10 Teen Drama Shows With The Best Opening Themes

Theme songs embody what each and every tv show is about. They have been popular for shows like sitcoms and soap operas for decades. And of course, opening themes in teen dramas would be nothing without their catchy and relatable lyrics (along with the moments in between in the actual shows).

For teen dramas like Buffy The Vampire Slayer and One Tree Hill, these opening songs have become so iconic that they even made the songs themselves memorable. Today’s teen shows are seriously lacking in the theme song department but that doesn’t mean they can’t be enjoyed anymore.

SKINS (UK) (Available To Stream On Hulu)

Skins aired in 2007 and centered around a group of teenagers living in England, who faced angsty adolescent issues like fitting in and falling in love for the first time. The opening theme was specifically made for Skins and with each season, the song evolved and grew in tempo.

The season 1 theme song embodied what it felt like to be young, with its electronic melody and visual transitions. It also provided sneak peeks into their relationships, the dynamics between them all, and the tone of the show. Overall, it is one of the best because it highlights the feelings of being a carefree teenager.

Veronica Mars (Available To Stream On Hulu)

This cult-favorite series followed the life of a teenager, Veronica Mars, who, aside from being a normal high school student, solved mysteries. The theme song the creators chose was titled, “We Used to Be Friends” by The Dandy Warhols.

This song is a favorite because it integrated Veronica’s life after her best friend is murdered and later finds herself as a social outcast. The song is an early 2000’s nostalgic punk rock sound that perfectly rounded out the series with its visuals of not only clips of Veronica in action, but also the school-like feel of Veronica Mars as a whole.

Roswell (Available To Stream On Hulu)

Before the 2019 revival of the sci-fi teen drama, there was the original 1999 version. Roswell centered around a teenager named Liz Parker. When three new alien/hybrid teenagers enter her world, her life is changed forever.

The theme song chosen is titled “Here With Me” by Dido. This was perfect for the series because of its eerie melody and 90’s sound. The lyrics go on to describe what it is to be yourself and not hide behind a facade. The theme’s visuals also sum up the sci-fi elements of the series with its newspaper clippings and clips from the series that are supernatural-like.

Teen Wolf (Available To Stream On Amazon)

Teen Wolf is another supernatural show that has gone on to be a fan favorite. It aired in 2011 and followed the life of Scott McCall who becomes a werewolf and goes on to battle several supernatural villains, with the help of his friends.

This theme is one of the best because it’s one of the more creative themes that illustrates who each character was with symbols (like Stiles and his jeep or Alison and her bow and arrow). The song was also fast-paced and action-packed like the series itself.

The O.C (Available To Stream On Hulu)

Not only did The O.C have a great selection of songs but, it had one of the most iconic theme songs too. The O.C centered around rich teenagers and their parents living in Orange County, CA. It included a brooding teenager named, Ryan Atwood, who is taken in by the Cohen family as he tries to get his life back on track.

The song, “California” by Phantom Planet, is a major staple in tv theme songs. It seems to represent the drama and chaos that surrounded the main characters in the county. It also gives off some sort of warning to the residents living there that they should keep an eye out for these characters since they were going to be making something of themselves.

Buffy The Vampire Slayer (Available To Stream On Amazon)

Buffy The Vampire Slayer is one of the most talked-about teen shows and it’s obvious that it comes with a notable soundtrack (including its main theme). For people unfamiliar with the series, Buffy is essentially about a teenage girl named Buffy Summers whose destiny involves destroying vampires.

This opening theme is one of the most popular because the tone of the music amplifies the nature of the series. It’s got action-packed fighting scenes and supernatural creatures. The theme is fast and dark, just like the show. But it also features Buffy’s everyday life as an average teenage girl who does love spending time with her friends.

One Tree Hill (Available To Stream On Hulu)

One Tree Hill follows the lives of small-town teenagers. The show’s main themes focus on love triangles, family, and basketball. However, there

“I Don’t Want To Be” by Gavin DeGraw has been the main opening theme song for One Tree Hill for the majority of the show’s run. Fans know the song all too well and One Tree Hill features not only DeGraw’s best music but the song is brought up a few times during the series. The visuals of the theme also heighten the heartfelt and youthful tone of the show.

Dawson’s Creek (Available To Stream On Hulu)

Dawson’s Creek is one of the most known teen dramas from the 1990s. This coming-of-age show features an ensemble of characters, such as Jen Lindley, Joey Potter, Dawson Leery, and his best friend Pacey Witter. Its theme song, “I Don’t Want To Wait” by Paula Cole is very well known with more than just the fans of this show. However, the theme song has been changed with recent streaming.

This opening theme is very notable because the lyrics focus on what it’s like to be young and to find yourself (which is a common theme of the show). The visuals feature the main actors in a casual, docu-style that is very nostalgic and youthful. It captures the tone of their New England upbringing and a perpetual summer feeling.

Degrassi: The Next Generation (Available To Stream On Tubi TV)

This Canadian series premiered in 2001 but evolved until 2015. With each new class of students, the theme song stayed true to the series with its uplifting message while there were many times when the main characters dealt with deep issues on Degrassi. 

“What Ever It Takes” was a positive reminder for fans of the show that they will survive. Degrassi’s opening theme showed each main character throughout the main setting. Fans were able to see the characters grow up and evolve which was very on point for the overall message of the show.

Beverly Hills, 90210 (Available To Stream On Hulu)

This series aired in 1992 and became one of the most popular shows of that time. It was about a group of teenagers who were best friends, living in Beverly Hills, CA. The lifestyle of luxury was at the forefront of Beverly Hills, 90210 but it also dealt with serious issues from death to substance abuse.

The theme song is very well known for the simple sound of the claps at the beginning. Everything from the music to the way the camera pans on the actors in the opening sequence is nostalgic and fans will always find comfort in it.