The third season of HBO‘s The White Lotus caused controversy among fans even before the first scene.
- READ MORE: The White Lotus season three review
The new theme tune, a departure from the first two seasons, has been viewed by many as a downgrade.
‘Aloha!’, Cristobal Tapia de Veer’s season one theme, was an immediately recognisable hit with viewers thanks to its unique vocal style. Season two won an Emmy for the evolution of those themes, keeping aspects of its predecessor while offering something new to reflect the show’s shift in location.
‘Enlightenment’, the composer’s third theme for the show, seems to have veered away from past motifs and gone in a new direction. Fans took to X (formerly Twitter) to voice their displeasure.
“The new White Lotus theme song is Mike White’s first miss,” said one, while another quipped: “Changing the theme for White Lotus is a great failure, but this is Mike White’s 1st time having a 3rd season.” White is the creator of the series, whose previous show, 2011’s Enlightened, was cancelled after season two.
the new white lotus theme song is mike white’s first miss pic.twitter.com/fP0cAjt19i
— Saint Hoax (@SaintHoax) February 17, 2025
changing the theme for White Lotus is a great failure, but this is mike white’s 1st time having a 3rd season pic.twitter.com/DXaBNz9dsU
— Robert McCready (@eveningmagic) February 19, 2025
Others posted more passionate rejections of the change. “I haven’t seen one tweet that showcases the disgust I have in White Lotus changing the theme song,” said one, with another adding: “The only thing America can agree on right now is that the White Lotus season 3 theme song is NOT it.”
I haven’t seen one tweet that showcases the disgust i have in white lotus changing the theme song. pic.twitter.com/s7y0P2JK3U
— Matt (@thatdudefandi) February 18, 2025
The only thing America can agree on right now is that the white lotus season 3 theme song is NOT it
— Victoria pearlman (@VPearlman) February 17, 2025
One viewer compared it to another great shift in cultural history – when Coca-Cola changed their formula in the 1980s. “The White Lotus season 3 theme song is like New Coke,” they explained. “No one asked for it to completely change and you messed up the original flavour and no one likes it. Hopefully they go back to the original theme next season.”
The White Lotus season 3 theme song is like New Coke. No one asked for it to completely change and you messed up the original flavor and no one likes it. Hopefully they go back to the original theme next season. pic.twitter.com/efZq2xMs0L
— Matt (@ST1401toEndor) February 19, 2025
Finally, one fan simply commented: “New White Lotus theme song sounds like iPad game music.”
new white lotus theme song sounds like ipad game music pic.twitter.com/iNdvwDDfVm
— buffy ♄ (@baccybuffy) February 17, 2025
Despite the ire, The White Lotus’ third season has gained rave reviews as a whole, scoring 96 per cent on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. In NME’s four-star review, critic Nick Levine described it as an “irresistible holiday soap (that) remains TV’s most essential destination”.
Recently, cast member Aimee Lou Wood said filming The White Lotus is like The Truman Show, while Leo Woodall has put his name in contention for being the next James Bond.
The post ‘The White Lotus’ fans are furious about the new theme song: “Sounds like iPad game music” appeared first on NME.
