Discover David Schwimmer’s candid thoughts on the Friends theme song and the surprising story behind its iconic tune.
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Did you ever wonder what David Schwimmer actually thought about the “Friends” theme song?
Well, surprise. It wasn’t all good times and cheers.
The theme song “I’ll Be There For You” is a popular theme song from the show that everyone adores, but for Schwimmer, it was a small source of frustration.
Why? Just consider this: hearing that same theme song before each show, each appearance on a late-night talk show, each interview, for a decade. That’s a lot, isn’t it?
He openly confessed on the “Making a Scene” podcast that for years, hearing it made him cringe.
It’s familiar, that one time beloved song turning into an earworm annoyance.
Did Jennifer Aniston and Lisa Kudrow share his opinion?
Surprisingly enough, yes. Aniston explained in a 2016 interview that the cast was not necessarily head over heels about the song.
The fountain scene?
It wasn’t quite so glamorous in real life. Kudrow chronicled it in a book, remembering the freezing water and how hard it was to keep a smile going after hundreds of shots. It wasn’t just the song; it was everything that went on.
Matt LeBlanc went on to even comment on how Matthew Perry was the class clown then, recalling the difficulty of the shoots.
How did “I’ll Be There For You” get chosen as the theme song for “Friends”?
That in itself is a tale. The producers originally asked for R.E.M.’s “Shiny Happy People,” but that was refused.
David Crane and Marta Kauffman subsequently penned the now ubiquitous song with the assistance of Allee Willis and Michael Skloff.
Fun fact: The Rembrandts, who sang it, didn’t intend to at first because they didn’t want it to spoil their “cool vibe.”
For the song’s musical inspiration, it appears to be The Beatles’ “Paperback Writer.”
Did it succeed every time?
Nope. Originally, it was a short 40-second introduction. But a Nashville disc jockey looped it, and it went crazy on the radio.
The Rembrandts then made a longer version, which became very popular, reaching number one in many places.
It portrayed the major themes of the show quite nicely: friendship, support, and dealing with life’s ups and downs.
But the song’s huge popularity would ultimately be a “curse” on The Rembrandts, eclipsing their other songs.
Did the theme song evolve with the years?
Subtly, yes. The later seasons shorten the intro, cutting a few lines.
Some viewers perceived a difference in audio quality, where the pilot episode was “muffled” in relation to the rest of the series.
There are even rumors of a quicker tempo
Also, the theme has appeared in numerous different forms, including death metal and punk, and has been utilized in numerous parodies and homages. It is a significant piece of our cultural heritage.
Quick Facts: Friends Theme Song
- David Schwimmer had a rough time with the theme song.
- The Rembrandts were unsure if they should record it initially.
- The melody was an homage to The Beatles’ “Paperback Writer.”
- It was extremely popular when a radio disc jockey repeatedly played again and again the original short version.
- There have been numerous diverse musical genres used to record the theme song.