“Teardrop” by Massive Attack served as the opening theme for most international broadcasts of House M.D.
The song is recognizable for its delicate keyboard pattern, electronic production, and Elizabeth Fraser’s vocal performance. Its atmosphere helped establish the show’s mysterious, cerebral tone as the opening credits introduced the cast and medical imagery.
Because of licensing restrictions, the original Massive Attack recording was not used in every broadcast market. The United States version commonly used an instrumental arrangement of the song, while many international versions used the original recording or a related arrangement. This difference explains why viewers in different countries may remember the opening differently.
“Teardrop” was released by Massive Attack in 1998 on the album Mezzanine. It is sometimes incorrectly described as a song written specifically for House M.D.; the track predates the television series by several years.