Dynasty theme song

Long version from the first season

Either that or the Falcon Crest theme.

I didn't remember the underlying disco track on the Dallas theme

I was never fond of the Dallas theme.

Miss Marple.

Black Beauty.

Murder, She Wrote

I like the Dynasty theme a lot more then I ever liked the program but I wouldn't know how to choose "one" best theme. Too many different tunes with too many different messages.

But a short list would include Star Trek Voyager, Man from UNCLE first season, Battlestar Galactica 1978, Ron Grainer's The Prisoner theme, Stewart Copeleand's Dead Like Me, and Nadia's Theme from the Young and the Restless.

Loved Dynasty and Falcon Crest themes. I used to play the Dynasty theme on my trumpet in my room after practicing all the boring stuff we did for band.

The Inspector Morse theme is one I like a lot, too, partly because of the cleverness of the Morse code, but also it's just pretty and moves me.

I ❤️ Lucy

Taxi

Twin Peaks

In drag scene of nyc in the 90's. I always thought some queen should lip synch to it. It has lyrics of a sort. Tells a story. It would be a number we hadn't seen. It could work in the right hands.

The moody synth opening theme for "Melrose Place" — underrated.

Not even close, OP.

Wow, that really brings be back, have to say as far as music goes Dynasty really stands the test of time. Love the extended version. Kind of sad in a way, notice when they ht the down beat the gay character comes on screen ripping off his tie. For the gaylings wondering what all the fuss was about, the men were handsome an at the time, it was the only recurring show that had a gay character as part of the family and not some flamboyant joke or eccentric queen with snarky comments. Much like the times, being gay back then and cumming out was a lot more difficult than today. General society was just starting to accept that gay people exist but most straight people back then would say they didn't even know anyone personally who was gay unless they lived in LA or NY.

Another great instrumental theme, for a very short lived show. Very atmospheric.

The 'Riley, Ace of Spies' orchestral gene was stunning (a U.K. Drama from twenty five or more years ago, starring Kiwi actor Sam Neill in the title role). It still turns up in odd musical selections.

I would link but I'm technically challenged. It's shameful - and I own it. Mea culpa.

The Waltons

Terrible show, but great music.

Steven is Gay. There, I said it.

[quote]Best instrumental TV theme song ever?

My oh my, not even close.

I will go to the grave with this one.

Lost in Space had two different theme songs, by John Williams AKA Star Wars, Jurassic Park etc.

Dynasty was the best theme song, but for Daytime Soap Opera's I like mid 90's One Life to Live

R23 = Frau

If you count the TV cartoon series that followed the movie, even though the theme was written for the latter, then this is it. Thread Closed.

One of my favourites:

Surprised this one hasn't been mentioned.

Mike Post/Pete Carpenter

Dated sound, but fit the series perfectly

How did we go from Dynasty theme song one of the best musical theme to "here is some dated Miami Vise Shit?"

Of all the ones posted, I still think Dynasty is the best and most emotional

Falcon Crest and Knots Landing were both much better than Dynasty.

Me and the girls in Mr. Lynn's history class made up words to the Dynasty theme song:

Dynasty, oh Dynasty

Alexis and Kry-stle, Blake and Dex Dex-ex-ter

Are enemies, but they love each other, deep down IN-si-i-de very much

An-nd Claudia loves Steven but Steven is gay so it doesn't really matter much annyway-ay-ay-ay-ay-ay

How did they NOT know I was gay??

When I was a little kid, I was disappointed that the whole show wasn't puppets!

Falcon Crest is not memorable at all

One of my faves.

Not even close. I think Twin Peaks was the best theme song.

Followed closely by the sleekness of Mad Men.

I've always thought the Family theme was beautiful.

Knots Landing did improve their theme over the years, but not as classic as Dynasty

"ROOTS"

Uh... No!

THIS is the greatest tv theme song and opening credit sequence ever.

Falcon Crest, particularly the season 4 arrangement:

Dynasty - season 6 theme

Oy, R19! That scene is a killer!

I loved the theme to A Year in the Life.

Dynasty is gorgeous, lush, sweeping and grant, which sets the tone perfectly for the show. When I hear it, I feel important!

I'd like to submit The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd for honorable mention in the category of quirky 80s sitcom themes.

^^grand, not grant

Probably, OP.

[quote] —the only one to answer the question

r13, r20, and r40 all directly answered the question before you did.

PAY BETTER ATTENTION.

You can say this: Dynasty had the best house. (Though the original Southfork was no slouch.)

I used to watch Models Inc just for the opening.

What no Rockford Files?

R20 for the win...Hawaii Five O it is.

For me... Bliss.

THIS is the best TV theme song and intro of all time. Bow down and worship at the altar of Angels:

After Hawaii 5-O, my favorite...

Oops, sorry I had a glitch posting with my phone.

I love Raquel’s chair spin just as the strings make that downward run(glissando?)! Top that, Susan Sullivan!

The Falcon Crest theme was too chirpy, jolly, and pizzicato, and Knots Landing was a bit Muzak-y with its smooth jazz sound.

Dynasty, while the inferior show, had by far the best theme. Like others said, it was grand, epic, and majestic.

Game of Thrones, bitches!

close, OP. But not quite.....

My Favorites:

Battlestar Galactica (1978)

Hardy Boys/ Nancy Drew Mysteries

The Rockford Files

Hawaii Five-0 has to be included in the discussion.

Charlie's Angels is so great because the music fits the montage perfectly and while Farrah was my favorite Angel, Jaclyn OWNED the opening credits, somehow they managed to fit like 8 different pivots into her billing sequence (though, the one where she places the huge white hat jauntily atop her head is the best of them all).

R61 That Colbys opening theme is just a overblown mess, bombastic and high-sounding with little meaning. The worse thing they could have done was steal the opening 5 seconds of the Dynasty tune with its touch of melancholic understatement.

[quote] That Colbys opening theme is just a overblown mess, bombastic and high-sounding with little meaning.

Legit description for the entire series

It’s my ringtone.

Ahem.

I win bitches!

Instrumental R68, instrumental.

Cool theme songs began with this:

I don't think the 'Dynasty' theme has inspired marching bands all over the country the way 'Hawaii Five-O' has.

Considering the men in the "it's a Living" restaurant are wearing tuxes, the waitresses look like they're working at "Hooters" walking around in bikini tops.

Picket Fences

A bit dated but I'd give it an honorable mention.

I've always loved this one, too.

The "Charlie's Angels" theme always reminds me of that scene in The Brady Bunch Movie where Marcia and Jan try out as models. The CA theme plays in the background.

I still think Dynasty is the best instrumental theme, but Taxi is up there in the top five. It definitely captures the moodyi feeling of New York in the 70s.

If we're considering TV Themes with lyrics, then it's a whole new ballgame.

Let THIS show, bitches!

In an unrelated tangent 1970s Robert Hayes could get it!

I am loving the Deuce theme song as well as Transparent.

I'm flopulous!

Watching the Dynasty opens makes me totally nostalgic. Although I will admit the Twin Peaks open is probably better but way too creepy.

Room 222

That Colbys montage - was it an inside joke that Moses (Charlton Heston) had ocean waters crashing around him? Did he part the sea again?

And did John James always come off as a priss?

Well, R86, he did originally audition for Steven.

The Twin Peaks theme is "Falling" by Julee Cruise without the vocals.

St Elsewhere

The Transparent theme is one that I always watch, unlike most others that I will fast forward through.

I love the flickering 1994 VHS date stamp at the end .

R42 I must have started to watch the show during the sixth season, because I remember every second of that opening and haven't seen it since.

The worst theme song ever has to be Orange is the New Black.

What, no theme to Taxi? That song still holds up. I like the theme to Dynasty as well. As other said, it is majestic.

Pamela Sue was so gorgeous but I always wondered why her hairstyles sucked so bad. Then I read that she was under so much stress during her run on the show that her hair started to fall out and the producers had to use wigs and extensions on her head.

Yeah Pamela looked super thin too. I think she has an eating disorder.

Probably the most popular (and trend-setting) instrumental TV themes were Mission Impossible and Hawaii Five-O.

The Theme From S.W.A.T may be the only one to be a Number One Billboard hit.

But far and away, the best theme HAS to be Perry Mason.

[quote]The Theme From S.W.A.T may be the only one to be a Number One Billboard hit.

The Miami Vice theme, and Welcome Back Kotter theme did as well.

Of course there are also No. 1 songs that then get chosen as TV Themes but you can't really count those. For instance, the No. 1 song Runaway, by Del Shannon, was used as the theme to NBC's mid-80s hit show, Crime Story.

The final season theme

Rockford Files was the best.

[quote]The worst theme song ever has to be Orange is the New Black.

Also the theme song from The Affair (Fiona Apple)

The first season didn't have that trumpet fanfares solo. It was more strings than anything.

Also from season 1: Does Claudia ever wear a bra on season 1? I'm tired of seeing her saggy tits.

Al Corley was a hotter Steven than Jack Coleman

Bo Hopkins had a boyish charm to him.

The first season didn't have that trumpet fanfares solo. It was more strings than anything.

Also from season 1: Does Claudia ever wear a bra on season 1? I'm tired of seeing her saggy tits.

Al Corley was a hotter Steven than Jack Coleman

Bo Hopkins had a boyish charm to him.

was the scene at r19 Al Corley's last episode on the show?

R10 and R88 nail it - the Twin Peaks opening by Angelo Badalamenti is by far the most beautiful and haunting that I can think of. Even the filming/cinematography if you can call it that is arresting. The eerie, mysterious and kooky nature of the show was being foreshadowed perfectly.

It's between "Dallas" and "Buck Rogers in the 25th Century"

Was the Dynasty theme released as a single at some point. I heard it on the radio recently.

Mr. Lucky - written by Henry Mancini, the master.

I'd have to go with Peter Gunn, but at the more overblown end of the spectrum I don't think you can beat The West Wing.

I always liked how the music from Dynasty hit a sad cord when Al Corley the tortured gay character appeared on screen. He was better than the replacement, wish he wouldn't have quit for fear of being gay. Being a young gayling I felt just as tortured at the time.

He had such beautiful lips.

I grew up being obsessed with the Falcon Crest theme. Made my neighbors mad listening to it over and over very loudly (that's how I got my first headphones ... my parents didn't want the neighbors to bother them again).

Honorable mention: The Doctor Who Theme.

Who knew he could sing?

The actual house in Dynasty was not on Colorado, it was in California. The Filoli mansion is considered a country house. You can actually visit and take tours.

Streetbeater by Quincy Jones from Sanford And Son. Still love it. The theme from Friends was horrible I saw Friends maybe once and loathed it.

RAWHIDE theme is lots of fun.

Sexy, sophisticated PETER GUNN.

This thread is about Dynasty, cant you guys read? Who keeps posting all these other off topic themes. Its not "list your favorite theme song." Start a new thread Dear, stay on topic.

Dallas is still my favorite

True Detective, S.1. LOVE that song.

[quote]This thread is about Dynasty, cant you guys read? Who keeps posting all these other off topic themes. Its not "list your favorite theme song." Start a new thread Dear, stay on topic.

Yeah, it is now, DEAR. Now run along...your oxygen is low.

Not the best BUT both the Sopranos and Weeds openings really got me excited before an episode.

This is Jim Rockford. At the tone leave your name and message and I'll get back to you.

No mention of this yet?

If you listen to The Colbys theme, it would have been perfect for an outer-space adventure show — not so much for a glossy nighttime soap.

R116 Do you really think there is 100+ posts' worth of material in the topic of "Dynasty theme song"? What is there to say apart from "I love it!" or "Meh"?

The only reason this thread is still alive is because people started reminiscing about their favorite TV themes. To which I'll add:

I always thought “The Colby’s” theme song sounded like the intro to some sci-fi series, like something you’d here on a Star Trek show.

But then, the series did end with a space ship showing up...

Still think the Dynasty theme is better than all of the others posted here.

This was the equivalent of Dynasty theme in the 90s:

Did anyone actually WATCH the Colbys?

They don't make them like this anymore

Midnight Caller

I agree with @R129

DL you disappoint me. 130 posts and no Odd Couple?

131 posts and Dynasty remains the best instrumental theme song champ!

The next few links are Conti's original scoring for the pilot and maybe the first episode... but he's got the sweep of the thing.... it was (season 1) an answer to Dallas, but an entirely different beast.. .

2 of 3

3 of 3

[quote]They don't make them like this anymore

Yeah, why is that?

How come we don't have that many great theme songs on TV today?

Dynasty was good, but it certainly was far from the best ever. I would put Twin Peaks, Hawaii Five-O, Rockford Files, Mission: Impossible, NBC Mystery Theatre (linked), and The Simpsons all ahead of it. And I think I'd even put Falcon Crest in front of it too--it was the most exciting and thrilling of the nighttime soap theme songs.

The smooth jazz variant of the Knots Landing theme was just awful--one of the worst ever. The original version was not bad or good.

This theme song relaxes me...

I still get chills listening to the Dynasty theme.....so regal and majestic. A little 9 year old gay boy in the 80s excited to sneak on his bedroom TV Wednesday night at 10 pm to watch Joan Collins in all those gowns cause havoc. God, I miss the 80s

Dynasty was a bold, grand, pompous and decent theme for sure (and quite enthralling) but no match for the beauty and eerie complexity that was Twin Peaks. I suppose that it is like comparing apples to oranges, but still no contest.

[quote] I still get chills listening to the Dynasty theme.....so regal and majestic.

Mary!

....and Knots Landing was easily the winner of the best prime time soap of the era of prime time soaps, but it consistently produced terrible opening music - no matter the season. I loved the show but hated the theme song.

Twin Peaks was an older song with the vocals removed. Dynasty was composed specifically for the show.

This thread shows how important opening credits are. I wish we had them today.

R133 Never heard those longer versions - Thanks!

1. St. Elsewhere 2. Hill Street Blues 3. Rockford Files 4. Dallas, but not the disco version, which was short lived 5. West Wing 6. The American Experirnce

Knot's Landing third season on The Munsters season 2 Lost In Space third season The Days and Nights of Molky Dodd I Dream of Jeannie second season on

The Munsters second season, when they turned up the bass, was indeed fantastic

Especially when they swing it out with the horns just before Marilyn appears. Such a great variation.

Yikes, actually now that I am re-visiting the Dynasty theme thanks to R133 - it actually sounds a bit like a middle school concert band performing a spring concert......badly. Twin Peaks actually kills it - I really don't care what, why, how far, old song, new song, vocals removed or not... Twin Peaks was utterly brilliant and beautiful - so much superior. You really cannot compare the two outside of the fact that they aired one year apart.

Most shows now start abruptly and show opening credits for the first couple minutes of the episode.

R149 you're the one comparing the two.

Space: 1999 was FABULOUS.

Plus, Barbara Bain's superdramatic impassive 45 degree pivot puts all other actress's dramatic pivots TO SHAME. Even yours, Pamela Sue!

give me Gaynasty

Congratulations to those of you who voted for The Rockford Files.

As for the rest of you, all your taste is in your mouth.

R154. Anyway....

If we're including TV miniseries, then the theme music from "Winds of War" deserves a mention.

It's easy to forget how great the theme from the NBC Nightly News is.

My, you Americans have such crass, plebeian tastes!

Another honorable mention: L.A. Law

Short but wonderful.

You're forgetting the great British miniseries themes. "Brideshead Revisited" might be the best of all.

Dynasty seems so community theater in R19's clip.

Except for Forsyth, the acting is so bad. They all wait a few beats after a line to say their own.

It's shocking to me how long some of these introductory clips are.

Agreed, R163.

It's amazing how long the opening theme songs were on those Primetime '80's soaps.

Some of them go for 1 & a half to 2 minutes long.

Most theme songs today are very short (except for Game of Thrones).

Flamingo Road

Emmerdale

I agree with Dynasty and Dallas and St Elsewhere--I'll throw in Trapper John, MD, which had a really great theme. My mom loved this show and I loved the theme.

Credit to you, R110, for posting the 'Doctor Who' theme.

That's probably the most famous TV theme tune on this thread.

It's been running for 55 years now, in one version or another.

God, I forgot about Gregory Harrison the shower every week. Yum.

The other one that's pretty awesome is The Colbys, which was a Dynasty spin-off. I love how the opening is the same as Dynasty's theme, and then it breaks off into this incredible orchestral theme that sounds like something out of Schumann! Amazing that networks would pay those huge studio orchestras to record these themes and really let 'em rip!

They don't make theme songs like the used to.

The best ones, I think always comment on the show. One of the reasons "Dynasty" was terrific and the later "Knots landing" soft-jazz theme was so awful is that "Dynasty" theme told you so much about the show, while "Knots landing" "Dynasty"'s dramatic fanfare told you the show was going to be about important people who lived like gods. The soft jazz version of "Knots landing" tells you nothing about the show--it was an incredibly dramatic show, and yet you'd never have guessed it from listening to the theme (which was retooled for market reasons--they found their audience was mostly young suburban women who responded well to soft jazz).

One of my favorites today is the Hans Zimmer theme for "The Crown." It tells you exactly what the show is about: it starts with a very elemental chord, to suggest both how the monarch undergirds every part of life in the UK (which in one sense she does), and then builds from there slowly, instrument by instrument, to become more complex and layered--as if from the one person springs the whole nation. It also has a very driving sense (to suggest the movement of history and the news), and sounds both majestic and vaguely melancholic (because the monarch is so important, but she must endure so many unhappy events for her nation and her family).

The theme for the original 1970's "The Tomorrow People" was very cool:

[quote]God, I forgot about Gregory Harrison the shower every week. Yum.

Did you forget about me? I was molested.

R172 Knots was trying to be bold and stand out from the pack with the "abstract" opening and Kenny G style of music of seasons 9 &10. I guess that soft jazz theme could have been the forerunner to Twin Peaks, but with Knots it wanted to be seductive rather than moody and organic. It took me several watchings back in the 80s to understand that the forerunner to this theme (the scrolling picture frames with the perky theme tune) was NOT a sitcom opening.

R172, I agree with you about THE CROWN, and you described it perfectly.

It’s majestic, and one of the best television themes of recent years.

R175 - there is something about Knots Landing season 9 that I really liked. I found it somewhat moody and atmospheric - the music seemed rather novel for the time and dare I say it - chic. The actors (Donna primarily of course) looked really gorgeous and the abstract 80's seascape that was filmed in close-up during the credits but then pulled back into focus at the end was interesting. I know that we are wading in tacky, campy waters here, but sue me - I liked it. I would NEVER nominate it for greatest opening theme ever or even as a top contender. but secretly I really enjoyed that season's opening. I will also note that I watched Knots for the first time in syndication around 1999/2000, so I was well aware of how dated the look and music were when I viewed it. Knots always had such a campy, tacky opening (despite being such an amazing show), that I found the change both welcome and refreshing compared to the terrible boxes moving across the screen. When they "jazzed up" the season 9 intro for season 10 - I hated it. The subtle effect was ruined for me. Worst yet, season 11's hideous "sandcastle" theme looked like it was filmed with a neighbor's camcorder. It was just downright cheap and awful.

[quote]Dynasty seems so community theater in [R19]'s clip.

[quote]Except for Forsyth, the acting is so bad. They all wait a few beats after a line to say their own.

Yeah, the acting in that Dynasty clip above seems a bit stilted.

Was that the acting style on 1980's Primetime soaps?

"Christopher" Norris on Trapper John MD. What an odd name for a girl!

Did all the Brand Falsey shows have instrumentals?

R170 It gave us few lessons, how to throw a fur and how to open doors. I loved L.A. Law’s opening, still do, season 4 was the best.

[quote]The best ones, I think always comment on the show.

Oh, I agree in spades.

Sit back, relax. Listen to the theme from Dynasty and let all of your troubles from the week slip away.

No love for Knight Rider's?

My fave episode.

Cagney & Lacey theme song - such a fun tune.

Growing up, I never watched "Cagney & Lacey", but I watched whatever aired before it, and I'd keep the tv on so I could see that shirtless shot of Martin Kove in the credits.

Apparently the impact of "Cagney & Lacey" inspired quite a few women to become police officers.

R177, here's the Season 9 opening before Julie Harris and Constance McCashin got the axe, featuring Connie's glamorous and exciting full pivot.

Ok I remembered my favorite theme growing up-- REMINGTON STEELE by Henry Mancini

I prefer the themetune to Dallas and The Colbys. Much more oomph to them.

I always thought The Colbys theme sounded like something from a Star Trek show or a Superman show.

You could totally recut The Colbys opening credit sequence with footage of Fallon’s alien abduction, and the theme music would be so appropriate.

The Dallas theme is better.

Could probably get a dance floor club remix

Star Trek (the original)

And thanks to those who mentioned Space: 1999 and Sanford and Son

When I was a young gay-to-be I always tossed my head in sync with Jaclyn Smith as she removed her cycle helmet during the "Charlie's Angels" open. Loved that theme!

The theme song and Joan Collins equaled ratings gold.

John Forsythe was apparently the douche of the set

The aerials of the Dallas skyline sure look ratchet and unimpressive today. Back then I was a young gay in Southern Indiana and thought Dallas was some ultramodern metropolis. Boy, was I wrong.

Entirely forgettable song but the opening bulge shot wouldn’t happen today.

The show took place in Denver.

Oh, sorry r201. I know of course that Dynasty was set in Denver. There were diversions here to the Dallas and Knots Landing themes and I wasn't clear of what I was talking about. Duly corrected.

Conti strikes again.

R172 you seem to have posted the wrong theme song. Mine is much more pleasing.

Alexis, Blake and Krystal threesome

Christmas is the perfect time to give this classic theme song a spin

Oh please, amateurs.

None of you have Jack Jones. Also Halston and Bob Mackie!

Another upvote for The Rockford Files. Just the coolest. This is a better version than the one upthread:

The theme from "Falcon Crest" sucked ass, and not in a good way.

One of my favorite Bill Conti moments, is his theme for "Cagney & Lacey".

The video quality of this Dynasty reunion "Catfights and Caviar" sucks but it's worth watching if you're a fan of the show.

Catherine Oxenberg thanking John Forsythe for his kind intervention for her drug addiction at 37:13

Trapper John MD. Only because of Gregory Harrison in the shower.

R207 that's not an instrumental