30 Rock Theme Music: The Best of the Best

30 Rock is one of the greatest sitcoms of all time, and its theme music is one of the best parts! Here’s a look at some of the best tracks from the show.

30 Rock Theme Music: The Best of the Best

This iconic show ran for seven seasons and produced some of the most memorable laugh out loud moments in recent history. But the 30 Rock theme song is just as iconic as the show itself. It has been covered by some of the biggest names in music, including Barbra Streisand, Tony Bennett, and Bon Jovi. There have been remixes, mashups, and even an a capella version. But which one is the best? We’ve compiled a list of the best 30 Rock theme songs to help you decide.

The original 30 Rock theme song was performed by combining excerpts of “The Girl from Ipanema” and “What’s New Pussycat?”. The result is a catchy, yet easy-going tune that perfectly compliments the show’s light-hearted nature.

Barbra Streisand’s cover of the 30 Rock theme song is one of the most popular versions. She recorded it for her 2009 album Love Is the Answer. Her signature style transforms the tune into a more elegant ballad, but she still captures the original spirit of the show.

Tony Bennett also recorded a cover of the 30 Rock theme song for his 2011 album Duets II. His version is similar to Streisand’s in that it is slower and more subdued than the original. But Bennett brings his own unique charm to the tune, making it one of the best covers on our list.

Bon Jovi took a different approach to their cover of the 30 Rock theme song. Instead of trying to mimic the original, they created an entirely new arrangement that highlights lead singer Jon Bon Jovi’s raspy vocals. The end result is a hard-rockin’ anthem that perfectly fits their style.

The Roots are known for their innovative musical arrangements, so it’s no surprise that their cover of the 30 Rock theme song is one of the most unique on our list. They infuse elements of hip-hop and jazz into the mix, creating a fun and funky remix that stays true to The Roots’ signature sound.

30 Rock Theme Music: The Best of the Best – Part 2

In Part 2 of our series on the best of the best 30 Rock theme music, we take a look at some more of the great songs that have been used to open the show. While the original version by Judah Friedlander is still our favorite, there are some other great ones that come close.

“I Believe in Magic” by Mos Def

This one is just pure fun. It’s got a great beat and Mos Def’s rap is just perfect for getting you pumped up for an episode of 30 Rock.

“I Want You (She’s So Heavy)” by The Beatles

This classic song by The Beatles gets a whole new life when it’s used as the opening theme for 30 Rock. It perfectly sets the tone for the show, with its mix of humor and drama.

“Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You’re Going To)” by Diana Ross

This soulful ballad by Diana Ross is a great choice for the opening of 30 Rock. It sets the perfect tone for the show, and it always gets us ready for another episode of hilarious hijinks.

30 Rock Theme Music: The Best of the Best – Part 3

The last part of our series on the best 30 Rock theme music features some of the more recent tracks that have been used on the show. These songs are all great examples of how the theme music for 30 Rock has evolved over the years, while still staying true to its roots.

“I Love It” by Kanye West

“Make Me Wanna Holler” by Marvin Gaye

“Work It Out” by Beyonce

“Ridin’ Solo” by Jason Derulo

30 Rock Theme Music: The Best of the Best – Part 4

In this final installment of our series on the best 30 Rock theme music, we take a look at the show’s most popular songs. From “I Believe in You” to “The World Turned Upside Down”, these are the tunes that have made 30 Rock one of the most memorable TV shows of all time.

30 Rock Theme Music: The Best of the Best – Part 5

In this, the final part of our series, we take a look at the top 5 30 Rock theme songs.

5. “Eat It” by Weird Al Yankovic – While not an original composition, Weird Al’s parody of Michael Jackson’s “Beat It” is a perfect fit for the show. The lines “You better eat it / Just eat it / Get yourself an egg and eat it” perfectly capture the irreverent tone of 30 Rock.

4. “He Needs a Kidney” by The Kronos Quartet – This original composition by the renowned string ensemble is both beautiful and hilarious, with its plaintive melody perfectly capturing the emotional stakes of the episode in which it appeared.

3. “The Caddy Shuffle” by Jeff Richmond – 30 Rock creator Tina Fey enlisted her husband Jeff Richmond to write a number of songs for the show, and this energetic instrumental theme is one of the best. It’s used to perfection in the episode “Live from Studio 6H”, as Liz Lemon (Fey) frantically tries to get the show back on track after an earthquake strikes.

2. “Werewolf Bar Mitzvah” by Tracy Morgan – Tracy Jordan (Morgan) delivers one of the funniest performances in 30 Rock history with this R&B ode to his favourite holiday: Halloween. The song is both hilariously absurd and strangely catchy, with a chorus that will be stuck in your head for days.

1. “I Believe in You” by Michael Bublé – This beautiful ballad, performed by Canadian crooner Michael Bublé, was used to great effect in one of the show’s most emotional episodes, “Goodbye, My Friend”. As Liz says goodbye to her longtime friend and mentor Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin), Bublé’s voice provides a perfect counterpoint to the sadness of the scene.

30 Rock Theme Music: The Best of the Best – Part 6

In this, the final installment of our quest to find the best 30 Rock theme music, we’ve saved some of the biggest and best for last. From classic rock anthems to modern pop hits, these songs are sure to get you pumped for another hilarious episode of 30 Rock. So without further ado, here are our top 10 picks for the best 30 Rock theme music:

10. “I Wanna Be Sedated” by The Ramones

9. “Start Me Up” by The Rolling Stones

8. “Theme from ‘The A-Team'” by Mike Post

7. “Pinball Wizard” by The Who

6. “Heart of Glass” by Blondie

5. “Make No Mistake, She’s Mine” by Kenny Loggins and Jim Messina

4. “Bennie and the Jets” by Elton John

3. “I Love New York” by Madonna
2. “(Theme from) The Monkees” by The Monkees
1. “Green Onions” by Booker T & The MGs

30 Rock Theme Music: The Best of the Best – Part 7

This is the seventh and final installment of 30 Rock Theme Music: The Best of the Best. If you haven’t been following along, you can check out Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5 and Part 6.

Today we’re going to take a look at the best of the best of 30 Rock theme music. This list is based on my own personal opinion, so feel free to disagree in the comments.

Without further ado, here are my picks for the best 30 Rock theme songs:

5. “Just a Friend” by Biz Markie
This classic hip-hop song perfectly captures the cheesiness of early ’90s television. It’s also a great example of how 30 Rock frequently uses pop culture references to appeal to a wider audience.

4. “Greenpoint” by They Might Be Giants
This bouncy little number perfectly encapsulates the quirkiness of 30 Rock‘s setting and characters. The lyrics are also pretty clever, with references to popular culture (“I know it’s kind of dark / But I don’t mind Captain Crunch”) and a clever play on words (“Tracy Jordan / He’s from Queens!”).

3. “Werewolf Bar Mitzvah�� by Tracy Morgan and Jeffrey Tambor
This song perfectly captures Tracy Jordan’s over-the-top personality. It also features some great guest appearances, including Will Arnett and Rachel Dratch. Plus, who doesn’t love a good werewolf pun? (I know I do.)

2. “Rockin’ Robin�� by Michael Jackson
This classic pop song perfectly captures the light-hearted tone of 30 Rock. Plus, it features one of my all-time favorite Jackson 5 moments: when Michael stops singing and starts doing that awesome robot dance thing. (You know what I’m talking about.)

1. “Theme from Seinfeld/Seinfeldia Anthem” by Jeff Richmond and Nancy Walls Caricature Players feat. Wayne Knight & Jerry Seinfeld

Jeff Richmond and Nancy Walls Caricature Players deliver a pitch-perfect parody of the classic Seinfeld theme song with this track from Seinfeldia, the musical episode of 30 Rock. Wayne Knight does an amazing job as Jerry Seinfeld, nailing both his voice and his mannerisms, and Jerry Seinfeld himself makes a cameo appearance at the end of the song. This is easily one of my all-time favorite songs from 30 Rock – or from any other television show, for that matter.

30 Rock Theme Music: The Best of the Best – Part 8

In the previous article, we took a look at the best of the best when it comes to 30 Rock theme music. We looked at 10 different songs, all of which are great in their own right. But, in this article, we are going to take things a step further and narrow it down to the top 5. So, without further ado, here are the best of the best 30 Rock themes!

30 Rock Theme Music: The Best of the Best – Part 9

While “30 Rock” is a comedy and most of the music featured on the show is comedic as well, there are some more serious moments that are enhanced by a more somber tune. In these cases, the music helps to accentuate the drama or tension in a scene, and can even be used to foreshadow events to come. Here are some of the best examples of such music from “30 Rock”:

“Lights of Long Island” – This track, written and performed by impromptu house band The Ragadies, accompanies Liz’s (Tina Fey) comical but also moving montage of all the things she’ll never get to do now that she’s leaving her job at TGS.

“Maine” – This traditional folk song, which is heard multiple times throughout the series, takes on new meaning in the episode “Mama Said Knock You Out” when it accompanies a montage of Jack (Alec Baldwin) preparing for his boxing match with Devin Banks (guest star Will Arnett). The montage ends with Jack getting knocked out, making the song’s implications clear.

“Whoomp! (There It Is)” – This ’90s club hit provides the perfect accompaniment to another one of Liz’s montages, this time of her dancing around her apartment in joy after finding out she’s been asked to be a maid of honor.

30 Rock Theme Music: The Best of the Best – Part 10

Welcome to the tenth and final part of our countdown of the best 30 Rock theme music. In this last instalment, we’re taking a look at the top five songs that have been used as the show’s opening theme over its seven seasons.

5. “Don’t Look Down” byInterpol
Used in: Season 1, Episode 11 (“The Head and the Hair”)

4. “I Believe in a Thing Called Love” by The Darkness
Used in: Season 1, Episode 13 (“The Red Dot Award Show”)

3. “Life on Mars?” by David Bowie
Used in: Season 2, Episode 10 (“Ludachristmas”)

2. “Werewolf Bar Mitzvah” by Tracy Morgan
Used in: Season 2, Episode 13 (“The C word”)

1. “Where It All Begun” by Manchester Orchestra
Used in: Season 3, Episode 1 (Do-over)