Why Was the ‘What I Like About You’ Theme Song Changed Years Later? Licensing Issues and Music Costs Explained

What I Like About You is finally streaming on Netflix — but the theme song will sound a little different.

The hit WB sitcom, which aired from 2002 to 2004, followed the lives of two sisters living together in New York City — teenager Holly (Amanda Bynes) and her responsible older sister, Val (Jennie Garth). In addition to Bynes and Garth the series starred Simon Rex, Wesley Jonathan, Leslie Grossman, Michael McMillian, Nick Zano, Allison Munn, Dan Cortese, Edward Kerr and David de Lautour.

What I Like About You pulled inspiration for its show title from the 1980 song of the same name by American rock band The Romantics. A cover version of the song — performed by Canadian all-female rock group Lillix — was used for the theme song after also being heard on the Freaky Friday and 13 Going on 30 soundtracks.

Season 2 featured a remixed techno/dance style version, which was the theme song for the rest of the series. Music costs and rights — and various DVD and streaming releases — led to the theme song replacing Lillix’s cover.

Keep scrolling for a breakdown of the theme song on What I Like About You — and the subsequent changes:

What Is the ‘What I Like About You’ Theme Song?

In season 1, a cover of The Romantics’ What I Like About You played across the original title sequence. It changed in the next three seasons with a remixed techno/dance style theme created by Philip Steir, who composed all the music for the remainder of the series.

When Did the ‘What I Like About You’ Theme Song Switch?

Wally Palmar, Mike Skill, Rich Cole and Jimmy Marinos wrote the 1980 track “What I Like About You,” which served as the inspiration for the show’s title. Rock group Lillix sang the cover featured in season 1 before it was swapped when Warner Home Video released the complete first season on DVD in 2007.

Due to high music licensing issues, Lillix’s cover of the theme song was removed and replaced with a generic song produced specifically for the DVD version. Low sales and high music licensing costs caused no further seasons to be given a general retail release. (The rest of the seasons were ultimately released by Warner Archive from 2017 to 2019.)

Which Version of the ‘What I Like About You’ Theme Song Is on Netflix?

The show originally became available on HBO Max in January 2021 with the replacement song. It was the same version that started streaming on Netflix five years later.

Where Is ‘What I Like About You’ Available to Stream Now?

If you weren’t a fan of the show back in the day and managed to snag a DVD set, What I Like About You is available for purchase on iTunes or all four seasons are currently streaming on Netflix.