Like everyone, I was a fan of the show the first time around. But now, with my newly discovered insomnia, I stumbled onto Nick At Nite, which apparently is the all-Friends-all-the-time channel late into the night. Which means I hear I'll Be There For You—the show's theme song—in all its poppy, catchy, AM-friendly glory several times a night.
And it got me to thinking about the Rembrandts, the group who sings it. The song originally appeared as a hidden bonus track on their third album when the Friends producers decided it'd be the perfect song for the show.
Could the song have BEEN any bigger? The first year it was the top selling single in the country, and suddenly a little-known group skyrocketed to stardom.
Just to refresh your memory about how big it was, have a look at the official Friends theme song video, starring the Rembrandts and the entire cast. (Fun fact: Courtney Cox is really playing the drums):
I also found a more recent video of the band playing their hit song. It's a more stripped down, acoustic version. A little less frantic, a lot less star power. Oddly enough, the song—and their voices—hold up well. I find myself thinking it actually has a subtle poignancy overlaying its hopeful and optimistic message.
But then again, I haven't been getting a lot of sleep.
