This isn't so much an original theme as just a favorite public radio memory. Growing up, I always seemed to be riding shotgun with my dad when "Adventures in Good Music" came on the air with Karl Hass. "Hello everyone," he would intone in that worldly teutonic baritone. I confess I usually ignored most of the featured music, but I was transfixed by his introductory performance of Beethoven's 2nd movement of the Pathetique Sonata. The feeling he put into that piece reminded me of the power of great melodies. Whether coming home from karate class with my dad or getting ready for bed, somehow that music always made its way into my life. I'm thankful I've never heard that movement played live because I don't think I could stand its beautiful sadness. The radio and the promise of Mr. Hass's voice acted as a buffer to that music.

Sent by james | 3:25 PM ET | 05-09-2008

Thanks- my mom will also love this. My baby book lists "Theme to All Things Considered" as my favorite song.

Sent by Colette | 3:33 PM ET | 05-09-2008

Dougg Pound is the "shizzit"

Sent by ucis | 3:51 PM ET | 05-09-2008

Favorite: Prairie Home Companion (I'm sure I won't be the only person to pick this one)

Least Favorite: On Point. Though there is probably no legitimate reason, something about this theme song reminds me of watching the McNeil-Lehrer News Hour with my dad as a kid in the late 1980s, and how tremendously boring it was. I think the drums just sound really dated and faux-jazzy to me in a way that evokes similar boredom/staleness.

Sent by nikki | 4:15 PM ET | 05-09-2008

Christian Foden-Vensil!

Sent by tim weeks | 4:39 PM ET | 05-09-2008

The theme for "Calling All Pets" on Saturday mornings is crazy mad, like Scott Jagow on a Tuesday.

Sent by Chip Chanko | 4:57 PM ET | 05-09-2008

I, too, jam out to NPR's greatest hits. I felt a little ashamed, secretly anticipating "The World's" Geo Quiz. With the confidence that I'm not alone, I can hum a teeny bit louder. Thanks.

Sent by Katy | 5:14 PM ET | 05-09-2008

this was uplifting on my rainy friday. thanks.

Sent by a. l??ger | 5:43 PM ET | 05-09-2008

The king of them all has to be the mighty John Peel's theme tune - Pickin' the Blues by Grinderswitch. Listen to it here http://www.last.fm/music/Grinderswitch/_/Pickin'+the+Blues and I guarantee you any ageing Brit indie-kid reading this will have a tear or two in their eye.

Sent by Julia | 6:10 PM ET | 05-09-2008

I really like the theme for the CBC(Canadian Broadcasting Corp.) radio show "As it Happens". The song is called "Curried Soul" by Moe Koffman and has been used since the show began in 1969.

Sent by Shannon | 7:03 PM ET | 05-09-2008

Oh, hoo-ray. This does something to underscore Terri Gross's oft-underappreciated badassedyness.

Sent by Kate | 8:07 PM ET | 05-09-2008

I have a rotating set of personal theme songs, ie, songs that play in my head while I'm working, as I kick ass and take names: Elton John's "Love Lies Bleeding," Wolf Parade's "I'll Believe In Anything," the Stooges' "Search and Destroy," and Sleater-Kinney's "You're No Rock and Roll Fun." Yes, I love Elton John.

Sent by Nick L. | 3:51 PM ET | 05-10-2008

This posting is exactly why I love this blog so much. I love the nerdy randomness of it!

Sent by Kate P. | 6:55 PM ET | 05-10-2008

thank you jesus for doug g. pound

Sent by j | 10:03 PM ET | 05-10-2008

Wow, that NPR mix really confused me. For each theme song I was expecting that particular show/segment to come on. To me those theme songs are cues of what's coming on and to what time it is and even what day it might be.

One of my favorite themes is the one to Car Talk because of fun banjo-ness of it. And this past Friday someone asked me what I was going to do on the weekend, and I replied that I was looking forward to listen to NPR, now how nerdy is that.

Sent by xavier | 1:23 PM ET | 05-11-2008

On favorites: i don't understand why, but i think the weekend edition song is waaay better than the morning edition song.

Sent by wendy | 12:25 PM ET | 05-12-2008

"Talk of the Nation" used to have a nice theme with what seemed like a kalimba plunking out a nifty tune.

But a few years back they changed it to this funereal dirge -- way too close to Taps for me. It kind of bums me out every time I hear it.

I don't know why they changed it. But hey, maybe they were just setting the mood for talk of politics over the last eight years! Let's hope they come up with a brand new theme after November....

Sent by Ralph | 3:24 PM ET | 05-12-2008

Not a theme song, but I love the way Terri Gross says "Fresh Air!" at the beginning of her show - she sounds so honestly thrilled and enthusiastic - it's contagious.

Sent by GB | 5:57 PM ET | 05-12-2008

I can't believe I couldn't think of this when you posted this last week. This is the greatest theme song of all time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6j8EiWIVZs&feature=related

Sent by Nick L. | 1:20 PM ET | 05-15-2008

Any WUNC listeners? At noon everyday I get down to the theme from "The State of Things."

Sent by Kathy | 11:06 PM ET | 05-17-2008

I'm a bit late on the comments but... when I saw this played live here in St. Louis a whole bunch of us in the crowd were yelling out for the Diane Rehm show theme. When I talked to Douggpound after the show he had said he never heard it but a few others had mentioned it along the tour. He said he might hunt it down for a possible re-re-remix. I can only hope.

Sent by pete | 1:11 PM ET | 08-08-2008