CSI: Crime Scene Investigation – Music

There was an instrumental theme song in the first season, which has been replaced in syndication. CSI’s theme song is Who Are You, written by Pete Townshend with vocals by Roger Daltrey, both of The Who, as the title track of their 1978 album. The show’s spinoffs also use The Who songs as their theme songs: Won’t Get Fooled Again for CSI: Miami and Baba O’Riley for CSI: NY, both recorded by The Who in 1971 for their album Who’s Next. This was parodied in an episode of Two and a Half Men, where a CSI parody used Squeeze Box as its theme. The Who’s Roger Daltrey made a special appearance in a season seven episode, Living Legend, which also contained many musical references such as the words “Who’s Next” on a dry erase board in the episode’s opening sequence.

Throughout the series, music plays an important role; artists like The Wallflowers, John Mayer, Method Man, and Akon (with Obie Trice) have performed onscreen in the episodes The Accused is Entitled, Built To Kill, Part 1, and Poppin’ Tags, respectively. The Wallflowers’ Everybody out of the Water can be found on the CSI soundtrack CD. Mogwai is often heard during scenes showing forensic tests in progress (see Style, above) as are Radiohead and Cocteau Twins, but several other artists have lent their music to CSI including Rammstein – used heavily in Lady Heather’s story arc. Sigur Rós can be heard playing in the background in Season 2 episode- Slaves of Las Vegas – The Turtles (Grave Danger) and Marilyn Manson (Suckers). Industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails have also been featured multiple times throughout the three series’.

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