"Minnie's Yoo-Hoo" was the first original song ever to be written for a Disney film. It's noted for its tin-pan alley style, atrocious lyrics and the fact that everyone in the country knew it by heart. © Disney.

The cartoon theme song is nearly as old as animation. When we recognize, smile at or sing along with one, we are sharing our popular culture with countless others who have enjoyed both cartoons and the music composed for them. Not all cartoons have been memorable, and the same can be said for many of the themes and songs written to accompany them, but the best of them are universally known and beloved by all.

Below are 10 themes that may have made the biggest impact on American culture by dint of their popularity and ubiquity; any one of them, heard in public, would be (or once were) instantly recognized by everyone and would inspire a happy sense of nostalgia in the listeners. More than likely, an impromptu sing-a-long would follow. Of course, if you doubt this, you could try it.

I have not included the many great musical numbers found in theatrical releases, because they do not qualify as theme songs. I have also omitted the many memorable holiday tunes that came to us through animated specials, for much the same reason, and also because they are seasonal and only shared at specific times. It is unusual for most people to break into a spirited version of "Holly Jolly Christmas" around campfires or during summer cookouts. Although, you never know.

Sammy Lerner actually wrote the music to the Popeye The Sailor theme song in just under two hours. This jaunty song was at least part of the reason why Popeye soon eclipsed Mickey Mouse in popularity. © King Features Prods.

Minnie's Yoo-Hoo (1929) (Carl Stalling, Walt Disney) For historical interest, but deserves inclusion. Not too many people remember this today, but during the 1930s there were 775 Mickey Mouse clubs with more than a million mouse-worshipping kids swarming into local movie houses to take pledges, sing patriotic songs, and elect officers. The official song of the Mickey Mouse Clubs was "Minnie's Yoo-Hoo," a tune from the 1929 short Mickey's Follies. "Minnie's Yoo-Hoo" was, in fact, the first original song ever to be written for a Disney film, and featured Walt himself on the vocals.

This tune is noted for its tin-pan alley style, frankly atrocious lyrics, and the fact that everyone in the country knew it by heart. Memorable line" "I'm the guy they call little Mickey Mouse/Got a girlfriend down at the chicken house."

Popeye the Sailor Man (1933) (Sammy Lerner) There is a legend surrounding this tune that Lerner simply laid the music down as a timing track, never intending to actually use it. Dave Fleischer, desperate because a cartoon was nearing deadline, grabbed it and tossed it in, whereupon he song became an unexpected hit. The truth is nearly as amazing: Lerner actually wrote the music in just under two hours.

The song was first heard during Popeye's debut in Popeye The Sailor (actually a Betty Boop cartoon) in 1933. This jaunty song was at least part of the reason why Popeye soon eclipsed Mickey Mouse in popularity. Memorable line: "I'm strong to the finich, 'cause I eats me spinach." Notable cover version: Face to Face.

"The Woody Woodpecker Song" sold 250,000 copies and was #1 on the Hit Parade. Nominated for an Oscar, it was the focus of an unsuccessful lawsuit by Mel Blanc, who claimed to originate Woody's chortle. © Universal Studios.

The Woody Woodpecker Song (1947) (George Tibbles, Ramey Idriss) In 1947, Tibbles and Idriss, two musicians in Walter Lantz' orchestra, told the boss about an idea they had for a song. The tune highlighted Woody Woodpecker's famous staccato laugh, and Lantz urged the pair to publish it. Tibbles and Idriess took the song to bandleader Kay Kyser, who worked out an orchestral arrangement. Vocals were sung by Gloria Wood, and the woodpecker's laugh was provided by Harry Babbitt.

The song was first heard on screen in the 1948 Woody cartoon, "Wet Blanket Policy". When released to the public, "The Woody Woodpecker Song" sold 250,000 copies in just 10 days, and was #1 on the Hit Parade for most of the summer of 1948. The song was nominated for an Academy Award that same year, and was the focus of an unsuccessful half-million dollar lawsuit by Mel Blanc, who claimed to be the originator of Woody's chortle. Memorable line: "And it's nothing to him, on the tiniest whim/To peck a few holes in your head". Notable covers: Frank Sinatra, Danny Kaye (with the Andrews Sisters), Mel Blanc and the Sportsmen.

Meet the Flintstones (1962) (Hoyt Curtin, William Hanna, Joseph Barbera) Most animation fans know that this sprightly sing-along was not the original theme for the show. The Flintstones opened at first with an instrumental known as "Rise and Shine;" the music that was to become the famous theme song was used only as underscore. The first time this song was heard in full was on a record album and was sung by the cast. Curtin later recorded it using 22 musicians and five singers, and it became the popular show's new opening song.