Nickelodeon Songs That Quietly Outperformed Expectations

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Article Contributed by Monica Soriano

Nickelodeon's Cultural Impact

Nickelodeon features a diverse range of shows, including cartoons and teen sitcom series. Their series range from wacky comedy-style shows to more arts and music-focused genres while maintaining the comedic aspect. Many great songs were derived from these shows. Although most were not intended to be more than a catchy intro song, a few managed to engrave themselves into pop culture and quiet longevity. Many of the theme songs are impossible not to sing along to; these include theme songs like iCarly’s “Leave It All to Me”, Drake and Josh’s “I Found a Way”, Victorious’ “Make It Shine”, and Zoe 101’s “Follow Me.” But theme songs are purposely made to be catchy, and it’s no surprise they became a staple in memory lane. There are, in fact, songs that were sleeper hits or, rather, hold unexpected longevity within Nickelodeon throughout the years.

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Freak The Freak Out

Of course, the theme songs for the shows mentioned above are some of the most popular songs to come out of Nickelodeon; unexpected or expected, they managed to captivate audiences. A track that was not a theme song, but rather released as part of a show's episode and soundtrack was “Freak The Freak Out” from Victorious. It charted on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. Victorious’ general longevity and impact are largely attributed to the talented cast and their chemistry, the social commentary surrounding the show, and the rerun accessibility. It is no wonder that the show and its music are still talked about to this day.

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Big Time Rush’s Unexpected Longevity

Photography by Fernando Flores

One of Nickelodeon’s music-focused shows was Big Time Rush, which produced a boy band by the same name. Although they might not have reached high levels of success like One Direction, which was also around at that time, they still hold a special place in the hearts of many. They had many songs that were quick to take the spotlight, like “Big Time Rush” and “Boyfriend,” but there were a couple of songs that became unexpected fan favorites, including “Nothing Even Matters” and “No Idea.” Big Time Rush is considered underrated by many, but their longevity is something that can’t be taken away. They continue their band endeavors, with tour dates this year, almost 13 years after the show on Nickelodeon ended.

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SpongeBob’s Unexpected Musical Success

Believe it or not, SpongeBob had iconic releases. SpongeBob is deeply ingrained in pop culture to this day; the songs, memes, and quotes produced from the show have become a way of expression. Songs such as “The Best Day Ever” and “Goofy Goober Rock” are just a couple of the tracks that prove the show's impact. SpongeBob hits are not always expected, but are always welcomed.

Overall, Nickelodeon was responsible for many theme songs becoming iconic and pop culture relevant to this day. There has always been a bit of competition between Disney Channel and Nickelodeon, and while it seems as though Disney Channel has more mainstream accomplishments overall, Nickelodeon shines with the unexpected successes. Their cartoons become something we carry from our childhood into our adulthood and hold up well when rewatching. Their strength really lies in the groundedness of their shows, and although it may take a while for some songs to get recognition, eventually they do.