Theme Song

The theme song of The Simpsons is probably one of the most recognizable theme songs in American television history. The famous 12-note motif was originated from the brain of Danny Elfman. Even though he wrote a lot of other television and movie scores, Elfman considers The Simpsons theme song the composition that he will be forever known for.

History of the Song

Creator Matt Groening hired Elfman personally to write the theme song. He gave him a concept of what he wanted as well as a mix tape of songs that he wanted the theme to sound like. Groening put the concept of the song like this, "The trend in TV themes for the previous 15 years had been namby-pamby synthesizer schlock that seemed to whimper, 'We can't offer you much, but please like our pathetic little show.' I wanted a big orchestrated, obnoxious, arrogant theme that promised you the best time of your life."Among the tracks on the tape were the theme songs from The Jetsons (both have the same first three notes), selections from Nino Rota's "Juliet of the Spirits," a Remington electric shaver jingle composed by Frank Zappa, some easy-listening music by Esquivel, and a teach-your-parrot-to-talk record. After listening to the tape several times, Elfman approached Groening and said, "I know exactly what you're looking for."

Ever since then, the opus was heard in everything Simpsons related and covered by many artists on the show.

Awards

The theme won the National Music Award for "Favorite TV Theme" in 2002, and has won the BMI TV Music Award in 1996, 1998, and 2003. In 1990, the theme was nominated for the Emmy for "Outstanding Achievement in Main Title Theme Music"

Notable cover versions

The Green Day single cover

• The Addams Family Homage ("Treehouse of Horror IV", "Treehouse of Horror XVIII")
• Dragnet Homage ("Marge on the Lam")
• Big Band Version ("$pringfield (Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Legalized Gambling)")
• It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World Homage ("Homer the Vigilante")
• Australian Version ("Bart vs. Australia")
• "Renaissance" Version ("Lisa's Wedding")
• Hill Street Blues Homage ("The Springfield Connection")
• "JFK" Homage ("Who Shot Mr. Burns? (Part One)")
• Tito Puente & His Latin Jazz Ensemble ("Who Shot Mr. Burns? (Part Two)")
• Sonic Youth ("Homerpalooza")
• Yo La Tengo with "lyrics" by Homer ("D'oh-in' in the Wind")
• Samba ("Blame It on Lisa")
• NRBQ ("Take My Wife, Sleaze")
• Los Lobos ("Thank God It's Doomsday")
• Green Day (The Simpsons Movie)
• Fall Out Boy ("Lisa the Drama Queen")
• Canvas ("Father Knows Worst")
• Weezer ("The Hateful Eight-Year-Olds")

Green Day cover

The Green Day cover of the theme song was released as a single. It went to #106 on the Billboard Hot 100, #19 on the UK Singles Chart, and #16 on the UK download chart.

Awards

Composer Danny Elfman was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music in the 42nd Primetime Emmy Awards for composing the song, but the category had no winner.

References

Songs in the Key of Springfield
The Simpsons Main Title Theme (Extended Version) • We Do (The Stonecutters' Song) • Dancin' Homer (Medley) (Crosstown Bridge • Capitol City) • Homer & Apu (Medley) (Who Needs the Kwik-E-Mart? • Who Needs the Kwik-E-Mart? (Reprise)) • 'Round Springfield (Medley) (Bleeding Gums Blues • A Four-Headed King • There She Sits, Brokenhearted • Jazzman) • Oh, Streetcar! (The Musical) (White-Hot Grease Fires (Prologue) • Long Before the Superdome • New Orleans • I Thought My Life Would Be a Mardi Gras • I Am Just a Simple Paper Boy • Stella! • She Flies • The Kindness of Strangers) • Jingle Bells • $pringfield (Medley) (The Simpsons End Credits Theme (Big Band Vegas) • Gracie Films Logo) • "Itchy & Scratchy" Main Title Theme • "Itchy & Scratchy" End Credits Theme • "The Day the Violence Died (Medley)" (Not Jazz Chor, But Sad Chor • The Amendment Song) • Señor Burns • The Simpsons End Credits Theme ("Afro-Cuban" Version) • Your Wife Don't Understand You • Kamp Krusty (Medley) (South of the Border • Gracie Films Logo) • The Simpsons End Credits Theme ("Australian" Version) • The Simpsons End Credits Theme ("Hill Street Blues" Homage) • The Simpsons End Credits Theme ("It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World" Homage) • Treehouse of Horror V (Medley) (Controlling the Transmission (Prologue) • The Simpsons Halloween Special Main Title Theme) • Honey Roasted Peanuts • Boy-Scoutz 'N the Hood (Medley) (Saved by the Bell • Jackpot • Springfield, Springfield (Parts 1 & 2) • Remember This? • Another Edwardian Morning) • Two Dozen and One Greyhounds (Medley) (The Pick of the Litter • See My Vest) • Eye on Springfield Theme • Flaming Moe's • Homer's Barbershop Quartet (Medley)‎ (One Last Call • Baby on Board) • TV Sucks‎ • A Fish Called Selma (Medley) (Troy Chic • Stop the Planet of the Apes • Dr. Zaius • Chimpan-A to Chimpan-Z) • Send In the Clowns • The Monorail Song • In Search of an Out of Body Vibe • Cool • Bagged Me a Homer • It Was a Very Good Beer • Bart Sells His Soul (Medley) (From God's Brain to Your Mouth • In the Garden of Eden) • Happy Birthday, Lisa • The Simpsons Halloween Special End Credits Theme ("The Addams Family" Homage) • "Who Shot Mr. Burns? Part One (Medley) (Who Dunnit? • The Simpsons End Credits Theme ("JFK" Homage)) • Lisa's Wedding (Medley) (The Simpsons End Credits Theme (Renaissance" Version) • Gracie Films Logo) • The Simpsons End Credits Theme ("Dragnet" Homage)

Go Simpsonic with The Simpsons
The Simpsons Main Title (:49 Version) • Lisa's Sax (Medley) (Those Were the Days • The WB's Proud To Present Theme) • All Singing, All Dancing (Medley) (Gonna Paint Our Wagon Theme & Reprise • A Singing, Dancing Entertainment Machine) • We Put the Spring in Springfield • Simpsoncalifragilisticexpiala(Annoyed Grunt)cious (Medley) (Turkey in the Straw/Minimum Wage Nanny) • Cut Every Corner • A Boozehound Named Barney • Happy Just the Way We Are • "Simpsoncalifragilisticexpiala(Annoyed Grunt)cious" End Credits Suite • Cash and Cary • Meet the Flintstones • Underwater Wonderland • Happy Birthday, Mr. Burns • The Field of Excellence • The Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie Show Theme • Poochie Rap Song • The City of New York vs. Homer Simpson (Medley) (No Regards/You're Checkin' In) • Quimby Campaign Commercial • The Simpsons End Credits Theme • Trash of the Titans (Medley) (Before The Garbage, Man!/The Garbageman) • Canyonero • Everyone Loves Ned Flanders • Scorpio End Credits • Chief Wiggum, P.I. Main Title • The Love-Matic Grampa Main Title • The Simpsons Spin-Off Showcase (Medley) (The Simpson Family Smile-Time Variety Hour Opening Theme & Reprise/Candy Medley) • The Ballad of Jebediah Springfield • In Marge We Trust (Medley) (Klang and Koto/"Mr. Sparkle" Theme & Logo) • Krusty the Clown Main Title • Cape Feare (Medley) (Any Last Requests?/H.M.S. Pinafore/Bart's Holding the Buttercup/Bart and Bob Bop and Bounce/The Act Is Up) • Mr. Plow • Plow King • Kamp Krusty Theme Song • The Simpsons End Credits Theme (Jazz Quartet Version) • Union Strike Folk Song (Parts 1 & 2) • Rappin' Ronnie Reagan • Cletus, the Slack-Jawed Yokel! • Ya Hoo Main Title • The Land of Chocolate • Skinner & the Superintendent Theme • Presidents' Song • The Star Spangled Banner • Talkin' Softball • Like Father, Like Clown (Medley) (A Warm Round/Oh, My Papa/A Love Thing) • Blessed Be the Guy That Bonds • You're Gonna Like Me (The Gabbo Song) • Can I Borrow a Feeling? • The Simpsons End Credits Theme (Phillip Glass Homage) • We Love To Smoke • Apu in "The Jolly Bengali" Theme • The Garbageman (Long Demo Version) • Señor Burns (Long Version) • Happy Birthday, Mr. Smithers

The Simpsons: Testify
The Simpsons Theme • Testify • The Very Reason That I Live • He's the Man • Stretch Dude and Clobber Girl • "The Simpsons" End Credits Theme • Ode to Branson • Sold Separately • Island of Sirens • They'll Never Stop the Simpsons • You're a Bunch of Stuff • What Do I Think of the Pie • Baby Stink Breath • Tastes Like Liberty • Jellyfish • Homer & Marge • Everybody Hates Ned Flanders (Medley) (Christmas in December • Flanders Is His Name • Everybody Hates Ned Flanders • Everybody Hates Ned Flanders (William Shatner's version) • El Hombre Estupido) • I Love to Walk • Marjorie • The President Wore Pearls (Medley) (A Vote for a Winner • I Am Their Queen • Skinner's Evil Plan • A Tango Takes Two • Smart Girl Six Three • The President Wore Pearls End Credits Medley) • Glove Slap • O Pruny Night • America (I Love This Country) • America Rules • Welcome to Moe's • We Are the Jockeys • Song of Shelbyville • A Star Is Torn (Medley) (I'm Talkin' Springfield • My Kitty Died • Always My Dad • Privileged Boy) • Who Wants a Haircut? • My Fair Laddy (Medley) Adequate • Not On My Clothes • Blue Pants Mornin' • Indoors All Night • Longing for the Shack • My Fair Laddy End Credits Medley) • Springfield Blows • "King of Cats" Itchy & Scratchy Medley (Tune-Up • King of Cats Opening • Two Days, Two Circles • Slices of Life • It's Symbiotic • Knives Finale) • Lady • You Make Me Laugh • Lady Riff • Papa, Can You Hear Me? • Yokel Chords (Medley) (Oh, How Do We? • Motivate Them • Cultural Things Experience • Moonshine Drinkers) • Hullaba Lula • Song of the Wild Beasts • Dancing Workers Song • Oldies and Nudies