🎧Today Don't forget to listen to... I´ll Be There For You - The Rembrandts ⏭️

On this day: The Rembrandts and the song that became the voice of *Friends*
 

On this day—September 22, 1994—NBC premiered *Friends*, a series that would go on to become one of the major television phenomena of the 1990s. Alongside Ross, Rachel, Monica, Chandler, Joey, and Phoebe, one of television’s most recognizable theme songs was also born: "I’ll Be There for You," performed by The Rembrandts. Interestingly, the song was not initially conceived as a single, or even as a full-length track. Producers wanted an upbeat opening theme that conveyed the spirit of friendship; they commissioned a specific composition from Michael Skloff—the show's music director and husband of creator Marta Kauffman—working alongside songwriter Allee Willis and *Friends* creators David Crane and Kauffman. Before settling on The Rembrandts, the production team had even considered using R.E.M.’s "Shiny Happy People," but the band turned down the offer.

So, why The Rembrandts? The duo—comprising Danny Wilde and Phil Solem—already had a track record in pop-rock and had achieved some renown with songs like "Just the Way It Is, Baby." Furthermore, executive producer Kevin Bright was a fan of the group and wanted the theme song to have the sound of a real band, rather than that of a conventional TV composition. The Rembrandts received that initial version—lasting about 40 to 42 seconds—and although they weren't particularly keen on becoming "the TV show band," they saw potential in the track. They infused it with their own style and helped expand it into a full song. The famous handclaps in the intro ended up becoming one of its most recognizable features.

The big surprise came after the premiere. Radio stations began receiving so many requests that some even looped and stitched together the short TV version to create a full-length song. The success was so unexpected that the record label asked The Rembrandts to record a version lasting approximately three minutes. Wilde and Solem added a second verse and a bridge, and the song was ultimately included on their 1995 album, *L.P.* “I’ll Be There for You” topped the *Billboard* Hot 100 Airplay chart for weeks and reached number 3 in the UK. The music video also brought together the six stars of *Friends* and The Rembrandts.

Ironically, the success was a double-edged sword for the group: the song gave them massive exposure and helped boost sales of *L.P.*, yet it also led a large portion of the public to identify The Rembrandts almost exclusively with *Friends*. Years later, Danny Wilde acknowledged that while the song had brought them significant rewards, it had also altered the public's perception of them. In fact, the band now points out that “I’ll Be There for You” represents just one part of a much broader career. Yet it is hard to imagine *Friends* without those guitars, the handclaps, and that “I'll be there for you” hook—which, three decades later, still serves as an instant, brief journey back to the 1990s.

And what about you—do you like it as the series' opening sequence?

Let's talk about it in the comments section! 👇