U2's hit single "Beautiful Day" was the original choice to serve as the theme song to Star Trek: Voyager.
Longtime Star Trek Executive Producer Rick Berman realized the franchise needed an overhaul for the 21st century, and the eventual result was Enterprise. A prequel series set a century before the events of Captain Jonathan Archer (Scott Bakula) and the NX-01 Enterprise, humanity's first vessel capable of prolonged interstellar travel. In an effort to refresh the franchise, Enterprise eschewed many common Star Trek trappings; notably, the words "Star Trek" did not initially appear in the show's title until season 3. But Enterprise's most controversial move was its theme song.
How Enterprise Almost Had A U2 Theme Song
The decision was made early on in the development of Enterprise that the show would not feature a traditional orchestral intro theme, but rather a pop song, similar to most UPN shows at the time. A popular choice with the show's production staff was U2's monster 2000 hit "Beautiful Day." The song was even used as a temp track as the show's opening credits were being developed. Star Trek: Picard showrunner Terry Matalas, who was a production assistant on Enterprise.
However, there was a somewhat predictable problem with using "Beautiful Day." U2 were, by many measures, the biggest band in the world in 2001, and licensing their songs for use in movies and television was notoriously expensive. Producer Rick Berman eventually realized using the song was not financially feasible and began looking for other options. The show's producers eventually chose Russell Watson's "Where My Heart Will Take Me," a reworking of a Rod Stewart song called "Faith Of The Heart."
Why Enterprise's Theme Song Was Controversial
The reaction to "Where My Heart Will Take Me" was, quite frankly, vicious. The cheesy power ballad was lambasted by critics and audiences alike, with fans organizing a campaign to have the song replaced. Lifelong Star Trek Beyond, has itted he's never seen a full episode of Enterprise because he hates the theme song so much.
Much like Enterprise itself, opinions on "Where My Heart Will Take Me" have softened over the years. It's not exactly beloved, but it's now acknowledged as a good-faith effort to try something new. That said, it's hard not to wonder what could have been for Star Trek: Enterprise had it been soundtracked by a classic rock anthem like "Beautiful Day."
