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My Five Favorite Cover Versions of Classic TV Show Theme Songs
A few are better than the original
Television show theme songs have been embedding themselves in our heads for over six decades, going back at least as far as Mister Ed (a singing horse!). Most have been saccharine throwaway tunes that simply killed time while the opening credits rolled, but others became as much a part of pop culture as their namesake TV shows.
When people of a certain age hear the opening chords of the Hawaii Five-0 theme song by The Ventures, the first thing that comes to mind is that iconic wave coming into shore and Jack Lord turning to face the camera. If you grew up in the 1970s, when you hear Bill Haley’s classic “Rock Around the Clock,” you don’t think of the film Blackboard Jungle, you think of the sitcom Happy Days.
Beyond the TV show themes that are fine songs on their own, there are numerous instances where an otherwise forgettable song is given new life through a cover version by a truly great musical artist or band. Below are my favorite TV show theme song covers, some of which totally eclipse the original.
