Buffy the Vampire Slayer Theme Song

1997–2003

I know there is an abundance of information regarding this one, but, as we are trying to be an authority-of-sorts for theme songs, it would suck if we did not have this tune in our archive.

As you probably already know, the theme song for Buffy the Vampire Slayer is by the band Nerf Herder; I guess we could say the Buffy theme is their best claim to fame. They are still performing though, in fact they just released their latest album in 2008. Here is what they look like.

First, the theme song in all its glory.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sr1ezNne3mI

The super official version of the theme (the one above) can be found in Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Album (released 2009), where it’s officially credited as “Buffy the Vampire Slayer Theme” and lasts 1:04.

Now let’s list some facts about the tune and how it came to be, shall we?

First, a direct quote from the Nerf Herder guys from an old interview:

“They (the Buffy production staff) had hired some famous theme song composer to come up with a theme and they didn’t like the one he came up with so they were kind of on a low budget, and asked local bands to come up with theme song ideas.”

Series creator Joss Whedon explained in a DVD documentary of the pilot episode that his decision to go with Nerf Herder was influenced by Alyson Hannigan who had made him listen to the band’s music.

It is said that Nerf Herder recorded a second version of the song which was used for the titles from season 3 onwards. I still don’t know what the differences are and whether this alleged second version was officially included in a soundtrack release.

In the soundtrack release Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Radio Sunnydale, American band The Breeders covered the theme. Below is their version taken from the disc.

There are a bunch of other official soundtrack releases from the franchise. See Amazon.com for these.

There is a controversy surrounding the theme. The melody sounds similar to an Austrian-German song entitled “Codo” by the pop band Deutsch-Österreichisches Feingefühl or DÖF. Nerf Herder said they had “never heard of DÖF”. For what it’s worth, I believe them.

Below is “Codo”. (Man, these Germans are weird.)

Or better yet, see the fan-made comparison video below.

Finally, a couple of early versions of the official opening credits. Video clips change throughout the 7 seasons of course.

Can someone point me to the re-recorded theme for season 3? Anyway, that’s it for now.

7th Heaven Theme Song

1996–2007

Ah, Jessica Biel.

This is a very iconic theme song that should have been here eons ago, but well, this is a random blog and I can only do so much at a time.

Anyway, talking about its theme song, two names come two mind. Composer Dan Foliart and singer Steve Plunkett. Most only credit Mr. Plunkett for the song but I have enough reason to believe Mr. Foliart composed it.

Steve Plunkett is of the defunct American band Autograph. I think they were big in the glam metal era.

I have found but one official soundtrack for the series. It is labeled “music that inspired the hit television show.” It does have the theme, credited as “7th Heaven (Main Title Theme)”, but it only lasts 0:58 so I guess there is no extended/full version of it.

Below is the opening theme and credits taken from season 8.

I think all 7th Heaven YouTube clips have embedding disabled so just click above to watch on YouTube.

7th Heaven theme song lyrics

7th Heaven
When I see their happy faces smilin’ back at me
7th Heaven
I know there is no greater feelin’ than 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
7th Heaven
Mmmmmm 7th Heaven
7th Heaven

Angel Theme Song

1999–2004

So hey, Happy Valentine’s Day you all. I myself am married so there is no sense taking a day off for this greeting card-instigated holiday.

So off to work. Today’s first theme song is for the somewhat equally-successful spin-off of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer series—which reminds me I still don’t have. The opening theme for Angel is by the American dark pop band Darling Violetta. How they came to land the gig (theme song) is also rooted in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, as they performed two songs for its third season.

It is said that the Angel franchise invited bands to submit demos for the theme music that had “dark superhero ideas” and somewhat “cello rock.” Series creator Joss Whedon eventually deemed Darling Violetta’s interpretation as most suitable.

The song, which is simply regarded as the “Angel Theme”, or “Angel Main Theme”, of course made it in the official soundtrack—Angel: Live Fast, Die Never—where the band made a special extended version they called “The Sanctuary Extended Remix”. It remained instrumental, for the most part, but had voice-hummed melodies and sung lyrics of “show my sanctuary” at the beginning and “you’re my sanctuary” in the middle.

Additional/interesting: I read from somewhere that in season 4, creator/producer Joss Whedon actor Alexis Denisof sung their own lyrics to the theme in the DVD commentary. The episode is called “Spin the Bottle.” We have got to hear that.

Below is an original opening sequence taken from the fifth season.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVQSkrPn27c

Below is “Angel Main Theme (The Sanctuary Extended Remix)”, the version from the soundtrack.

Roswell Theme Song

1999–2002

A younger Shiri Appleby and Katherine Heigl; I do wish Ms. Appleby gets more worthwhile projects.

Although I think I’d choose aliens over vampires any time, any day.

This is such a cool song. The theme song of course is “Here with Me” by English singer Dido—which reminds me, where is Dido now? The song is originally from her 1999 debut album No Angel. The franchise also included it in the official and only soundtrack, which by the way contains some cool, late nineties alternative songs.

The theme song and full title sequence only first appeared in the second episode. The same song, “Here with Me”, is also used in the end credits.

Below is an official opening sequence taken from the third season.

Below is the full/album version of the Roswell theme song.

Roswell theme song lyrics (complete)

I didn’t hear you leave
I wonder how am I still here
And I don’t want to move a thing
It might change my memory

Oh I am what I am
I do what I want
But I can’t hide

And I won’t go
I won’t sleep
I can’t breathe
Until you’re resting here with me

And I won’t leave
I can’t hide
I cannot be
Until you’re resting here with me

I don’t want to call my friends
For they might wake me from this dream
And I can’t leave this bed
Risk forgetting all that’s been

Oh I am what I am
I do what I want
But I can’t hide

And I won’t go
I won’t sleep
I can’t breathe
Until you’re resting here with me

I won’t leave
I can’t hide
I cannot be
Until you’re resting here

I won’t go
And I won’t sleep
And I can’t breathe
Until you’re resting here with me

And I won’t leave
I can’t hide
I cannot be
Until you’re resting here with me

Oh I am what I am
I do what I want
But I can’t hide

And I won’t go
I won’t sleep
And I can’t breathe
Until you’re resting here with me

I won’t leave
I can’t hide
I cannot be
Until you’re resting here

And I won’t go
And I won’t sleep
And I can’t breathe
Until you’re resting here with me

I won’t leave
I can’t hide
I cannot be
Until you’re resting here with me

Felicity Theme Song

1998–2002

A college drama while I was in college, what great timing.

In its four-season run, Felicity had two opening themes. The first two seasons’ theme, the one sung by a girl, was simply referred to as “Felicity Theme”. It was part of the first soundtrack—Felicity: Music From The Hit Television Series. The song is credited to Welsh singer-songwriter Judith Owen.

For seasons three and four, a new male-sung theme song was used. “New Version of You” also made it to an official soundtrack, the second and last—Felicity: Senior Year. The song is credited to the show’s multi-talented creator J. J. Abrams and filmmaker Andrew Jarecki. I’m pretty sure one of them performed/recorded the song.

The show’s producers totally tripped on season two’s Twilight Zone episode, where they created a whole new Twilight Zone-inspired theme music and video sequence. Luckily, this Felicity addict combined all the unique versions of the theme songs in one video. See below.

Felicity theme song lyrics

“New Version of You”

Can you become
Can you become
A new version of you

New wallpaper
New shoe leather
A new way home
I don’t remember

New version of you
I need a new version of me

New version of you
I need a new version of me

“Felicity Theme” was of course hummed.

Dawson’s Creek Theme Song

1998–2003

How could I have forgotten about this when I have the CD! Oops, actually it’s my sister’s.

Anyway, this is a very known and obvious theme song so let’s just get it over and done with.

The song is “I Don’t Want to Wait” by American artist Paula Cole. If you are not a nineties kid, she also sang the very-popular “Where Have All the Cowboys Gone” song (wait, that was a 90s song as well).

Anyway, both songs were from her 1996 release This Fire (which my sister also has). As previously linked, “I Don’t Want to Wait” is of course also part of the official soundtrack—Songs From Dawson’s Creek.

I guess it’s also relevant to note that there were two Dawson’s Creek soundtracks released. Songs From Dawson’s Creek Volume 2 included songs like “Crazy For This Girl” by Evan and Jaron and “If I Am” by Nine Days among others, but “I Don’t Want to Wait” was already dropped.

Wait! Internationally, Jan Arden’s “Run Like Mad” was used for the opening song in season one. The same song was also used in some DVD versions of seasons 3-6. However, it wasn’t included in any of the soundtracks.

Below is the original opening sequence (“I Don’t Want to Wait”) taken from season one.

Dawson’s Creek Theme Song lyrics (“I Don’t Want to Wait”)

Show edit.

I don’t want to wait
For our lives to be over
I want to know right now
What will it be
I don’t want to wait
For our lives to be over
Will it be yes or will it be
Sorry

So open up your morning light
And say a little prayer for right
You know that if we are to stay alive
And see the love in every eye

Below is the Jan Arden, “Run Like Mad” opening.

Dawson’s Creek Theme Song lyrics (“Run Like Mad”)

My heart is in my hands
My head is in the clouds
My feet have left the ground
My life is turning around and round.
Every voice inside my head is telling me to run like mad
Oh bows and arrows
Stars and sunsets
Hey hey hey yeah
Hey hey hey yeah
Every heartbeat every kiss just
Makes me wonder what all this is
Suits of armor
Hearts and arrows
Hey hey hey yeah

Everwood Theme Song

2002–2006

Now for some reason, we have an Everwood boxed set lying somewhere around the house. It’s my sister’s but I never really dared to start watching it, let alone touch it. However, I know this show and I have seen a couple of episodes from back then. It had this really mellow theme song set by a solo violin playing the main melody.

That theme song was composed by American composer Blake Neely, and it earned him a 2003 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Main Title Theme Music nomination.

That nomination was one of only two Emmy nominations the series received—the other one for Outstanding Guest Actor for James Earl Jones.

The series was able to release one official soundtrack. It of course contains the theme song, which is credited as “Main Title Theme for Everwood” in the album. The full version lasts 2:54.

Below is the complete version of the song.

Below is the original opening sequence used in seasons 3 and 4.

Grounded for Life Theme Song

2001–2005

Seriously though, I think this show was quite, alright. Back then (in an Asian cable channel), it filled the void between Everybody Loves Raymond and Friends. And, my favorite character would be one of the kids—Jimmy Finnerty—played by Griffin Frazen. I wonder where he is now.

The theme song is this short, guitar-driven tune. It is also regularly used as the background music or between scenes. I do not think it is an excerpt from a complete song, nor is it called anything. Just made for the show. I do know it was performed by the band Ween—an American band composed of the Ween brothers, Dean and Gene. I think they’re quite popular, they have been around since 1984, but I do not know for which songs. Must be an American underground pop thing.

Here is the song in a real episode. Sorry it’s un-embeddable. Just click the link and forward on to 1:16.

Below is the song set to a fan-made (and cheesy) background.

Charmed Theme Song

1998-2006

Rank your Halliwells according to hotness. Mine: Paige>Prue>Phoebe>Piper.

Anyway, the theme song for Charmed, which is not really trivial, is the version of the song “How Soon Is Now?” by the band Love Spit Love. Love Spit Love was the group formed by Richard Butler when The Psychedelic Furs disbanded.

“How Soon Is Now?” by Love Spit Love appeared in two Charmed soundtracks—Charmed: The Soundtrack and Charmed: The Book of Shadows; it was also part of the official soundtrack of the movie The Craft, another witch-themed movie.

Originally, “How Soon Is Now?” was written recorded by the British band The Smiths—a.k.a. Morrissey’s original band. It was only released as a B-side of their William, It Was Really Nothing single which was released in 1984. The song is credited (composers) to Morrissey and The Smiths’ guitarist Johnny Marr.

Charmed theme song lyrics (show edit)

I am the son and heir
I am human and I need to be loved
Just like everybody else does

See I’ve already waited too long
And all my hope is gone

Watch & listen

Thanks to the uploader for compiling all opening credits from seasons 1 to 8.

Smallville Theme Song

2001-present

What, this show is still on?

The theme song from Smallville is “Save Me” by Alabama-based alternative rock band Remy Zero. It originally came from their 2001-release, The Golden Hum.

It was also released as part of the series’ official soundtrack called Smallville: The Talon Mix, released in 2003.

Additional

In the first season’s finale, Remy Zero performing “Save Me” appeared in a high school dance scene.

Smallville theme song lyrics

Somebody save me
Let your warm hands break right through
Somebody save me
I don’t care how you do it
Just stay
Stay, c’mon
I’ve been waiting for you
I made this whole world shine for you
Stay
Stay, c’mon

Watch & listen