Top Ten 80s TV Themes - Number 1

After dragging out this countdown for almost a month, we’ve finally reached the surprising conclusion.  As with out previous entries on the countdown, I will discuss our winner at length after the jump.  I hope you enjoyed this highly controversial, opinionated review of 80s TV Themes.  We’ll keep all the regular features coming this week and start a new countdown series soon.

Without any further delay, here is the No. 1 Television Theme of the 1980s:

Critically unappreciated, sometimes even forgotten, the “Theme to Magnum P.I.” is my pick for the greatest television theme song of the 1980s.  Now before you riot and leave my site forever, let me try to explain to you the greatness that is this song for those that don’t “get it” yet.

Though I waxed philosophical about the power that lyrics can have in a great television theme, I also tried to convey that sometimes a proper instrumental could create an emotional connection to the television show as well.  I think that in the Magnum P.I. theme, this emotion resonates louder than in any other theme song we’ve encountered. The fast guitar backed by an almost classical score pushes us through the action and adventure that Magnum faces every single day.

We get a beautiful shot of T.C.’s helicopter diving over the Pacific Ocean followed by the title shot and Magnum speeding along the highway in someone else’s Ferrari.  The music tells us that we’re about to have our ass handed to us by Tom Selleck, Tom Selleck’s mustache, Higgins, and Rick.  (Slight tangent, did any guy look more 80s than Tom Selleck? Bad ass ‘stache, hairy chest, Hawaiian shirts… dude was the 80s).

The shift from the guitar heavy first part to the more harmonic, string focused middle lets us know that this show will also have some class to it.  That class was typically provided by the outstanding John Hillerman as Higgins, the caretaker of “Robin’s Nest.”  Just look at him doing Tai Chi and opening a hidden safe.  You know that dude is  going to be a refined character.

From the classy strings and horns to an almost porn-esque guitar solo, we’re introduced to T.C. – the Nam vet who flies helicopters for tourists.  And back to the main lick to visit with Magnum’s buddy and club owner Rick.  As we then travel back through the beautiful Hawaiian landscape, the song builds to a close with that classic Magnum look over the shoulder/eyebrow raise combo (a look which Beverly Hills 90210 made iconic in the 1990s).

The “Theme to Magnum P.I.” is not the most complicated television theme ever made.  However, it works so well with the theme of the show that it undoubtedly accomplishes what the theme is supposed to do: introduce the viewer to the show and get them ready to watch.  Hell, this song is so good I have the full version on numerous playlists.

Perfectly blending classical and rock styles to form a theme that makes you want to move to Hawaii and open your own PI business, the “Theme to Magnum P.I.” has earned its place at the top of our countdown.

If you missed some of the previous themes or just want to read/listen to them again, check out this link. Please keep coming back to the blog for more random clips and discussions.