“Teardrop” by Massive Attack plays over the opening credits of House M.D.
The song was released in 1998 on Massive Attack’s album Mezzanine. Its distinctive rhythmic pulse and Elizabeth Fraser’s vocals became strongly associated with the series after the track was used in the opening title sequence. The sequence combines medical imagery, anatomical details, and images of Hugh Laurie as Dr. House.
The broadcast version used “Teardrop” for most of the show’s run, but licensing and regional distribution created variations. Some international broadcasts and home-video releases used alternate music, and the United States season-one pilot originally featured a different song before the familiar theme became established.
“Teardrop” is sometimes incorrectly identified as an instrumental score composed specifically for the program. It was an existing Massive Attack recording, and the television series helped introduce it to a much wider audience.