theme music
Program's signature tune
Theme music is a melody or musical passage associated with a particular show, film, character, or recurring segment.
It plays at the opening, closing, or during key moments to signal identity and mood: The theme music for Jaws is instantly recognizable.
Theme music creates emotional continuity—hearing it can instantly evoke the associated content even years later.
Numerical standing in competition
- soundtrackMusic accompanying visual media
- leitmotifRecurring thematic phrase
- main titlePrimary displayed name
- opening creditsFilm's introductory name display
overture · underscore · film score · composer · John Williams · Hans Zimmer · orchestra · fanfare
Recurring thematic phrase
- melodyPleasing sequence of notes
- hookCurved catching device
- riffRepeated musical phrase
- variationChange from a norm
recurrence · repetition · phrase · recognition · ostinato · cadence · callback · reprise
Episodic TV comedy series
- introBrief opening section
- jingleBrief advertising melody
- opening sequenceInitial portion of presentation
- earwormInescapable catchy melody
catchy · signature tune · cold open · TV series · animated · game show · soap opera · news program
Longing for the past
- hauntingDisturbingly unforgettable
- iconicWidely recognized, enduring
- memorableWorth holding onto
- upliftingEmotionally encouraging
triumphant · foreboding · soaring · majestic · melancholy · inspiring · recognition · anticipation
Creating distinctive identity
- identityWho someone is
- recognitionPerceiving something as known
- PavlovianAutomatically triggered by association
- anticipationState of awaiting something
score
Numerical standing in competition
- soundtrackMusic accompanying visual media
- leitmotifRecurring thematic phrase
- main titlePrimary displayed name
opening credits · overture · underscore · film score · composer · John Williams · Hans Zimmer · orchestra · fanfare · closing credits
leitmotif
Recurring thematic phrase
variation · recurrence · repetition · phrase · recognition · ostinato · cadence · callback · reprise · development
sitcom
Episodic TV comedy series
- introBrief opening section
- jingleBrief advertising melody
- opening sequenceInitial portion of presentation
earworm · catchy · signature tune · cold open · TV series · animated · game show · soap opera · news program · talk show
nostalgic
Longing for the past
uplifting · triumphant · foreboding · soaring · majestic · melancholy · inspiring · recognition · anticipation · poignant
branding
Creating distinctive identity
- identityWho someone is
- recognitionPerceiving something as known
- PavlovianAutomatically triggered by association
- Pro Wrestlingheel, WrestleMania, face turn, Royal Rumble, kayfabe
- soundtracksfilm score, original score, end credits, orchestral score, title track
- film musicfilm score, soundtrack, movie soundtrack, underscore, score
- production musicunderscore, cues, soundtrack, soundtracks, film scores
- daytime TVtalk shows, soap opera, soap operas, talk show, soaps
- orchestrationorchestration, scoring, instrumentation, string arrangement, full orchestra
theme musicbackground score
Music accompanying visual media
incidental music · underscore · background music · ambient music · elevator music
music, theme, museum, musical, musician, mused, musing, musicians, themes