Believe
It Or Not
1981
Mike
Post/Joey Scarbury
Last post dealt with the four biggest instrumental theme
songs (IMHO) of the 60s, 70s, and 80s...so this week I'll take on the
three biggest vocal theme songs.
I think everyone who was around as a teen or early
twenty-something in the early 80s remembers the first one...remembers
it well and fondly. It's one of catchy, addictive tunes that even
the occasional metal head found him or herself silent lip-syncing to
if they should run across it. Thing is a lot of people don't remember
where it came from. It's one of those cases of a TV theme song that
was far more popular than the show that it was a theme for.
Back in 1981, a teacher named Ralph Hinkley...played by
Richard Katt...was given a suit by a bunch of aliens, tried it on,
immediately lost the instruction manual for it, and alleged hilarity
ensued for the next two and a half seasons. The Greatest American
Hero was a mid-season replacement, premiering on March 18th,
1981...along with it's theme song, Believe It Or Not.
The show was actually pretty forgettable, hitting a wall
after only 44 episodes. The catchy, high energy theme song was far
more popular than the show. The music was written by Mike Post...who
also penned the music for The Hill Street Blues and Rockford Files
themes...the lyrics were penned by Steven Geyer, and they tapped Joey
Scarbury to sing it. It was a talent-trifecta made in heaven for the
song, which debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 on May 9th,
1981 and climbed the charts steadily, making it to #2 for the week of
August 22nd. The song hung around the Top 40 for a total
of 18 weeks, and outlasted the show by several years, and you could
still hear it occasionally on Oldies stations until a few years back.
It's kind of dropped off the radar other then the occasional 'X# Of
Greatest Hits' count down. To bad really...'Believe It Or Not' was
almost as good an energy boost on a long, never-ending work-day as a
caffeine fix!
So Enjoy...'Believe It Or Not', written by Mike Post and
Sung By Joey Scarbury. The Video has both the lyrics and some scenes
from the show.
As Bonus # 1...the opening credits from 'The Greatest
America Hero.
The song has been referenced in more episodes of other
TV shows...from 'Seinfeld' right on up to 'Heroes'...than just about
any other theme music, and was covered by none other than 'Alvin And
The Chipmunks'
And with that thought in mind...as bonus #2, the
Official...yes, official...music video for Alvin And The
Chipmunks, covering 'Believe It Or Not'
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