That 70s Show: 10 TV Theme Songs That Will Get Stuck In Your Head (& Who Wrote Them)

A theme song is the heartbeat of a good television show. If people don’t remember a plot or a love interest or even the family dog, they might just remember a song. No matter what the genre is, every show needs a reliable title sequence to introduce us to the characters and credit the cast and crew.

Not surprisingly, many of the best theme songs accompany successful, long-running programs. They are songs that warm the heart, engender nostalgia, and lead to the shows we love. Here are ten TV theme songs that get stuck in our heads, with a little information on how they came to be.

10 In the Street-That 70s Show

“We’re all alright! We’re all alright!” That 70s Show is known for its rockin’ theme song. What some people don’t know is that the song already existed before the show grabbed it up in 1998. The song is actually called “In the Street.” It was written by Alex Chilton and Chris Bell, performed by the band Big Star, and released in 1972.

The theme song was adapted to fit the necessary length, and there were musical and lyrical changes throughout the seasons. For example, some words were added–like the famous “We’re all alright.” Also, the theme clearly changes keys if you stack the first and second season intros next to each other. Todd Griffin recorded “In the Street” for the show’s version, and Ben Vaughn added the additional lyrics.

9 That’s So Raven

“That’s so Raven. It’s the future I can see!” What Disney couldn’t see was the unbelievable future Raven would bring to their network. Her theme song is a punch of 2000s nostalgia for original fans, and aside from its title sequence, it had an extended music video featuring the cast that frequently ran on Disney Channel when the show started. The hip, poppy theme was composed by John Coda, who also did the jazzy instrumental theme song for That So Raven’s predecessor, Even Stevens.

8 Spongebob Squarepants

If you weren’t watching Disney Channel in the 2000s, then it was probably Nickelodeon. Anyone who has seen an episode of Spongebob Squarepants has had its theme song stuck in their head. The song was a team effort, but the main players were lyricists Stephen Hillenburg and Derek Drymon, composer Hank Smith, and vocalist Pat Pinney. It’s actually quite a feat to sing from memory every word after “Who lives in a pineapple under the sea? Spongebob Squarepants!”

7 The Brady Bunch

Everyone knows about the story of the lovely lady, and so on and so forth. The Brady Bunch is iconic, in part, because it has an unforgettable theme song. The visual appeal of the opening sequence might not be the same if it didn’t have such a catchy tune attached to it. Series creator Sherwood Schwartz first penned the lyrics. Then, musical legend Frank De Vol composed the music.

The Peppermint Trolley Company recorded the version heard in the pilot, but they were dubbed over with three session musicians (Lois Fletcher, John Beland, and Paul Parrish) for the remaining season one episodes. The best part is that the Brady kids re-recorded their song, and that is the theme that was used for the rest of the series. Decades.com notes that this decision was possibly in response to the success of the kids on The Partridge Family.

6 Green Acres

“Green Acres is the place to be, Farm livin’ is the life for me!” The beloved theme song was written by the late Vic Mizzy, also known for his theme for The Addams Family. Mizzy was a pianist and accordion player from a very young age, and he was always drawn to the creation, performance, and orchestration of popular music. His talents carried him far, and fans of all ages can’t stop singing about Green Acres.

5 Where Everybody Knows Your Name-Cheers

Cheers is always on the list when it comes to great TV theme songs. Its catchy lyrics stay with you, and the message is a comfort to those who watch it at the end of a long day or week.

RELATED: The 10 Best Movie Theme Songs From The 80s

The classic theme was written by Gary Portnoy and Judy Hart Angelo. In addition to the TV theme-song length version, there is also a longer edition of the song out there.

4  Where You Lead-Gilmore Girls

From 2000 to 2007, Gilmore Girls first told an important story about a mom and daughter who are like sisters. Lorelai and Rory and all the rest of the Stars Hollow community would not be the same without their theme song. “Where You Lead” by Carole King was originally released in 1971. Carole King co-wrote the original song with Toni Stern, but she re-recorded it with her daughter, Louise Goffin, for Gilmore Girls. Buzzfeed shares that the show’s creator, Amy Sherman-Palladino, asked the mother-daughter duo to record the theme song for the pilot. The rest is history. King was in both the series and the revival as music store owner Sophie Bloom.

3 7th Heaven

Dan Foliart and Steve Plunkett wrote the theme song for 7th Heaven (not to be confused with the 1985 song sung by Vanity…very different). Plunkett performed this theme which would stick with the show for its eleven seasons–all they had to do was change out pictures as the cast grew! The song sings itself. “I know there’s no greater feeling of the love of a family…where can you go when the world don’t treat you right? The answer is home. That’s the one place that you’ll find seventh heaven.”

2 Everywhere You Look-Full House

If a show was going to be on ABC’s TGIF, a fabulous theme song was a must. Full House certainly achieved that. Back in those Miller-Boyett days, Jesse Frederick and Bennett Salvay were the top in-house musical composers. They did Perfect Strangers and its spin-off, Family Matters, before and after Full House aired, respectively. Frederick sang the Full House theme that he co-wrote. While Family Matters has an excellent theme that gets to the heart of the family, the Full House theme has become more pervasive, especially in the four years that Fuller House has been in existence. The latter program called on Salvay and Frederick’s talents for a remixed theme song with Carly Rae Jepsen on vocals.

1 Second Time Around-Step by Step

Jesse Frederick and Bennett Salvay certainly weren’t finished after the 80s. 1991 brought a new project for the duo. Step by Step was a new kind of family sitcom for TGIF. To reflect the blended family formed from the love of a divorced father who marries a widowed mother, Frederick and Salvay penned a fresh theme called “Second Time Around.” Frederick recorded vocals for the song with Teresa James. The picturesque rollercoaster scene was used in some form throughout the series intro, though the characters’ images were updated as they grew. The words continue to be memorable: “Step by step, day by day, a fresh start over, a different hand to play.”

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