSELF up! How anyone would not run screaming at the very sight of her wheeling her murderous curse into town in her front basket is beyond me. Still great theme song.
The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air
The harrowing tale of an inner city kid from Philadelphia who's hysterical mother simply and incredibly foists her child on her wealthy sister in California after a minor skirmish in a basketball court. We'll let the clearly traumatized child take up the story...
Glenroe
Well Holy God! We couldn't just let you go without leaving you with that back to school dread. Nothing quite captured the ennui of a Sunday night than this synthesized and chilling whistle...
