Best TV Show Theme Songs

TV Shows in the ‘80s Had Great Musical Intros

Singing along to the theme is part of the fun of rewatching ‘80s TV shows. And while some shows had themes without lyrics, it’s hard not to hum along with those, too. There are so many cool themes from TV shows in the ‘80s, let’s break it out in theme songs with and without lyrics.

Best Instrumental TV Theme

Miami Vice Theme

This Jan Hammer composition was so popular when it was released in 1985 it made it to #1 on the Billboard Charts (not even Bruce Springsteen can say that). According to Wikipedia, it was the last time an instrumental song was #1 until 2013’s Harlem Shake. Unlike the more “action” themes from the shows of the era like The A-Team or the sax-style themes like LA Law or Cagney and Lacey, the Miami Vice theme’s synth sound stood out; the theme evoked the sunny beaches of the sunshine state during the ‘80s perfectly.

Other Popular ‘80s Themes

Theme from Magnum P.I.

St. Elsewhere

Charlie’s Angels

Starsky and Hutch has a fabulous theme song, but just misses being an ‘80s show, with it’s last season in 1979.