“Doesn’t compare”: The White Lotus Season 3 theme song seems to have upset fans

The much-anticipated Season 3 of The White Lotus is here, but some fans aren't thrilled with one aspect: the new theme song. Earlier seasons' intros were iconic, with catchy tunes and eerie vocals that captured the show's luxurious yet eerie atmosphere. However, this new season has brought a change that hasn't resonated well with everyone.

Viewers have been expressing their feelings on social media, particularly on X (formerly Twitter) and Reddit. Some fans miss the familiar melodies and feel the new theme lacks the impact of the old ones. Although the show is known for changing its opening each season, it seems these fans had a special connection to the previous intros.

While a few viewers are optimistic that the new tune will grow on them, others are already using the 'skip intro' button. The change in theme music was likely an attempt to keep the show fresh, but it looks like it might have backfired for some. Only time will tell if the new opening wins over the hearts of die-hard fans or if it will remain a point of contention.

A user clearly expressed a common feeling about the new theme. They shared a video of a girl dancing to The White Lotus Season 2 theme song.

Then, they said something about the new one that wasn't very positive:

“The new #whitelotus theme doesn't compare to this banger”

The Cog also felt let down, noting that while changes are normal, this year's update was especially unimpressive:

“They do it every season but this season is a lame intro!”

Kat, known on Twitter as @nnurseratched, had a different take on the music. They recognized the skill that went into making it but admitted that it didn't affect them as strongly at first.

Here's what they had to say:

“It’s not as good as the other two right off the bat & doesn’t use the same melodic motifs, but we’ll get used to it. it’s an undeniably fantastic composition influenced by Thai music!!! our western ears aren’t used to that sound.”

At first, Steve, aka @SteveB2316, was unsure about the change. He made light of how it messed with his sleep, but he kept his hopes up.

He had faith in the person who made The White Lotus:

“I lost sleep over it…BUT. I believe in Mike White.”

Some fans, like @allison_sanz_, felt so disappointed with the theme that they decided to skip it entirely.

“I was genuinely a little disappointed I had to click the ‘skip intro’ button”

People on Reddit also felt the same way. Maester_Maetthieux liked the Southeast Asian look of it, but was sad that the usual sounds weren't there anymore:

“I love the evocative Southeast Asian/Buddhist art but the discontinuation of the theme with the vocalizations is very disappointing”

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Why does The White Lotus theme song change every season?

The White Lotus is known for its ability to reinvent itself. Every season, the show moves to a different place, with new people and themes. The opening theme music changes, too. It gets a new style to fit into the look and feel of the new place. In Season 2, the theme had a fancy Italian sound with opera and baroque music. The White Lotus Season 3 is inspired by Thai music.

But, fans are confused because the new theme doesn't have the familiar "woo" sounds. Those made the previous one popular. People liked them so much that DJs would mix them into their music, and fans talked about them. They thought The White Lotus Season 3 would keep that going, but it's different.

Even though fans are surprised now, we should remember that the first time people heard The White Lotus Season 2 theme, they had mixed feelings. But over time, they grew to love it. We'll see if the same happens with the new theme.

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Theme songs impact TV show identity

The opening theme of a show is more than a simple musical start. It sets the mood for what viewers will experience. Some TV show themes, like the ones from Game of Thrones, Friends, and The X-Files, are so well-known that they're almost as popular as the shows.

The Season 2 theme of The White Lotus is a great example. It became important in pop culture, and people talked about it on social media. They even played it at parties and clubs. A good opening theme gets viewers ready for what's to come and makes them look forward to each episode.

When they changed the theme for Season 3, it threw some people off. They had liked the old ones so much. The question now is - will fans come to love the new theme? Or will it always be something that divides fans?

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Season 3 of The White Lotus is exclusively on HBO and Max.

Next up: Here's when you can expect new The White Lotus episodes