History Main / BootstrappedTheme

* ''VideoGame/BionicCommando'': "The Forefront", the Stage 2 BGM of the original arcade game, became the main theme of the NES adaptation and its remake, even being retitled "Bionic Commando Theme" on the OST.

* Although the Budos Band's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHWQ88ODtLQ "Old Engine Oil]] was only used twice in Season 1 of "Series/TheBear2022" and once in Season 2, it is now the show's theme at award shows.

* Although the Budos Band's [[ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHWQ88ODtLQ "Old Engine Oil]] was only used twice in Season 1 of [[Series/TheBear2022]] and once in Season 2, it is now the show's theme at award shows.

** "He's a Pirate" was already an example of this. The number of people out there who love this piece of music, but think that it is Jack Sparrow's theme, is astonishingly high. Thing is, it isn't Jack Sparrow's theme... it's ''Will Turner's'' theme. At least, in the first film. From the second onwards "He's a Pirate" pretty much becomes Jack's secondary theme and Will's theme is supplanted by a melancholy tune primarily contained in one track called [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suOmiBXmJOA One Day]] (that used to represent Will and Elizabeth's ''relationship'', but now it's pretty much their theme).

* The "James Bond Theme" was first heard in ''Film/DrNo'', and that was intended to be its only use, with new music composed for later films. It was so popular that not only did it become the theme for the entire franchise, it was incorporated into the arrangement of the instrumental theme for the second film, ''Film/FromRussiaWithLove'', and notes of it can be heard in several of the films' main theme up to and including ''Film/NoTimeToDie'' nearly sixty years later, not to mention the theme's use with variations in almost all of the BondGunBarrel sequences.
** ''Film/FromRussiaWithLove'' offers a bizarre attempt at an inversion. Despite the fact the film opens with a dynamic instrumental version of the theme, Matt Monro's vocal ballad version that closes the film was one promoted. Some editions of the movie's soundtrack album do not include the instrumental version at all. In addition, it's usually Monro's version that is used on Bond theme compilation albums. In recent years the fan-preferred instrumental has become more widely available, although there has yet to be an official release of the original on-screen version that features a jazzy organ backing.

* The famous ''Toreador'' from ''Theatre/{{Carmen}}'' tells of the tragic LoveTriangle between a seductive gypsy, a corporal, and a toreador, and it's been used in pretty much everything. Nowadays though, people hear this song for a different meaning altogether: ''[[VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddys1 "You're fucked."]]''

** ''VideoGame/YoshisIsland'', the first game in particular, is typically associated with the "Athletic" theme first heard in the fifth stage, "Hop! Hop! Donut Lifts". ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosBrawl'' and ''VideoGame/MarioKart8 Deluxe'' both use remixes of the song to represent the series.

* "Pure Imagination" from ''Film/WillyWonkaAndTheChocolateFactory''. While the Oompa-Loompa melody (which turns up four times!) is arguably even catchier and rivals it for popularity, "Pure Imagination" sums up both Willy Wonka's character and the atmosphere of the story so well -- and has become so beloved over the years -- that it was incorporated into the [[Theatre/CharlieAndTheChocolateFactory otherwise all-new stage musical adaptation]] of the [[Literature/CharlieAndTheChocolateFactory source novel]] in 2013, serving as TheElevenOClockNumber. So it's effectively become the theme song of the story itself, not just one adaptation thereof.

* The theme of ''Film/TheGoodTheBadAndTheUgly'' is arguably one of the best-known Western themes, and is the subject of [[EnnioMorriconePastiche a great many]] {{shout out}}s in other media. However, it is frequently used to parody, or evoke, the tension of [[TheClimax the climactic final shootout scene,]] which has its own theme, which doesn't use the [[RecurringRiff "wah wah wah"]] riff.

* While the overall Sonic series and especially the classic titles are known for [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7GpTdXZATs this theme]], thanks to ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2'''s success and its remake's NewbieBoom ([[ScrewedByTheLawyers and some legal issues]]), Live and Learn, the main theme of the game, is arguably the theme of "Modern Sonic", either the series or the character. It was used in his ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosBrawl'' introduction video, several promos for the 20th anniversary, and as his power up theme when fighting Shadow in ''Generations''.
** On an unofficial level, "Escape from the City" has become a second theme for Sonic himself as far as the fandom is concerned.
* The main theme of ''VideoGame/SpaceHarrier'' is arguably this for Creator/{{Sega}} as a whole, as it plays on the Sega Master System's Japanese boot up screen when no cart is inserted and is the theme that plays on the Sega themed "Race of Ages" course in ''VideoGame/SonicAndAllStarsRacingTransformed''.

* The motif shared between [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOg2NWQgltI the title theme]] and "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUBsXUt5RQE Underworld]]" level music for ''VideoGame/KidIcarus'' arguably became this in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosBrawl'' when it was used as Pit's victory theme, and its status as the unofficial theme for the series as a whole was cemented when it was finally revived with ''VideoGame/KidIcarusUprising'', where the melody continues to be remixed into many tracks.

* Until 2022, WebVideo/ScottTheWoz used the track "Breakout" from ''VideoGame/ThreeDDotGameHeroes'' as his ending theme and has since become so synonymous with the channel that it's arguably better known for being the ending theme of Scott the Woz's videos than being a track from ''3D Dot Game Heroes''.

* Johnny Pearson's "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIxeOvClzR4 Heavy Action]]" is well-known in America for its use on ''Series/MondayNightFootball'' [[note]]Sometimes incorrectly considered the theme song, but actually [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHk0BtQWs68 used as the background music]] for the dramatic spoken intro to the evening's game, before the actual theme song played[[/note]], but it was originally composed for the Creator/{{BBC}} as generic production library music. It eventually became iconic in Britain as the theme to the sports series ''Superstars''. On ''MNF'' itself it was originally just used as BackgroundMusic for halftime highlights, not getting used for the show open until years later.

* ''Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann'' has [[https://youtu.be/Za_1mODmoCA "Libera Me from Hell,"]] which was used during the show's climatic FinalBattle. It should be noted that the rap portions ("[[MemeticMutation Do the impossible, see the invisible. Row, row, fight da powa!]]") of this song is actually a [[https://youtu.be/KK80O2P_lQg second, separate song]] in its own right, with that version being used for the show's [[EyeCatch eyecatches]].
* ''Anime/KillLaKill'' has [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqF5i4qloVE "Before My Body is Dry,"]] or as many fans know it, "DON'T LOSE YOUR WAAAAAAAAY!", which played in the anime whenever Ryuko was about to kick some ass, which is almost every episode. However it also played when [[spoiler:Ryuko defeated Ragyo]] as a near finisher to the entire series. It's easily the most iconic song in the anime.
* ''Franchise/LittleWitchAcademia'' has [[https://youtu.be/Ko4VW6ucq_8 Chariot's theme]], a grandiose theme that is played during Shiny Chariot's performance and whenever Akko uses the Shiny Rod. While the original short films and the TV series all had their own individual theme songs, Chariot's theme would become synonymous with the franchise as a whole and become its de-facto theme.
* ''Anime/PantyAndStockingWithGarterbelt'' has [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-56x7std2pU "Fly Away"]], which plays whenever Panty and Stocking have their TransformationSequence, being the most popular song by far. In contrast, the main theme [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEstmPvabqk "Theme for Panty & Stocking"]] isn't as universally beloved, with "Fly Away" being more associated with the show as a whole.

** ''VideoGame/SuperMarioRPG'' tends to be associated with "Beware of Forest Mushrooms" due to that song's use in a number of popular animated music videos about the game, such as "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QfXng_kD9ZA Rawest Forest]]", and "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_q9y5vSIrw Waltz of the Forest]]". It helps that the level that song appears in is also the one to introduce fan-favourite character Geno.

* ''Series/BarneyAndFriends'' is so closely associated with "I Love You" that any ShallowParody of the character or show will be accompanied by that song or something close to it. It's actually used for the ''{{denouement}}'' of each episode. The actual opening and intended main theme is a completely different song, sung to "Yankee Doodle," while the credits music is an upbeat instrumental piece.

* ''''' [[Franchise/PowerRangers GO, GO, POWER RANGERS!]] '''''

** ''VideoGame/SuperMarioRPG'' tends to be associated with "Beware the Forest's Mushrooms" due to that song's use in a number of popular animated music videos about the game, such as "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QfXng_kD9ZA Rawest Forest]]", and "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_q9y5vSIrw Waltz of the Forest]]". It helps that the level that song appears in is also the one to introduce fan-favourite character Geno.

** The original ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBros1''' underwater theme briefly became this for the series as a whole as evident in it being the title screen music for the four games within ''VideoGame/SuperMarioAllStars'' as well as in all four ''Super Mario Advance'' [[VideoGameRemake remakes]] as the song used on the title screen seen before the games' original title screen.

* The "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZAXwQ_Kyco Orc War Room]]" theme from ''VideoGame/{{Warcraft}} II'' plays in the game's main menu, and is thus considered its main theme.
* The main theme to ''VideoGame/AgeOfEmpires'' started as an [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXcenhhd6bI&feature=related&fmt=18 ordinary soundtrack in the first game.]]

* Officially speaking, ''VideoGame/DeadlyPremonition'' has two theme songs: "The Woods and the Goddess," which is the haunting melody from the title screen, and "Miss Stiletto Heels," the theme music from the bar, [[WordOfGod which, according to the composer, was meant to thematically represent the game.]] However, the song most closely associated with the game--and the song used to "represent" the game's UpdatedRerelease by its publisher, Rising Star Games--is "Life is Beautiful," the quirky, whistling-and-kazoo number played during the game's goofy comedic moments. [[WidgetSeries Not just because the music is iconic; it's just that kind of game.]]

* The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YoaU3kRFvLg theme song]] composed by Creator/DannyElfman for ''Film/Batman1989'' has become more or less, the de-facto theme for ComicBook/{{Batman}} as a whole, to where the theme appears in a wide array of Batman material outside of the Burton films, such as ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'', the ''Lego Batman'' games and ''Film/JusticeLeague2017'', amongst other Batman related material. Alternatively, the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZ9ymE2Rcxo theme]] from the [[Series/Batman1966 1966 show]] is also regarded as being Batman's theme amongst older fans. Particularly for his [[UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks Silver Age incarnation]] or even his [[UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfComicBooks Golden Age incarnation]].

** "[[http://homestuck.bandcamp.com/track/homestuck-anthem-2 Homestuck Anthem]]", a song that was specifically supposed to be a theme tune, has managed to turn the tide lately and gain more widespread recognition.

** "[[https://homestuck.bandcamp.com/track/harlequin-3 Harlequin]]" was originally the theme for John's Kernelsprite, which means it was also the theme of Nannasprite and the monsters John initially faces. It shows up multiple times throughout Acts 1 and 2, but when the monsters become more varied (and less important) and Nanna's use as a CrutchCharacter decreases, it's heard a lot less. It eventually comes back as the theme for Gamzee.

* In ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'', the song Sburban Jungle was [[http://mspaintadventures.com/?s=6&p=002037 initially]] only used as the installation theme for the game [[TheGamePlaysYou Sburb]]. It quickly more or less become the main theme of the comic, featuring in both the Act 3 and Act 4 closers.
** Considering that the game of Sburb is the source of all the conflict in the series in the first place, it's still pretty appropriate. The comic was almost outright called ''Sburb''.
** The song itself is actually largely unused, it's mostly the RecurringRiff that is so popular. At this point finding a new song without the riff is becoming difficult.
*** Defied later; the riff only appears for a brief 6 seconds instead of featuring heavily in the End of Act 5 song, Cascade.
** [[http://homestuck.bandcamp.com/track/upward-movement-dave-owns-3 Upward Movement]], ostensibly one of Dave Strider's {{Leitmotif}}s, has also seen a fair amount of reuse in the same way, most prominently as the base "foundation" and most recurring riff in [[http://homestuck.bandcamp.com/track/descend the Act 4 closing animation's theme]]; it helps that it very much ties in with one of the series' ArcWords, "ascend".
** [[http://homestuck.bandcamp.com/track/homestuck-anthem-2 Homestuck Anthem]], a song that was specifically supposed to be a theme tune, has managed to turn the tide lately and gain more widespread recognition.
** [[http://homestuck.bandcamp.com/track/chorale-for-jaspers-3 Chorale for Jaspers]] was originally Jaspers' {{Leitmotif}}, but it has since been bootstrapped into becoming one of Rose's themes. This is most prominent in [[http://homestuck.bandcamp.com/track/at-the-price-of-oblivion-2 At The Price Of Oblivion]].
** Likewise, [[http://homestuck.bandcamp.com/track/doctor-3 Doctor]] was originally a theme for LOWAS, which stayed valid when its remix [[http://homestuck.bandcamp.com/track/savior-of-the-waking-world-2 Savior of the Waking World]] was used for John's ascension, but after [[http://homestuck.bandcamp.com/track/savior-of-the-dreaming-dead-2 Savior of the Dreaming Dead]] was used for [[spoiler:Jade's]], it sort of became a theme for ascensions.
** [[https://homestuck.bandcamp.com/track/harlequin-3 Harlequin]] was originally the theme for John's Kernelsprite, which means it was also the theme of Nannasprite and the monsters John initially faces. It shows up multiple times throughout Acts 1 and 2, but when the monsters become more varied (and less important) and Nanna's use as a CrutchCharacter decreases, it's heard a lot less. It eventually comes back as the theme for Gamzee.

* "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aidem5-kheE Techno Syndrome]]" by The Immortals was composed for an album that accompanied the console versions of ''Videogame/MortalKombat1'', although once it was used in [[Film/MortalKombatTheMovie the 1995 film adaptation]] it has since became associated with the entire franchise as a whole.