Massive Attack performed “Teardrop,” the song associated with House M.D.’s opening titles.
“Teardrop” was released by the English trip-hop group Massive Attack in 1998. The song is notable for its delicate vocal performance by Elizabeth Fraser and its distinctive electronic production. Its use helped give House M.D. an immediately recognizable musical identity, especially in the international version of the opening sequence.
The show’s opening credits used a shortened version of the track in many broadcasts. Some regions and later releases used different music because of licensing and broadcast arrangements. In the United States, the original pilot and some versions of the series used “Teardrop,” while other episodes or markets used an instrumental theme or alternate music. This variation explains why viewers sometimes remember different opening songs.
The song is often attributed only to Fraser because of her prominent vocals, but Massive Attack is the performing group. It should also not be confused with music from the show’s closing credits or with Radiohead and Portishead, two other artists commonly associated with trip-hop and alternative music.