A band usually has one song that becomes so popular that it becomes their calling card—a pseudo theme song, in a way. Several bands over the years have taken that idea one step further by actually penning a theme song for themselves in the traditional sense. These songs are instantly recognizable, orient the listener, and sum up a band’s strengths in a bite-sized track. Below, revisit three band theme songs.
[RELATED: 3 Lyric-Free TV Theme Songs Everyone Can Still Sing Along To]
Videos by American Songwriter
“The 1975” – The 1975
The 1975 begin all of their albums with a self-titled track. The effort is meant to quickly drop the listener into a new sonic world—to reintroduce the band and the cultural backdrops they’ve written against. For their first few records, the band used the same set of lyrics and adjusted the production to better align with the project’s sonic direction. For their fourth record, they changed their approach, tapping Greta Thunberg for a spoken-word take on the climate crisis. Similarly, the latest version of “The 1975” saw them drop their usual conventions.
“The 1975” is more than a theme song, but it also serves as one. Like any good TV show theme, this track is meant to remind you who you are listening to and why. This short but meaningful track, in all its iterations, is a potent taster of what’s to come on The 1975’s watershed albums.
“Bad Company” – Bad Company)
Few bands have written as unabashed a theme song as Bad Company’s self-titled track. If you were wondering if this band could live up to their name, look no further than the lyrics to this song. I was born six-gun in my hand / Behind a gun, I’ll make my final stand, hey / That’s why they call me / Bad company and I can’t deny, they sing.
If Bad Company wasn’t a truly great band for their time, this song might’ve seemed a little trite. Though it’s not without its levels of kitsch, this song managed to walk a tightrope between a bold theme song and a great standalone track.
“(Theme From) The Monkees” – The Monkees
Of the three bands on this list, the only one that has truly needed a theme song is The Monkees. The ’60s rock band had its own TV show, in which they played a band trying to make it big. A show about a band needed a killer theme song, obviously, and “(Theme From) The Monkees” delivered just that.
It’s pure ’60s magic with tight harmonies and jangly guitar tones. It’s fun-loving and endlessly memorable. Two things that could also be said about the show itself.
(Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
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(Original Caption) A singer called Joni. Joni Mitchell, Canadian singer-songwriter, United Kingdom, 1968. The guitar-pickin' gal is Joni Mitchell, a long blonde haired Canadian folk singer. Pictured last night outside the Revolution club, Joni is here (until 1st October) for radio, television and concert appearances. Apart from concert appearances, 25 year old Joni will be heard on "Top Gear" on Radio One and "The Monday Show" on BBC 1. (Photo by © Hulton-Deutsch Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images) -
English rock band the Beatles arrive at London Airport from the USA, with their manager Brian Epstein (1934 – 1967, in coach doorway), 2nd September 1965. From left to right, John Lennon (1940 – 1980), George Harrison (1943 – 2001), Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr. (Photo by George Stroud/Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) -
George Jones, who released several country songs about whiskey -
Elvis Presley and Scotty Moore (left) performing on The Milton Berle Show at NBC's Hollywood studio, Los Angeles, California, 5th June 1956. Presley performed 'I Want You, I Need You, I Love You' and 'Hound Dog'. Press reaction to his performance was largely negative with his gyrating movements during 'Hound Dog' proving particularly controversial. (Photo by Bettmann Archive/Getty Images) -
Singer and musician Merle Haggard performs at the Poplar Creek Music Theater, Hoffman Estates, Illinois, August 16, 1983. (Photo by Paul Natkin/Getty Images) -
John Rzeznik of Goo Goo Dolls at event, New York, 1990s. (Photo by Steve Eichner/Getty Images) -
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Pop group The Byrds (l to r): Chris Hillman; Dave Crosby; Mike Clark; Jim McGuinn; and Gene Clark. (Photo by © Hulton-Deutsch Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images)