Theme Songs

Don’t you just love how Drew Carey and the gang put a lot of effort into making a sort of “production number” for their opening credits? In my opinion, that is what’s lacking in the television shows of today.

In its nine-season run, The Drew Carey Show had three opening theme songs—”Moon Over Parma,” “Five O’Clock World” by The Vogues, and “Cleveland Rocks” by The Presidents of the United States of America. Each of the themes represented an “era” in the show, where some major change in the theme, characters, or storyline occurred.

Moon Over Parma

…was used in the first season (1995-1996). The opening credits in this era was in its simplest form—consisting only of a caricature of Carey singing to “Moon Over Parma,” which in reality was actually sung by Drew. The lyrics goes:

“Moon over Parma bring my love to me tonight. Guide her to Cleveland, underneath your silvery light. We’re goin’ bowlin’, so don’t lose her in Solon. Moon over Parma, tonight.”

Five O’Clock World

…was the one used from 1996 to 1997. It had the sort of cheesy (but funny) song and dance number of the cast singing to the song, which started from Drew waking up in his room, to the car travel, and finally to the office. The lyrics goes:

Up every mornin just to keep a job
I gotta fight my way through the hustling mob
Sounds of the city pounding in my brain
While another day goes down the drain

But its a five o’clock world when the whistle blows
No one owns a piece of my time
And there’s a five o’clock me inside my clothes
Thinking that the world looks fine, yeah

Tradin’ my time for the pay I get
Living on money that I ain’t made yet
Ive been goin’ tryin’ to make my way
While I live for the end of the day

Cause it’s a five o’clock world when the whistle blows
No one owns a piece of my time, and
Theres a long-haired girl who waits, I know
To ease my troubled mind, yeah

In the shelter of her arms everything’s OK
When she talks then the world goes slippin’ away
And I know the reason I can still go on
When every other reason is gone,

In my five o’clock world she waits for me
Nothing else matters at all
Cause every time my baby smiles at me
I know that its all worthwhile,
yeah oh my lady

Cleveland Rocks

…was used from 1997-2002, and is probably the theme song most associated with the show. It had another song and dance number, of the whole cast and more, in the streets of Cleveland, with Drew shouting “Ohio!” in the end at the ballpark parking. Lyrics:

All this energy callin’ me
Back where it comes from
It’s such a crude attitude
It’s back where it belongs

All the little chicks with their crimson lips
Go “Cleveland rocks!”, “Cleveland rocks!”
Livin’ in sin with a safety pin
Go “Cleveland rocks!”, “Cleveland rocks!”
“Cleveland rocks!”

Ohio!

Additional

In episode 8 of the second season, “What is Hip” by Tower of Power was used as the theme song. From 2002-2004, nine different recordings of the previous theme songs were used. “Cleveland Rocks” was originally done by Ian Hunter, from his 1979 album You’re Never Alone with a Schizophrenic.

Mad Men has got such a “jammy” theme song, don’t you think? It’s one of those shows where I actually look forward to the opening credits, unlike, say, Weeds, where I just forward it to the show proper.

The theme song for Mad Men is entitled “A Beautiful Mine.” It was created by someone called RJD2—a DJ/music producer/singer, real name Ramble John Krohn, from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The full version is part of the the album Magnificent City Instrumentals, a sort of spin-off of the album Magnificent City by rap artist Aceyalone. The version in Aceyalone’s album has vocals (rapping, rather).

The Mad Men opening credits video in YouTube is “unembeddable,” so just listen to the long version video below of “A Beautiful Mine.”

Listen

“Petrol heads” unite. That Top Gear theme song is just so Top Gear. You would think it was made for the show, and, you would think it was performed by a British artist, but no. Yes, Clarkson, Hammond and May, who do nothing but bash the United States, patronize an American product, show in, show out.

The song is entitled “Jessica” and it was performed by The Allman Brothers Band, a sort of countryish rock and roll band from Jacksonville, Florida. “Jessica” was originally from their 1973 album Brothers and Sisters. Aside from “Jessica,” they are also known for their song “Ramblin’ Man.”

Other facts

“Jessica” was used since the series original format in 1977. Back then it used the original version by The Allman Brothers, until up to the late 1990s, after which it used some sort of cover version. Since 2002, when the new format launched, until present, they use a (still) unknown cover version.

Would you like to hear the original version?

As you probably already have already figured out, it is an instrumental. By the way, I just figured you’d enjoy a live version more. Click here for the real deal original.

Now, for the Top Gear opening

Pop quiz

In which season did Jeremy Clarkson, while going on a drive (feature), suddenly tuned to the radio and heard “Jessica?” Clue, season 13.

The cult classic BMX movie

Yeah, Rad! Definitely one of my favorites. If you were not part of the generation, then I urge you to check the movie out. I’m sure you’ll find it cheesy, but it meant the world to us back then.

Anyway, for the sake of it having a “theme song,” we’ll go back to probably the most powerful part of the movie—one that could’ve made it or broken it—the opening credits. As far as Rad is concerned, you couldn’t have asked for something better.

Break the Ice

“Getting ready to break the ice!” That was so cool. The song, obviously, is entitled “Break the Ice.” It was performed by a guy named John Farnham. Farnham, born July 1, 1949 (he is now 60 years old!), is an Australian pop singer. Research could not find which album “Break the Ice” came from, so for now we’d assume that it was made for the movie. The song was written by Sue Shifrin and Bob Marlette.

Break the Ice lyrics (opening credits edit)

Frozen in silence
Facing it alone
Gotta keep my cool
Make ‘em think I’m made of stone

It’s a game of wills we’re playin’
A love two made of steel
Balanced on the edges of everything we feel

It’s gonna take all we got
Just to make it through this night
Gotta feel it right through my skin
And it’s cuttin’ like a knife

Get ready to break the ice
Feels like time is standing still
Aiming right for you heart
Ready to take another spill
Only you can make it right
You can break the ice inside of me

A single minded passion
A solitary stand
I thought I was alone
Left out in the cold again
So I’m givin’ you all I’ve got
I’m gonna make it through this night
And even though I could fall
I’m prepared to loose the fight

Get ready to break the ice
Feels like time is standing still
Aiming right for you heart
Ready to take another spill

Get ready to break the ice
Feels like time is standing still
Aiming right for you heart
Ready to take another spill

Only you can make it right
You can break the ice

Get ready to break the ice
Feels like time is standing still
Aiming right for you heart
Ready to take another spill

Get ready to break the ice
Feels like time is standing still
Aiming right for you heart
Ready to take another spill

Get ready to break the ice

Relive Rad

The Fall Guy was a television program in the eighties (1981-1986), originally broadcast in ABC and starred Lee Majors, Heather Thomas and Douglas Barr. It was about a Hollywood stunt man who was a bounty hunter on the side. He used his skills and knowledge of stunts and effects, especially involving cars, to capture criminals.

“The Unknown Stuntman”

…was the title of the show’s theme song, and was performed by no other than the show’s lead, Lee Majors. It was written by Glen A. Larson, Gail Jensen and David Sommerville.

“The Unknown Stuntman” lyrics

Well, I’m not the kind to kiss and tell
But I’ve been seen with Farrah
I’ve never been seen with anything than a nine
So fine

I’ve been on fire with Sally Field
Gone fast with a girl named Bo
But somehow they did not end up as mine

It’s a death defyin’ life I lead
I take my chances
I die for a living in the movies and TV
But hardest thing I ever do
Is watch my leading ladies
Kiss some other guy
While I’m bandagin’ my knee

I might fall from a tall building
I might roll a brand new car
‘Cause I’m the unknown stuntman
That makes Redford such a star

I’ve never spent much time in school
But I’ve taught ladies plenty
It’s true I hire my body out for pay (hey, hey)

I’ve gotten burned over Cheryl Tiegs
Blown up for Raquel Welch
But when I wind up in the hay,
It’s only hay (hey, hey)

I might jump an open drawbridge
Or Tarzan from a vine
‘Cause I’m the unknown stuntman
That makes Eastwood look so fine

“Farrah,” mentioned in the lyrics, pertained to the late Farrah Fawcett, which was then Lee Majors’ wife.

Watch & Listen

Cars, the movie

The theme song for Cars—the 2006 animated film by Pixar, considered for this post’s sake, will be the one with an actual video made entirely for the movie—”Life Is A Highway” by the band, Rascal Flatts. There is an official soundtrack for the film which includes a number of songs used throughout the move. It includes artists such as Sheryl Crow, Brad Paisley, John Mayer and Chuck Berry among others.

About “Life Is A Highway”

“Life Is A Highway” was originally written by Tom Cochrane, and was included in his 1991 album, Mad Mad World.

“Life Is A Highway” lyrics

Well, life’s like a road that you travel on
There’s one day here and the next day gone
Sometimes you bend, sometimes you stand
Sometimes you turn your back to the wind

There’s a world outside every darkened door
Where Blues won’t haunt you anymore
For the brave are free and lovers soar
Come ride with me to the distant shore

We won’t hesitate
To break down the guarding gate
There’s not much time left today, yeay

Life is a highway, I wanna ride it
All night long
If you’re going my way, I wanna drive it
All night long

Through all these cities and all these towns
It’s in my blood and it’s all around
I love now like I loved you then
This is the road and these are the hands
From Mozambique to those Memphis nights
The Khyber Pass to Vancouver’s lights

They knock me down
And back up again
You’re in my blood
I’m not a lonely man
There’s no load I can’t hold
The road’s so rough this I know
I’ll be there when the light comes in
Just tell ‘em we’re survivors

Life is a highway, I wanna ride it
All night long
If your going my way, I wanna drive it
All night long

Gimme, Gimme, Gimme, Gimme, yeah

Life is a highway, I wanna ride it
All night long (mmmm yeah)
If your going my way, I wanna drive it
All night long

There was a distance between you and I
(between you and I)
A misunderstanding once
But now, we look it in the eye

Ooooo…Yeah!

There ain’t no load that I can’t hold
The road’s so rough this I know
I’ll be there when the light comes in
Just tell ‘em we’re survivors

Life is a highway, I wanna ride it
All night long (all night long, yeah hey)
If your going my way, I wanna drive it
All night long

Life is a highway, I wanna ride it
All night long
If your going my way, I wanna drive it
All night long

Life is a highway, I wanna ride it
All night long
If your going my way, I wanna drive it
All night long

Gimme, Gimme, Gimme, Gimme, yeah

Watch & Listen

Jockeys is a show on Animal Planet about, well, jockeys. Horses, which is quite fitting because the theme song is by an ass—Kanye West. The song is entitled “Stronger,” which is a remix of Daft Punk’s “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger.” Anyway, “Stronger” was the second single from West’s album, Graduation.

I’m quite stumped though, because there is someone looking for another theme song for Jockeys, used in the first few episodes, with the lyrics “Would be better if I sold my soul…” Not much to go by, but I will clarify all that someday.

Watch & Listen (Jockeys trailer)

Boy Meets World, a show which starred Ben Savage playing a growing boy named Cory Matthews, had a number of theme songs in its entire seven-season run. Wikipedia claims there were a total of five songs used. Most notable in these barrage of theme songs was the one with the words “boy,” “meets,” and “world” in the lyrics, which also happened to be the last and the longest used theme song, which carried the show from season five to seven.

That song was written by Phil Rosenthal. It was performed by the band Twenty Cent Crush, with Phil Rosenthal on vocals. Other members include Steve Berns and Ron Pak. Download sites (including Amazon.com) credit the song as “Boy Meets World (feat. Phil Rosenthal).” I am unsure if Phil Rosenthal was a part of that band, nor if that Phil Rosenthal is the same guy behind Everybody Loves Raymond.

Boy Meets World theme song lyrics (show edit, 22 seconds)

When this boy meets world
Boy meets world
Wandering down this road, that we call life
Is what we’re doin’
It’s good to know I have friends that will always
Stand by me
When this boy meets world

Watch & Listen

Below is an earlier edit of the Boy Meets World opening, featuring an instrumental song and different scenes.

Download the full length version of “Boy Meets World.”

Modern Family—the latest comedy series to hit ABC, and, it’s making quite the buzz. I do not, however, have any useful information about the song used in the opening credits—the one that goes “Hey, hey…” but we have a video. Although, it barely is a theme song, which seems to be quite the trend these days. No more snappy theme songs that would make us nostalgic in the days to come when the shows are no longer aired.

Anyway, some original music is credited to a composer named Gabriel Mann. I will clear and organize all of this information in the future.

Watch & Listen

The theme song for Leverage, as per other previous claims, is not “Mercy” by Duffy. Sure, “Mercy” was used for Leverage promotional material and commercials, but is definitely not the theme song, nor the one used in the show’s opening credits.

The show only started to have a short opening credits with background music, the one where Nathan Ford (Timothy Hutton) says “The rich and powerful, they take what they want…” in season 2, but that exact same piece was used in the pilot episode of season 1.

The only information I have as of present time about the show’s original theme music is that is was composed Joseph LoDuca, an award-winning television and film score composer.

Watch & Listen

There is another recurring theme from this show which is always played when they are currently setting up a job. It is this bass-driven song with a cool melody. If you know what I am talking about and actually know information about it, please hit the comments.