“Teardrop” by Massive Attack served as House M.D.’s opening theme in many broadcasts.
The song appears on Massive Attack’s 1998 album Mezzanine and features vocals by Elizabeth Fraser of the Cocteau Twins. Its distinctive pulse and ethereal vocal line became strongly associated with the show’s opening titles, which present medical imagery and the cast credits.
Broadcast versions were not identical everywhere. In the United States, licensing issues meant that the original recording was replaced in the opening credits by an instrumental version of the theme performed by the series’ score composer, or by alternative music in some contexts. International editions more often used the original “Teardrop” recording.
This distinction explains why viewers may remember different opening music while still connecting the series with Massive Attack. “Teardrop” remains the canonical song most closely linked to House M.D.’s title sequence.