“Teardrop” by Massive Attack served as House M.D.’s opening theme in its original U.S. broadcasts.
The song comes from Massive Attack’s 1998 album Mezzanine. Its distinctive vocal line and atmospheric electronic production accompanied the show’s opening credits, which used medical imagery and introduced the principal cast.
The opening sequence was not identical in every market or release. The original American broadcast used “Teardrop,” but some international broadcasts and home-video versions used alternative music because of licensing arrangements. That difference explains why viewers may remember another opening track.
Massive Attack is an English music group associated with the Bristol trip-hop scene. “Teardrop” was performed vocally by Elizabeth Fraser, whose singing is a major part of the track’s recognizable sound. The song’s use became closely associated with House even though the series sometimes changed or shortened its opening presentation.