TV Shows that use pop/rock songs as themes ?

ganderpoke66 · 10/09/12 - 14:49

Not especially written for a show [ like Mike Hugg's Likely Lads or Pentangle's Take Three Girls ] but previously recorded tunes or songs by recognised artistes.

The Royle Family - Half the World Away - Oasis
The Drew Carey Show - Five O'Clock World - The Vogues

Eraserhead · 10/09/12 - 15:04

Charlie Brooker's Screenwipe - "AM180" by Grandaddy

degsyhufc · 10/09/12 - 15:16

The new Room 101 uses a pre-released tune or stock tune for it's theme.
It's also been on adverts.
Skinner even mentioned in one of the episode that why should they spend money on a new theme when they can just use a pre-existing one.

degsyhufc · 10/09/12 - 15:16

Mock The Week - News Of The World by The Jam

Andy_G · 10/09/12 - 15:52

CSI : Vegas - "Who are you?"
CSI : Miami - "Won't get fooled again"
CSI : New York - "Baba O'Reilly"

Proper rock songs by a great rock band, the Who of course.

Gulftastic · 10/09/12 - 16:02

Although it's not a 'pop/rock song' in the way the OP meant, the theme to 'Roobarb' rocks so hard.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zedq1VhaS90

Andy_G · 10/09/12 - 16:07

The Big Bang Theory "The History of Everything" by Barenaked Ladies.
Bit of an easy one.

degsyhufc · 10/09/12 - 16:10

Gulftastic wrote: »

Although it's not a 'pop/rock song' in the way the OP meant, the theme to 'Roobarb' rocks so hard.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zedq1VhaS90

If we're doing that then Red Dwarf series 3> intro :cool:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVxFwH39FDs&feature=related

Gulftastic · 10/09/12 - 16:11

Andy_G wrote: »

The Big Bang Theory "The History of Everything" by Barenaked Ladies.
Bit of an easy one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfdTnpV03p8

degsyhufc · 10/09/12 - 16:21

Not pop or rock but... some jazz

The Film Programme
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brBtTluod_w

degsyhufc · 10/09/12 - 16:23

Top Gear
"Jessica" by the Allman Brothers Band

degsyhufc · 10/09/12 - 16:26

BBC F1
The Chain by Fleetwood Mac

Cricket
Soul Limbo

Ski Sunday
Pop Looks Bach

Andy_G · 10/09/12 - 16:29

The South Bank Show used a track from Andrew Lloyd Webbers 'Variations'
A brilliant classical / rock album which I loved at the time.

Gulftastic · 10/09/12 - 16:38

ganderpoke66 wrote: »

The Drew Carey Show - Five O'Clock World - The Vogues

Surely 'Cleveland Rocks' is a better choice for 'The Drew Carey Show'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vl5FWUMnNM

degsyhufc · 10/09/12 - 16:38

Hmmm... a sort of reverse one here
Where Everybody Knows Your Name - Cheers
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Where_Everybody_Knows_Your_Name

"Where Everybody Knows Your Name" is the theme song from the 1980s television sitcom Cheers. The song was written by Gary Portnoy and Judy Hart Angelo and performed by Gary Portnoy. Shortly after the premiere of Cheers, Portnoy went back into the studio to record a version of the song that made the US and British pop charts.

It was not until the release of Gary Portnoy's album, Keeper (2004), that the full-length version was made available on CD (and shortly thereafter on iTunes). In 2010, Portnoy released a new CD, Songs Along The Way, that includes his original demo recording of the Cheers theme (with the original lyrics as referenced below).

In a 2011 Readers Poll in Rolling Stone magazine, "Where Everybody Knows Your Name" was voted the best television theme of all time.

Pot Black
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nXUPHR17FI
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_And_White_Rag

[Deleted User] · 10/09/12 - 16:45

Saxondale, used Focus in the opening (House of the King) and closing (Hocus Pocus) credits.

degsyhufc · 10/09/12 - 16:46

Live At The Apollo
Jet – "Are You Gonna Be My Girl"

"Burn Baby Burn" by Ash ... Michael McIntyre's Comedy Roadshow

[Deleted User] · 10/09/12 - 16:49

Joe Cocker's version of "With A Little Help From My Friends" on the Wonder Years.

BinCat · 10/09/12 - 16:50

TFI Friday used The Riverboat Song by Ocean Colour Scene.

Wynne Evans · 10/09/12 - 16:51

Weekend World used Nantucket Sleighride recorded by Mountain.

[Deleted User] · 10/09/12 - 16:53

The 'Stones song Paint It Black was in the credits for the US series about Vietnam, which I think was called Tour Of Duty? Hadn't even heard of that until FX shown it a while back, quite enjoyable.

[Deleted User] · 10/09/12 - 17:03

As the OP specifically mentions that the song can't have been specifically written for the show, and was to be an existing song, I don't know if any of the following would count.......

Friends - The Rembrandts "I'll Be There For You"
Auf Weidersein Pet - "That's Living Alright" by, Joe Fagin?

... and my favourite ...

Van der Valk - "Eye Level" by the SImon Park Orchestra.

I love putting that last one on my local pub's jukebox. Great to "da, da da da" along to!!! As I said, I have a feeling these were probably written for the show.

PS: Ooooh, liking this. Just remembered, The Office (UK version) used Handbags & Gladrags but I don't know if it was a chart song as it wasn't the Chris Farlowe or Rod Stewart version.

Also, The Smoking Room used an actual song, but I can't for the life of me think what it was! (i wiki-cheated, it was Close To Me by The Cure)

degsyhufc · 10/09/12 - 17:13

Numerous Keith Floyd programmes
The Stranglers - Waltz in Black

ganderpoke66 · 10/09/12 - 17:15

Maybe Dexy's fans can verify but Brush Strokes had Because of You, but it may have been written for the show.

Early Doors - Small World - Roddy Frame.

looby383x · 10/09/12 - 17:30

Gavin and Stacy use Run by Stephen Fretwell

And, although not sure if it counts as it was a special version, Ab Fab uses Wheels on Fire

[Deleted User] · 10/09/12 - 17:30

Mad for It (an old CITV show from the late 90's to early 2000's) used Harmonica Man by Bravado

X Change briefly used 19-2000 (Soulchild remix) by Gorillaz as the theme tune. The song was also used as the theme for the top 100 greatest kids TV shows on Channel 4 the same year.

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TV Shows that use pop/rock songs as themes ?

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