Thanks to smooth vocals from easy-listening faves Johnny Mathis and Deniece Williams, “Without Us” sha-la-la-laed its way into the hearts of sitcom lovers everywhere when Family Ties made its debut in 1982. The song, which musically asks the question “what would we do baby, without us?” and made anyone within earshot know that “there ain’t no nothin’ we can’t love each other through,” which was a perfectly upbeat message that reflected the series’ genial nature. Shows like Growing Pains and Perfect Strangers may have tried valiantly, but they never quite mastered the blend of schmaltz and sincerity that Family Ties perfected. As a bonus, here’s the full-length version of the song. Weirdly enough, it didn’t top the charts:
As for the show itself? Well it still holds up quite well. Sha-la-la-la.