For a piece of music with a similar association, see *The Streets of Cairo, or t...

colanderman · on Aug 28, 2014

Don't forget also the "circus" song: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entrance_of_the_Gladiators

the "camping" song: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dueling_Banjos

the "end of the world" song: "O Fortuna" from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carmina_Burana_(Orff)

the "nautical" song: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sailor's_Hornpipe

the "Italian" song: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarantella_Napoletana

the "morning" song: "Ranz des Vaches" from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Tell_Overture

Just the first couple seconds of any of those songs are universally recognizable and commonly used to set scenes.

I wonder, is there a stereotypical "American" riff used in Chinese media? The beginning of "Yankee Doodle" or something?

genericuser · on Aug 28, 2014

"Hail to the Chief" comes to mind as used for setting scenes in America in many movies. Usually scenes having to do with the character playing the president, but in a lot movies that is the main time they need to say 'hey this america people'

acheron · on Aug 28, 2014

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/StandardSnippet has a long list.

cstuder · on Aug 29, 2014

Please refrain from linking to TV Tropes during work hours, thank you.

willthames · on Aug 29, 2014

On an international site (it's currently 18:30 on Friday evening where I am, for example), populated by people who might not necessarily do 9-5 Mon-Fri, I don't think there's any such thing as non-work-hours

If you mean 'please don't link to TV Tropes', say so.

thisjepisje · on Aug 29, 2014

I think it was a joke.

typpo · on Aug 28, 2014

Another good example is the "love" riff, from Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet overture: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2jKeYuPvjM#t=9m2s

And Chopin's Funeral March: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEX1dYyvmig

rspeer · on Aug 30, 2014

I was thinking that the most stereotypical "morning" riff would be "Morning Mood" from Peer Gynt: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morning_Mood

But then I listened through the William Tell Overture enough to get to "Ranz des Vaches", and -- you're right, that's the big one. I just hadn't realized that "Ranz des Vaches" and "Morning Mood" were different tunes until now!

_h8ft · on Aug 28, 2014

The X Factor really spoiled O Fortuna for me.

afafsd · on Aug 28, 2014

Most things have spoiled O Fortuna for me (though I've never watched the X Factor).

When I listen to Carmina Burana I usually skip to track 2.

davidw · on Aug 29, 2014

    Fortune rota volvitur;
    descendo minoratus;
    alter in altum tollitur;
    nimis exaltatus
    rex sedet in vertice
    caveat ruinam!
    nam sub axe legimus
    Hecubam reginam.

gambiting · on Aug 29, 2014

I have literally never heard this before. It has absolutely no association in my head whatsoever.