Jingles & Theme Songs

Hardly anyone has original commercial jingles or theme songs any more. I miss them. Today, they all use clips of hit songs in place of a real commercial jingle, or just a few notes of music with the opening credits instead of a theme song.

I still hear the 'muncha buncha, muncha buncha' lyrics from the old Fritos commercial when I see Fritos. I loved that commercial and when I was a kid, my little sister and I would time it so we'd eat a Frito on the 'Crunch' part of the song! LOL

And who can forget the Oscar Mayer Wiener jingle? I know plenty of people who still sing it and think of Oscar Mayer hot dogs.

Then take shows like Three's Company, The Facts of Life, Gilligan's Island, and The Brady Bunch. I have known every word of those theme songs ever since I can remember. Sometimes those songs come to mind and bring back fond memories of those shows.

Even better example: The song 'Believe it or Not.' You know the one I mean - the chorus goes "Believe it or not, I'm walking on air, I never thought I could feel so free..." Remember the song?

Most people do. A lot of people even remember it was the theme song to the tv show The Greatest American Hero, a largely forgettable program. But it achieved and maintained a greater fame because of its popular theme song.

In my honest opinion, tv producers and product manufacturers are missing the boat by not having original songs that customers and viewers will long associate with their show. Why use a pop hit that sounds cool but already has a place in the pop culture psyche that is not tied to their program or product? I know someone has used one of Supertramp's hits in their commercial, but can I remember who it was or what product? Nope. I still think of Supertramp when I hear any of their songs.

Alright, I'm off my little soapbox... Feel free to chime in with your opinion or just your favorite theme song or jingle! I'll be off singing today's earworm, sparked by mention of George Clooney on the radio this morning...

"You take the good, you take the bad, you take them both and there you have the Facts of Life, the Facts of Life..." (Yep, George C. was on that show in the later years! Remember the hunky neighbor sporting a mullet?)

Jennifer Ray
www.jenaray.com