Rubicon Theme Song

2010-present

Here’s yet another AMC original. They may not have much shows but their current lineup have some of the best theme songs and openings.

Original music for the series is credited to composer Peter Nashel. He is part of the duotone Audio Group from the U.S. Aside from Rubicon he has also created for Lie to Me and Dirty Sexy Money.

Not much to say about Rubicon’s theme song. I’m pretty sure it has not been made commercially-available yet. Will update this post if they release something official.

Below is the original opening credits in HD.

The Walking Dead Theme Song

2010-present

This is quite a show, huh? Add to that, Sarah Wayne Callies!

I saw two MP3-download albums slash semi-soundtracks for the television series—both released December last year. Check them out: album one, album two. Both include the theme song, credited as “The Walking Dead Main Title”, in a number of remixes. The first album also includes the ending theme.

The albums were released by Tam Tam Media. We all know The Walking Dead official scoring is handled by composer extraordinaire Bear McCreary, but both fail to credit him, and I do not know why.

Below is the official opening sequence. Great job on this, I have to say.

Manimal Theme Song

1983

Revisiting this series made me surprised with two things: first that it only lasted one season (and only 8 episodes were made), and second that I remember it so clearly. I guess canceled shows back then meant more without media distraction from the internet.

The reason I got to posting about this weird-choice-of-a-show’s theme song is composer Alan Silvestri—my last post was about the Forrest Gump theme song. However, the main title theme for Manimal was composed by Paul Chihara. Silvestri was only a contributing scorer for the series. The song is officially entitled “Manimal”.

Since the theme is an instrumental, let’s just relive the opening narrative—recited by actor William Conrad.

Dr Jonathan Chase… wealthy, young, handsome. A man with the brightest of futures. A man with the darkest of pasts. From Africa’s deepest recesses, to the rarefied peaks of Tibet, heir to his father’s legacy and the world’s darkest mysteries. Jonathan Chase, master of the secrets that divide man from animal, animal from man… Manimal!

See opening sequence below for theme song and narration.

Forrest Gump Theme Song

1994

“Hello, my name is Forrest, Forrest Gump.” Classic, and yes, I like that better than the chocolates quote. The 90s sure had a lot of good movies.

You know, back in my day, cool were those who could play this theme song on the piano.

The memorable theme from Forrest Gump was composed by Alan Silvestri. Silvestri is sought-after American composer who has done work for Contact, Cast Away, The Polar Express and Beowulf among others.

The theme is officially called “Forrest Gump Suite”; it lasts nearly 9 minutes. It was nominated in 1994 for the Academy Award for Best Original Score, but lost to music from The Lion King.

The song can be found on the top-selling official soundtrack of the film which sold over twelve million copies.

Below is the suite in its full glory.

Wheeler Dealers Theme Song

2003-present

I love this show. Actually, I love these kinds of shows. From where I’m from, at least, this is shown on Discovery Turbo, and in all honesty, I can watch that channel for 24 hours straight.

The show features cool bass-centered electronic music for its scores. As for the opening theme, as far as I’m concerned, I can call out two unique versions.

The first version, which was of course used in the first few seasons, is credited to Roger Dexter and Dominic Mangle. This opening theme also made it to the closing credits. Watch the video below to hear the theme during the opening titles.

As for the second version, I do not know for sure when they started using it but I can confidently say that it has been around since their On the Road special which was in series 5. The second theme is credited to Plan 8 Music (or Plan8), a music and sound production suite from Stockholm. See below.

By the way, did you know that almost all Wheeler Dealer episodes are on YouTube? Check it out to find out if you missed something—here’s their episode list.

Ghostwriter Theme Song

1992–1995

This is not for the Ewan McGregor film. This is for the way-cooler 1990s kids television series. Although, where are they all now?

With that out of the way, the theme from Ghostwriter, although barely a song (just simple background music), was still quite catchy and memorable—especially for that timely “Ghostwriter!” line after each character’s opening monologue.

Since the song does not really have lyrics (except maybe for “Ghostwriter!” and “word”), I’ll take this chance to post the complete opening narrative where the characters are describing the nature and whereabouts of Ghostwriter. So, here you go.

We don’t know where he came from.
He just showed up one night.
(What is that thing?)
He’s not an alien.
(What is he?)
We think he might be a ghost.
(Be serious.)
He wants to be friends with us.
He can’t hear, and he can’t talk.
He can read anything.
He takes letters, and he writes with them.
We’re the only ones who can see him.
That means he wants you on the team.
You have to promise never to tell anybody about Ghostwriter.
(Hey, cool.)
We’re the Ghostwriter Team.
We check out clues and solve mysteries.
He’s a ghost, and he writes to us.
Ghostwriter!
(Ghostwriter, what a trip.)

As for the song, I do not know for sure, although IMDb lists Gail King and Peter Wetzler for original music.

So, without further ado, the Ghostwriter opening sequence and theme song.

Daria Theme Song

1997–2001

This is one of those songs that’s annoying at first. Actually, you know what, let me just describe it as brilliantly annoying.

The song in question was performed by the alternative band Splendora. Sound familiar? I didn’t think so either, and that’s because the Daria theme song is their only claim to fame. The song is officially entitled “You’re Standing on My Neck”.

The band only ever released one album—In the Grass from 1995. However, it does not contain the theme. Although I got the feeling (from album reviews) that if you liked “You’re Standing on My Neck”, you’re going to love the album.

Daria theme song lyrics (show edit)

La, la, la, la, la
This is my stuff
Got to get off
I may go pop
Excuse me, excuse me

I’ve got to be direct
La, la, la
If I’m off, please correct
La, la, la

You’re standing on my neck
You’re standing on my neck
You’re standing on my neck

Below is the original opening sequence.

Below is a full version of the song. For the life of me I can’t figure out where the extended version can be found (album or release).

The West Wing Theme Song

1999–2006

This series is still quite recent, and well, I do not quite have anything to say about this series, so let us proceed.

We all know this is an outstanding theme song. For one it was composed by W.G. Snuffy Walden, whom we already came across with in the themes of Roseanne, Hawthorne, and My So-Called Life. Also, it was nominated and won the 2000 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Main Title Theme Music, besting the likes of the themes of Falcone and The Pretender. The theme is very patriotic-sounding, orchestral, and formal. To say the least, it fitted the show very, very well.

If you want a copy of the theme, you can get it from Snuffy Walden’s release, music by… W. G. Snuffy Walden, which was released by Windham Hill Records in 2001. In the album the song lasts only 49 seconds, much like the opening credits of the show. However, there is a track called “West Wing Suite” which lasts 3:41, which sounds awfully like the main theme (sorry I only heard previews), so this might be the one for those looking for a full/extended version.

I also saw a 4:40 version of the song on YouTube, but there’s not much information behind it as to who recorded it or where it can be found. See below.

Meanwhile, below is the original opening credits.

Diff’rent Strokes Theme Song

1978–1986; also the “Different Strokes theme song”

R.I.P Gary Coleman 1968-2010 and Dana Plato 1964-1999.

Wonder what Gary Coleman looked like in his latter years? Surely he was still small. Here is a photo of him taken in 2007, when he was 40 years old.

Phew, what a curse. Anyway, theme song for Diff’rent Strokes was written by Al Burton, Alan Thicke, and Gloria Loring; it was performed by Alan Thicke. Its official title is “It Takes Diff’rent Strokes”, but is normally only referred as “Diff’rent Strokes”. It is part of a number of greatest television theme song-style compilations like this one.

Diff’rent Strokes theme song lyrics

Now, the world don’t move to the beat of just one drum
What might be right for you, may not be right for some
A man is born, he’s a man of means
Then along come two, they got nothing but their jeans

But they got, Diff’rent Strokes
It takes, Diff’rent Strokes
It takes, Diff’rent Strokes to move the world

Everybody’s got a special kind of story
Everybody finds a way to shine
It don’t matter that you got, not a lot
So what,
They’ll have theirs, and you’ll have yours, and I’ll have mine
And together we’ll be fine

Because it takes, Diff’rent Strokes to move the world
Yes it does
It takes, Diff’rent Strokes to move the world

Below is a version of the opening sequence, taken from season 5.

Blossom Theme Song

1991–1995

So, where is Mayim Bialik these days? Actually, I do know because I watch The Big Bang Theory.

The theme song for Blossom, that 1990s NBC sitcom about a motherless family, is entitled “My Opinionation”. It was written by composers Mike Post and Steve Geyer, and was performed by American musician Dr. John. Yes, “Dr. John,” the stage name of Malcolm John Rebennack, Jr.

The only available commercial release of the song is through the compilation album, NBC: A Soundtrack of Must See TV.

Below are the correct lyrics of the song.

Blossom theme song lyrics

Don’t know about the future, that’s anybody’s guess
Ain’t no good reason for getting all depressed
Buy up your pad and pencil, I’ll give you a piece of my mind
In my opinionation, the sun is gonna surely shine

Stop all your fussin’
Slap on a smile
Come out and walk in the sun for awhile

Don’t fight the felling, you know you want to have a good time
And in my opinionation, the sun is gonna surely shine

Although the theme theme song did not change in the show’s five-season run, the video clip sequences changed substantially. Below are some official versions of the opening sequence.