TV in the 1990’s got quirkier and bolder, as cable television boomed, and new stations sprung up all the time. This made for some highly focused entertainment, as the new networks took chances to attract an audience. It was also the last hurrah for theme songs, as shows began going with instrumentals, or using previously recorded material. Presenting our Five Fave TV Theme Songs From The 1990’s.
#5 – South Park – Primus
The funniest, grossest, yet smartest cartoon on television continues to be South Park. Trey Parker and Matt Stone have always walked the fine lines of potty humour, satire, and spoof, and we usually “learn something” by the end of each episode. Behind the crude animation and cruder characters are spot-on insights into human nature that we all really can learn from. Genius disguised as comedy – the court jesters of our time.
South Park – Primus
Written by Les Claypool / Sung by Matt Stone, Trey Parker & Les Claypool
Les Claypool & Stan and Kyle
I’m going down to South Park
Gonna have myself a time
Friendly faces everywhere
Humble folks without temptation
Les Claypool & Cartman
Going down to South Park
Gonna leave my woes behind
Ample parking, day or night
People spouting, “Howdy, neighbor!”
Les Claypool & Kenny
Heading on up to South Park
Gonna see if I can’t unwind
I like girls with big fat titties
I like girls with big vaginas
Les Claypool
So come on down to South Park
And meet some friends of mine
*Fart*
#4 – Family Guy – The Griffins
The theme song that almost wasn’t. Seth MacFarlane was pressured to not even have an intro song, but he stuck to his guns and he was right. This homage to All In The Family and other classic shows has become a classic itself. They also take the opportunity to poke fun at themselves throughout the series, proving that absolutely nothing is too sacred to be parodied.
Family Guy
Written by Walter Murphy & Seth MacFarlane / Sung by Seth MacFarlane, Alex Borstein, Seth Green & Mila Kunis
Lois Griffin
It seems today
That all you see
Is violence in movies
And sex on T.V
Peter Griffin
But where are those good old-fashioned values….
The Griffins
On which we used to rely?!
All
Lucky there’s a family guy!
Lucky there’s a man who
Positively can do
All the things that make us…
Stewie Griffin
Laugh and cry!
All
He’s our Family Guy!
#3 – The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air – DJ Jazzy Jeff & Will Smith
Does art imitate life, or does life imitate art? Will Smith, who used to rap as The Fresh Prince, did actually move from Philadelphia to California, to star in this beloved TV show. The rest is creative license, and made for some riveting and memorable television. Just let him tell you.
Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Written and Sung by DJ Jazzy Jeff & Will Smith
Now this is a story all about how
My life got flipped turned upside down
And I’d like to take a minute, just sit right there
I’ll tell you how I became the prince of a town called Bel-Air
In West Philadelphia born and raised
On the playground is where I spent most of my days
Chilling out, maxing, relaxing all cool
And all shooting some b-ball outside of the school
When a couple of guys who were up to no good
Started making trouble in my neighborhood
I got in one little fight and my mom got scared
And said “You’re moving with your auntie and uncle in Bel-Air”
I begged and pleaded with her day after day
But she packed my suitcase and sent me on my way
She gave me a kiss and then she gave me my ticket
I put my Walkman on and said “I might as well kick it”
First class, yo, this is bad
Drinking orange juice out of a champagne glass
Is this what the people of Bel-Air living like?
Hmm, this might be all right
But wait, I hear they’re prissy, bourgeois, and all that
Is this the type of place that they should send this cool cat?
I don’t think so, I’ll see when I get there
I hope they’re prepared for the Prince of Bel-Air
Well, uh
The plane landed and when I came out
There was a dude, looked like a cop, standing there with my name out
I ain’t trying to get arrested yet, I just got here
I sprang with the quickness like lightning, disappeared
I whistled for a cab and when it came near
The license plate said ‘Fresh’ and it had dice in the mirror
If anything I could say that this cab was rare
But I thought “Nah, forget it, yo, Holmes, to Bel-Air!”
I pulled
Up to a house about seven or eight
And I yelled to the cabbie “Yo’, Holmes, smell ya later”
Looked at my kingdom, I was finally there
To sit on my throne as the Prince of Bel-Air
#2 – The Drew Carey Show – The Presidents of the United States of America
Drew Carey’s classic sitcom didn’t always have this as its opening tune, but their penchant for elaborate dance numbers, combined with this cover version of Cleveland Rocks, made for its best. How much fun is it to sing along to? So fun, that the Cleveland Browns, the team whose logo is a color, should change their name to Cleveland Rocks and put a guitar on their helmet! Ohio!
Cleveland Rocks
Written by Ian Hunter / Sung by The Presidents of the United States of America
Hey…
Three, four!
Ah-ah-ah
All this energy callin’ me
Back where it comes from
It’s such a crude attitude
It’s back where it belongs
All the little kids, growin’ up on the skids are goin’
Cleveland rocks, Cleveland rocks
Jumpin’ Jane Jean is moonin’ James Dean, goin’
Cleveland rocks, Cleveland rocks
Mommy knows, but she don’t care
She’s got her worries too
Seven kids, and a phony affair
And the rent is due
All the little chicks, with the crimson lips go
Cleveland rocks, Cleveland rocks
Livin’ in sin, with a safety pin, goin’
Cleveland rocks, Cleveland rocks
I got some records from World War II
I play them just like me granddad do
He was a rocker and I am too
Now Cleveland Rocks
Yeah Cleveland Rocks
Cleveland Rocks, Cleveland Rocks
Cleveland Rocks
Ohio!
#1 – Friends – The Rembrandts
Who knew that the most popular show of the 90’s, with the catchiest sing-along theme song of all time, would one day become the theme song for an entire year? Does anything else sum up 2020, The One With The Pandemic, better than this?
So no one told you life was gonna be this way
Your job’s a joke, you’re broke, your love life’s D.O.A
It’s like you’re always stuck in second gear
When it hasn’t been your day, your week
Your month, or even your year
So go ahead, stock up on snacks and drinks, put on your comfiest sweats, sit on the couch and binge out on Friends.
I’ll Be There For You
Written by Danny Wilde, Phil Solem, Michael Skloff, Allee Willis, Marta Kauffman & David Crane / Sung by The Rembrandts
So no one told you life was gonna be this way
Your job’s a joke, you’re broke, your love life’s D.O.A
It’s like you’re always stuck in second gear
When it hasn’t been your day, your week
Your month, or even your year, but
I’ll be there for you
(When the rain starts to pour)
I’ll be there for you
(Like I’ve been there before)
I’ll be there for you
(‘Cause you’re there for me too)
You’re still in bed at ten and work began at eight
You’ve burned your breakfast, so far things are going great
Your mother warned you there’d be days like these
But she didn’t tell you when the world has brought
You down to your knees that
I’ll be there for you
(When the rain starts to pour)
I’ll be there for you
(Like I’ve been there before)
I’ll be there for you
(‘Cause you’re there for me too)
No one could ever know me
No one could ever see me
Seems you’re the only one who knows
What it’s like to be me
Someone to face the day with
Make it through all the rest with
Someone I’ll always laugh with
Even at my worst, I’m best with you, yeah
It’s like you’re always stuck in second gear
When it hasn’t been your day, your week
Your month, or even your year
I’ll be there for you
(When the rain starts to pour)
I’ll be there for you
(Like I’ve been there before)
I’ll be there for you
(‘Cause you’re there for me too)
Five Fave: TV Theme Songs From The 1980’s