“Teardrop” served as the opening theme for the television series House, M.D. in its original broadcast. The song was recorded by the English trip-hop group Massive Attack and released in 1998.
The opening sequence used a shortened version of the track over images that included medical and anatomical imagery, as well as cast credits. The song’s distinctive rhythm and Elizabeth Fraser’s vocals became closely associated with the series for many viewers.
Not every international broadcast used exactly the same music. Licensing restrictions led some versions of House, M.D. to replace “Teardrop” or use other music, and the song was also absent from some later home-video or streaming presentations. Nevertheless, “Teardrop” is the canonical original U.S. opening theme, rather than songs sometimes associated with the show through promotional clips or fan edits.