"Hawaii Five-O" Soundtrack Lyrics

"Hawaii Five-0 (TV) — Music & Soundtrack Overview (2010–2020)" Soundtrack Description

Overview

How do you reboot the most famous drum fill in TV without breaking its spell? The 2010–2020 Hawaii Five-0 answers with reverence and torque: a newly recorded title theme that keeps Morton Stevens’ iconic melody while tightening the attack for modern action pacing. Series composers Brian Tyler and Keith Power deliver the weekly score—percussion-forward, guitar-glinting, brass-punching—while music supervisor Liza Richardson threads in select needle-drops and Hawaiian artists.

The franchise backbone remains the “Hawaii Five-O Theme.” For the reboot, Tyler re-recorded the theme (shorter, harder-hitting), and the show credits Stevens as originator. Beside the score, CBS issued a 2011 songs compilation featuring licensed tracks used or promoted with the series, and in 2023 a digital single/collection surfaced for the Tyler/Power title theme. Industry outlets (Variety; IMDb credits) and platform listings confirm these roles and releases.

Questions & Answers

Who composed the reboot’s score?

Brian Tyler and Keith Power are credited as series composers; they also cut the updated main-title arrangement while honoring Morton Stevens’ original theme.

Who supervised the show’s song placements?

Liza Richardson served as music supervisor across the run.

Is there an official soundtrack album?

Yes—Hawaii Five-0 (Original Songs from the Television Series) (CBS Records, 2011) collects featured songs. A later digital release features the Tyler/Power main-title recording (2023).

Does the series use a brand-new melody?

No. The melody is Stevens’ 1968 theme; the 2010 version is a re-recording/arrangement for the reboot.

Are Hawaiian artists featured?

Yes—seasons periodically feature local artists in montages or source cues alongside mainstream picks.

Did the reboot keep the opening credits’ surf-rock vibe?

Yes—brass, snare cadence, and guitar stabs stay front-and-center, cut to quicker visuals.

Notes & Trivia

• The reboot’s main title is a new studio recording shepherded by Brian Tyler, not a lift of the 1968 master.
• The 2010 version trims the theme’s length compared with the 1968 open to fit modern main-title runtimes.
• “Book ’em, Danno” buttons often land over score stings or the end-of-act drum pickup.
• IMDb’s full credits list Liza Richardson as music supervisor on 240 episodes.
• The Ventures’ 1969 chart-hit cover of the classic theme remains part of the series’ cultural orbit.

Genres & Themes

Modernized surf-rock + orchestral action: snare lines, tom runs, and brass hits over palm-muted guitars for chases. Pacific color: slack-key-style guitar and ukulele textures for locale transitions without turning into pastiche.

Tech/ops suspense: synth pulses and low brass for surveillance beats. Hero cadences: triadic brass statements that resolve to the theme’s interval DNA, creating brand cohesion after big wins.

Tracks & Scenes

"Hawaii Five-0 Theme" — Brian Tyler & Keith Power (after Morton Stevens)
Where it plays: Opening titles every episode; non-diegetic. A shortened, newly recorded arrangement for the reboot.
Why it matters: Instantly recognizable brand ID; the re-record centers heavier drums and tighter brass articulations for a punchier cut.

"World Upside Down" — Jimmy Cliff
Where it plays: Season 1 tie-in album track; used in promotional contexts and as a feel-good montage needle-drop in early seasons.
Why it matters: Reggae optimism underlines reset moments—family beats and “we live to fight” codas.

"Such a Night" — Elvis Presley
Where it plays: S4 “A ia la aku (From This Day Forward)” wedding-reception source; diegetic on the party floor.
Why it matters: Classic rock-’n’-roll joy that lets the episode breathe between plot beats.

"Sinister Kid" — The Black Keys
Where it plays: Pilot—source cue when McGarrett arrives at Danny’s; diegetic background in the apartment scene.
Why it matters: Character tone-setter—grit and swagger for the new partnership.

Score cue family: “Ops Prep / Breach / Pursuit” — Brian Tyler & Keith Power
Where it plays: Recurring action design across seasons (briefings into raids); non-diegetic ostinati and breakbeats.
Why it matters: Modular writing lets editors dial energy—tight snare patterns to sub-booms—without losing thematic glue.

Also marketed with the show: the various-artists set Hawaii Five-0 (Original Songs from the Television Series) (2011) compiles featured/inspired tracks used around Season 1’s run.

Music–Story Links

The title theme’s cadence doubles as a narrative stamp: when cases close, score tags quote the motif to signal order restored. Slack-key colors often accompany homefront beats—Charlie, Kamekona’s shrimp truck—so audience ears separate community moments from tactical pressure. When surveillance crunches into breach, percussion leads and brass doesn’t sing the melody; only the victory stinger gives you that familiar interval lift.

How It Was Made

For the reboot, Brian Tyler assembled players to re-record the classic theme, keeping Stevens’ composition while updating dynamics and edit points. Tyler and Keith Power then built a weekly score architecture that could pivot from sunlit procedural to military-grade action within a network hour. Liza Richardson’s supervision balanced national hits with local sounds; her long-running tenure on the series is documented in show credits and trade bios. Variety ran a behind-the-scenes look at the main-title recording during the show’s launch campaign.

Reception & Quotes

The theme refresh drew early-run press for respecting the melody while modernizing the punch; fans and critics credited the score with giving cohesion to fast-cut action.

“Feeling respect and awe for the classic theme… the new recording needed to be faithful and fierce.” Variety

“Music supervisor Liza Richardson” — credited across the run. IMDb

Availability: the 2011 songs compilation is on major storefronts; the 2023 main-title track by Tyler/Power is available as a standalone digital track.

Additional Info

• Album (songs): Hawaii Five-0 (Original Songs from the Television Series), CBS Records, 2011 — includes Jimmy Cliff, Switchfoot, Goo Goo Dolls.
• Theme single (score): “Hawaii Five-0 Theme” by Brian Tyler & Keith Power (digital, 2023).
• Episode soundtracks frequently mix national acts with Hawaiian artists for montages and location texture.
• The Ventures’ hit cover of the original theme remains a cultural touchstone for the brand.
• Fandom and cue sheets document additional placements across 240 episodes.

Technical Info

• Title: Hawaii Five-0 (TV series, 2010–2020)
• Type: Series score + licensed songs
• Theme: “Hawaii Five-O Theme” — composed by Morton Stevens; reboot arrangement/recording by Brian Tyler (with Keith Power)
• Composers: Brian Tyler; Keith Power
• Music Supervision: Liza Richardson
• Song album: Hawaii Five-0 (Original Songs from the Television Series), CBS Records, 2011
• Theme release: “Hawaii Five-0 (Original Series Soundtrack)” single/track, 2023
• Trailer ID (YouTube): xy30TGdaEAE

Canonical Entities & Relations

Sources: Variety; IMDb; Wikipedia; Apple Music; Spotify.

November, 10th 2025