Magnun P.I. Theme Song

Below are two Magnum P.I. intro theme songs. The first one is probably the one most associated as its theme song—the one with the catchy guitar riff. The second one (I think) was the one used for the first few episodes of the first season. As for now I have no further information about the theme songs. Damn it, two posts in a row.

About Magnum, P.I.

Magnum P.I. is about the adventures of Thomas Sullivan Magnum (played by Tom Selleck), a retired U.S. Navy official who became a private investigator (hence, P.I.) in Oahu, Hawaii. The show ran from 1980 to 1988 on CBS and was created by Donald P. Bellisario and Glen A. Larson.

The car in Magnum, P.I. is a Ferrari 308GTS.

Watch & Listen – Version 1

Watch & Listen – Version 2

Bonanza Theme Song

The Bonanza theme song was written by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans. Lorne Greene and the cast recorded versions of the song with lyrics. Different variations of the song were used in the show’s fourteen-season run, with the exception of the 12th and the 13th seasons, where a theme song entitled “The Big Bonanza” was used.

Additional

Among others, Johnny Cash did a rendition of the Bonanza theme song and included it in his Ring of Fire: The Best of Johnny Cash album.

Watch & Listen (instrumental)

Watch & Listen (with lyrics)

Bonanza lyrics

We chased lady luck, ’til we finally struck Bonanza.
With a gun and a rope and a hat full of hope, planted a family tree. We got hold of a pot of gold, Bonanza.
With a horse and a saddle, and a range full of cattle, how rich can a fellow be?

On this land we put our brand, Cartwright is the name, fortune smiled, the day we filed the Ponderosa claim.
Here in the West, we’re livin’ the best, Bonanza, if anyone fights any one of us, he’s go a fight with me, Bonanza.

Hoss and Joe and Adam know every rock and pine, no one works, fights, or eats, like those boys of mine. Here we stand in the middle of a grand Bonanza.
With a gun and a rope and a hatful of hope, we planted our family tree, we got hold of a potful of gold, Bonanza.

With a houseful of friends where the rainbow ends, how rich can a fellow be?
On this land we put our brand, Cartwright is the name, fortune smiled, the day we filed the Ponderosa claim. Here in the west we’re livin’ the best Bonanza.

With the friendliest, fightingist, loving band, that ever set foot in the promised land, and we’re happier than them all.
That’s why we call it Bonanza…Bonanza…Bonanza…

Jeopardy Theme Song

There is a lot of information circulating the web about the Jeopardy! theme song, in fact, there is a Wikipedia entry about it. However, I’ll try to keep this as short and as succinct as possible, since we are all probably looking for that one very distinct theme song associated worldwide as the Jeopardy! song.

That song is entitled (or called) “Think!” It was composed by the show’s creator Merv Griffin, which he originall called “A Time for Tony,” as it was a lullaby for his son Tony. It served as the Final Jeopardy! countdown music since the show’s debut in 1964 (hosted by Art Fleming), but, back then, it was not used as the main theme (opening).

“Think!” has been incorporated as the main theme and the Final Jeopardy! countdown music since Alex Trebek took over the show in 1984. It has gone through numerous changes (instrumentation, arrangement) but the basic melody remains. The current version (Jeopardy! 25th Anniversary) was created by Chris Bell Music & Sound Design, Inc.

Additional

Merv Griffin estimated that the Jeopardy! theme song has earned him over $70 million in royalties.

Ken Jennings holds the record of most consecutive games won in Jeopardy! He won 74 in a row with a total of $2,520,700 in prize money.

Listen (current version)

Hardcastle and McCormick Theme Song

There are two theme songs associated with Hardcastle and McCormick—“Drive” by David Morgan, and “Back to Back” by Joey Scarbury. “Drive” was used in season one; “Back to Back” was used on the first part of the second season, but was reverted back to “Drive” on the latter parts (second season) because of viewer criticism. “Drive” was then used in the third and last season of the series.

Both “Drive” and “Back to Back” were composed by Mike Post and Pete Carpenter.

Additional

Joey Scarbury who sang “Back to Back” also performed the theme from The Greatest American Hero.

The Coyote X, the car which McCormick drove, was based on the McLaren M6BGT.

“Drive” lyrics

Drive!
Push it to the floor till the engine screams.
Drive!
Drivin’ like the demon that drives your beat.

You’re on a hard road, nobody cares
If you hit the breaks.
You gotta think fast, keep it in gear,
One slip is all it takes.
You gotta keep your wheels on the straight and narrow,
If you wanna survive.

Drive!
Push it to the floor till the engine screams.
Drive!
Drivin’ like the demon that drives the beat.
Drive!

Watch & Listen to “Drive”

Watch & Listen to “Back to Back”

Chips Theme Song

“CHiPs”

The theme song from Chips is this sort of disco-themed, synthesizer-led instrumental that plays on the opening highway sequence. The internet does not have any interesting information on how this song came to be, trust me. For now, let’s just thank those who uploaded it into YouTube.

Additional

CHiPs,” which stands for California Highway Patrol (s?), was a television drama series  which followed the lives of two motorcycle police officers—Erik Estrada as Officer Francis (“Frank”) “Ponch” Poncherello and Larry Wilcox as Officer Jonathan “Jon” Baker.

It aired on NBC from 1977 to 1983.

Watch & Listen

How I Met Your Mother Theme Song

HIMYM theme, wait for it…song!

The How I Met Your Mother theme song, the one that goes “pa, pa, pa, pa…” is an excerpt (particularly the last part) from the song “Hey Beautiful” by the band The Solids. Carter Bays and Craig Thomas—creators of How I Met Your Mother, formed the The Solids in the summer of 1996.

Additional

Before “Hey Beautiful,” The Solids’ song “The Future Is Now” was the theme song for the series Oliver Beene.

Carter Bays is the lead singer and guitarist of The Solids, Craig Thomas is the drummer and backing vocals.

Listen (fast forward to 3:10 for HIMYM excerpt)

Cast sings theme song

The Love Boat Theme Song

Here’s a classic

The Love Boat—that 80s ABC series set on a cruise ship—had a theme song of the same name. “The Love Boat” was sang by Jack Jones, an American jazz singer popular in the 1960s. Lyrics were written by Paul Williams and music by Charles Fox.

Additional

In its last season, a cover version of “The Love Boat” by Dionne Warwick was used for the theme song; this was also the time when title of the show—The Love Boat, simply became “Love Boat.”

Lyrics (show edit)

Love, exciting and new
Come aboard. We’re expecting you.
And love, life’s sweetest reward.
Let it flow, it floats back to you.

Love Boat soon will be making another run
The Love Boat promises something for everyone
Set a course for adventure,
Your mind on a new romance.

And love won’t hurt anymore.
It’s an open smile on a friendly shore.
Yes love! Welcome aboard it’s love!

Watch & Listen

Burn Notice Theme Song

I understand this show has gone through a couple of theme songs and promo songs over its 3-season run but the one that seems to stick in people’s minds is “Everybody Wants You” by Billie Squier from his album Emotions in Motion. I admit, I’m just basing this on research, as I have not watched a single episode of Burn Notice, so if you could help me out by posting a comment below…

More research

“Everybody Wants You” is the one played in the opening. The is also a mention of Stereo MCs’ Connected—might be from a different season. Someone also mentioned a song by Cold War Kids entitled “Hang Me Up To Dry” as the one played when Michael Westen (portrayed by Jeffrey Donovan) talks about how he got “burned.” Finally, someone claimed that the song used in this promo is Kulay’s “Burn,” but that is bull…because this is how “Burn” by Kulay sounds like. It might have been used in some other episode though. Phew.

I’ll put more sense into this post when I finish Burn Notice. Got some homework to do.

Update/Corrections/Additional

That song in the promo mentioned above is entitled “Higher Ground” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

There is another promo with a helicopter-jumping scene; I believe the song used in that is ZZ Top’s “Sharp Dressed Man.”

Intervention Theme Song

The Intervention theme song—the one that is actually played at the end of the show, is entitled “Five Steps.” It is performed by an American rock band from Brooklyn, New York called The Davenports, and is from their debut album Speaking of The Davenports. “Five Steps” was composed by their front man, Scott Klass.

Intervention is a reality-based television series about the issues faced by addicts of many kinds. It has been on air on the cable television network, A&E since 2005.

Lyrics of Five Steps

Veins swell
You know me, Ellen, enough to tell
Five steps you’re over

Quick cut
Make your move deliberate
Five steps you’re over

No reprimand
Deliberate, demand
With your two feet at hand

Get back
This train’s a comin’ down the track
Five steps you’re over

Listen

Downloads

The Davenports – Five Steps.mp3 (6.04 MB)

Intervention theme song ringtone

What? Seriously. If you found this post useful, and if you truly are searching for the ringtone of “Five Steps,” please consider starting your ringtone quest by clicking on the link below. It will be of big help to the administrators and maintenance of this site. Thank you.

Click here to check for the availability of “Five Steps” mobile ringtones.