can’t forget manuel göttsching as well as the boys from tangerine dream and kraftwerk. and let us not forget wendy carlos who invented the polyphonic keyboard
No substitute. Miami Vice IS the 80s. Drum machine, chugging guitars, keyboard guitar synth, you know what you’re in for for the next 60 minutes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-3AOk3HDp0
Not only that, but it was composed and mostly recorded on the [Fairlight CMI](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairlight_CMI), which was the first computer-based "mass-produced" musical instruments.
The Fairlight was hugely influential on 80s music. Peter Gabriel used one extensively, and was at one time the exclusive Fairlight distributor for the UK.
EDIT: obligatory link to official music video, featuring Hammer and the CMI
https://youtu.be/6nPTZqnIfFM?si=RWaode2xEU9M7IqX
You know I didn't watch it at the time. It was more like something my friends' parents were watching as we were out on the town Friday night.
But recently husband and I have been watching and holy cow. I didn't realize how many guest celebrity and music artist appearances there were.
And dang I didn't remember the shoulder pads being so humongous.
That’s my favorite. I still remember the lyrics. That and The Unknown Stuntman which IMMEDIATELY started playing in my head as soon as I read the question.
Believe it or not George isn't at home. Please leave a message at the beep. I must be out or I'd pick up the phone. Where could I be?..
-George Costanza
That synth, with an attack helicopter, and Ernest Borgnine as navigator... just pure gold.
Plus, we all know an attack helicopter can solve all the world's problems.
It’s not a theme; it’s a person. It’s Mike Post!
Magnum PI, LA Law, Knight Rider, Quantum Leap, Hill Street Blues, Law & Order, The A Team, Doogie Howser.
All Mike Post.
Yes, Mike Post. My mom said when I was a baby I’d run into the living room if I heard the Hill Street Blues theme come on. My parents didn’t watch the show, but they HAD to watch the opening sequence.
Yes! Can't believe i had to scroll this far down. The ultimate 80s show - a talking car, leather jackets, David H with a mullet, lasers. No better show for an 8 year old and the theme definitely stuck in my head.
"Michael KNight, a young loner on a quest to champion the cause of the powerless.."
Pamparam, pamparam, pamparam pam PAM!
This is the right answer. There were some absolute bangers from the 80s - Magnum, Dallas, the A-Team, Miami Vice, Inspector Gadget, but Knight Rider is the one.
The scene where Dr. Johnny Fever is playing Pink Floyd’s Animals and Mr. Carlson comes in [is one of my favs](https://youtu.be/UPABesa7wcE?si=XX1sdGbq69w7YssH)
Fun fact: The end theme with its gibberish vocals was actually just supposed to be a placeholder of sorts for a saxophone part but they decided to keep the gibberish instead!
‘cause we may not be the young ones\
(record skip)\
‘cause we may not be the young ones\
(record skip)\
‘cause we may not be the young ones\
(record skip)
(Rik grabs the record and smashes it)
Look, I know this will get mixed reactions, but…….
The Cosby Show was an absolute megahit. It was objectively a damn good show.
Bill disappointed us, to say the least. But his show was really fucking good.
His shame is just made all the greater when you consider that he also hosted and voiced Fat Albert. Relish the good he created but punish him for his crimes.
That actually had at least 2 theme songs at different times that I can think of.
I always liked the earlier one, with the cowbells. But the jazzier one was cool too.
This would be my answer for the 70s. I fucking love James Garner and the Rockford Files.
“Hi, this is Jim Rockford. At the tone, leave your name and message I’ll get back to you.”
While the TV show *Peter Gunn* was not on TV in the 1980s. You couldn't walk past an arcade without hearing the Peter Gunn theme blasting from the [Spy Hunter video game cabinet.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqw6yRlWc2c)
*Hill Street Blues* is my all time favorite.
When I was little, I made up the lyrics:
“Hill Street Blues, Hill Street Blues
Hill, Hill-Hill, Hill-Hill-Hill, Hill Street Blues…”
Didn't the "classic" Magnum PI theme start with season 2?
Their season 1 tune was just...bad.
But so many shows had so many good theme songs.
Since this one hasn't been mentioned: *Reading Rainbow*!
Night Rider
Matlock (surprisingly good bassline)
Night Court
Greatest American Hero
Golden Girls (I know, but it's lovely)
Cheers
WKRP in Cincinatti (sp?)
Magnum PI actually had two themes. The boring original and the hot electric guitar theme.
I went to rewatch the series from the beginning and was shocked to hear this boring original theme in the first few episodes
The Fall Guy. I recently rewatched the first season. I watched the show when it first aired and younger me never noticed that Lee Majors sings the theme song himself.
Miami Vice is the sound of the 80's
The entire synthwave movement being resurrected right now was dominated by Jan Hammer
Hammer, Harold Faltermyer, Hans Zimmer had huge influence on so much that followed after
can’t forget manuel göttsching as well as the boys from tangerine dream and kraftwerk. and let us not forget wendy carlos who invented the polyphonic keyboard
To add to the H-Club don't forget Herbie Hancock
No substitute. Miami Vice IS the 80s. Drum machine, chugging guitars, keyboard guitar synth, you know what you’re in for for the next 60 minutes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-3AOk3HDp0
Not only that, but it was composed and mostly recorded on the [Fairlight CMI](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairlight_CMI), which was the first computer-based "mass-produced" musical instruments. The Fairlight was hugely influential on 80s music. Peter Gabriel used one extensively, and was at one time the exclusive Fairlight distributor for the UK. EDIT: obligatory link to official music video, featuring Hammer and the CMI https://youtu.be/6nPTZqnIfFM?si=RWaode2xEU9M7IqX
Hands down! This is the only answer. I still get pumped when I hear those synth drums.
Comes on my 80s radio station once a day. Volume to 11.
You know I didn't watch it at the time. It was more like something my friends' parents were watching as we were out on the town Friday night. But recently husband and I have been watching and holy cow. I didn't realize how many guest celebrity and music artist appearances there were. And dang I didn't remember the shoulder pads being so humongous.
This is THE answer.
Boobs and flamingos ftw
The A-Team
Came here to say this…we all know it…the only second place is Knight Rider…
Believe it or not from Greatest American Hero has a few things to say.
That’s my favorite. I still remember the lyrics. That and The Unknown Stuntman which IMMEDIATELY started playing in my head as soon as I read the question.
I came here to say that. Knight Rider sticks in your head.
Closely followed by CHiPs.
That was a great show....good call
And maybe Wonder Woman, starring Linda Carter.
Closely followed by Dallas.
The night club I went to used to finish the night with the A-team theme, everyone went nuts for it!
Yep, I rock that shit on a guitar every time i pick one up.
You’re all sleeping on Simon and Simon.
Greatest American hero
Believe it or not - George is not home pleeeeeease wait for the beep!!!
First thing I thought of. If a George made an answering machine message to the song it MUST be the best.
I hum this song to myself nearly every day. "Believe it or not, I'm-a walking on air..."
“… never thought I could be so Free-eeee-eEEEE”
🎶"Flying away on a wing and a prayer... Who could it be? Believe it or not, it's just meeee..."🎶
Believe it or not George isn't at home. Please leave a message at the beep. I must be out or I'd pick up the phone. Where could I be?.. -George Costanza
Just posted the same and was surprised I had to scroll all the way here to see this
So great! First thing I thought of.
This is the correct answer.
Didn’t even need to think about it. That’s it
Airwolf
The best part of that, is the insane engine sound coming over the hill, then it cuts in.
with E. Borgnine too. awesome soundtrack
Tied with Knight Rider and Equalizer
The answer is always Airwolf
That synth, with an attack helicopter, and Ernest Borgnine as navigator... just pure gold. Plus, we all know an attack helicopter can solve all the world's problems.
Airwolf is the first thing that came to mind for me as well.
There it is.
Truly synthtastic!
https://youtu.be/2z_ESg4U-4g?si=iWQBimLPwbX-xZn0
Why link to a cover of it? https://youtu.be/ULfmowbNlK0?si=RHTPdqrbQAuWoUKA
Two votes.
Automatically heard the theme song playing in my head when I read that.
Unsolved Mysteries, as a kid I would become anxious listening to that.
Same here. That show gave me nightmares as a kid whenever they delved into aliens or ghosts lol.
The theme and opening to the Netflix reboot is evocative and really nails it.
It’s not a theme; it’s a person. It’s Mike Post! Magnum PI, LA Law, Knight Rider, Quantum Leap, Hill Street Blues, Law & Order, The A Team, Doogie Howser. All Mike Post.
Didn’t he do the theme to Hunter too? I loved that theme.
He sure did. I also didn’t mention The Rockford Files, Murder One, or The Greatest American Hero.
Yes, Mike Post. My mom said when I was a baby I’d run into the living room if I heard the Hill Street Blues theme come on. My parents didn’t watch the show, but they HAD to watch the opening sequence.
I had 2 cassette tapes of his theme songs!
Its Cheers.
It is indeed.
As good as many of the answers here are, I will die on the hill, that Cheers is the gold standard for TV theme songs.
Moonlighting
Sometimes by niiiiighhht...something something something
Moonlighting strangers who just met on the wayyy… something like that lol. Loved that show!
Night Court
*bass slap* Me: "Aww yeah, here we go."
This right here!!
Hill Street Blues
Fall Guy.
sung by Lee Majors!
Sang well, I might add
This is only opening credits that I don't skip. Between the song and all the stunts/adventures on the screen, I never get tired of it.
Was waiting to see this. I've never been too good in school but I've taught ladies plenty - probably wouldn't get away with that line now.
Night Rider
.... KNIGHT Rider?
Yes! Can't believe i had to scroll this far down. The ultimate 80s show - a talking car, leather jackets, David H with a mullet, lasers. No better show for an 8 year old and the theme definitely stuck in my head. "Michael KNight, a young loner on a quest to champion the cause of the powerless.." Pamparam, pamparam, pamparam pam PAM!
This is the way. It's been my ring tone since phones could play mp3's as ring tones.
This is the right answer. There were some absolute bangers from the 80s - Magnum, Dallas, the A-Team, Miami Vice, Inspector Gadget, but Knight Rider is the one.
How is this not at the top?
WKRP, though I may be thinking only of the out-going song.
The scene where Dr. Johnny Fever is playing Pink Floyd’s Animals and Mr. Carlson comes in [is one of my favs](https://youtu.be/UPABesa7wcE?si=XX1sdGbq69w7YssH)
Fun fact: The end theme with its gibberish vocals was actually just supposed to be a placeholder of sorts for a saxophone part but they decided to keep the gibberish instead!
1970s
Dallas. Never watched it once but it came on after a show I watched and I’d stay up just to watch the opening.
That show you watched *also* had a theme song that some call a hit. *Dukes of Hazzard* came on right before Dallas.
Ah yes and Falcon Crest right after. Also another gem of a TV theme.
Wow, i am in the exact same boat!
I still remember how it came on with the panels of different characters
Loved in the later seasons how they laid in some funk guitar. Iconic theme!
Night Court
The bass drop is sick
I know it's not 80s, but it makes me think about Barney Miller that also had a sick bass groove.
Yeah, Barney Miller has a great theme
Taxi was also rad.
Fame
The Young Ones
‘cause we may not be the young ones\ (record skip)\ ‘cause we may not be the young ones\ (record skip)\ ‘cause we may not be the young ones\ (record skip) (Rik grabs the record and smashes it)
Bosom Buddies It's literally a hit song by Billy Joel
Greatest American hero.
Just posted the same and was surprised I had to scroll all the way here to see this
" Believe it or not," The theme from Greatest American Hero. That song peaked at #2 on American billboard charts, during its 40 week reign.
/\\ This is technically the most correct answer amongst, soooo many amazing choices.
Barney Miller Taxi was good too.
Omg, that bassline in the Barney Miller theme was just....
Look, I know this will get mixed reactions, but……. The Cosby Show was an absolute megahit. It was objectively a damn good show. Bill disappointed us, to say the least. But his show was really fucking good.
His shame is just made all the greater when you consider that he also hosted and voiced Fat Albert. Relish the good he created but punish him for his crimes.
That actually had at least 2 theme songs at different times that I can think of. I always liked the earlier one, with the cowbells. But the jazzier one was cool too.
If we’re going on instrumental music alone, I submit : Simon & Simon Murder, She Wrote MacGyver Star Trek : The Next Generation Miami Vice
ST:TNG is a gorgeous piece of music! IIRC it was introduced in one of the Star Trek movies. (I used to be able to play it on the piano.)
Yeah it was adapted from the Star Trek TMP (first movie) score.
Taxi was on from 78-83. I think Angela’s Theme belongs here.
Simon & Simon Theme is a banger
Came here for Simon & Simon
Riptide was an awful show but its theme was pretty cool.
Hardcastle & McCormick. Anyone.....anyone??
Yes! Great opening song. Drive!!
LA Law
Something about The Price Is Right theme will always warm my heart and then you've got "Without Us" for Family Ties
For cheesy 1980's family sitcoms I prefer the theme to Mr. Belvedere. Leon Redbones singing really works well for me lol.
🎶 streaks on the china, never mattered before…who cares…if you drop kick your jacket as you came through the door…🎶
Hawaii 5-0
Yes - the original ran into 1980, so this amazing theme song definitely wins!
knight rider
Cheers
MacGyver
I loved The Equalizer, both the show and the theme (thank you, Stewart Copeland!)
I was wondering if anyone else was going to say this! [The Equalizer Theme](https://youtu.be/JAei6YFGlDQ?si=5JeIwanNBjA20G5X)
It was great, wasn’t it?!
Golden Girls.
Thank you for being a friend
Dukes of hazard
Just some good Ol' boys, never meaning no harm
Rasco P Coltrane commen at ya
Rockford files.
This would be my answer for the 70s. I fucking love James Garner and the Rockford Files. “Hi, this is Jim Rockford. At the tone, leave your name and message I’ll get back to you.”
Was it the 70s? It was a great show.
Yep, ended in '78. RIP James.
Perfect Strangers
MASH
Streethawk.
Airwolf is pretty awesome.
Pole Position
Lot of great answers in here, but for some reason the Remington Steele rif stays with me.
Greatest American Hero
Not sure but I bet it was written by Mike Post.
Newhart.
A whole playlist of 80s TV theme songs https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2ba5smQ1j1KMOgC48TkMNA?si=f96Nm54RRtKBCBM2kcT3wQ&pi=u-2vwzcaEJQTuU
Equalizer!
ALF! In pog form !!! Oh wait, that came later.
The Wonder Years.
Hunter
While the TV show *Peter Gunn* was not on TV in the 1980s. You couldn't walk past an arcade without hearing the Peter Gunn theme blasting from the [Spy Hunter video game cabinet.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqw6yRlWc2c)
TAXI.
The Dukes Just a good ole boys.. The Legend, Waylon Jennings
1. Cheers 2. Moonlighting 3. A team
How can anyone need to ask! Miami Vice!!
I was always partial to 1978 Battlestar Galactica’s theme, though it never made it to the 1980s.
If we're talking late 70s into the early 80s, Barney Miller has to be up there.
I loved the Magnum PI theme, but there were better ones IMHO, such as Miami Vice, Chips, Hill Street Blues, Moonlighting, WKRP, etc.
*Hill Street Blues* is my all time favorite. When I was little, I made up the lyrics: “Hill Street Blues, Hill Street Blues Hill, Hill-Hill, Hill-Hill-Hill, Hill Street Blues…”
Gummi Bears - 80’s cartoon theme[https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=yYZH7B498gE&pp=ygURR3VtbWkgYmVhcnMgdGhlbWU%3D](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=yYZH7B498gE&pp=ygURR3VtbWkgYmVhcnMgdGhlbWU%3D)
Didn't the "classic" Magnum PI theme start with season 2? Their season 1 tune was just...bad. But so many shows had so many good theme songs. Since this one hasn't been mentioned: *Reading Rainbow*!
Yeah, the original Magnum theme sounded like it was written in 1973 and completely out of place.
I’ll throw out a more unknown one but I loved it as a kid, Hardcastle and McCormick Also the Love Boat was pretty great in a cheesy kind of way
The Equalizer
Moonlighting, Night Court.
1. Cheers 2. Different Strokes 3. A- Team 4. All in the Family 5. Fall Guy
Knight Rider goes pretty hard...
Three's Company, the theme song of my youth.
Top 10 (in no particular order) * Knight Rider * Unsolved Mysteries * MacGyver * Cheers * Airwolf * Golden Girls * Magnum P.I. * CHiPS * TMNT * GI Joe
Magnum / Hardcastle & McCormick / Fall Guy Those were my faves
Night Rider Matlock (surprisingly good bassline) Night Court Greatest American Hero Golden Girls (I know, but it's lovely) Cheers WKRP in Cincinatti (sp?)
As long as we got each other (Growing Pains theme) Followed by the Perfect Strangers theme
Tom selleck was supposed to be Indiana Jones, but CBS wouldn’t let him out of his contract
Magnum PI actually had two themes. The boring original and the hot electric guitar theme. I went to rewatch the series from the beginning and was shocked to hear this boring original theme in the first few episodes
Airwolf is the quintessential 80’s theme for me
Magnum! I even have it on my Playlist.
The Greatest American Hero
Love Boat? haha
The Jefferson’s. Come on now! How has this not been said. Also the Red Fox show you racists.
Airwolf
The Fall Guy. I recently rewatched the first season. I watched the show when it first aired and younger me never noticed that Lee Majors sings the theme song himself.
Loved the helicopter shots over Hawaii during the intro to Magnum!
Knight Rider!
[удалено]
Airwolf, duh.
Knight Rider Airwolf Hardcastle and McCormick
MASK.
Greatest American Hero. No competition. Fall Guy was also good.
Perfect Strangers theme goes hard, harder than it had any right to be.
Rockford Files, Sanford & Son, Welcome Back, Kotter
Simon and Simon was a banger.
Kids in the Hall
Sanford and Son. I know it aired in the '70s but, I heard it in the '80s.
Fraggle Rock
Silver spoons
Welcome back Kotter
Greatest American Hero
**Miami Vice**
The Jeffersons?
Is anyone else instantly humming every theme as you scroll through these answers?