1994 Pop-Rock Song Hit No. 1-and Became an Iconic TV Sitcom Theme
TV sitcom theme songs are often either preexisting hits or created specifically for a series. When Friends premiered on NBC in 1994, it went on to dominate cable TV and become one of the most iconic sitcoms of all time, with its theme song reaching No. 1 on multiple charts.
Everyone who's a fan of the sitcom knows the words to "I'll Be There For You" by the pop-rock duo the Rembrandts. Friends' opening title sequence of the main cast goofing off and having laughs in front of a water fountain and collapsing on the couch as the theme track plays has become iconic. Believe it or not, "I'll Be There For You" wasn't the original track, and the Rembrandts weren't the first choice.
Warner Bros. Television planned to use the track "Shiny Happy People" by R.E.M. as the title track, but the band had turned the opportunity down. The company still wanted a track by the band or its frontman, Michael Stipe, for other episodes, but they once again declined. With no other options, the company turned to the Rembrandts to sing the track.
According to reports, the track was composed by Friends co-creator Marta Kauffman's husband, Michael Skloff. Its main opening verse was then co-written by Friends producers David Crane and Kauffman along with songwriter Allee Willis. The Rembrandts were only chosen to record the track because they were the only available band under Warner Bros. Records.
Members Phil Sōlem and Danny Wilde didn't want to do the track, but had no choice against the company. According to The Independent, Stipe believes "I'll Be There For You" was created to mimic the R.E.M. song.
"Then they went to another band and said, ‘Can you write an REM song?' That's what I've heard. I don't want to diss the other band. I don't remember who they are, but that's a good song," he said.
Related: 1988 Hit Ranked Among ‘Greatest Power Ballads' Became a No. 1 Heartbreak Anthem
The iconic hand claps at the end of "I'll Be There For You" were a last-minute addition, but helped soar the track to success. It received mixed reviews from critics, some calling it one of the worst songs with a quirky sound. The Rembrandts' track never topped the Billboard Hot 100 charts, peaking at No. 17. Instead, it topped the Adult Contemporary charts, the Hot 100 Airplay, and the Top 40/Mainstream.
"I'll Be There For You" gained notoriety when a radio station looped the original short TV version. Sōlem and Wilde soon re-recorded the track into a full song with a second verse and a bridge, with Sōlem claiming they were told to by the company and "there was no way to get out of it." It was later released in 1995 as part of their L.P. album.
Copyright 2026 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
This story was originally published April 28, 2026 at 11:47 AM.