Top 10 TV Show Theme Songs

TV show theme songs can be fun, silly, infectious, and just as good as any "real" song. And that's what inspired Robert Berry of RetroCrush to rank the top 100 TV show theme songs, the results of which will no doubt be debated by television aficionados.

The effort took months to prepare as RetroCrush staff members considered the value of each song and took into account reader feedback.

Here are the top 10 TV theme show songs and why they were chosen:

1. "Sanford and Son"
This immortal theme from Quincy Jones has no lyrics, and if it weren't a TV theme song, it would still be one of the better funky jazz songs ever written.

2. "The Brady Bunch" and "Gilligan's Island" (tie)
These two theme songs are "like Siamese Twins in the respect that it's nearly impossible to consider one as great, without giving equal attention to the other," says Berry. Both have catchy tunes that are still popular after 40 years. Besides, both set up the show's premise so you don't have to see the first episode to understand what's going on.

3. "Batman"
Berry calls this "the most effectively simple theme song ever recorded." It features an action-packed musical intro that perfectly accompanies the motions of Batman and Robin running toward the screen, all of which is punctuated by the single-word chorus "Batman!" Even kids who have never seen the show know the song.

4. "The Jeffersons"
Calling it inspirational and funny, Berry says "Movin' On Up" does everything a good TV theme should. It features rousing lyrics and music and perfectly sets the theme for the story of George Jefferson's rise to success with a "deluxe apartment in the sky!"

5. "Mission: Impossible"
"The theme to 'Mission: Impossible' is so well known and widely used that it's gone beyond being a classic TV theme and has become almost a reflexive choice of music to use whenever someone's sneaking around, or doing 'spy-stuff,'" says Berry.

6. "Star Trek"
This brilliant theme song features inspiring instrumentals and eerie vocals, punctuated by William Shatner's intense narration. "It's a thing of beauty," concludes Berry.

7. "Twin Peaks"
This theme song with the haunting melody by Angelo Badalamenti is dreamy, eerie, disturbing, and sad. Says Berry about the cult show's musical soundtrack, "There's an otherworldly quality to the score that makes your hair stand on end."

8. "Spongebob Squarepants"
This is an instant and timeless classic with everything a good theme song needs: a catchy set of lyrics, accordion music, a singing pirate, and a nose flute.

9. "Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids"
This is a happy song with a funky greatness that no other cartoon theme has ever achieved, says Berry.

10. "All in the Family"
This is easily the worst sounding best TV theme of them all, but Berry insists that is part of the charm. "To have the characters of the show, just sitting down at the piano and singing the theme song worked wonderfully for this show," he says. "It's not a slick performance, but it's one of the most charming TV themes ever recorded."