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[[quoteright:350:[[WesternAnimation/DannyPhantom https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/danny_phantom__expository_theme_tune_1.png]]]]
[[caption-width-right:350:♫ ''It was designed to view a world unseen\\
(He's gonna catch 'em all cause he's Danny Phantom)'' ♫]]
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->''Strong Bad is a wrestle-man\\
He's the email-checkin'-est guy in the land!\\
He checks real emails from the 'Net\\
He's got two brothers, and The Cheat, his pet!\\
(The Cheat, his pet!)\\
There's nobody dumber\\
Than Homestar Runner\\
On "The Strong Bad Email Show"!''
-->-- ''WebAnimation/StrongBadEmail'' #155 [[Recap/StrongBadEmailE155ThemeSong "theme song"]]

A ThemeTune which explains, fairly specifically, the premise of the show. An OpeningNarration in verse. It might also throw in an {{Introdump}} for the central characters during the middle 10 seconds.

This was fairly standard for the early {{sitcom}}. Later sitcoms moved away from this form in favor of the ThematicThemeTune, and then toward the SurrealThemeTune. Today, the Expository Theme Tune is limited mostly to children's programs. ''Series/GilligansIsland'', the most famous, used it specifically due to ExecutiveMeddling, so that people who tuned in after the pilot wouldn't get lost. Many kids' shows that use it don't even ''have'' a pilot, or air episodes out of order. (''WesternAnimation/{{Animaniacs}}'' and ''WesternAnimation/{{Freakazoid}}'' are the big examples.)

Some shows might use the Expository Theme Tune as an excuse to [[InMediasRes dump you into the action right away]], since you already know the premise. Conversely, if the Expository Theme Tune would spoil the premise of the premiere, you might not see it on the first episode.

This style of ThemeTune is also the most common for a ShowWithinAShow, and is practically universal when the fictional show is meant to be mocked.

A SuperTrope to BraggingThemeTune and ThemeTuneRollCall. Compare with AnimeThemeSong and ThemeTuneRap. Can overlap with JobSong if one or more characters' jobs are important to the plot.
----
!!Example subpages:

[[index]]
* ExpositoryThemeTune/{{Anime}}
* ExpositoryThemeTune/FanWorks
* [[ExpositoryThemeTune/{{Film}} Films]]
* ExpositoryThemeTune/LiveActionTV
* ExpositoryThemeTune/VideoGames
* ExpositoryThemeTune/WesternAnimation
[[/index]]

!!Other examples:
[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:Asian Animation]]
* ''Animation/BoBoiBoy'''s theme song lays out its premise: evil aliens come to Earth in search for cocoa and [=BoBoiBoy=] is the superhero who must save the Earth.
* The opening of ''Animation/{{Lamput}}'', as short as it is, still visually conveys the most important information about the show. You see an orange blob who shapeshifts to avoid being captured by two scientists.
* ''Animation/MotuPatlu'''s theme song, "Motu Aur Patlu Ki Jodi", explains who Motu and Patlu are, how they get along, and what they do.
* Downplayed in ''Animation/NoonboryAndTheSuper7''. The very first lyrics in the theme song ("In Toobalooba there's seven friends/Solving trouble with super senses") mentions the show's premise, while the remaining lyrics are mostly about the Super 7 themselves.
* ''Animation/PleasantGoatAndBigBigWolf'': The original theme song "Don't Think I'm Just a Little Goat" downplays this, as it explains that the singer is a goat who will make it into a game whenever the wolf tries to catch them, but otherwise doesn't sum up the series premise ''directly''.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Audio Play]]
* Both themes of ''Come to Hoshizora Hall'' ("Hoshizora Melody" and the ''Second Night'' song "[[TitleDrop Come to Hoshizora Hall]]") are just songs that explain why the [=CDs=] are made, what the cast is planning to do, and what exactly they're giving their Master in thanks for their care and love.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Comics]]
* Despite appearing in a non-audio medium, the Comicbook/{{Blackhawk}}s gained their own theme tune, complete with sheet music, in a 1942 comic. A modern recording of "The Song of the Blackhawks" can be heard [[http://www.comictreadmill.com/CTMBlogarchives/2005/2005_Individual/2005_05/000789.php here]].
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Literature]]
* The children's horror series ''Literature/{{Vampirates}}'' has a theme tune of sorts. It's on the back of the book, and characters sing it in story. It describes the title creatures.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Music]]
* "Hey, Hey, we're Music/TheMonkees / and people say we monkey around / but we're too busy singing / to put anybody down..." ([[Series/TheMonkees also fits into the category above]])
* Music/TheAquabats:
** Technically this trope but with no actual show to expose [[Series/TheAquabatsSuperShow at the time]], "Theme Song" tells a rather intricate {{backstory}} for the band involving them being driven from their homeland of Aquabania by the evil Space Monster M.
** "The Wild Sea!" is done in the style of one, about a fictional adventure show staring a young man, his father, and their Viking sidekick.
-->Sailing on and on and on and on\\
Into the ocean, into the sun\\
Our boat, a Viking, my dad, and me\\
On the Wild Sea!
* "Cartoon Heroes" by Music/{{Aqua}} is an expository theme of this type for a completely fictional TV show (the video does a good job of being the title sequence).
* Part of the lyrics of "WE ARE MILKCAN!" from ''Music/MakeItSweet'' somewhat describe the basic plot of ''VideoGame/UmJammerLammy'':
--> ''Suddenly another problem hits us in the face. \\
And we think that we can overcome this wacky race, but then someone in the band brings up another craze.''
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Pinball]]
* ''[[Pinball/TimeMachineDataEast Time Machine]]'' from Creator/DataEast plays one during the end-of-game karaoke mode.
-->"Time Machine, where you go back in time..."
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Professional Wrestling]]
* "Whose that jumping out the sky? [[Wrestling/ReyMysterioJr R-E-Y Mysterio]], here we go! When the mask's out the girls they pass out, the boys just blackout, better tap out!"
* "Wrestling/{{Chris|Hero}} is awesome! He's as hot as it gets, the type to drop you quick, with a mafia kick!"
* "I've got long sideburns. I've got my hair slicked back. I'm comin' to your town in a pink Cadillac. I'm just a Wrestling/HonkyTonkMan (He's just a Honky Tonk Man)! I'm just a Honky Tonk Man (He's just a Honky Tonk Man)! I'm just a Honky Tonk Man! I'm cool, I'm cocky, I'm bad!"
* "[[Wrestling/DustyRhodes Ame...rican! DREAM!]] ''(cowbell)'' He's just a common man, workin' hard with his hands!..."
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Podcasts]]
* The theme tune for ''Podcast/MomCantCook sounds like an example, but actually mashes up the plots of 5 different [=DCOMs=][[note]]in order, ''Film/TheThirteenthYear'', ''Film/{{Brink}}'', ''Film/TheLuckOfTheIrish'', ''Film/SmartHouse'', and ''Film/StepsisterFromPlanetWeird''[[/note]]. It also doesn't explain the premise of the podcast itself.
-->''I'm a fish boy''
-->''Who skates for Team [=XBladz=]''
-->''With a leprechaun who plays basketball.''
-->''Come to my smart house,''
-->''Meet my alien sister;''
-->''Don't come hungry''
-->''Because I bet my mom can't cook.''
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Puppet Shows]]
* ''Series/CaptainScarletAndTheMysterons''. The opening titles have spoken narration. The original closing theme was instrumental, but a group was later recruited to record a vocal version:
-->''Captain Scarlet / He's the one who knows the Mysteron game / and things they plan''
* The theme song to ''Series/DonkeyHodie'' describes the main character's personality and how she never gives up with any challenge she faces. It also introduces us to her friends.
* ''Series/TheMuppetShow'' opens every episode by mentioning the special guest, then has the Muppets sing their famous song about how they're going to put on the ShowWithinAShow.
* ''Series/TheNoddyShop'''s theme song has the toys telling the viewers what they should expect to see when watching the show.
-->Welcome to our place, we've been waiting. Time for some fun and celebrating.\\
Something is always ready to "pop!", here at The Noddy Shop.\\
Music and magic. Hey, it's showtime!\\
Noddy and you will be friends in no time.\\
Silly 'ol Goblins are living there, too, the place where make believe comes true.\\
Believe it or not, here at The Noddy Shop!
* The second half of the theme song to ''Series/ThePuzzlePlace'' describes what the show is about, compared to the first, where the kids invite the viewer to visit the titular location.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Theatre]]
* ''Theatre/TheSoldiersTale'' begins each act with "The Soldier's March", which commences the rhyming narration before the curtain rises over a steady drumbeat. The reprise at the start of the second act has slightly different lyrics and a brief pause for extra narration.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Animation]]
* ''WebAnimation/BamanPiderman'': ''"I'm Baman!" "I'm Piderman!" "I come over da house!" "WE'RE BEST FWIENDS!"''
** Actually, the theme song wasn't present in the first two episodes, and the third episode actually involves them creating the theme song.
* ''WesternAnimation/BojackHorseman'''s closing theme: "Back in the 90s, I was in a very famous TV show...".
* ''WebAnimation/CampCamp'' has David singing the opening theme, which also doubles as their Camp anthem in-universe.
--> "Oh! There's a place I know that's tucked away! A place where you and I can stay! Where we can go to laugh and play, and have adventures everyday! I know it sounds hard ''to believe!'' But guys and gals it's true- Camp Campbell is the place for me and you!
* ''[[WebAnimation/WeeblAndBob Cat Face]]'': Cat Face, [[CaptainObvious he's got a big cat's face]], [[DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment he's got the body of a cat, and the face of a cat]], and he flies through the air, 'cause [[RunningGag he's got a cat face]], Cat Face!
* ''WebAnimation/HanazukiFullOfTreasures'': "''Out there, deep in space, grows a new Moonflower...''"
* ''WebAnimation/HomestarRunner'':
** In the ''WebAnimation/StrongBadEmail'' "best thing", there's the theme song from ''Limozeen: but they're in space!''.
--->''Remember those guys from that band Limozeen? / Well, they turned their tour bus into a space machine!''
** Strong Bad also demonstrates what it would be like if he had one of these in the [=SBEmail=] "theme song", describing it as "one of those songs that bludgeon you over the head with the blunt end of the show's premise".
---> ''Strong Bad is a wrestle-man/ He's the email-checkin'-est guy in the land...''
** ''Music/StrongBadSingsAndOtherTypeHits'' features the theme song from [[ShowWithinAShow Dangeresque 2: This Time It's Not Dangeresque 1]]
--->''He works alone / Except when he works with Renaldo / Which is all the time / Dangeresque!''
* Parodied with [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5J9mmgwB0c Martian by Mistake]], a nonexistent kids cartoon that is clearly poking fun of this trope and the cliches that come along with it.
* ''WebAnimation/Supermarioglitchy4sSuperMario64Bloopers'' has one, a pastiche of ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime'''s theme song, heard only in "Ssenmodnar 4".
-->''Oh, my God''\\
''Here we go again''\\
''Come on, watch this video 'till the very end''\\
''With Mario the Retard and [=SMG4=] the Idiot''\\
''Come on everybody it's Mario Bloopers!''
* ''WebAnimation/WackyGameJokez4Kidz'' "Mickey was a small time crook on the streets of NYC, he was stolen from the streets by an evil corporation called VGV, he is forced to write direct and star in a video game comedy show broadcasted in the net.."
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Original]]
* ''WebVideo/LeeAndDena'' has a theme song that explains the premise of Lee's series ''Still Gaming.''
-->''"Lee likes playing video games\\
And when you really think about it, that's not really so strange\\
But you would wonder if it's why the man was put on this Earth\\
It's time to reevaluate how much a picture is worth\\
You can be informed and entertained\\
No need to explain, watch the review of a game\\
Lee is Still Gaming!\\
And I'm pretty sure that is something that won't ever change\\
Lee is Still Gaming\\
And it won't just as long as he lives\\
As long as there are games."''
* WebVideo/TheAngryVideoGameNerd: "''He's gonna take you back to the past/To play the shitty games that suck ass...''"
* The [[http://www.thestream.tv/watch.php?v=1898 Doc Mock's Movie Mausoleum]] theme starts out this way, before switching over to heavy metal screaming of the title halfway through; "''[[PunctuatedForEmphasis Doc! Mock's! Movie Mausoleum!]]''"
* ''WebVideo/AtopTheFourthWall'' has a theme song that lists off [[WebVideo/AtopTheFourthWall Linkara's]] name, possessions, and mission, along with some of the stuff he reviews. For his anniversary show, the extended version of the theme appeared, including a verse which focuses on Linkara's pet peeves ("''They made ''Film/{{Watchmen}}'' without the slimy squid''") and [=At4W=]'s supporting characters ("''He'll have you know that's pretty low / But not like the standards of the 90's Kid''")
* WebVideo/MarzGurl counted down [[http://thatguywiththeglasses.com/videolinks/ir/marzgurl/reviews/8784-top10redu 10 of them]] from various studios.
* WebVideo/NecroCritic: ''"We watch crap movies, we play crap games/There's too much out there, causing us pain/The actors are rancid, the plot is stale/Necro is here to put an end to the fail."''
* WebVideo/TheLegendOfNeil's theme song explains exactly how Neil ended up inside the game, then has a very hurried follow-up summarising events up to the beginning of the episode.
* "HE BOUGHT TOO MANY GAMES!/Now we gotta play them all.../SO ALL ABOARD THE ''WebVideo/{{STEAM TRAIN}}!''" ("Choo-choo!")
* Several segments of the ''Podcast/TheThrillingAdventureHour'' feature these. Specifically the intro songs for "Sparks Nevada Marshall on Mars", "The Adventures of Captain Laserbeam", "Amelia Earhart Fearless Flyer", and "Down on Moonshine Holler."
* ''Podcast/WhoBackWhen'' has a theme song describing the fact that they review all of ''Series/DoctorWho'' there is. The song lyrics vary based on whether a given episode is reviewing Classic ''Who'', New ''Who'', or ''AudioPlay/BigFinishDoctorWho''.
* ''WebVideo/SharkJumping'', as an {{homage}} to the cheesy older TV shows that they riff on.
-->"There comes a time when life gets you down, when UsefulNotes/{{ratings}} are low. You've got to do what it takes, got to [[RatingsStunt up the stakes]], 'til there's [[JumpingTheShark nowhere left to go]]! Shark Jumping! Making some friends on the way together! Shark Jumping! Tomorrow's a brand new day! You might [[TonightSomeoneDies lose some friends along the way]], but if you hold your chin up, it'll all be okay! Shark Jumping! That's what friends are, that's what friends are, making our dreams come true!"
* ''Website/TheOnion'': [[https://www.theonion.com/nation-calls-for-return-of-theme-songs-that-explain-sho-1845074836 Nation Calls For Return of Theme Songs That Explain Show's Whole Deal]]
* ''Webcomic/SweetBroAndHellaJeff'' has a "[[TheMovie movie]]" that's more of a 30 sec animated video set to a theme tune that explains the premise of the comic:
--> Sweet Bro and Hella Jeff (x3)
--> Do some stuff and do some things
--> Sweet Bro and Hella Jeff
--> The fun keeps happening
--> with their TokenBlackFriend Geromy
[[/folder]]
----