1980-1982
Wow, imagine Tom Hanks in a 1980s television series.
Bosom Buddies might well have been Tom Hanks’ big break; the show is about two men (the other being Peter Scolari) who disguise themselves as women in order to live in a women-only apartment because of the dirt cheap rent.
The show had a good theme song. Why? Because it is a Billy Joel song. “My Life,” which was originally from Billy’s 1978 release 52nd Street. In 1978, it reached #2 on the U.S. adult contemporary chart, and peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Additional
The version of “My Life” used in the show is not the Billy Joel original. As to who performed the song is not confirmed, but rumor has it that Tom Hanks himself sang the song with the rest of the cast doing backup.
The ending theme of the song is entitled “Shake Me Loose,” performed by American R&B and soul singer, Stephanie Mills. Due to copyright issues, all DVD releases of Bosom Buddies used “Shake Me Loose” for its opening theme.
Bosom Buddies theme song lyrics
First, the narration.
Henry: When we first moved to New York we had a great apartment that was dirt cheap.
Kip: And we found out why it was so cheap.
Henry: Our friend Amy said there was a great apartment in her building.
Kip: Dirt cheap, but it’s a hotel for women. Okay, we made one adjustment.
Henry: Now these other ladies know us as Buffy and Hildegarde.
Kip: But they also know us as Kip and Henry, Buffy and Hildy’s brothers.
Kip: I am crazy about the blonde.
Henry: This experience is gonna make a great book.
Kip: See? It’s all perfectly normal.
Now, the song (show edit)
I don’t need you to worry for me cause I’m alright
I don’t want you to tell me it’s time to come home
I don’t care what you say anymore, this is my life
Go ahead with your own life, leave me aloneI never said you had to offer me a second chance
(I never said you had to)
I never said I was a victim of circumstance
(Of circumstance)
I still belong, don’t get me wrong
You can speak your mind
But not on my timeI don’t care what you say anymore, this is my life
Go ahead with your own life, leave me alone
Watch & listen
The mystery singer regarding “My Life” is Gary Bennett.
Originally, the Bennett version of the song was only used for the pilot episode, as both the opening and closing title theme. The other 38 episodes used the original Billy Joel version when ABC first broadcast them, but only as the opening title theme.
When initially re-ran in the summer of 1984 on NBC, the Joel version remained. However, the Gary Bennett version was used for subsequent syndicated airings into the 1990s, when the re-licensing of the song got too expensive for Paramount to consider and they ultimately used the Stephanie Mills vocal version of the closing title theme as the opening title theme from that point on. The VHS and DVD prints are based on the 1990s syndicated prints.