Which band performs “Teardrop,” the original opening theme associated with House M.D.?

Massive Attack performs “Teardrop,” the song associated with the original opening of House M.D.

“Teardrop” was released by the English trip-hop group Massive Attack in 1998. Its distinctive vocal performance was provided by Elizabeth Fraser, best known as the singer of the Cocteau Twins. The song’s atmospheric production and heartbeat-like rhythm suited the series’ combination of medical imagery, mystery, and psychological tension.

The opening credits used an edited version of the track in the show’s original United States broadcast presentation. International broadcasts and later versions sometimes used different music or an instrumental arrangement because of music-rights and distribution considerations. This is why viewers can remember different opening themes while still referring to the same series.

The song is often mistakenly credited to Elizabeth Fraser because her voice is so recognizable in the recording. However, Massive Attack is the performing group, and “Teardrop” was released as a Massive Attack single before House M.D. began.