If there's one thing we've all been doing a lot of over the past year and a half, it is watching TV.
So following on from our rather controversial list of 10 Metal AF Cartoon Theme Songs we decided to put all of that TV binge-watching to use, by compiling this list of live-action TV theme songs that go hard. This is 10 TV Theme Songs That Absolutely Rock.
Dog The Bounty Hunter
The Prince of Darkness himself, Ozzy Osbourne performs the suitably metal theme for this wild reality show about Duane "Dog" Chapman's experiences as a bounty hunter. The track appears on Ozzy's the Prince Of Darkness Box Set.
Buffy The Vampire Slayer
One of the defining shows of a generation, Buffy The Vampire Slayer is an undisputed cultural institution around the Maniacs office and we dare suggest a lot of our Maniacs feel the same way. Fittingly, the theme by punk rockers Nerf Herder (responsible for the novelty hit Courtney Love) is a low-key metal shred fest. The perfect soundtrack for Sarah Michelle Gellar stabbing vampires in the heart with a wooden stake.
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers
Now, this is metal! Written by cartoon theme maestro Shuki Levy and Haim Saban Go, Go, Power Rangers was performed by Ron Wasserman (of the band Fisher) who released it under the pseudonym, Aaron Waters - RAW. Go, Go, Power Rangers is an unapologetically '80s metal masterclass that has genuine claims to being one of the most well-known metal compositions of the entire '90s. Everything about this song rips hard from the melodic lead guitar work to the gloriously overdone vocal refrain and the pure opulence of the solo. Horns up, we read you Zordon.
The Drew Carey Show
One of the most memorable TV sitcoms of the peak sitcom era, The Drew Carey Show wasn't particularly metal or rock in any way, but the theme song performed by The Presidents Of The United States absolutely is. A cover of an Ian Hunter song, The Presidents who were one of the hottest rock acts in the world at the time of record, made this an undisputed anthem for Clevelander's and Clevelander's at heart worldwide.
That '70s Show
"HANGING OUT, DOWN THE STREET!" This '70s period sitcom was fairly inescapable in the late '90s meaning that the theme song, Cheap Trick's cover of In The Streets by criminally underappreciated '70s rock band Big Star became an undeniable hit. Thankfully, the song absolutely rules.
Charmed
Witches are historically speaking, considered to be pretty metal, but this iconic '90s series about a trio of sister witches fighting off evil while living in '90s San Francisco went for more moody sonic territory when selecting its theme, using a cover of The Smith's How Soon Is Now by Irish post-grunge act Love Split Love (who count Richard Butler of Psychedelic Furs as a member). This is gloomy '90s alt-rock perfection. To see the cultural influence of this show in real life, next time you're at a rock festival play 'spot the Triquetra' tattoo game, we promise it won't take long to win.
Freaks and Geeks
The teenage comedy/drama that helped launch the careers of so many of its stars including James Franco, Seth Rogen, Jason Segel, Martin Starr, John Frances Daly, Linda Cardellini and Busy Phillips, not to mention executive producer Judd Apatow, Freaks and Geeks got so much right in its criminally short run. A cult classic like this deserved a classic theme song and it has one of the best in the form of Joan Jett's anthem of teenage rebellion Bad Reputation.
Veronica Mars
The Dandy Warhols We Used To Be Friends is an unconventional and fun rock song with a killer chorus and it makes perfect sense as the theme song for this offbeat American teen noir mystery drama series. The launching pad for the career of Kristen Bell who stars as the eponymous character, this show has a cult-like following that has resulted in many new fans for The Dandy Warhols.
Malcolm In The Middle
Unquestionably the brightest song on this list, They Might Be Giants Boss Of Me gave the annoyingly omnipresent but occasionally hilarious family sitcom Malcolm In The Middle a gem of a theme song. This is commercial rock at its catchiest, from the hooky intro lyrics to the power-pop vocal harmonies, layers of horns and synths and that addictive ska-inspired bridge. This song won a Grammy for the band and gave them an unexpected mainstream hit. It isn't very heavy, but it absolutely rocks. It is also exceedingly fun to sing under your breath to your boss.
Salem
Cupid Carries a Gun by Marilyn Manson was about as fitting of a fit as you could possibly find for this unsettling, supernatural horror series, loosely based on the infamous Salem witch trials. Creepy, foreboding, sinister, this is Manson in his artistic element.
Bonus round
Every theme song for WWF/WWE RAW ever
The worlds of pro-wrestling and metal are made for each other, so it is no surprise that every single theme for the flagship program for the biggest company in the business has rocked. Here they all are at once, enjoy.
We didn't really want to include it but it is genuinely too catchy to ignore
Friends
The Rembrandts nailed this.
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