8 TV theme songs from the 70s and 80s everyone secretly still remembers

There’s a reason theme songs from the 70s and 80s are burned into our brains.

Back then, shows weren’t just about content; they were about ritual. You’d sit down with a bowl of cereal, the lights dimmed in the living room, and the theme song set the mood. It wasn’t background noise—you listened. That opening minute told you everything you needed to know: the vibe, the values, and often the entire plot.

And decades later, they still live rent-free in our heads. Some you only need to hear the first few notes before the words come flooding back. Others bring up a wave of nostalgia so strong you almost smell the shag carpet.

Let’s walk through eight theme songs that refuse to be forgotten.

1. The Brady Bunch

“This is the story… of a lovely lady…”

Even if you never watched a single full episode, you probably know this theme. It’s essentially an elevator pitch sung in rhyme. In just a few lines, you’re introduced to the cast, the family setup, and the quirky blended household dynamic.

Why does it stick? Research shows that songs with narrative repetition lodge deeply in memory because they mirror how our brains organize and retain stories.

Weaving structure, rhythm, and familiar phrasing, they tap into both our emotional and semantic memory systems. That “story of a lovely lady” doesn’t just stick—it becomes part of the story we feel a part of.

On a personal note, I remember singing it in the backseat with my sister on road trips—loudly, terribly, but with enthusiasm. The point wasn’t accuracy; it was the sense of belonging to a cultural inside joke.

2. Cheers

“Where everybody knows your name…”

The Cheers theme was more than a song—it was a thesis statement. It tapped into a universal longing: a place where you belonged, where people knew you, where your problems shrank in the company of others.

As noted by music historian Jon Burlingame, Cheers struck a cultural nerve during a time of social shifts in the 80s, when community felt increasingly fragmented. The song reminded us we could still find connection, even if only through the TV screen.

Every time I’ve heard this in a bar—even recently—it creates an instant bonding moment. Someone inevitably hums along, and suddenly strangers are friends. That’s the brilliance of a theme that doubles as an anthem.

3. The Jeffersons

We’re movin’ on up… to the East Side.

This wasn’t just a theme; it was a celebration. Rooted in gospel tradition, the upbeat rhythm captured joy and triumph. For a show about Black success and social mobility, the song was both catchy and culturally groundbreaking.

For me, growing up in a working-class neighborhood, this song felt like an anthem of possibility. I didn’t fully grasp the social weight at the time, but I knew it sounded like victory. Even now, I can’t hear it without picturing someone strutting proudly into a new chapter.

And experts note this kind of positive framing matters. Music psychologist Daniel Levitin has written about how songs with aspirational lyrics become “emotional time capsules.” This one bottled up ambition, joy, and resilience in just under a minute.

4. Knight Rider

There are theme songs you hum. Then there’s Knight Rider. That pulsing synth line didn’t just set the stage—it felt futuristic, almost hypnotic.

Composed by Stu Phillips and Glen Larson, it leaned into early 80s synthesizer technology, which at the time sounded like the future was happening right there in your living room. If Star Wars had John Williams’ orchestra, Knight Rider had the sound of tomorrow: sleek, mechanical, unstoppable.

I still remember hearing it blasting from my dad’s boxy stereo. It felt like stepping into a different world. And honestly, hearing it now still makes me want to drive fast on an empty highway—minus the talking car.

5. The Facts of Life

“You take the good, you take the bad, you take them both and there you have…”

Few themes doubled as life lessons as clearly as this one. The Facts of Life packed responsibility, acceptance, and resilience into a jaunty melody that kids could sing along to.

What’s fascinating is how the show used its theme to reinforce core messages before the plot even began. In psychology, this is called “priming.” You’re more likely to internalize a value when you’re exposed to it repeatedly in a meaningful context.

Millions of kids sang those words each week—and, whether they realized it or not, practiced the idea of balance and perspective.

For me, it was one of those songs that stuck even though I wasn’t a regular viewer. It just had a way of sneaking back into your brain when life felt messy.

6. Happy Days

Sunday, Monday, Happy Days…

This was nostalgia wrapped in a bow. By the time the show aired, the 1950s it portrayed were already idealized. The theme song doubled down on that sense of rosy retrospection—jukeboxes, diners, leather jackets, and simpler times.

Music psychologist Elizabeth Hellmuth Margulis has noted that “repetition invites participation.” That’s why even people born decades later can sing along. The chorus was built for memory, and cultural osmosis did the rest.

I’ve been in random karaoke bars where someone queued this up and—no surprise—the crowd didn’t miss a beat. Even those too young to have seen the show joined in. That’s when you realize: it stopped being just a theme song and became a cultural artifact.

7. The Golden Girls

Thank you for being a friend.

This one never fails to get people smiling. Part of the secret? Gratitude themes in music tend to outlast trends because they tie into universal needs. Everyone wants to feel appreciated.

The show’s theme felt like a warm invitation into the living room. It wasn’t flashy or futuristic. It was simple, approachable, and heartfelt. And decades later, it’s still a guaranteed singalong starter.

I’ve experienced this firsthand. Once, during a long layover, a rerun marathon was playing on an airport lounge TV. The theme came on, and I swear half the room mouthed the words. Strangers sharing a moment of recognition. That’s cultural glue in action.

8. The A-Team

“This is a story of a crack commando unit…”

Even before the brass kicked in, The A-Team set itself apart with narration. It was almost like a mini-action movie compressed into a minute. By the time the bold, militaristic theme hit, you were primed for adventure.

What fascinates me is how many people can still recite chunks of that spoken intro decades later. Pairing rhythm, narration, and music creates what psychologists call “multi-sensory encoding.” When more parts of your brain are engaged, recall strengthens.

And it worked. People don’t just remember The A-Team. They remember the feeling of anticipation it created.

Wrapping it up

Here’s the thing: TV theme songs in the 70s and 80s weren’t just catchy. They were identity markers. They told you what kind of show you were stepping into, reinforced cultural values, and gave you something to hum long after the credits rolled.

Even in the streaming era—where the “skip intro” button reigns supreme—part of us still craves those ritual openers. They were mini-stories that stitched us into a cultural fabric we didn’t realize we were part of.

So, which of these hit you the hardest? And be honest—did you hum along?