Top Five Theme Songs That I Didn't Write

By John Tesh

The Greatest American Hero
The best use of that song was as a message on George Costanza's answering machine on Seinfeld. You know, [sings] "Believe it or not, George isn't home." I love the fact a song that is that bouncy and goofy would make it to No. 1.

Miami Vice
A TV theme written by a guy with incredible jazz-fusion chops. As a keyboard player, I love Jan Hammer. It was so different with that really cool synth sound.

Heavy Action (Monday Night Football theme)
I lived my life for years writing sports themes, so I love big themes like this. The cool thing about that was it was a needle drop. It wasn't commissioned for the show.

Magnum, P.I.
I love that big thematic thing—Mike Post was famous for combining real instruments (brass and strings) with real synthesizers. He was a genius at putting that together.

Hawaii Five-0
I don't even know who wrote that! But that particular theme, there's a guy who's a producer on my radio show and that's his ringtone.

SEE IT:

John Tesh plays the Newmark Theatre on Thursday, Aug. 20, and Friday, Aug. 21.

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