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The 10 Earwormiest Saturday Morning Cartoon Theme Songs

By Dustin Rowles | Posted Under Seriously Random Lists | Comments (70)

ducktales.jpg

10. Wildcats

9. Alvin and the Chipmunks

8. Pole Position

7. Scooby Doo

6. Gummi Bears

5. Smurfs

4. Richie Rich

3. Jem

2. Muppet Babies

1. Duck Tales










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Comments

TAILSPIN (I'm a sucker for a jungle beat)

Posted by: coveredinbees at September 30, 2010 2:46 PM

Captain Planet...now I'll be singing it in my head all day...Captain Planet he's our hero, gonna take pollution down to zero

Posted by: portland at September 30, 2010 2:46 PM

OK, not technically a cartoon, but "The Banana Splits." If I want to ruin someone (of a certain age's) day, all I have to do is hum or type the words.

Posted by: BWeaves at September 30, 2010 2:50 PM

Go, Speed Racer, Go!

Am I crazy for thinking that sticks more than Pole Position? Also, where's Spider Man? I heard a snippet of the Ramones version recently and found myself humming it for days.

Posted by: hindulovegod at September 30, 2010 2:50 PM

The DuckTales theme is one of the ringtones on my phone, it's that great.

Posted by: Snrub at September 30, 2010 2:52 PM

I think you're missing M.A.S.K.

Posted by: admin at September 30, 2010 2:53 PM

DuckTales is a clear-cut #1. That song still tumbles out of my head every once and awhile, and I haven't seen the show in about 20 years.

AH-WHOOO-OOO!!!

Posted by: Kballs at September 30, 2010 2:56 PM

Muppet Babies had some serious earworm songs. I still find myself humming "Art is for your heart" every once in a while, 20-something years later.

The earwormiest thing from my childhood, without a doubt, was this bit from Nickelodeon Pinwheel:
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6vl02_chapi-chapo-generique_shortfilms

Posted by: shell at September 30, 2010 2:57 PM

Good god did I love me some Jem.

Posted by: Katie at September 30, 2010 3:00 PM

Posted by: penelope at September 30, 2010 3:02 PM

Posted by: mswas at September 30, 2010 3:03 PM

I have been known to spontaneously break out into any combo of these tunes in the shower.

It scares the shit out of my dog.

Posted by: ceejeemcbeegee at September 30, 2010 3:04 PM

truly truly truly outrageous, woah Jem-Jemmmmm, the music's contagious outrageous!

OHGOD. I didn't even watch the clip. *looks around*

I laugh every time I see Ducktales because sometimes I refer to my fiance as Scrooge McDoug. I know they aren't related exactly...but...you know.

*tells self to stop talking*
*obeys*

Posted by: melisseh at September 30, 2010 3:04 PM

Oh, I swear that BWeaves's comment wasn't there when I went Google-searchin' for how to embed links.

Posted by: penelope at September 30, 2010 3:06 PM

i'm not sure i understand what earwormy means. good? bad? stuck in your head for better or worse?

either way, I'll nominate the theme for Dr. Snuggles and the New Shmoo(there wasn't actually an 'old' shmoo in animation, just in the funny papers. they just went with 'new' to differentiate cartoon detective shmoo from edible hillbilly delight shmoo)

Posted by: idleprimate at September 30, 2010 3:06 PM

there should be a comma somewhere there as dr snuggles and the shmoo didn't costar on a show together.

Posted by: idleprimate at September 30, 2010 3:08 PM

I once had the Ulysses 31 song stuck in my head for about two months. Anyone remember that show. This is the song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZ4c1X5ene8

It was fucking terrible.

AAAAAH NOW IT'S IN MY BRAIN AGAIN! AAAAAAH!

Posted by: figgy at September 30, 2010 3:09 PM

Posted by: penelope at September 30, 2010 3:09 PM

ch ch ch CHIP n DALE

and criminal lack of MASK

Posted by: PyD at September 30, 2010 3:12 PM

Also (although technically not a Saturday morning cartoon) Doug had a pretty good one. The original one that sounds like a bunch of stoned guys humming, not the snazzier version barbershop-quartet one.

Posted by: penelope at September 30, 2010 3:19 PM

Listen to the Banana Splits' theme and then listen to Bob Marley's "Buffalo Soldiers". I know Sid and Marty liked to spark up but, damn...

Posted by: Spender at September 30, 2010 3:21 PM

No Flinstones?

Posted by: Chewster at September 30, 2010 3:24 PM

No Hong Kong Phooey!?!

Posted by: Adam C. at September 30, 2010 3:24 PM

Yes PyD! I get the Chip n Dale theme in my head all the time!

WHEN IN DANGER!

Posted by: KRB at September 30, 2010 3:26 PM

Oh, man, how could you forget Tailspin?

(Ohh-ee-oh!)

Or Ch-ch-ch-Chip and Dale, Rescue Rangers?

Posted by: CrystalW187 at September 30, 2010 3:33 PM

though it was primetime, not saturday morning, Wait 'Til Your Father Gets Home had a catchy theme

Posted by: idleprimate at September 30, 2010 3:33 PM

Oh, I swear that BWeaves's comment wasn't there when I went Google-searchin' for how to embed links.

Oh, but it was you who out-eviled BWeaves by posting a harmless looking, effortless-to-click link.

But you're a shark lover, so you get a pass from me.

Posted by: Rykker at September 30, 2010 3:36 PM

Not really an earwormy song but I just want to throw this in for nostalgia's sake. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tv3OqKkZuCM&p=825F7294363AC51D&playnext=1&index=18

Posted by: PaulterA at September 30, 2010 3:38 PM

I never even knew there was a WildC.A.T.S. cartoon.

Posted by: FordbiddenDonut at September 30, 2010 3:42 PM

Dashing and daring, courageous and caring, faithful and friendly with so much to share.

Posted by: Lucas at September 30, 2010 3:42 PM

Doug ftw! It wasn't on the list, just the comments, but it is now lodged directly between my ears!

Posted by: MaryB. at September 30, 2010 3:43 PM

Oh man, I still find myself humming some of these at the most inopportune time. I'd have to add 'Freakazoid' and "Earthworm Jim' to this list, though I think I would have made 'Gummi Bears' #1.

Posted by: Siege at September 30, 2010 3:48 PM

Adam C., you are clearly a Number One Super Guy!

As soon as I read that, the entire song raced through my head. I was amazed I could still sing it after all these years.

Posted by: hindulovegod at September 30, 2010 3:51 PM

No Animaniacs?

No Inspector Gadget?

No Josie and the Pussycats?

Posted by: JH at September 30, 2010 3:55 PM

No Thundercats?

No Fat Albert?

Again, no Josie and the Pussycats?

Posted by: JH at September 30, 2010 3:59 PM

@shell - hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

I forgot ALL about Chapi Chapo Magnifique! Is it me or is it a bit disturbing?

Posted by: JH at September 30, 2010 4:07 PM

No Rescue Rangers
No Darkwing Duck
No Transformer
At least Duck Tales is number 1

Posted by: madclawmannn at September 30, 2010 4:07 PM

Whoa. I was just thinking about Richie Rich. Not really about the song, but about how the judge lady on Judge Karen's Court looks like she murdered him and is wearing his scalp like a trophy.

Posted by: jM at September 30, 2010 4:12 PM

I want Muppet Babies on DVD. Where the hell is it? Thundarr The Barbarian too please.

Posted by: DarthCorleone at September 30, 2010 4:31 PM

Yeah, the lack of Thundercats (a show that wasn't as good as that theme song) is a glaring omission.

As for the one that popped in my head when I read the title:


They're Pinky and the Brain
Yes, Pinky and the Brain
One is a genius
The other's insane

Posted by: Fredo at September 30, 2010 4:36 PM

I'd love thundarr on dvd. where the hell do you make requests for that sort of thing? for that matter, it always seems like every horrific sitcom ever created is available on dvd, but rarely do the cartoons get trotted out.

Posted by: idleprimate at September 30, 2010 4:42 PM

After these messages~... We'll be riight back.

Posted by: Vi at September 30, 2010 5:05 PM

After these messages~... We'll be riight back.

DingDingDingDing!

I heard that just like it was coming out of my TV screen right now.

Posted by: Rykker at September 30, 2010 5:23 PM

Oh geez. Thanks Dustin. All I want to do now is watch cartoons for hours...DUCK TALES WOOO-OOH!

Posted by: grace b at September 30, 2010 6:15 PM

awwwwww, now i just wanna get in my jammies, pour a bowl of shreddies and watch some cartoons.

Damn you fickle market that releases Alice and Three's Company on DVD, but not my beloved childhood cartoons.

Luckily, when I have these moments, I have a complete set of Sid and Marty Krofft's Land of the Lost. When I get the jammie jones, that stuff is sweet sweet china white.

Now if only someone in Quebec would release Secret Railroad. thats some hardcore no-one-remembers greatness in beautiful late 70's animation.

Posted by: idleprimate at September 30, 2010 6:23 PM

Oh man, the number of times I've gotten "Dun-da-dun-da-dun, In-spec-tor Ga-dget, dun-da-dun-da-dun-da-dun, OOOH OOOH!" stuck in my head on repeat for weeks on end... how can you simultaneously love and hate something so very much? Yet I always come down on the side of love. (Still hate that bitch Polly.)

Posted by: muttley crew at September 30, 2010 6:28 PM

I love you for this list. Thank you.

But... wtf is Pole Position?

Posted by: MelBivDevoe at September 30, 2010 6:34 PM

pour a bowl of shreddies...

Pffft!
Fruity Pebbles and/or Cocoa Pebbles or gtfo.

Posted by: Rykker at September 30, 2010 6:42 PM

Oh Fuck you! Ducktales theme song? Now in a continuous loop in my head for the next 24 hours. Thanks for that.

Posted by: greer at September 30, 2010 7:02 PM

aww man, my parents were paranoid about sugar. seriously, to this day, i think of Bran Flakes as exciting and tasty. I fucking try and get it up for lucky charms, but its bran flakes all the way.

and i am not kidding, weekdays were puffed wheat and oatmeal, Saturdays were Shreddies and Bran Flakes. And, godtopus, I love Bran Flakes, yummy sweet goodness.

ok, leave me alone, this is a geek site, we should all be welcome.

Posted by: idleprimate at September 30, 2010 7:08 PM

figgy, I swear that whatever you linked to is actually Wang Chung.

Posted by: Three-nineteen at September 30, 2010 8:46 PM

Before I read the title I saw the picture. And out of my mouth came a loud, "Awoooohooo". Yeah, Ducktales.

What the hell are WildCats? What about Thundercats?? "Thunder, thunder, thunder, THUNDERCATS!"

Snarf.

Posted by: Kiddo at September 30, 2010 9:26 PM

Schoolhouse Rock. Cartoons, commercials, what were they? Still earworm hell. I inflicted the 30th anniversary edition on my kids. Anyone of my generation who claims to still know the preamble to the constitution only does because of that song. I taught it to my oldest when she was in junior high by singing it and it confirmed her belief that I was out of my fucking mind. I still know all the words to I'm Just A Bill. And Conjunction Junction.

Posted by: slower lower at September 30, 2010 9:37 PM

well, gawd, I'm frickin canadian, and i know all about american constituion and law, from those school house rock cartoons.

i imagine, now, in 2010, my own piss poor nation, with its spectacularly evil leader could have done well by those cartoons.

can we make a populist movement that any american president or canadian prime minister has to familiarize himself with the entire body of schoolhouse rock?

Posted by: idleprimate at September 30, 2010 10:04 PM

C'mon, man, The Flintstones and Spiderman???

If the theme from Spiderman was good enough for The Simpsons Movie, it's good enough for me. Fuckin' you'uns.

Posted by: Uriah Creep at September 30, 2010 10:30 PM

Thanks, bweaves.. now I gots the Banana Splits theme STUCK. Ah childhood..

Posted by: webelos8 at September 30, 2010 10:34 PM

i might wonder again, in absence of any journalisitc words in the article, what does "earmostiest" mean? seriously, you failed to write anything in an direction. i'm sharing every cartoon i loved, if that is the case.

Hammy Hamster
The Green Forest
Popeye
Dr. Snuggles
Plastic Man
Hong Kong Phooey
The New Shmoo
The Land of the Lost

these come in above other shows that other folk nominate.

Posted by: idleprimate at September 30, 2010 10:51 PM

I'll see your Land of the Lost and raise you H.R Pufnstuf. Okay, anything by Sid and Marty Krofft. Where's dammitjanet with my backup on this? Oh, and we can't forget George of the Jungle.

Posted by: slower lower at September 30, 2010 10:59 PM

Thanks to those who mentioned Inspector Gadget! Muttley Crew I used to do the same thing. Also The Flintstones and Spiderman....What about Rainbow Brite? Kudos to having Duck Tales at Number #1.

Posted by: Tecuya at September 30, 2010 11:06 PM

Thank you for posting the Jem clip, I've been singing it since I took the 80s cartoon quiz on LitelySalted. I would have thrown in Inspector Gadget, Chip and Dale, Tailspin, and Fraggle Rock, but these are all pretty great. Except wtf is Pole Position? I watched that video and made it to "you are now the secret agents of pole position". Am I spectacularly perverted or does that sound like a very thinly veiled dirty joke to anyone else?

Posted by: Even Stevens at September 30, 2010 11:25 PM

Not a Saturday morning cartoon, but did anybody else get up and get ready for school watching "The Great Space Coaster"? Very catchy theme.

Off we go!

Posted by: autunmwind3 at October 1, 2010 12:09 AM

TALESPIN!

Posted by: Shobhna at October 1, 2010 1:35 AM

there should be a comma somewhere there

Posted by: idleprimate at September 30, 2010 3:08 PM
---
Right here!

And pissed:


No Lidsville?

No Animaniacs?

No George of the Jungle?

I'm supposed to take this seriously?

Posted by: , at October 1, 2010 1:37 AM

What about Looney Toons?

b-dee b-dee b-dee, That's All Folks!

Posted by: Rykker at October 1, 2010 3:16 AM

aww man, my parents were paranoid about sugar. seriously, to this day, i think of Bran Flakes as exciting and tasty... leave me alone

No, I hear ya, man.
It was rare that we'd be allowed a sugary cereal, and the Fruity and Cocoa Pebbles were my favorite.
The infrequency was what made it special.
The rest of the time, it was Cheerios, Grape Nuts, or oatmeal.
Or, *gag*, instant grits... ... 'scuse me, I need to g-*gag* go puke.

Posted by: Rykker at October 1, 2010 3:31 AM

instant grits? i don't know what that is, except that is sounds like a horror movie, a horror movie with a low budget.

*goes back to whistling HR Puffnstuff

Posted by: idleprimate at October 1, 2010 4:46 AM

YESSSSSS! You win, sir. Soon as I read the title, I knew Ducktales had to be number one.

Posted by: jonathan at October 2, 2010 2:24 AM

YOUR ARMS ARE BROKEN

Posted by: salads at October 2, 2010 1:31 PM

the lack of Captain Planet is a TRAVESTY.

Hey, anyone remember that Spiderwoman cartoon?

Posted by: nigeltde at October 3, 2010 8:35 AM

OMG I totally forgot about Pole position!!

Enjoyed reading this post thanks for reminding me.

Posted by: Dennis at October 25, 2010 7:37 AM