November 2nd 2024.
Almost three decades ago, a pop rock duo created what would become one of the most iconic theme songs of all time. The Rembrandts, made up of Danny Wilde and Phil Solem, released the Friends theme song and it soon became a cultural phenomenon.
Formed in 1989, the duo had released their first album in 1990 and two years later, their album "Untitled" gained some recognition with its singles, including "Rollin' Down the Hill" which was featured in the movie Dumb and Dumber. But it was their selection to perform the theme song for a new sitcom that truly put them on the map.
The popular song "I'll Be There For You" was actually written by the creators of Friends, David Crane and Marta Kauffman, along with Michael Skloff and Allee Willis. Interestingly, another band, R.E.M., was initially asked to use their song "Shiny Happy People" for the show's opening credits, but they declined. So, the Rembrandts were chosen by Warner Bros. Television, the only available band under their music arm, to record the theme song.
At the time, the duo was often seen sporting small, round sunglasses while performing and posing for photos. The music video for the song even featured the cast of Friends, including Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matthew Perry, David Schwimmer, and Matt LeBlanc, interacting with the duo as they performed.
The song remained the iconic opening for all 10 seasons of the show, which ran from 1994 to 2004. However, the Rembrandts had mixed feelings when they were first approached to record it. But the following year, they expanded the song with two new verses and included it on their third album "L.P."
The single was a huge success, reaching the top 10 in several countries including Australia, New Zealand, Norway, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. In fact, it was the most successful single of 1995 in Canada, where it topped the charts for five weeks, and it reached number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States.
After a brief split in the late 90s, the duo continued to release music together, with their most recent album "Via Satellite" coming out in 2019. Now, 29 years since forming the band, Danny Wilde and Phil Solem still share photos together on social media, with fans commenting on how great they look after all these years.
In 2019, they even posted a photo on the set of Friends with Maggie Wheeler, who played Janice, and Michael Slate, who played Gunther. Despite the success and fame brought by the Friends theme song, the duo revealed that they were initially hesitant to record it.
"We were a pretty hip band, so we didn't want anyone to know we'd sold out," Wilde said in an interview with the Guardian. "Once people realized it was us, it killed our cool vibe. We went from doing cool clubs to matinee shows where parents would bring their kids. The song became an albatross round our necks and broke up the band for a few years."
However, Wilde also expressed his gratitude for the song, acknowledging that it has provided them with financial stability and opportunities they may not have had otherwise. "Every time it gets played, there's a little 'ker-ching!' It's only a nickel or whatever, but they add up. It put my kids through college and got me a beautiful home. I'm not rich, but I'm comfortable."
He also admitted that they were initially "snobby" about the song, but now sees it as a "gift" and recognizes that he may have been "living on the streets" without this opportunity. And even though Friends has ended its run on television, the show continues to be streamed on Netflix, keeping the iconic theme song alive for new generations to enjoy.
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