Commentary: ‘House MD’ And The Importance Of A Theme Song
by Frank Martin
Any TV watcher knows how important a good theme song is for a series. It sets the tone and the mood that will then carry the viewer into the episode. Great theme songs stick in the audience’s mind and they can recall them years and even decades after a program ends. Iconic theme songs hold such an important place in the audience’s heart that it can have drastic consequences if the theme is changed. It can take audiences completely out of a re-watch experience and feel almost as if they are watching a completely different show. That’s exactly what happened with House MD.
Starting Hugh Laurie, House is about a acerbic-yet-brilliant doctor who saves people while also insulting them. The House theme song is cut from the Massive Attack song “Teardrop.” Segments of the song are edited together into a seamless, foreboding melody that is both ominous and cerebral. It’s the perfect tune to get viewers in the mood for the show’s tone. House is smart, fast-paced, and dramatic. Although there are moments of levity, this show can be quite grim and challenge its audience on a psychological level. The theme song perfectly sets the stage for this and has become a favorite among House fans.
However, that song was only used during the show’s initial run and subsequent DVD releases. Most likely for licensing reasons, it uses a completely different theme song on streaming platforms such as Prime Video and Hulu. This song completely abandoned the foreboding emotion of the original. It’s much lighter and aloof. It still tries to utilize the same kind of synth sounds from the original, but they are far less potent, giving off a whimsical vibe rather than something far more serious. And the audience has responded. Scores of fans have expressed their displeasure with the change in theme, some going so far as to say they are now avoiding the show entirely. This just goes to show how a strong, well done title theme can attach itself to a series. And, in many cases, it becomes so inseparable that fans would rather not watch the show without it.
House MD is now streaming on Hulu.