theme songs
Program musical identities
A theme song is a piece of music associated with a particular television show, film, radio program, or other production, typically played during opening or closing credits.
Theme songs help establish mood and create instant recognition—hearing the first few notes can immediately conjure the associated show or character.
The Friends theme song became a cultural touchstone of the 1990s.
Some theme songs have lyrics that set up the premise, while others are purely instrumental.
- catchyEasy to remember
- catchy tuneMemorable, repeating melody
- earwormInescapable catchy melody
- sing alongVocalize with a recording
- introBrief opening section
stuck in your head · jingle · leitmotif · signature tune · nostalgia · hum · opening · title sequence · closing credits · credit roll · anthem · soundtrack · recognizable · broadcasting · songs · opening credits · main title · orchestral
- Pop Culture TriviaTV trivia, Oscar winners, Grammy winners, Emmy winners, catchphrases
- kids' radiostorytelling, youth programs, bedtime stories, storytime, story time
- music titlesmusical works, anthems, title tracks, number ones, chart hits
- TV habitsbinge watching, channel surfing, season premieres, season finales, reruns
- Film Soundsound design, sound editing, sound mixing, Foley, ADR
- movie music tropesjukebox musicals, rock operas, musical numbers, backstage drama
theme songsbackground scores
Incidental music in films
incidental music · underscore · ambient music · background music · mood music
song, theme, themes, thematic, thematically, themeless, theme song