Theme Song From The Mary Tyler Moore Show

Let's talk about a song. You know the one. The one that starts with that hopeful, slightly jazzy intro. The one that makes you want to put on your best pair of slacks and stride out into the world. Yes, I'm talking about the theme song from The Mary Tyler Moore Show. And before you all start throwing virtual tomatoes, I have a confession to make. I kind of… don't love it.

Now, before you get all up in arms, hear me out. I'm not saying it's a bad song. It's iconic. It's instantly recognizable. It’s the sound of a woman making her own way. It’s the anthem for anyone who’s ever felt a little lost and then decided to find themselves. And that’s all wonderful. Truly.

But for me? It just feels… a little too relentlessly cheerful. Like someone is forcing you to smile when you've just stubbed your toe. You know that feeling? You’re trying to be positive, but inside, you’re just thinking, "Ouch! That really hurt!" That’s where the Mary Tyler Moore Show theme song lands for me.

Here’s the thing. The show itself? Pure gold. Mary Tyler Moore as Mary Richards? A trailblazer. A feminist icon before we even had the word "feminist" quite so firmly in our lexicon. She was funny, she was flawed, she was relatable. She was a breath of fresh air in a world that often told women their place was solely in the home. The characters on that show – Lou Grant, Murray Slaughter, Ted Baxter – they were brilliant. The writing was sharp, witty, and surprisingly insightful. It tackled real issues with a light touch.

And then there’s the song. "Love Is All Around." Sung by Sonny Curtis. It’s all about throwing your hat in the air. And yes, that’s a lovely image. It’s a gesture of freedom, of liberation. But is throwing your hat in the air really the most practical or realistic way to navigate life’s challenges? Imagine you’re doing that in a crowded street. You’re going to hit someone. Or the hat’s going to land in a puddle. Or a pigeon is going to claim it as its new nest. Life is messy, people. And sometimes, life requires a little more than a jaunty hat toss.

I prefer my theme songs with a little more… grit. A little more of a questioning tone. Think about the theme song to The Sopranos. "Woke Up This Morning" by Alabama 3. Now that's a theme song that sets a mood! It’s dark, it’s complex, it hints at the turmoil to come. Or even the theme from Cheers. It’s about finding your people, your sanctuary. It acknowledges the imperfections of life ("where everybody knows your name, and they're always glad you came") but it also hints at a bit of melancholy, a bit of seeking. It’s not just pure, unadulterated, sunshine-and-rainbows joy.

The Mary Tyler Moore Show theme song, in my humble, perhaps slightly misguided, opinion, feels a little like being told to “just cheer up!” when you’re feeling a bit down. It’s like a forced smile. And while Mary Richards was the queen of making things look effortless, I suspect even she had days where throwing her hat in the air was the last thing she wanted to do. Maybe she just wanted to curl up with a good book and a cup of tea, or maybe even vent to her friends about a particularly annoying news director.

Is it an unpopular opinion? Probably. Am I going to stop humming it when it pops into my head? Absolutely not. It’s ingrained. It’s part of television history. It’s a cultural touchstone. And sometimes, despite my personal reservations about its unwavering optimism, I do find myself wanting to throw my hat in the air. Perhaps just for a moment. Because, as the song (and the show) reminds us, even when things are tough, there's still a glimmer of hope. And maybe, just maybe, that's enough.

But if I’m being truly honest, I'd rather have a theme song that acknowledges the possibility of a bad hair day, or the frustration of a jammed printer, or the sheer exhaustion of adulting. You know, the stuff that really makes us human. But for now, we'll stick with the cheerful hat tossing. And secretly, I'll be wishing for a slightly more complex melody. Just a little, mind you. Nothing too drastic. Maybe something with a minor key. Or a brief pause for dramatic effect. Because sometimes, even the most successful independent woman needs a moment to just… sigh.

And yet, despite my quibbles, there's a undeniable charm to it. It's the sound of possibility, even if that possibility comes with a very bright, very loud soundtrack.

So, while I might not be enthusiastically belting out "Love Is All Around" at the top of my lungs, I can appreciate its place. It's the soundtrack to a woman who dared to have it all, or at least, dared to try. And in that regard, it’s pretty darn great. Even if I prefer my own private soundtrack to involve a little more introspection and a lot fewer airborne hats.