“Teardrop” by Massive Attack is the opening theme song most associated with House M.D.
The song appeared prominently in the show’s opening sequence, whose visuals introduce House and the medical environment through layered anatomical and hospital imagery. “Teardrop” was released by the English electronic group Massive Attack in 1998, several years before the television series premiered.
Elizabeth Fraser of the Cocteau Twins provides the song’s distinctive vocal performance. The combination of its delicate vocal line, electronic rhythm, and medical imagery gave the opening a recognizable identity. However, the full song was not used as the opening in every version of the program.
The American broadcast version of the House M.D. opening used a shortened arrangement, while some international broadcasts used different music because of licensing issues. This is why viewers may remember another theme or a different edit. The association with “Teardrop” nevertheless remains one of the show’s best-known musical facts.