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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Stephen White

Friends theme tune is voted best TV song of all time ahead of The Simpsons and Doctor Who

Critics may say that it sounds like it is stuck in second gear, but the song from Friends has been hailed the nation’s favourite TV theme of all time.

I’ll Be There For You by the Rembrandts from the classic 1990s US comedy series beat the opening music to The Simpsons into second, with Doctor Who in third.

And 59% of the 2,000 people polled said the golden age of the theme tune is back, with 63% saying TV theme tunes have reached an all-time high because streaming services are making better programmes.

A fifth even believe that a programme’s intro is as important as the show itself.

Even though several shows from the 80s such as Happy Days and Dallas appear in the top 20, 51% think theme tunes from 40 years ago sound old fashioned now. Despite this 52% say that theme tunes take them right back to their childhood.

The Simpsons theme tune was in second place (CR: FOX)
The opening song from classic '80s drama series Dallas also made the top 20 (Getty Images)

Also 30% bond with their family over their favourite shows, so much so that 24% say that TV is a vital part of family life.

The research was carried out for electronics manufacturer Hisense and Catherine Fang, Executive Vice President, said: “The power of at-home entertainment to bring people together is undeniable.”

Most iconic theme tunes of the modern era:

1: Friends 37%

2: The Simpsons 29%

3: Doctor Who 27%

4: Happy Days 26%

5: The A Team 25%

6: Game of Thrones 23%

7: Stranger Things 21%

8: The X-Files 21%

9: Baywatch 16%

10: M*A*S*H 15%

11: Dallas 5%

12: Sex And The City 13%

13: Cheers 13%

14: The Office 11%

15: Buffy The Vampire Slayer 10%

16: Malcolm in the Middle 8%

17: Rawhide 8%

18: The Last of Us 8%

19: True Blood 7%

20: Band of Brothers 6%

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