TV Theme Song Top Ten: Hawaii Five-O (#1)

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Blow up your TV, as John Prine once sang. Well, in this case, we’re blowing up this countdown of my favorite television series theme songs. Millions of songs, but only 28 made the list. And, of those 28, only one can top the list. Here it is. #1: Hawaii Five-O - Morton Stevens & His Orchestra There are theme songs, there are theme songs, and then there’s this. One of the most iconic television themes in history. In addition to the theme there was a hit version by the Ventures. Then Don Ho had some words put to it for the song “You Can Come With Me.” Sammy Davis Jr. had a similar song, “You Can Count on Me” (no relation to Jefferson Starship’s “Count on Me”). The remake of the TV show got slapped with a copyright infringement lawsuit because they forgot to ask permission from Morton Stevens’ estate to use the song in the new version. Ooops. The TV show was about four detectives in a specialized Honolulu Police Department unit. Why only four detectives in the Five-O? Oh, heck, who cares. It gave us one of the greatest theme songs, and indeed one of the greatest instrumental hits, of all time…as well as one of the greatest catchphrases from TV. Book ‘em, Danno! Thanks for reading. Hawaii Five-O Written by Morton Stevens Recorded by Morton Stevens & His Orchestra From Hawaii Five-O, 1968-80 Book ‘em!