Line #14 Main/MusicalPastiche


1	Using the style, instrumentation, and sound of one piece of music on a different melody, notably a show's theme tune, for mood effect. Also handy if you wish to parody a famous piece of music, but can't afford to license the melody. Parodying a public-domain song is, of course, problem-free.
2
3	When it's done to the same song several times within the same work, it's a ThemeAndVariationsSoundtrack.
4
5	If the song in question is written from scratch, it's SuspiciouslySimilarSong.
6
7	Not to be confused with the group that sang [[VideoGame/SonicCD Sonic Boom]].
8
9	SuperTrope to EnnioMorriconePastiche.
10
11	----
12	!!Examples:
13
14	[[foldercontrol]]
15
16	[[folder:Anime]]
17	* ''Anime/MagicalShoppingArcadeAbenobashi'', parodying ''Franchise/StarWars'', ''Franchise/IndianaJones'', and quite a few others.
18	* ''Manga/LuckyStar'', during the race scene, had a suspiciously ''Manga/InitialD'' sounding song. One time in episode 2 there was a ''Gun Buster'' parody, with a knockoff of the opening song, "Active Heart", [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Emq0Xf6zVDw seriously]], and in episode 17 there was a parody of Cat's Eye using a knockoff of [[http://video.yahoo.com/watch/622059/2944980 the ending theme]], but with Kagami as an extra.
19	* Music/JoeHisaishi pretty much plays around with one or two melodies for the entire soundtrack of ''Anime/HowlsMovingCastle''.
20	** There is also a section of 'Ashitaka and San' (Princess Mononoke) that sounds very similar to part of 'Ano Natsu E/Inochi no Namae' (Spirited Away).
21	* The ''Anime/CowboyBebop'' episode "Pierrot le Fou" includes a brilliant pastiche by Music/YokoKanno of Music/PinkFloyd's "On the Run". (This is actually a legitimate cover; it's even listed on the soundtrack as "On the Run" with the original writers credited.)
22	* Occurs early in the first episode of Gundam 0083 when Kou, Burning, Kieth and Alan are having a staged Mobile Suit battle to test a new attachment for the GM. The show's first theme is played with a different tempo for effect.
23	* The main theme of the ''Anime/ReadOrDie'' OVA is a particularly dramatic ''Film/JamesBond''-style piece, which is remixed to provide basically all of the music in both it and the later TV series.
24	* The soundtracks for HumongousMecha series ''Anime/{{Dangaioh}}'' and ''Anime/{{Godannar}}'' both boast their own version of ''Series/SpaceSheriffGavan''[='s=] Laser Blade theme. The former's use of the track is quite infamous as the 'Psychic Slash' attack's theme.
25	* ''Literature/FullMetalPanic''; one of the pieces of background music is a knockoff of the theme song for ''Series/TheATeam''.
26	** There are several other tracks that are quite similar to themes from 80s shows. For example, ''Shissou'', from The Second Raid, is highly reminiscent of the title theme from ''Series/{{Airwolf}}''.
27	* The Japanese version of ''Anime/DigimonAdventure'' reused a musical score from ''Anime/SailorMoon'', and strangely enough the music composer for both shows was none other than the late Music/TakanoriArisawa. Compare the two - [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POrdFe8nfg0 at 2:35 for the Sailor Moon version]] and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rukb6on10pw click here for the Digimon version]], and tell me that they don't sound almost exactly the same.
28	* The Japanese version of ''Anime/YuGiOh'' reused a musical score from ''Anime/CyberTeamInAkihabara'', and both series share the same composer, Shinkichi Mitsumune. And for comparisons sake [[http://soundcloud.com/theshugotv/cyberteam-in-akihabara-bgm The Cyberteam version]] and the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIvbdz8yYW0 Yu-Gi-Oh! version]].
29	* The 2011 adaptation of ''Anime/HunterXHunter'' includes a few, but most especially [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cp8kcoYXFM8 Rhapsody on the Theme of Holst]], which directly takes from Holst's Jupiter for an uncommonly apropos moment.
30	* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuZNfEnJPD8 The main theme]] used throughout the entire run of the ''Manga/CaseClosed'' anime is a rearrangement of [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCVUfRNRwbc the main theme]] from the 1972 detective drama, ''Taiyou ni Hoero!''. Katsuo Ohno is the BGM composer for both series and the reason for the similarity is because one of ''Conan'''s producers specifically asked Ohno to compose a theme similar to the one from ''Taiyo ni Hoero!''.
31	* A good chunk of songs on ''Manga/KaguyaSamaLoveIsWar'''s soundtrack are written as pastiches of other songs like "Holding Out for a Hero", "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)", or the theme from ''Film/TheGodfather''.
32	[[/folder]]
33
34	[[folder:Comic Strips]]
35	* The MusicalEpisode of ''ComicStrip/{{Nodwick}}'' consists of parody lyrics reflecting the goings-on, sung to the tunes of famous pop and rock songs (as explained by the author's foot notes). The author even has the [[VillainSong villain's number]] [[BreakingTheFourthWall break the fourth wall]] to explain that this is Fair Use and he's safe from lawsuits.
36	[[/folder]]
37
38	[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
39	* ''Film/{{Batman\|1989}}'' has a snippet of "Scandalous" by Music/{{Prince}} worked into the otherwise somber Music/DannyElfman score. Not that the song isn't fairly somber in its own way, especially when used in the film.
40	* ''Franchise/StarWars'':
41	** The music originally composed for the Sarlacc Pit battle in ''Film/ReturnOfTheJedi'' (Sail Barge Assault Alternate, released as a bonus track) is quite different from the music heard in the film, but the film music is kind of a pastiche of the original (the middle part and the ending are almost identical).
42	** And of course, several musics in the hexalogy were pastiches of parts of Holst's "Planets" suite. Examples: the music during the capture of the Blockade Runner and the destruction of the Death Star are based on the middle and end, respectively, of "Mars, The Bringer of War". Leia's theme is based on "Venus, The Bringer of Peace", and the music during the Rebels' approach to the Death Star resembles the "Jupiter" movement. The music when Luke is dragging Vader/Anakin to the shuttle is quoted from the first measures of the "Uranus" movement.
43	** The "Victory Celebration" music from the special edition of ''Return of the Jedi'' sounds rather similar to the ''Superman'' love theme, of course also written by John Williams.
44	* The sequel to ''Film/TheTallBlondManWithOneBlackShoe'', ''Film/TheReturnOfTheTallBlondMan'', has the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78DYzxog5z8 movie's theme arranged James Bond-style]].
45	* The theme from ''Film/TrueRomance'' (''You're so Cool'' by Music/HansZimmer) is near identical to Gassenhauer by Carl Orff.
46	* In ''Film/TheWizardOfOZ'', when Dorothy is running home at the beginning, the music is a much-accelerated orchestral version of the ''Creator/RobertSchumann piano piece "The Happy Farmer," a standard 'first classical piece' for young piano students. If Dorothy is taking piano, that may be one of her pieces--also, at the moment she is a rather UN-happy farmer; then, her first song in Oz, "The Wind Began to Twitch", is based on the same theme.
47	[[/folder]]
48
49	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
50	* ''Series/GoodEats'' does this a lot. Its simple, ten-note Surf Rock theme tune has been morphed into everything from the theme to ''Series/TheXFiles'', the JeopardyThinkingMusic, and a sea chanty, to "Theme from A Summer Place" and a heavy rock riff for guitar and Hammond.
51	* When a comedy character is being sneaky, adapting his theme music into a parody of the themes from the ''Film/JamesBond'' films, ''Series/MissionImpossible'', or ''Series/TheSaint'' is almost a requirement. (These three actually have a lot in common musically, so it's possible to hit all three in one parody).
52	* One that almost happened on TV: ''Series/SquareOneTV'' was originally going to be called "That's Mathematics", and Music/TomLehrer wrote a theme song for it, to the tune of "That's Entertainment". But in the end, the name of the show was changed so the song wasn't used. Then, Lehrer brought the song back for a celebration of Andrew Wiles' proof of Fermat's Last Theorem, but due to copyright, had to write his own tune to it (which keeps basically the same rhythm and style).
53	* ''Series/TheAvengers1960s'' pastiched ''Series/{{Batman\|1966}}'''s ThemeTune in the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tE_ks82chG4#t=5m22s climax battle]] of the episode "The Winged Avenger", complete with TheHitFlash, which took the form of huge comic book panels reading "POW!", "SPLAT!" and "BAM!" being smashed into the bad guy's face.
54	* ''Series/BillNyeTheScienceGuy'':
55	** Every episode ended with a parody of an existing song where the new lyrics related to the episode's topic (for example, "Born to be Wild" becomes "Bones in my Body" for the episode on the skeletal system).
56	** It had several pastiches of popular songs during the show, including ''Wipeout'', ''La Bamba'', 2 Unlimited's ''No Limit'' and ''Tribal Dance'', and the ''Film/JamesBond'' theme (some of these, of course, are public domain).
57	* ''Series/TheCosbyShow'' changed its theme song's stylistic every year. It was a regular pop song the first year. Then it was a Caribbean tune and an orchestrated tune, and a salsa number, before being a parody of "Shotgun" for its last season.
58	* ''Series/SpittingImage'' did this a lot. The best remembered is "The Chicken Song", which sounds very similar to "Agadoo" by Black Lace.
59	* ''Series/TheXFiles'' had a just-different-enough version of "Sing, Sing, Sing" for the big scene in episode "Triangle".
60	* ''Series/SesameStreet'' did this for most of its parody songs, using the same rhythm with a different tune, eg "Rebel L", a pastiche of Billy Idol's "Rebel Yell". Of course because PBS doesn't have the funding for licensing fees.
61	* ''Series/TheGoodies'' episode "Saturday Night Grease", as a parody of ''Film/SaturdayNightFever'' and ''Film/{{Grease}}'' has a song about fixing the trandem called "Greased Cyclin'".
62	* ''Series/MacGyver1985'' used a pastiche of the James Bond theme when Mac donned a tuxedo and went into the villain's private casino in "The Heist".
63	* Musical skits were a regular feature of ''Series/NotTheNineOClockNews'', and they were almost always of the pastiche variety (except for the Music/KateBush send-up "England, My Leotard" for which they got her permission to use the tune of "Them Heavy People", and gave her a credit on the soundtrack album).
64	[[/folder]]
65
66	[[folder:Music]]
67	* There have been several spoof rock bands which parody specific songs or styles of music, but not all of these can be called pastiches. There are at least two bands that blur the line between pastiche and parody.
68	* The Hee Bee Gee Bees parodied numerous bands of the 70s and 80s, often very closely pastiching the original melodies.
69	* Music/TheRutles, originally seen in a TV {{Mockumentary}}, on Series/RutlandWeekendTelevision, pastiched Music/TheBeatles. (Music by [[Music/TheBonzoDogBand Neil Innes]] and scripts by Creator/EricIdle.) In some cases the pastiche was almost too close for comfort, as in the case of "Get Up and Go", which was almost banned from the soundtrack CD because of its resemblance to "Get Back". Fortunately Music/PaulMcCartney saw the joke, to the extent of performing the song himself.
70	** Similarly to The Rutles, [[Music/ToddRundgren Utopia]]'s album ''Deface the Music'' is comprised entirely of [[AffectionateParody affectionate]] [[Music/TheBeatles Beatles]] [[AffectionateParody parodies]]. As with the Rutles' music, many of these songs are parodies of specific Beatles songs, and for people who have listened to the Beatles' music enough times, it's easy to pick out which song each of these parodies.
71	* Music/RichardCheese has made a career off of the discovery that profanity-filled metal and rap songs become intrinsically hilarious when played as extremely white-bread Lounge Music.
72	* While the world thinks of him as strictly a parody artist, Music/WeirdAlYankovic's songs are actually split about half and half between parody works and pastiches. "Dare to Be Stupid" may be his best known of these; a pastiche of the works of {{Music/Devo}} that was part of the soundtrack for ''Westernanimation/TheTransformersTheMovie''. Notable for drawing the comment from a critic that he had out-Devoed Devo, and of Mark Mothersbaugh himself congratulating Weird Al for writing the perfect Devo song.
73	* Variation 22 from Beethoven's 33 variations on a theme by Diabelli is a pastiche of the aria "Notte e giorno faticar" from Mozart's ''Don Giovanni''.
74	* The trance track [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUcQCLht7-g "Lovestruck"]] by DJ Janis uses the instrumentation of [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byfVfo7ZKjU Kay Cee's "Escape"]] and the melodic riff of Music/GeorgeMichael's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izGwDsrQ1eQ "Careless Whisper"]].
75	* Taco's "Got to Be Your Lover" seems to be a pastiche of Music/RickAstley, particularly "Together Forever". In fact, it's more or less a SuspiciouslySimilarSong to that song.
76	* [[Music/HidetoMatsumoto hide]]'s "Rocket Dive" was written as a tribute to his hero, [[Music/{{KISS}} Ace Frehley]], and lifts Frehley's guitar intro to "Rocket Ride".
77	* 2Girlz's "Fallen Angel" is a heavily {{autotune}}d pastiche of Music/{{Cascada}}, particularly "Everytime We Touch" and "Bad Boy". The verse lyrics also have {{shoutout}}s to the former. It was co-produced by Axel Konrad of Groove Coverage, whom Cascada themselves ripped off frequently, so it may be a TakeThat.
78	* Music/CyndiLauper's "Hey Now (Girls Just Want to Have Fun)" is a pastiche of her original "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" and Redbone's "Come and Get Your Love".
79	* A capella group Straight No Chaser recorded a mashup of Jason Mraz's "I'm Yours" and Israel Kamakawiwoʻole's version of "Somewhere, Over The Rainbow".
80	* Mylo's "Dr. Pressure" combines the instrumentation from his own "Drop the Pressure" [[WithLyrics with the lyrics of]] [[Music/GloriaEstefan Miami Sound Machine]]'s "Dr. Beat".
81	* Delta Brony's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rOdSbTiI6U "Let The Rainbow Remind You(Rainbow Road Mix)"]] sets the vocals of [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HoBdr2JBjxs "Let The Rainbow Remind You"]] from the ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS4E26TwilightskingdomPart2 Season 4 finale]] to the instrumentation of ''VideoGame/MarioKartDoubleDash'''s [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHdEjH_7YY8 Rainbow Road]] theme. In fact, the ''Super Ponybeat: Ultimate Cross'' album consists almost entirely of crossovers between ''MLP'' songs and video game soundtracks.
82	* Bjorn "Dr. Awesome" Lynne's 2000 [[RearrangeTheSong remake]] of his Platform/{{MOD}} song [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nykfVOkuCTU "12th Warrior"]] is stylistically reminiscent of Music/{{Europe}}'s [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jK-NcRmVcw "The Final Countdown"]], especially the guitar solo at the end.
83	* Supermode's "Tell Me Why" is a mashup of two of Bronski Beat's signature songs; "Smalltown Boy" and "Why".
84	* "Stuck in the Middle with You" by Stealers Wheel is a pastiche of Music/BobDylan; Gerry Raferty even mimics Dylan’s vocal style with his lead vocal.
85	* Music/PaulAnka has performed "Smells Like Teen Spirit" with [[https://youtu.be/TsS811o21-k predictable results]].
86	* Music/TearsForFears: [[Music/TheHurting "The Prisoner"]] was designed as an intentional riff on Music/PeterGabriel's "[[Music/{{Melt}} Intruder]]".
87	* Music/JeanMichelJarre's "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOBiWmIcRmo Oxygène Part 7]]" from ''Music/{{Oxygene}} 7-13'' is a pastiche of [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Q00HQwO2Sg "Oxygène Part 2"]] from the first ''Oxygène'' album with a melody similar to Music/{{Vangelis}}'s [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAwo7DPUFUM end credits theme]] from ''Film/BladeRunner''. In turn, it receives a more upbeat arrangement in [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PelJwdBRJME "Oxygène Part 12"]].
88	* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GNVC3TPbg0 "We Love To Party"]] by Caramella Girls, formerly known as Music/{{Caramell}}, sounds like the lovechild of [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-8E4Nirh9s "Caramelldansen"]] and Music/{{PSY}}'s [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bZkp7q19f0 "Gangnam Style"]]. Two memes for the price of one.
89	* Music/RunDMC's "It's Tricky" combines the guitar riff and rhythm of Music/TheKnack's "My Sharona"(which lead to them suing Run-DMC for MediaNotes/{{plagiarism}}) with the cheerleading chant of Music/ToniBasil's "Hey Mickey".
90	* Mike Mareen's [[SpeedyTechnoRemake hi-NRG cover]] of Music/SimonAndGarfunkel's "Cecilia" uses the same instrumentation and bassline as his own "Midnight Runners" (no relation to Music/DexysMidnightRunners) from the same album, ''Dance Control''.
91	* Music/KingCrimson: [[Music/InTheWakeOfPoseidon "The Devil's Triangle"]] is the band's own take on "Mars, Bringer of War" by Music/GustavHolst.
92	[[/folder]]
93
94	[[folder:Theatre]]
95	* ''Theatre/{{Wicked}}'':
96	** A bit of the melody from "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" is used in the recurring "Unlimited" leitmotif, which is basically Elphaba's theme. On the length of the snippet of melody: it's ''just'' enough to avoid copyright problems--the first seven notes (somewhere, over the rainbow!).
97	** It uses the chords of "No One Mourns the Wicked" and its overture as a [[RecurringRiff recurring theme]], and intersperses it with "For Good", which itself incorporates the chord theme, in the finale ultimo.
98	* The 1971 version of ''No, No, Nanette'' does this with reprises of "I Want To Be Happy," which three characters sing it like "I Wanna Be Loved By You," gut-bucket Music/BessieSmith blues and "It's Delightful To Be Married."
99	* In ''Theatre/TheMusicMan'', the melodies of "Goodnight, My Someone" and "Seventy Six Trombones" are pastiches of each other. This is made obvious by a reprise which switches between the two songs with every other line.
100	* Similarly, in Music/LeonardBernstein's ''Mass'', the a capella chorale "Almighty Father" is based on a slower version of the "In nomine Patris" which precedes it.
101	* The first half of ''Amaluna'''s finale combines the vocal melody and rhythm of "Elma Om Mi Lize" with the instrumentation and backing melody of "Run", the preceding song.
102	[[/folder]]
103
104	[[folder:Video Games]]
105	* The ''VideoGame/BanjoKazooie'' games have a dynamic soundtrack that morphs between styles depending on where you are in a given area. In ''VideoGame/BanjoTooie'', they even incorporated tempo shifts.
106	* ''VideoGame/CoolSpot'':
107	** "Wipeout" is a partiche of The Surfaris' "Wipe Out."
108	** "Loco Motive" is a pastiche of ''Film/TheMagnificentSeven1960'' theme.
109	* ''VideoGame/DragonQuest'':
110	** The ''VideoGame/DragonQuestII'' castle theme, "Chateau," is a pastiche of Bach's "Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D major" and August Wilhelmj's arrangement "Air on the G String". The sailing theme, "Beyond the Waves," is a pastiche of the opening of Johann Strauss Jr.'s "On the Beautiful Blue Danube".
111	** The ''VideoGame/DragonQuestIII'' castle theme, "Rondo," is a pastiche of Telemann's Viola Concerto in G and Henryk Wieniawski's ''Légende''. The Jipang theme is a pastiche of "March of the Siamese Children."
112	* ''Kinect Star Wars'' contains pastiches of La Roux's "Bulletproof," Jamiroquai's "Canned Heat," Music/GwenStefani's "Hollaback Girl," Bruno Mars's "Just the Way You Are," Jason Derulo's "Ridin' Solo", Yolanda Be Cool's "We No Speak Americano", and Music/VillagePeople's "Y.M.C.A."
113	* Many songs in the ''Franchise/SilentHill'' series, eg "Promise", "Not Tomorrow", "Killing Time", "Theme of Laura", "I Want Love", "Waiting for You", are pastiches of the first game's opening theme, and a few other themes have pastiches as well. Not necessarily {{recurring riff}}s.
114	* The ''VideoGame/SnakeRattleNRoll'' title screen music is a pastiche of "Shake, Rattle and Roll."
115	* ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'':
116	** ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog3'' and ''Sonic & Knuckles'' had a different music composer than the first two games, hence the absence of the original title theme, but the main boss theme is a pastiche of both the miniboss theme(the second part) and the ''[[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog1 Sonic 1]]'' boss theme(the first part, somewhat more resembles the FinalBoss version). Additionally, thanks to the involvement of Music/MichaelJackson and his producers with the soundtrack, Carnival Night Zone, Launch Base Zone, and the non-locked-on ending theme are pastiches of MJ's "Jam"(with the melody of Julius Fucik's "Entry of the Gladiators"), "Speed Demon"(with hints of "Music/{{Bad}}"), and "Stranger in Moscow", respectively, while Ice Cap Zone is based on the then-unreleased "Hard Times" by The Jetzons, Brad Buxer's former band.
117	** ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2'''s various level themes often echo "Live and Learn," the game's theme song.
118	** In ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed'', the first few seconds of the opening cutscene music sound remarkably like something from ''Franchise/StarWars''.
119	* ''Super Spy Hunter'', originally called ''Battle Formula'', is not a true sequel to the arcade ''Spy Hunter'', but the music in Stage 2-1 is a pastiche of the ''Peter Gunn''/original ''Spy Hunter'' theme.
120	* The two most common background musics in the NES version of ''Bionic Commando'' use pretty much the same chord progression and rhythm, and have some melodic similarities.
121	* ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'' does this with many of its music pieces, using the same instrumentation, rhythm, sometimes chords, on different melodies:
122	** ''VideoGame/Halo2'':
123	*** The Delta Halo {{leitmotif}} is a pastiche of the series' [[RecurringRiff main theme]],
124	*** "Leonidas" is a pastiche of ''VideoGame/HaloCombatEvolved''[='s=] "On a Pale Horse".
125	*** "Impend" is a pastiche of ''CE''[='s=] "The Gun Pointed at the Head of the Universe" and "Brothers In Arms"
126	*** "Peril" mixes together the rhythm of ''CE''[='s=] "Perilous Journey" and the melodies of "The Last Spartan", "High Charity", and the Delta Halo theme.
127	*** The first part of "Heretic, Hero" combines the melodies of the ''CE''[='s=] "Truth and Reconciliation Suite" intro and "[=TGPatHOftU=]". In turn, the Delta Halo theme is used on top of the "Heretic" beat in the beginning of the 'Delta Halo Suit''.
128	*** "High Charity: Pursuit of Truth" is a pastiche of the song "Leela" from the original ''VideoGame/{{Marathon}}'' and ''CE''[='s=] "[=TGPatHofU=]", and it pays homage to Music/{{Kraftwerk}}'s ''Music/TheManMachine'' album as well, possibly sampling them (eg the beat and the characteristic "twang" sound effect).
129	*** "Respite" (and the second half of ''VideoGame/Halo3''[='s=] "Tribute") is "High Charity" done in the style of the Arbiter's {{leitmotif}}.
130	*** "Librarian's Gift" from the ''Halo 2: Anniversary'' soundtrack is a pastiche of ''CE''[='s=] "Library Suite" using ''Halo 2'''s ambience tracks.
131	** ''VideoGame/Halo3'': "Farthest Outpost" is a pastiche of the [[{{Leitmotif}} Ark theme]] and ''VideoGame/Halo2''[='s=] "In Amber Clad" (which in turn is loosely based on ''VideoGame/HaloCombatEvolved''[='s=] "Under Cover of Night"). ''Halo 2'' themes "The Last Spartan" are "Unyielding" combined into "Finish The Fight", with the intro also containing a pastiche of ''2''[='s=] "High Charity". ''CE'' themes "Under Cover of Night" and "Perchance to Dream" become "Dream Again". During the credits, "Farthest Outpost", "Under Cover", and the guitar riff of "In Amber Clad" are all mixed together.
132	** ''VideoGame/HaloReach'': "Unreconciled" is a combination of "Lone Wolf" and the original ''Halo'' theme. "Hymn for Reach" and "The Fall" sound similar to ''VideoGame/Halo2[=/=][[VideoGame/Halo3 3]]''[='s=] "Respite/Tribute" and ''[[VideoGame/HaloCombatEvolved CE]][=/=]3''[='s=] "Enough/No More Dead Heroes", respectively. "The Battle Begins" is a pastiche of the main theme and the rhythm of ''2''[='s=] "Ghosts of Reach". ''2''[='s=] "In Amber Clad" beat also returns, in "Sword Control" and "We Remember". The main theme itself sounds like a tweaked version of "Farthest Outpost" from ''Halo 3''. A warped version of the classic Gregorian chant is also used several times.
133	* In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'', the theme that plays when you fight Jenova*SYNTHESIS, "Jenova Complete/Absolute", is a Musical Pastiche of "[[BattleThemeMusic Those Who Fight]]" which uses the synthesiser line from J-E-N-O-V-A.
134	* ''VideoGame/TimeCrisis3'' doesn't directly use the series' main theme, but instead a pastiche of it, ie mostly the same rhythm and structure, but a completely different melody. This theme in turn got tweaked for the fourth game.
135	** Several other musics in the series, including "Rumbling of the Earth" and Wild Dog's {{Leitmotif}}, are also pastiches of the series' RecurringRiff.
136	* From ''VideoGame/NoMoreHeroes'', the song "Staff Wars" is the ranking song "Righteous, Triumphant, Etcetera", arranged a la John Williams.
137	* A pretty good chunk of ''VideoGame/PokemonMysteryDungeonExplorers''' story music is based on Dialga's theme.
138	* In ''VideoGame/TheOregonTrail II'', the starting town themes and trail themes are mostly variations of the title theme.
139	* The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1WPfxz0Jdo Fort Schmerzen]] theme in ''VideoGame/MedalOfHonor: Allied Assault'' is a combination of [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtU0Cmx3Jqk the original Fort Schmerzen theme]], the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYfkad4Ko5A V2 rocket plant]] theme, and the ''MOHAA'' [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ELFxB-tGhE title theme]]. In general, the ''VideoGame/MedalOfHonor'' soundtracks are pastiches / homages to Music/JohnWilliams' scores to ''Franchise/IndianaJones'', ''Franchise/StarWars'', and ''Film/SavingPrivateRyan''.
140	* Remixer [=AmIEviL=] did a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeWhIatbXWM mashup]] of Stage 5's theme from ''VideoGame/BlasterMaster'' and Bomb Man's theme from ''VideoGame/MegaMan1''.
141	* ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'':
142	** The soundtrack to ''VideoGame/MarioIsMissing'' largely consists of the RecurringRiff from ''VideoGame/SuperMarioWorld'' redone in various styles, including [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnBA9M9q_6w one song]] that's an obvious take on "Joy to the World" by Three Dog Night.
143	** The final battle theme of ''VideoGame/SuperMario64'' is an OminousPipeOrgan rearrangement of Bowser's theme in the style of Bach's "Toccata & Fugue".
144	* The music for ''VideoGame/QuestForYrolg'' is a minor-key and more metal-y rendition of the ''VideoGame/QuestForGlory'' march.
145	* Also typical of Music/FrankZappa.
146	* The BGM for [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYSc_rYsYHk "Laughing Joke Numbnuts"]], the final stage of ''VideoGame/TheAngryVideoGameNerdAdventures'' sounds like an 8-bit style parody of Music/DragonForce, particularly "Through the Fire and the Flames". Likewise, the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WN1XiygKDUQ "Beat It and Eat It"]] BGM is a pastiche of the Nerd's theme and Culture Beat's 1990's dance hit "Mr. Vain", and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMhy6uuqHgI "Assholevania"]] is this to the ''Franchise/{{Castlevania}}'' soundtracks.
147	* ''VideoGame/DoubleDragonNeon'''s soundtrack does this alot, especially with tunes from the original series:
148	** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qQQTkIUwH0 "Neon Jungle"]] is a stylistic pastiche of 80's Hi-NRG music, such as Music/{{Bananarama}}, which the song's {{fake band}}, Mango Tango, may be a {{shoutout}} to.
149	** "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmZmB_TAsBc Firebird]]" is reminiscent of '80s {{hair metal}} bands such as Music/JudasPriest and Music/VanHalen.
150	** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z07S4dLtijw Mecha Biker's theme]] is a ''VideoGame/MegaManClassic'' style arrangement of the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxgwZiCM6wA title theme]]. Said theme gets pastiched again for [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k93kNJKEl4o the credits]], this time {{in the style of}} Music/WeirdAlYankovic with a touch of Music/{{Queen}}.
151	** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDXp0YaR7f4 "Laboratory 1"]] is ''VideoGame/DoubleDragonII'''s Mission 1 theme InTheStyleOf {{Music/Devo}}.
152	** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2WLw-b2AUA "Tube Ride"]] is ''DD 1'''s [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQM0QECxhjc Mission 4]] music arranged Music/DickDale {{surf rock}} style.
153	** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4KHRnvTJMU Linda's theme(Mission 3-3)]] from the NES version of the first game gets three different arrangements. The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vB9U6upbf5M first]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjKaBjhCUVE two]] are {{boss remix}}es used for [[BigBad Skullmageddon]], with the FinalBoss version using elements of the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkE_quHvNEk final boss music]] from ''VideoGame/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtlesTurtlesInTime''. The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugkujCfe7ek third]], heard in the [[BigBoosHaunt Haunted Forest]], is a pastiche with the ''Franchise/{{Halloween}}'' [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iP-jYiuDD9g theme]].
154	* ''VideoGame/MegaPony'''s soundtrack, appropriately, is mainly pastiches of songs from ''VideoGame/MegaMan2'' and ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'':
155	** Title Theme: ''MM2'' title theme + ''MLP: FIM'' opening theme
156	** Stage Select: ''VideoGame/MegaMan1'' Stage Select + Winter Wrap-Up
157	** Loyal Mare: Air Man + At the Gala (Rainbow Dash's part)
158	** Magic Mare: Heat Man + The Failure/Success Song
159	** Kind Mare: Flash Man + So Many Wonders
160	** Generous Mare: Bubble Man + The Art of the Dress
161	** Laughing Mare: Crash Man + Giggle at the Ghostie
162	** Honest Mare: Metal Man + Raise This Barn
163	** Discord Fortress Part 1: Wily Fortress Part 1 + This Day Aria
164	** Discord Fortress Part 2: Wily Fortress Part 2 + The CMC Go Crusading (BGM)
165	* ''VideoGame/FarCry3BloodDragon'', being a pastiche of 80s cyberpunk and sci-fi films, also pastiches their soundtracks, especially those of ''Film/TheTerminator'', ''Film/BladeRunner'', and ''Film/EscapeFromNewYork''.
166	* The first third of [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVaITrUgoP4 "The Sacrifice"]] from ''VideoGame/OriAndTheBlindForest'' sounds like a pastiche of [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktce1qctRbM "Ashes"]] from ''VideoGame/HaloReach'' and ''Ori'''s [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76qRF5-qvZM title theme]].
167	* In ''VideoGame/TinyToonAdventuresBusterBustsLoose'', the background music for the LocomotiveLevel is essentially the ''WesternAnimation/TinyToonAdventures'' theme in the style of the ''Series/{{Bonanza}}'' theme.
168	* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EM2AtBJCCtA Chozo Ruins Depths]] from ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime'' sounds like the [[VideoGame/{{Metroid}} first game]]'s [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBE68gXDW0k Tourian theme]] rearranged in the style of [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6Hf1-lQElE&t=42s Temple of Time]] from ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime''. Said Tourian theme is also interpolated in part of [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLLjibR_c4Q Meta-Ridley's theme]], itself a remix of [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqrF-X67BZo one of the boss themes]] from ''VideoGame/SuperMetroid''. A pastiche of the first game's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-U3sVX2G3w title theme]] can be heard in the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cFIa29FXfM Chozo Artifact Temple]] theme.
169	* In the ''VideoGame/MonkeyIsland'' series, Stan's theme is a pastiche of [[Music/FryderykChopin Chopin]]'s "Funeral March", "Go Tell Aunt Rhody" from [[Creator/JeanJacquesRousseau Rousseau]]'s ''The Village Soothsayer'', and [[Music/RichardWagner Wagner]]'s "Bridal Chorus."
170	* ''VisualNovel/DokiDokiLiteratureClub'' has this in the track ''Okay Everyone'', which plays during the poem-reading segments. While [[https://youtu.be/BabIsQ9I8L4 the base version of the song]] uses the typical instruments in the "casual" soundtrack, it changes for each member depending on whose poem you're reading.
171	** [[https://youtu.be/frHGwz7ZhmE Sayori's]] has a ukelele and other "happy" instruments, fitting with her theme of being the "fun" character.
172	** [[https://youtu.be/BDsCNVj72ig Natsuki's]] has a xylophone, recorder, and other "simple" instruments, fitting with her theme of being the "childish" character.
173	** [[https://youtu.be/VGwfIloNM8w Yuri's]] essentially has a small orchestra, fitting her theme of being the "sophisticated" character.
174	** [[https://youtu.be/Isuc8kwVh64 Monika's]] has a piano solo. While, yes, it does fit with her occasional reminders that she is learning piano (you can hear occasional "beginner's errors" in this piece, matching up), it also [[spoiler:serves as {{foreshadowing}} towards her intent on being your sole desire, without anyone else in the way--it's a "solo".]]
175	* The ''VideoGame/{{Skullgirls}}'' [[https://youtu.be/TTDnonPk6ho main theme]] combines melodic elements of Music/StevieWonder's [[https://youtu.be/jN2AdOjI4FI "Part Time Lover"]] and the ''VideoGame/WonderboyIIITheDragonsTrap'' [[https://youtu.be/ncL0Ar23HN8 dungeon theme]].
176	* The starting theme in ''VideoGame/{{Defender}} II'' for the NES is a mashup of the ''VideoGame/PunchOut'' "Begin Match" fanfare with the ''Franchise/StarWars'' theme.
177	* The Stage 1 BGM of ''VideoGame/CityConnection'' uses the intro, rhythm, and bassline of Music/ChuckBerry's "Johnny B. Goode, but the melody of Music/PyotrIlyichTchaikovsky's "Piano Concerto No.1: Allegro non troppo e molto maestoso". The other stage themes likewise superimpose the Tchaikovsky tune on the harmonies of various classic rock songs, such as Music/DeepPurple's "Highway Star", Music/PaulAnka's "Diana", and The Surfaris' "Wipeout".
178	* Some ''Franchise/TouhouProject'' {{Eurobeat}} arrangements do this with ''Super Eurobeat'' songs, e.g. Rute's [[https://youtu.be/CnEFQiTSHZo "The Fantasy Won't Stop Ringing"]] sets the melody of [[https://youtu.be/IeMrru0Ghoc "The Legend of KAGE"]] from ''Highly Responsive to Prayers'' to the instrumentation of [=Go2=]'s [[https://youtu.be/ANmkl3Nq8bE "Hot Hot Racing Car"]], and aki's [[https://youtu.be/zsbgkkuSJjc "Cosmic Rainbow"]], originally [[https://youtu.be/lmy6rcn_v3A "Emotional Skyscraper~Cosmic Mind"]] from ''Undefined Fantastic Object'', interpolates April's [[https://youtu.be/Q4LjftzCU54 "The Magic I Feel"]].
179	* In ''VideoGame/TwistedMetal 3'', the North Pole BGM is a pastiche of the tune of "Jingle Bells" with the instrumentation, chords, and guitar riff of Music/WhiteZombie's "More Human than Human".
180	* ''VideoGame/OriAndTheWillOfTheWisps'':
181	** The "Restoring The Light, Facing The Dark" motif from ''VideoGame/OriAndTheBlindForest'' is pastiched many times, notably with the Kwolok's Hollow theme for the boss fights with the Hornbug and later Kwolok himself, the Wellspring and Baur's Reach themes for their respective {{Escape Sequence}}s, and the Mouldwood Depths theme for the battle with [[GiantSpider Mora the Spider]].
182	** Ku's {{leitmotif}} most prominently gets this treatment in Inkwater Marsh, where it uses the aesthetic of the first game's Sunken Glades theme. The Spirit Cavern's theme, itself a variation of Ori's theme, is also interpolated at one point.
183	** "Amelioration" uses Ku's theme as a main melody and the Wisps' theme as a counter-melody over the harmony of the Wellspring theme.
184	** "Ash and Bone" combines Ku's, Shriek's, and Ori's leitmotifs [[CounterpointDuet in counterpoint]] with the instrumentation of the aforementioned "The Sacrifice" from the first game.
185	** The FinalBoss theme is an arrangement of Shriek's leitmotif in the style of "Fleeing Kuro", as well as also incorporating "Restoring The Light" [[NearVictoryFanfare in the battle's later phases]].
186	* In ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess'', the fourth and fifth Howling Stone songs are counter-melodies to the title themes from ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkToThePast A Link to the Past]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker The Wind Waker]]'', respectively, while the last one combines the melody of the Light Spirit theme with the harmony of the Hyrule Field theme.
187	* ''VideoGame/MOTHER3'': The opening of [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KIDtrS9VDM Mr. Batty Twist]] closely resembles the "na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na BATMAN!" opening from ''Series/Batman1966''.
188	* ''VideoGame/YakuzaLikeADragon'' has the song "Our Winter Sonata" that plays most prominently during a particular summon that parodies ''Series/WinterSonata''. It's blatantly parodying the show's opening theme.
189	* A lot of tunes from the ''VideoGame/{{Ys}}'' games, especially ''IV'' and ''[[VideoGame/YsVITheArkOfNapishtim VI]]'', are based on a [[RecurringRiff recurring]] bassline/chord progression, especially those of ''Adol's Theme'' and ''Selceta Forest''. Lesser pastiches include "Armored Bane"("Battle Ground" + "Battle 58") the intro of ''Ernst''(remixed from Final Battle, whilst the main melody is a SuspiciouslySimilarSong to "Moon Over the Castle" from ''VideoGame/GranTurismo''), ''Overwater Drive'' (heavily based on Beat of the Terror), ''Mountain Zone'' (pastiche of both ''Palace of Solomon'' and ''Forest of Selceta'') ''Lava Zone''(resembles ''Termination'', the FinalBoss music from ''VideoGame/YsIIAncientYsVanishedTheFinalChapter''), ''Defend and Escape'' (includes the Ark/Napishtim's theme, ''Celceta Forest'', and even part of ''Niena'' from ''[[VideoGame/YsVLostKefinKingdomOfSand Ys V]]''), ''The Depth Napishtim''(in addition to using the Ark {{leitmotif}}, it also draws from ''Termination''), and ''Spread Blue View''(uses parts of ''Reconciled People'', the Port Rimorge theme). In ''VideoGame/YsTheOathInFelghana'', Chester's second BattleThemeMusic is a composite of his {{leitmotif}} and "Chop!!", originally the midboss theme from the Platform/SharpX68000 port of ''VideoGame/YsIIIWanderersFromYs'', where "Theme of Chester" also originated.
190	* The main BGM of the Sachen UnlicensedGame ''Pyramid'' begins with "The Streets of Cairo" AKA the Arabian Riff, then adds a variation of Hermann Necke's "Csikos Post" as a counter-melody.
191	* In ''VideoGame/RogueSquadron'', the [[https://youtu.be/KnJ80biNZuU?si=mhQQw6qMTepWNX0N battle music]] during the Rendezvous on Barkhesh and Raid on Sullust missions is a pastiche of the Battle of Hoth theme from ''Film/TheEmpireStrikesBack'', using the same instrumentation, bass line and rhythm, but a heavily altered melody, which also interpolates the Force Theme. Ironically, the game uses this same pastiche for its Battle of Hoth bonus mission.
192	* In ''VideoGame/SpaceQuestVIRogerWilcoInTheSpinalFrontier'', "Hero's Waltz" begins as a waltz arrangement of the main theme, before morphing into a direct quotation of Johann Strauss II's "Blue Danube".
193	[[/folder]]
194
195	[[folder:Web Comics]]
196	* "Heir Conditioning" from ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'' starts off with a pastiche of "Beloved Tomboyish Daughter" from the ''Franchise/TouhouProject'' ([[AnIcePerson Cirno]]'s theme).
197	[[/folder]]
198
199	[[folder:Web Videos]]
200	* Creator/MaxLandis used gibberish versions of Five For Fighting's "Superman" and Wrestling/JohnCena's "The Time is Now" in some of his [=YouTube=] videos.
201	[[/folder]]
202
203	[[folder:Western Animation]]
204	* ''WesternAnimation/InspectorGadget'' is fond of it, turning its short theme song into jungle drums, French provincial folk music, rock and roll, and a few other styles. Other pastiches include the "clockwork" version (heard in "Cuckoo Clock Caper" and a couple other episodes), "Hail to the Chief", part of the song "New York, New York" mixed with the IG theme, and the "chase theme", which obviously pastiches the ''Series/KnightRider'' theme song. And the theme itself is a pastiche of Edward Grieg's "In the Halls of the Mountain King" and Irving Berlin's "Puttin' on the Ritz".
205	* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyEquestriaGirlsRainbowRocks'':
206	** Like the "Cafeteria Song" from the previous movie, the opening theme "Rainbow Rocks" begins with a drum intro similar to Music/{{Queen}}'s "We Will Rock You".
207	** Trixie's "Tricks Up My Sleeve" is sung in a style resembling early Music/BritneySpears.
208	** The "Hey! Hey!" refrain in "Awesome as I Wanna Be" seems to be paying homage both to Music/{{the Ramones}}' "Blitzkrieg Bop" and Music/AvrilLavigne's "Girlfriend".
209	** "Shake Your Tail!" borrows the phrase "ignite the light" from Music/KatyPerry's "Firework". Similarly, "the light that ignites" appears in "Shine Like Rainbows", and Sunset's part of "Welcome to the Show" references "Part of Me".
210	** Most of the Dazzlings' and the Rainbooms' songs are pastiches of middle-of-the-road GirlGroup songs, with the Dazzlings leaning more towards {{Trance}} and the Rainbooms favoring PowerPop.
211	* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' has often done this with its main theme during the closing credits of an episode. For instance, in a police-themed episode the song was turned into an homage to the ''Series/HillStreetBlues'' theme music, and in the Australia-themed episode the song was accompanied by a didgeridoo.
212	** There was even one episode where the credits theme was done a capella, complete with video.
213	%% * ''WesternAnimation/AdventuresOfSonicTheHedgehog'' did this quite a bit.
214	* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'' tends to work the villains' theme motifs into the episodes where they appear or are causing trouble from behind the scenes.
215	* ''WesternAnimation/TheAdventuresOfJimmyNeutronBoyGenius'' is famous for making songs that sound not quite exactly like the pop or old folk songs the viewers would know.
216	** "Ladies of Spain" from ''Film/{{Jaws}}'', for example.
217	** "Hey La" for another.
218	* ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddparents'' also does it a lot.
219	** "Real and Scary" song from one of their Halloween specials has a riff [and a visual gag] that is reminiscent of Music/MichaelJackson's "Thriller".
220	** There are several of the aforementioned ''Series/MissionImpossible'' riffs.
221	** There's a riff on Popeye using beets rather than spinach.
222	* There was a part in the original ''WesternAnimation/XMenTheAnimatedSeries'' cartoon where the mutants crash into a TV Studio where a very ''Franchise/PowerRangers''-type show is filming - when they exit, a suited-up actor looks at them curiously while the notes corresponding to the words "Go go Power Rangers!" start to play and then putter out.
223	* The theme from ''WesternAnimation/TotallySpies'' uses the exact same tune as Moonbaby's "Here We Go", just with different lyrics. Later episodes only used the instrumental of the song, maybe due to legal reasons.
224	* ''WesternAnimation/WallE'' does this a lot with "Put on Your Sunday Clothes" from ''Film/HelloDolly'' At one point, a robot moves some of his parts to "sing" the first few notes of the refrain as something of ThemeMusicPowerUp for WALL•E.
225	* The AnimatedAdaptation of ''Literature/SoulMusic'' naturally does this. The Band With Rocks In's repertoire include songs that are recognisably "the [[Music/ElvisPresley Elvis]] song", "the Music/JerryLeeLewis song", "the [[Music/TheBeatles Beatles]] song", "the [[Film/TheBluesBrothers Blues Brothers]] song" etc. although not identifiable as any ''particular'' song. In a particularly cheeky example, the Beatles song ("She Won't Change Her Mind") opens with the chord from "A Hard Day's Night", and then segues into the opening of "[[Music/TheMonkees Last Train From Clarksville]]"!
226	[[/folder]]

Context Main / MusicalPastiche