These days TV shows don’t have iconic theme songs, they kind of get right to the plot of the episode without having that minute of edited together moments from past seasons with an epic soundtrack.

I can see the benefit of having a theme and of not having a theme so I’m not too mad that there aren’t themes anymore. Some shows made their themes too long (I’m looking at you Desperate Housewives). However there were shows where I really enjoyed their theme songs and so I shall talk about them.

One Tree Hill

They got me into Gavin Degraw, deadass.

This is the song that started it all. I mean, what a classic.

The lyrics really stuck out to me, even as a kid, they’re even featured in my book because I loved them so much: “I don’t wanna be anything other than what I’ve been trying to be lately, all I have to do is think of me and have peace of mind…”

A classic!

The way the theme would start too with Lucas bouncing the basketball on the bridge as the piano chords played, it hits me in my nostalgic feels every time!

The O.C.

This was my first teenage show. I loved this show so much! It was also the first show I experienced getting cancelled and I was so heartbroken.

I’ve been rewatching it recently and wow, season one was a trip, so much happened!

The theme song though, that was a moment. It had me wanting to move to California for the easy going summer vibes. I mean Orange County looked like hell to live in but those scenic shots of California as the theme started were it!

It honestly added fuel to my dream to drive along the Californian coastline in a convertible.

The song is by Phantom Planet.

Friends

I mean, enough said, what an iconic theme. I’ll be there for you by The Rembrandts.  

Although when you listen to the lyrics as an adult they really hit different. As a kid I was like, “How light hearted and fun!” As an adult I’m like, “Wow, that hit close to home.”

No one told me life was going to be this way! (Apart from one teacher).

It is nice though that the song isn’t totally depressing as they’re saying, “I’ve got you, I’ll be here for you.” Which captures the essence of the show, they’re there for each other as they struggle with the evil that is adulthood.

CSI Miami

A bit of an odd one but honestly I just love this theme song. It fits Horatio and the whole Miami vibe. I like how each CSI has it’s own theme song from the original to New York to Miami.

Miami will always have a special place in my heart though.

Law and Order

I love this theme song so much that I get mad when they try to switch it out to another one. Have you heard that other one? It’s awful.

It’s like give me my dun duns!

I am here for the drama and the skilful guitar that pops in and kills it for no reason! Set the mood for solving crime!

So yeah I love the theme a lot and I’ve gotten into Law and Order heavily these days. However I can’t watch too many episodes as they get me questioning everything around me and annoying my mom with my findings about the American legal system.

Honestly, forget love songs I want to find someone I can talk to about crime dramas.

Diagnosis Murder

This is my childhood, so the nostalgia is big with this one.

It was the first crime drama I loved and it still holds a special place in my heart (blame my mom).

It’s on the lighter side of crime dramas and so is the theme song.

It starts off with that spice of suspense and then the clarinet comes in to lighten the mood and lighten it does! It’s short and sweet and to the point and I love it!

I have a big love for Dick Van Dyke because of this show. I also got my friends into this show heavy so *proud sniff* heh.

Smallville

Don’t touch me, I love this theme song so much! It is my favourite of all time!! That’s right I said it!

This is another childhood favourite. I would always be trying to catch it on channel four… ah the time before streaming services and everything went online.

I sound old and yet I’m not, what a strange era we’re in.

Anyway, I love this song. It stirs so many feelings because this show took me on such a roller coaster ride! And I love Superman, honestly, I love Superman a lot (again blame my mom we used to watch Superman movies together). So when this show came out I thought it was such a cool idea, Superman but the early years.

I loved the easter eggs of the future and the new characters I grew to love. Ah, it was the best. DC did TV really well. I mean do you remember Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman? (I sometimes feel like I’m the only one who watched that show).

Anyway this theme is the best and had me singing along from second one with the “Somebody SAVE MEEEEE” and sure I didn’t know the rest of the lyrics but that didn’t stop me from singing along.

It’s so ingrained in my memory it still pops in my head from time to time and I end up singing it.

If I end up in my nursing home singing it… well…

The theme is Save Me by Remy Zero