10 great cartoon themes

Note: Sorry about the long absence. Hope to be blogging a little more consistently from now on.

A few Saturdays ago, while snowbound at home, I sat back and watched what passes for Saturday morning cartoons these days. To say I was unimpressed is an understatement. Saddest of all was the lack of quality opening themes. Heck, even the crappy toons had catchy tunes [oh I'm witty] when I was a kid. Smurfs anyone? Yeah, I said it, Poppa Jerk. Deal with it!

Here is a list of my ten favorite cartoon theme songs, complete with links to them on youtube. Enjoy!

10.) Pole Position – 1984

Loosely [and I do mean LOOSELY; Like just the title] based on the popular 80’s arcade game. I don’t remember much about the cartoon [other than the talking cars] but the theme song is tattooed on my brain. “What’s behind their stunt show?” I would like to know.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1H7r2vBuA2I

9.) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – 1987
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The ‘TMNT’ theme sort of represented the end of the golden age of the cartoon theme. Turtle power indeed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qI0FbYe3lRE

8.) Robotech – 1985

I sort of came to this one late, after reading the novels my freshman year of high school. It wasn’t long before the Sci-Fi channel began showing it in the morning before school and it’s heroic fanfare sent me on my way to a day spent fighting a different kind of evil... public school.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_h8NvEMqGvQ

7.) The Mighty Orbots – 1984

One of the lesser known ‘Robot-combiner’ shows, none the less it had an awesome theme song. It gets a little surreal at about the 23 second mark [I honestly don’t know what the heck is going on there] but quickly recovers to reach it’s ass-kicking finale.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLcJXR7twoQ

6.) He-Man and the Masters of the Universe - 1983

To show you that cartoons aren't just mind numbing wastes of time, I actually looked up the word "aloft" in the dictionary after first seeing this intro. It means to raise or hold up... or something.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFOu-zLLSms

5.) Thundercats – 1985

Sort of what a cartoon theme would sound like if it were done by Van Halen. That's "Halen" not "Hagar".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-sOaUAgbB4

4.) Silverhawks – 1986

Silverhawks may not be quite as well known and revered as it’s sister show, Thundercats, but I rate the theme song just a notch above.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwWYI6nQRGA

3.) G.I. Joe – A real American hero – 1983

This show [and the toys and comic books] was one of the great obsessions of my misspent youth and it remains one of the obsessions of my misspent adulthood.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YXQSrOCeKQ

2.) M.A.S.K. – 1985

If this song wasn’t about transforming cars and guys who wear masks, it would’ve been a top 40 smash. If “Ma-ma-ma-MASK, is the mighty power that can save the day!” doesn’t give you goose bumps I don’t want to know you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0BzBFWt8V8

1.) Voltron: Defender of the Universe – 1984

This is a movie quality theme; orchestral and without any regrettable lyrics. Instead it features the dulcet voice of Optimus Prime, er, Peter Cullen, who fills us in on all the important details.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9C2YLVaSBw

And a bonus tune...

Chuck Norris Karate Kommandos – 1986

There seemed to be a strange trend in the 80’s where the word command/commandos was spelled with a K. Anyway, it’s Chuck Norris, if he wants to spell Commando “Kommando” whose going to tell him no? Or if he wants to spell Commando "Kommando" while going Commando [or is it "Kommando"]? Certainly not me or the ruthless "Super Ninja”.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSU1Lvxy9Sk

Did I leave out your favorite? Let me know!