Summary

The telly serial publication of the eighties feature some of the proficient theme air the world had ever heard . As activeness series became more intense , clowning got grimy , and dramas set off to take more risks , the good TV serial ’ were also shore up up by some expectant songs that laid the groundwork for what viewers could expect in the forthcoming episode . During a time before streaming and the ability to hesitate live television , a recognizable idea tune was required , so audiences were mindful they needed to drop everything and rush to their television screens for the a la mode installment of their favorite show .

From heartfelt lyric - base ballads to madly 1980s synth - based birdcall , the stem tune of the 1980swere varied and singular as they seek to capture the individual personal identity of the serial publication that they represented . With the mightiness to become massive mainstream music collision , video theme air composers like Mike Post made a name for themselves throughout the 1980s for creating memorable and enduring presentation cut . The just tv set paper songs of the 1980sare still placeable today , even by viewers who were n’t even endure when many of the show originally aerate .

10Full House (1987 – 1995)

“Everywhere You Look” by Jesse Frederick

Cast

The lamentable backstory behindFull Housewas encapsulated by its theme “ Everywhere You Look ” by Jesse Frederickwhich hinted at the sorrow of that widow woman Danny Tanner bear before blow up positiveness with an upbeat chorus . As the track burst with the exclamation that “ everywhere you look ” there ’s “ a hand to hold on ” and “ somebody who want you ” demonstrated the importance of looking after three children that Danny now had sole responsibleness over . It was fun , pollyannaish , and enjoyable eighties , but theFull Housetheme tune also represented the dark reality of a single Fatherhood struggling to detain positive each day .

TheFull Housetheme air also represented the dark realness of a single father struggling to remain positive each day .

9Knight Rider (1982 – 1986)

“Knight Rider Theme" by Stu Phillips and Glen A. Larson

Knight Rider is a multimedia franchise consisting of TV appearance , TV movies , video recording games , and novels . The original series asterisk David Hasselhoff which air for four seasons on NBC . The serial was watch over by a sequel show call off Team Knight Rider in the late ' 90s and finally a reboot show in 2008 .

With a memorable synthesizer hook , the “ Knight Rider Theme ” perfectly correct up the eighties David Hasselhoff action crime dramaas its nonnatural sound was well paired with the futurist technology ofKnight Rider . Pulsating synthesizer , drums , and a stentorian base played as a powerful voiceover explained the crime concept of the show and just who the hush-hush investigator Michael Knight was . The “ Knight Rider Theme ” was a memorable introduction that felt altogether tie in to the time and place out of which it was develop .

8Charles in Charge (1984 – 1990)

“Charles in Charge" by Shandi Sinnamon

The popular 1980s sitcomCharles in Chargefocused on a unseasoned college student make as a subsist - in housekeeper for the affluent Powell familywith a catch high theme tune by Shandi Sinnamon . A slow - pace but memorable birdsong composed by David Kurtz , Michael Jacobs , and Al Burton , theCharles in Chargetheme set up the concept of the show and perfectly mimicked its good clean fun . Younger viewers may recognize the course from the second time of year ofScrubswhen it wassung by Ted ’s band The Blanks .

7Hill Street Blues (1981 – 1987)

“Theme from Hill Street Blues” by Mike Post

The law proceduralHill Street Blueswas one of themost democratic tv set series of the 1980sand its smooth forte-piano - based theme vocal acted as apowerful introduction to the test and tribulations of the Metropolitan Police Department Hill Street faculty . The composition was so enjoyable that it managed to break into the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 and even reach number four on the American Adult Contemporary charts ( viaMusic VF . ) TheHill Street Bluestheme was just one of many theme song hit for composer Mike Post , who also produced the melodic theme ofThe A - TeamandMagnum P.I.

6Miami Vice (1984 – 1990)

“Miami Vice Theme” by Jan Hammer

The crime dramaMiami Vicewas revolutionary for its use of euphony and would often spend $ 10,000 per episode to secure the rights to popular songs by artists like Phil Collins , Dire Straits , and The Who ( viaTime . ) However , its theme tune by Jan Hammer was also an integral part of the identity ofMiami Vice , andafter it was released as a single in 1985 became a number - one bang on the Billboard Hot 100 ( viaStereogum . ) With a synth guitar hook as well as tantalizing keyboard and pleximetry , the theme tune was one of the 1980s ' most iconic .

5The Golden Girls (1985 – 1992)

“Thank You for Being a Friend" by Cynthia Fee

The Golden Girls follows Dorothy Zbornak ( Bea Arthur ) , Rose Nylund ( Betty White ) , Blanche Devereaux ( Rue McClanahan ) , and Sophia Petrillo ( Estelle Getty ) as they be together in Miami . Throughout its seven seasons , the beloved series created by Susan Harris won 11 Primetime Emmys and continues to be one of the most darling sitcoms of the ‘ eighty and ‘ 90s .

The flaccid stone power of “ Thank You for Being a Friend ” was the complete shape of the wear power of long - endure friendship realise inThe Golden Girls . As a earnest sitcom about four older single woman , The Golden Girlstheme was compose by euphony caption Andrew Goldand has been reference in myriad subsequent TV shows includingIt ’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia , The Simpsons , andAtlanta . The idea tune was so iconic that it was recorded by Chuck Negron and move as the introduction for the spin - off seriesThe Golden Palace .

4Magnum P.I. (1980 – 1988)

Theme from Magnum P.I. by Mike Post and Peter Carpenter

Magnum , PI is an iconic 80 idiot box show starring Tom Selleck as Magnum , a Hawaiian private investigator . The serial publication won two Primetime Emmys during its eight - season run and finally get a reboot in 2018 starring Jay Hernandez . While not as successful as the original , the Magnum , PI reboot has proven successful for NBC .

The upbeatMagnum P.I.theme tune had a quintessentially eighties tactile sensation and replaced a much slower song by Ian Freebairn - Smith from Episode 12 of the show ’s first season . With intense vitality and impressive guitar study by Larry Carlton , the paper helped to lay out up Tom Selleck ’s character of Thomas Magnum and his exciting life as a secret investigatorliving by the beach in Robin ’s Nest , Hawaii . While the undivided version did not do as well in the charts as other Mike Post TV song , it did manage to make it to number 25 on the Billboard Hot 100 ( viaBillboard . )

3Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987 – 1996)

“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Theme Song” by James Mandell AKA Miles Doppler

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles ( 1987 ) follow four mutate turtle brothers trained in ninjitsu who battle offense in New York City , facing an array of villains include the evil Shredder .

For Kid in the previous eighties , there was no strain more iconic than theTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtlestheme air which was an vigour explosion that straight off encapsulated the military action - packed escapade of the superpowered “ heroes in a half eggshell . ” One of the most efficacious theme songs across all children ’s boob tube , Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtleswas a ethnic phenomenonand , although originally based on a mirthful book series , the cartoon was subservient intransforming theTMNTinto a major dealership . The theme Song dynasty struck all the right note as countless kid were enthralled by “ turtle power ” and its unique concept .

2The A-Team (1983 – 1987)

“Theme” by Mike Post and Peter Carpenter

As one of the most iconic theme of all time , Mike Post and Peter Carpenter develop their good work withThe A - Teamintro , an immediately recognisable track that absolutely captured the natural action - packed and adventurous nature of the video serial publication . With energetic brass instrumentation , swooning drum and guitar , and an epic horse sense of urgency , The A - Teamtheme has been embedded with an overwhelming sense of nostalgiaover the decade . A definitive while of medicine not just for theme tunes but for the integrality of the 1980s , The A - Teamtheme was one of the best of all time .

As one of the most iconic themes of all sentence , Mike Post and Peter Carpenter produced their best work withThe A - Teamintro .

1Cheers (1982 – 1993)

“Where Everybody Knows Your Name" by Gary Portnoy

The good TV theme song of the eighties and arguably thegreatest topic air of all timewas “ Where Everybody bang Your Name ” by Gary Portnoy from the acclaimed sitcomCheers . With an instantly placeable piano introduction , deeply beautiful language about the importance of comradeliness , and a timeless quality based around themes of friendly relationship , love , and belonging , theCheerstheme was universal in its solicitation . With major rapport in mainstream popular culture and an infectious sing - along caliber , theCheerstheme song sop up the listener in from the kickoff and was one of the few intro that should never be skipped .

Sources : The Blanks " Charles in Charge",Music VF , Time , Stereogum , Billboard

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the a-team 1980s show

The cast of Full House posing and smiling.

Cast Placeholder Image

Headshot Of John Stamos

The Charles in Charge cast

Roll call in a scene from Hill Street Blues.

miami vice promo

A blended image features Sophia, Blanche, and Dorothy  of Golden Girls seated on a sofa with a closeup of Rose in the foreground

Tom Selleck Magnum PI (Badass)

Headshot Of Tom Selleck In The Producers Guild of America 2006

Magnum, PI is an iconic 80s TV show starring Tom Selleck as Magnum, a Hawaiian private investigator. The series won two Primetime Emmys during its eight-season run and eventually got a reboot in 2018 starring Jay Hernandez. While not as successful as the original, the Magnum, PI reboot has proven successful for NBC.

The A Team

Headshot Of Ted Danson In The 96th Annual Oscars

One of the most well-known American sitcoms of the 1980s and 90s, Cheers is primarily set in Boston at the Cheers bar, and features and ensemble cast that includes Ted Danson, Shelley Long, Rhea Pearlman, Kelsey Grammer, and George Wendt. Danson’s Sam Malone acts as the bar’s proprietor, and episodes depict the lives of Cheers' staff and patrons during the bar’s operating hours. The series ran for 11 seasons and gave rise to popular spin-off shows such as Frasier.

Headshot Of Shelley Long

Headshot Of Rhea Perlman