24 TV Show Theme Songs Ranked From Worst To Best

"Ahhh here it goes!" – if your TV show doesn't have a theme song, what are you doing?

I love a good theme song – sometimes they're better than the actual TV shows. Songs that you won't skip on Netflix, songs that you want to sing at the top of your lungs. So here is my ranking of the best Black TV show theme songs.

24. Girlfriends

UPN

I'm sorry. I love Girlfriends and I love Angie Stone but this is easily one of the worst theme songs of all time. I have to skip every time, it's so boring and frankly sounds like a parody of Australia's finest Neighbours . I'm sorry to this show, but you're bottom of the list.

youtube.com

23. Meet The Adebanjos

MTA Productions

Meet The Adebanjos is a commonly forgotten Black British classic and I think it's because of the rather boring theme song. If you were searching for generic stock music with African tones, then they nailed it. I also don't care for theme songs with no lyrics, so unfortunately you're near the bottom of the list.

youtube.com

22. The Crust

CBBC

Bring back The Crust and all Black British feel-good TV shows, I miss them. However as much as I miss this show, the theme song sucked. Again, I want lyrics, I want to catch a vibe and this really does nothing for me.

youtube.com

21. Little Miss Jocelyn

BBC

If we were ranking TV shows on their content only, Little Miss Jocelyn would be in the top 10. However I didn't even remember the show had a theme song – it was that forgettable. It's a rap that tells the story for sure, with some questionable animations but it's nothing I'll end up humming when brushing my teeth at night.

youtube.com

20. Family Matters

ABC

Family Matters has a theme song that is very much of the time. Is it bad? No. But will I sing it with glee? No. I didn't grow up with the show so maybe I'm missing that nostalgic feeling when I hear it. Nevertheless, the show is still top tier.

youtube.com

19. Martin

Fox

Again, a theme song with no lyrics, unless you count the "Martin" that is shouted throughout. It's not the best song. For a show like Martin, you expect a little more from the theme song, could've really added some flair but hey, the show is still amazing all the same.

youtube.com

18. Kerching!

CBBC

Another carefree Black British TV show that needs to come back. Kerching! was the one, everyone as doing the "kerrrching" hand movement in school. I cannot fault this theme song, for a British show it was really good, but it was very of the time and doesn't live up to the quality of the rest of the list.

youtube.com

17. Eve

Warner Bros.

It pains me to put Eve so low in the list because the greatest of all time, Missy Elliot, did the theme song. However, I will never get past the fact that although Eve plays the main character, her name is Shelly in the show and there is absolutely zero reference to Eve as a rapper throughout. Fun show, but nothing made sense.

youtube.com

16. Everybody Hates Chris

UPN

Did you know Tichina Arnold – who played Rochelle – is the voice for the Everybody Hates Chris theme tune? She's got pipes! I know I said theme songs with no lyrics aren't worth it but the chorus right at the end of this tune saved the song in a big way.

youtube.com

15. Half and Half

UPN

Theme songs that are extra for no reason hold a special place in my heart. Not only is this a good song, but the choreography in the opening credits is top tier. Why was it needed? Who knows, but do I enjoy it every time? Hell yes.

youtube.com

14. The Backyardigans

Nickelodeon

The Backyardigans is a Black show, please argue with your siblings. I'm glad the songs in this show are now getting recognition on TikTok because I used to sing the theme song at the top of my lungs in the early 2000s – it hits differently.

youtube.com

13. True Jackson VP

Nickelodeon

I didn't how to spell until this theme song – jk. There's good reason this song made it back around on TikTok because it's a top 10 hit. Shoutout to Nickelodeon because they really used to sprinkle some magic into their theme songs. 

youtube.com

12. The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air

NBC

I hear you shouting "The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air should be number 1" and here is why you're wrong. No one can deny just how iconic this show is, and how we as a species will forever know the whole rap from beginning to end with no problems, BUT that doesn't mean it's the best theme song I also know all the words to the national anthem, but that doesn't mean it's a banger.

youtube.com

11. Living Single

Fox

Okay, now we are moving the section of the list where the theme songs could easily stand alone as songs and still be hits. Queen Latifah does what Queen Latifah always did and annihilates this track, creating a perfect sing/shout in the shower song. I think Living Single kicked off a new era of theme song quality and those with sense followed quickly behind.

youtube.com

10. Smart Guy

Disney

"HE'S A SMART GUYYYYYY" Bring back TV shows switching up their theme songs season to season. Season one of Smart Guy had a traditional R&B/Funk theme song, which was already iconic. But Season three's theme song was something special. The visuals scream '90s, reflective material, fisheye lens, and of course jumping in slow motion for no reason. Good times.

youtube.com

9. All of Us

UPN

Did you know that All of Us was created by Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith? It was one of those shows that was always on and you weren't really following it too closely, but when that theme song came on you were definitely belting it out. 

youtube.com

8. One On One

UPN

A feel-good bop. This song and the show screamed good vibes and that's why it's ranked so highly. One On One also did a little switch up with the song in season five (real ones will remember), nothing too drastic but a little more stripped back – the song was still amazing though.

youtube.com

7. Sister Sister

Nickelodeon

Another show where they switched up the theme song in later seasons. In Season 5 Sister Sister updated the theme song to feature their more mature voices, with a more mature sound.

youtube.com

6. That's So Raven

Disney

Do I really need to explain this one? That's So Raven was and still is one of the BEST theme songs on Disney Channel. When this song came on you weren't running to the kitchen to grab a drink, you were rapping the bars along with Eddie Thomas (Orlando Brown), wondering when it was going to receive a Grammy.

youtube.com

5. Kenan & Kel

Nickelodeon

"Nick, Ni, Nick, Nick, Ni, Nick, Nick, Nick" Who else was getting people like Coolio on their theme songs? People aren't doing it like they used to. Nickelodeon really used to go all out for their shows.  

youtube.com

4. The Parkers

UPN

Countess Vaughn did not have to go this hard for this theme song but I will be eternally grateful because I'll never get enough of this song. The Moesha spinoff knew they had big shoes to fill but they hit it out of the park and will go down as one of the best theme songs to date.

youtube.com

3. The Proud Family

Disney

Destiny's Child featuring Solange Knowles, do I need to say anything else?

youtube.com

2. Cousin Skeeter

Nickelodeon

Putting the Cousin Skeeter theme song at number two wasn't easy. The song is a parody of 702's "Steelo", so it was already a smash hit. And the opening credits were a parody of The Notorious B.I.G's "Mo Money Mo Problems." It was genius. All of this for a show about a puppet, and it was 100% worth it.

youtube.com

1. Moesha

UPN

I think we all knew who was going to be number one – "Mo to the, E to the...". The princess of R&B, the greatest to ever do it, my all time favourite, Miss Brandy Norwood. Nothing will ever be better than this theme song, case closed.

youtube.com

A lot of these incredible theme songs wouldn't be here if not for Kurt Farquhar. Kurt composed the theme songs for Proud Family, All of Us, The Parkers, Moesha, Smart Guy, the list is endless. Thank you Kurt Farquhar.

Did I miss any of your favourites? Let me know in the comments.