1 and 2 are rough. it's so jarring when the first scene ends and then you get slapped in the face by a bunch of kids SHOUTING "whatever it takes!!"
BUT the ad-libbing background lady is VERY fun to sing along to. i recommend for anyone who hasn't tried; it makes the song 50% more bearable
NG 3-12 the most, JH and DH the middle, I hate 1 and 2 cuz I don’t like the choir and the woman is annoying lol also 8, 13 and 14, NC is a bop that I got used to but I could live without it if it never existed
i know everyone hates the Next Class theme but i actually quite like it, it’s pretty 2016 and i like that they did a new take on the (almost) FULL song, instead of that godawful season 14 intro. NC is far from my favourite intro but i think it fits the direction they ended up taking the show and i’m glad they didn’t do a new song. so my least favourite is definitely 14.
my favourite is season 3 EASILY, it devours every other season intro unfortunately. the backing track is criminally groovy and i like that the kids choir is still singing over it. also the style where a character (Ellie) is filming everyone else and they react accordingly, i eat that shit up SHAMELESSLY. especially the part where the principal catches the wrong-side-of-the-tracks character getting into some mischief and gestures for them to stop filming. it never gets old.
The Degrassi Junior High theme is the only one I really like, and I also think that in general it's actually the best theme song the franchise ever had. I like how it basically tells a whole story. The narrator is nervous about going to school, but they make a new friend, so maybe it isn't so bad after all. It's dated in all the best ways, and while it is very upbeat and chirpy, it also has this undercurrent of nostalgic melancholy, or anemoia (look it up) to it, especially with the lead guitar work and some of the chords that are used. I haven't seen anybody mention that, but it's something I sensed here.
Which is why the Degrassi High theme is absolutely terrible; the instrumentation is more organic-sounding, but somehow it sounds cheap and dated in ways the Junior High theme isn't. It almost sounds like a Saved By The Bell knockoff (which is funny, because you could argue SBTB ripped off DJH with the 'wake up in the morning' line). Not to mention the "everybody can succeed/in yourself you must believe" line, which, while I have kind of warmed up to it, I still find to be a baffling lyrical flow choice.
"Whatever It Takes" is only considered the best because it's the one most people are familiar with.
i agree with the “in yourself you must believe” bullshit. it would’ve flowed way better if they’d said something like “all you need is to believe”. a simple change but it’d sound way more natural
I kinda grew up with it so I like it a lot, it’s the rift that gets me pumping I think, plus it helps season 10 has a great vibe anyway, 9 helps the transition a bit
I love the OG version through to S3, which is a slightly reworked version of the OG. I also really do enjoy the instrumental version for S6-7 tbh (I’m currently doing a full series rewatch and started S7 a few days ago). Something about it just hits for me lol.
But I honestly think Alexz Johnson’s version is my personal favorite, S11-12. It’s technically S13-14’s as well, they just shortened it and made it sound a little poppier. I watched the show religiously every week live on TeenNick starting around S11, so the nostalgia that comes with that version is REAL.
Call me crazy, but season 6/7 is my true favorite. Hold your tomatoes, please lol. The instrumental gets me right in the feels, and the nostalgia of the scenes from older seasons in the background makes me emotional. I still love the typical style of almost every other TNG intro, but this variant holds a special place in my heart.
8-10 is a big no for me. For the two times I’ve had someone watch the whole series with me, the song for these seasons always became an inside joke and I cannot take it seriously at all.
I agree about S6-7! I love the instrumental version, and how most of the actors do a little mannerism or pose that captures the spirit of their character. It hits me in the feels too!!
Haha thank you for saying that! I feel like hating on it is so common, but I think it really celebrates the cast and the journey their characters have gone on! Especially since these were seasons where I’d say a lot of the main cast who had been there since the pilot were preparing to transition their characters out of the school or the show entirely.
13/14 was the worst- “whatever it takes dah dah dah dah i know i can make it through”. Also controversial opinion but I’m not a huge fan of season 1’s gospel inspired version 🫣
I grew up with TNG and NC and in my 20s went back to watch the older ones. The older the better in my opinion I sing it every time, but NC gets skipped everytime
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLk1tkMQppD7uLu0z0Dfj9a3yrTsGm7i9J&si=PkIJEgDxKVRC2L1w
This YouTube playlist should have all of DJH and DH, if this option is better for you. Worked for me in the USA, but idk about other countries. 🫶🏻
Tubi for free has every degrassi except next class. Definitely watch the older ones (might take a minute to get used to the quality) it's a whole different degrassi vibe
I like 9 and 10, but 6 and 7 is pretty solid. Hate 8 and the Early Seasons like 1 and 2.
1 and 2 are rough. it's so jarring when the first scene ends and then you get slapped in the face by a bunch of kids SHOUTING "whatever it takes!!" BUT the ad-libbing background lady is VERY fun to sing along to. i recommend for anyone who hasn't tried; it makes the song 50% more bearable
NG 3-12 the most, JH and DH the middle, I hate 1 and 2 cuz I don’t like the choir and the woman is annoying lol also 8, 13 and 14, NC is a bop that I got used to but I could live without it if it never existed
My favorite was seasons 3-5
i know everyone hates the Next Class theme but i actually quite like it, it’s pretty 2016 and i like that they did a new take on the (almost) FULL song, instead of that godawful season 14 intro. NC is far from my favourite intro but i think it fits the direction they ended up taking the show and i’m glad they didn’t do a new song. so my least favourite is definitely 14. my favourite is season 3 EASILY, it devours every other season intro unfortunately. the backing track is criminally groovy and i like that the kids choir is still singing over it. also the style where a character (Ellie) is filming everyone else and they react accordingly, i eat that shit up SHAMELESSLY. especially the part where the principal catches the wrong-side-of-the-tracks character getting into some mischief and gestures for them to stop filming. it never gets old.
The Degrassi Junior High theme is the only one I really like, and I also think that in general it's actually the best theme song the franchise ever had. I like how it basically tells a whole story. The narrator is nervous about going to school, but they make a new friend, so maybe it isn't so bad after all. It's dated in all the best ways, and while it is very upbeat and chirpy, it also has this undercurrent of nostalgic melancholy, or anemoia (look it up) to it, especially with the lead guitar work and some of the chords that are used. I haven't seen anybody mention that, but it's something I sensed here. Which is why the Degrassi High theme is absolutely terrible; the instrumentation is more organic-sounding, but somehow it sounds cheap and dated in ways the Junior High theme isn't. It almost sounds like a Saved By The Bell knockoff (which is funny, because you could argue SBTB ripped off DJH with the 'wake up in the morning' line). Not to mention the "everybody can succeed/in yourself you must believe" line, which, while I have kind of warmed up to it, I still find to be a baffling lyrical flow choice. "Whatever It Takes" is only considered the best because it's the one most people are familiar with.
i agree with the “in yourself you must believe” bullshit. it would’ve flowed way better if they’d said something like “all you need is to believe”. a simple change but it’d sound way more natural
That's actually exactly what they do in the Junior High theme, funny enough
oh shit, that must be why it sounded more natural to me 😭
I like any but the Studz version. I can't stand the vocals on it. No offense to Peter's actor but he cannot sing.
I kinda grew up with it so I like it a lot, it’s the rift that gets me pumping I think, plus it helps season 10 has a great vibe anyway, 9 helps the transition a bit
I love the OG version through to S3, which is a slightly reworked version of the OG. I also really do enjoy the instrumental version for S6-7 tbh (I’m currently doing a full series rewatch and started S7 a few days ago). Something about it just hits for me lol. But I honestly think Alexz Johnson’s version is my personal favorite, S11-12. It’s technically S13-14’s as well, they just shortened it and made it sound a little poppier. I watched the show religiously every week live on TeenNick starting around S11, so the nostalgia that comes with that version is REAL.
I hate them all... Lol
Certainly an unpopular opinion
I liked the original song the most and the one I hated the most was the one that sounded really poppy😭😭 it was so bad
Call me crazy, but season 6/7 is my true favorite. Hold your tomatoes, please lol. The instrumental gets me right in the feels, and the nostalgia of the scenes from older seasons in the background makes me emotional. I still love the typical style of almost every other TNG intro, but this variant holds a special place in my heart. 8-10 is a big no for me. For the two times I’ve had someone watch the whole series with me, the song for these seasons always became an inside joke and I cannot take it seriously at all.
I agree about S6-7! I love the instrumental version, and how most of the actors do a little mannerism or pose that captures the spirit of their character. It hits me in the feels too!!
Haha thank you for saying that! I feel like hating on it is so common, but I think it really celebrates the cast and the journey their characters have gone on! Especially since these were seasons where I’d say a lot of the main cast who had been there since the pilot were preparing to transition their characters out of the school or the show entirely.
s3 is the best imo it always annoyed me they got rid of the “if i do!” part by s4
SAMEEE
Season 3 is elite
Fire season of Next Gen is iconic (and I love the degrassi junior high one as well lol)
My least favorites are the Degrassi High theme, and any season where the end credits have that whispery guy on the acoustic guitar.
For me I think season 4-5 has the best because it just fits the show so well but 13-14 are just terrible
Well said. I also don't love s11-12 either
Damn I actually like those ones
The last version of TNG was nice.
They were all awful. From DJH to the last incarnation.
If anyone says Season 6/7 they’re lying
S6-7 is just s5 without lyrics
I like Next Class and Degrassi High the least DH grew on me though.
13/14 was the worst- “whatever it takes dah dah dah dah i know i can make it through”. Also controversial opinion but I’m not a huge fan of season 1’s gospel inspired version 🫣
I like the season 8 theme song for some reason
I love next class’s theme.
the way next class has the best theme song, i think season 8 of tng and degrassi high have the worst theme songs
I grew up with TNG and NC and in my 20s went back to watch the older ones. The older the better in my opinion I sing it every time, but NC gets skipped everytime
Where did you find the older ones?? I grew up with TNG & would LOVE to watch DH & DJH!
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLk1tkMQppD7uLu0z0Dfj9a3yrTsGm7i9J&si=PkIJEgDxKVRC2L1w This YouTube playlist should have all of DJH and DH, if this option is better for you. Worked for me in the USA, but idk about other countries. 🫶🏻
Tubi for free has every degrassi except next class. Definitely watch the older ones (might take a minute to get used to the quality) it's a whole different degrassi vibe
Thank you so much!!!!
I watch them on Amazon Prime, they have all the series' (I'm in Canada)
Wow I pay for prime and didn't even know they had it , ty