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1''{{Trope}}s about scores, soundtracks, {{background music}}, and their interaction with the other parts of a medium.''
2
3Compare SoundFXTropes. See also MusicTropes for general music tropes and MusicAndSoundEffects for works.
4----
5!!Tropes:
6[[index]]
7[floatboxright:
8'''Categories:'''
9+ AudioDiegesis
10+ EvilMusicIndex
11+ GenreMotif
12+ HeroicMusicIndex
13+ MoodMotif
14+ ThemeTune
15]
16* AccordionToMostSailors: Instruments from the accordion family associated with seafarers.
17* AfricanChant: Background music in the jungle is accompanied by chanting in an African language (usually Swahili or Zulu), or at least [[AsLongAsItSoundsForeign a mock-up thereof]].
18* AmazingFreakingGrace: The hymn "Amazing Grace" is played at funerals.
19* AMFMCharacterization: A character's music they play in the car says something about their personality.
20* AnachronisticSoundtrack: The movie's soundtrack includes songs that wouldn't have existed yet in the time period the movie takes place in.
21* AngryMobSong: A group of angry people singing.
22* AssociatedComposer: The director and the composer are buddies.
23* AutobotsRockOut: Rock music plays during action scenes.
24* AvianFlute: The use of flutes and piccolos in imitation of birdsong.
25* SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic: A [[SugarWiki/SweetExists Sugar Wiki]] entry for talking about music you find cool.
26* BackgroundMusic: Music played in the background to convey ideas and emotions.
27* BadToTheBone: When a certain song is played so many times in movies, that when it's played, the audience knows what it's signifying.
28* BattleThemeMusic: Music that plays during battle scenes in video games.
29* BigFinaleCrowdSong: A large crowd song near the end of a work.
30* BoleroEffect: A song that gets louder and louder.
31* BootstrappedLeitmotif: A piece of music becomes a character, place, or thing's theme.
32* BootstrappedTheme: A piece of music turns into the theme tune.
33* BossRemix: The boss theme is a remix of another piece of music from the video game.
34* CaptivityHarmonica: Someone in jail plays the harmonica.
35* CartoonConductor: In cartoons, conductors control what music the audience plays as if by magic.
36* ChaosOfTheBells: When "Carol of the Bells" is used as a soundtrack to underscore suspense, action, and/or dread.
37* CherubicChoir: A kids' choir signifies victory or that the danger is over.
38* CircusSynths: Circus music played with electronic instruments.
39* ClimacticMusic: The music gets more dramatic during the most exciting part of the plot.
40* CreditsMedley: Closing credits are scored with a playlist of different songs from the movie or game.
41* CreepyChildrenSinging: A scene is made disturbing by accompanying it with children singing in a creepy manner.
42* CreepyCircusMusic: Circus music played to induce fear.
43* CreepyJazzMusic: Jazz music used to signify creepiness, often a particular villain.
44* CrowdSong: A large group of people sing perfectly in unison.
45* CultSoundtrack: When a movie becomes popular mainly because of its music.
46* CyberPunkIsTechno: Electronic music signifies a gritty sci-fi setting.
47* DarkReprise: A sadder or scarier version of a previously sung happy song.
48* TheDayTheMusicLied: Music seems to signify something, but that something doesn't happen.
49* DescentIntoDarknessSong: A song that starts out upbeat, but gets darker.
50* DiegeticSoundtrackUsage: The theme song is played, whistled or hummed in-universe.
51* DiegeticSwitch: A song is played in-universe, then it stops but the song keeps playing out-of-universe.
52* DisneyAcidSequence: A song with trippy visuals.
53* DoItYourselfThemeTune: Cast member(s) of a particular work performing to contribute for its soundtrack.
54* DramaticChoirNumber: A choir joins the lead singer in singing the song.
55* DramaticPause: A moment where there isn't any dialogue and there's no (or hardly any) music, played for drama.
56* DreadfulMusician: Someone who's horrible at playing music.
57* DreamMelody: A character likes to sing or hum a certain tune that's mysterious to them.
58* DroneOfDread: Droning music played as unsettling.
59* TheElevatorFromIpanema: All elevators play "The Girl from Ipanema".
60* EstablishingCharacterMusic: Background music establishes someone's personality.
61* EtherealChoir: A choir singing in harmony to signify otherworldiness.
62* EverythingIsAnInstrument: Using things besides musical instruments to make music.
63* EverythingsLouderWithBagpipes: Playing the bagpipes to annoy people.
64* FamiliarSoundtrackForeignLyrics: A cover of a popular song in a foreign language, used to provide a sense of familiarity but also signify that they're in a foreign country or a character is from one.
65* {{Fanfare}}: Uplifting brass instruments, used to celebrate something.
66* FrenchAccordion: French settings are scored to the sounds of the accordion-based ''bal musette''.
67* FollowTheBouncingBall: A ball bounces along the lyrics to a song so that the audience can sing along.
68* ForeignReScore: A work gets re-scored when it's shown in a different country.
69* ForgottenThemeTuneLyrics: The theme song has lyrics that aren't used.
70* FutureMusic: Either characters in the future listen to different music, or works set in the future have music that has either theremins, sci-fi noises, copies of modern-day songs, or disco music.
71* GospelChoirsAreJustBetter: Gospel choir music signifies "this scene is important".
72* GratuitousMariachiBand: Mariachi bands pop up randomly.
73* HappyBirthdayToYou: It's someone's birthday, but nobody sings "Happy Birthday" because the work was made during the time when the song was under copyright.
74* HappyCircusMusic: Circus music that sets a fun mood, usually at an actual circus or similar.
75* HeartbeatSoundtrack: Music meant to mimic a heartbeat, signifying that a character is going to die or is afraid.
76* TheHeroSucksSong: The villain sings a song insulting the hero.
77* HollywoodToneDeaf: People who can't sing well sound exaggeratedly awful.
78* HolyPipeOrgan: A pipe organ means that something is sacred or religious.
79* IconicSequelSong: A song that came from a later instalment but is iconic for the franchise as a whole.
80* ImageSong: A song about an anime character.
81* IncessantChorus: A character who sings this particular song in every scene they're in.
82* IntersceneDiegetic: A character is singing, the scene changes, but you can still hear the singing.
83* InUniverseSoundtrack: Background music is played in-universe.
84* InvisibleBackupBand: Whenever someone in-universe plays an instrument, there will be inexplicable background vocals or instruments.
85* IronicNurseryTune: A nursery rhyme used to set a creepy atmosphere.
86* IsntItIronic: The work uses a song the creators assumed to be appropriate, but paying close attention to the lyrics will reveal that this song actually doesn't fit the scene it is being played in.
87* IWantSong: Heroes express their ambitions or dreams through a musical number before their heroic journey.
88* JungleJazz: Jazz music for scenes in the jungle.
89* LastEpisodeThemeReprise: The theme song plays in the background of a climatic scene in the finale.
90* LeftTheBackgroundMusicOn: The background music turns out to be coming from an in-universe source that is then turned off.
91* {{Leitmotif}}: A piece of theme music associated with a specific character, group, recurring event or location.
92* LeitmotifUponDeath: The character's personal musical score plays during their death.
93* LettingTheAirOutOfTheBand: The background music slows to a stop upon revealing something not so good.
94* Level1MusicRepresents: The first level theme music of a video game becomes iconic.
95* LocalSoundtrack: The soundtrack has a connection to the story's RealLife setting.
96* LocationSong: A song about a place.
97* LohengrinAndMendelssohn: If there's a wedding, the "Here Comes the Bride" song or the intro to ''Theatre/AMidsummerNightsDream'' will play.
98* LonelyPianoPiece: Sad piano music that plays during sad scenes, especially when a character is alone.
99* LoveTheme: When romance has its own theme.
100* MassiveMultiplayerEnsembleNumber: A song that sums up the attitudes of all the main characters before a major event, sometimes with plenty of counterpoint.
101* TheMelBrooksNumber: A song that sounds like a sad song, but is actually funny because the lyrics, context, or characters' behaviour is.
102* MelodramaticPause: A pause to convey drama, similar to Dramatic Pause, except this time with a hammy orchestra.
103* MickeyMousing: The music illustrates the physical movements.
104* MinskyPickup: A certain old-timey intro fanfare.
105* MockingMusic: A character is in a bad mood, but when they try to listen to music, the song is about what put the character in the bad mood.
106* MoodyTrailerCoverSong: Trailers use a cover of a pop song sung in an alto voice and with moody instruments.
107* MusicalEpisode: An episode where everyone sings.
108* MusicalGag: A joke in the soundtrack.
109* MusicalGameplay: A video game in which the sound effects are, or contribute to, the music.
110* MusicalisInterruptus: Interrupting a song.
111* MusicalNod: A tune returns sometime later, usually in a video game.
112* MusicalPastiche: Making an existing song darker by changing the instruments.
113* MusicalSpoiler: The first sign that something is going to happen is that the score changes.
114* MusicalTrigger: When a character plays a certain tune, it triggers off an event.
115* MusicBoxIntervals: A song has intervals of music that sound like they came from a music box.
116* MusicVideoSyndrome: A work is cut to look like a music video, even though it isn't one.
117* NationalAnthem: A country's theme song.
118* NearVictoryFanfare: Video game music that plays if you're close to victory.
119* NostalgicMusicBox: Music box tunes used for nostalgia.
120* NothingButHits: Radios only play popular songs.
121* OminousLatinChanting: Latin chanting used during ominous scenes.
122* OminousMusicBoxTune: A music box tune that's creepy due to sounding off or playing at an inopportune time.
123* OminousPipeOrgan: A villain has organ music as their theme.
124* OneManSong: Songs named after guys.
125* OneWomanSong: Songs named after women.
126* OneWomanWail: A woman or a child wailing melodiously used for sad scenes.
127* OrchestraHitTechnoBattle: Rave music used for battles.
128* OrchestralBombing: Orchestra music used for a battle, especially if it involves aerial warfare.
129* OrchestralVersion: A song from a video game gets an orchestral version done.
130* PlayingTheHeartStrings: String music used for dramatic, sad scenes.
131* PlaylistSoundtrack: The game's soundtrack in an area or over an entire game is composed of multiple songs playing randomly one after the other like a playlist on shufffle.
132* PopStarComposer: The work's composer is famous.
133* PsychoStrings: Sharp notes on a string instrument signify insanity, evil, or otherworldliness.
134* PublicDomainSoundtrack: The soundtrack uses music that is in the public domain.
135* RearrangeTheSong: A different version of the theme song is played.
136* RecordNeedleScratch: The background music stops with the sound of a record needle scratching to signify something abruptly changing or stopping.
137* RecurringRiff: A series has its own theme, but it's not a theme song.
138* RecycledSoundtrack: Background music from a work gets used again in another work.
139* RecycledTrailerMusic: The music from the trailer comes from another work, or is a song in its own right.
140* RegionalRiff: Musical instruments used to signify places.
141* ReReleaseSoundtrack: A song is changed for the movie's home release.
142* SadBattleMusic: Sad music is used to add pathos to a battle scene.
143* SavedByTheChurchBell: Triumph and salvation is accompanied by the sound of church bells.
144* SettingOffSong: A song about going on a trip.
145* SentimentalMusicCue: You can tell that the conflict is going to be resolved when sentimental music plays.
146* SerendipitousSymphony: Background noises are turned into music.
147* {{Sexophone}}: A saxophone solo is used to illustrate sensual or romantic scenes or characters.
148* ShaveAndAHaircut: That little tune that plays at the end of songs that goes "Dun dun dun dun dun... DUN DUN!".
149* SidekickSong: The good guys' sidekicks have their moments to shine with a song.
150* SilentCredits: Music does not play during the end credits.
151* SimpleScoreOfSadness: Sad music is slow and has few instruments.
152* SinisterTangoMusic: Tango music sets a creepy atmosphere.
153* SoapOperaOrganScore: A tremolo electric organ announces a soap opera, a SoapWithinAShow parody, or a soap-opera-like, comically [[{{melodrama}} melodramatic]] situation.
154* SofterAndSlowerCover: A slower, quieter cover of a song.
155* SoloDuet: When it sounds like a duet but the singer is actually alone.
156* SongsInTheKeyOfPanic: Video game music that plays when someone is running out of time or in danger.
157* SoundCodedForYourConvenience: Video game sounds that provide info.
158* SoundTest: An option in a video game where you can listen to all its music.
159* SoundtrackDissonance: The music does not match the tone of the scene it is accompanying.
160* SoundtrackLullaby: As someone is sleeping/falling asleep, the soundtrack plays a lullaby-like tune.
161* SourceMusic: Background music that is actually playing in-universe.
162* StandardSnippet: Certain pieces of music commonly used.
163* SteelDrumsAndSunshine: Steel drums are played for happy scenes, especially at the beach, jungle, on islands, or underwater.
164* {{Sting}}: A brief bit of music played for drama or comedy.
165* StockTrailerMusic: Famous songs in music trailers.
166* SuddenSoundtrackStop:
167* SungThroughMusical: In a musical number, dialogue is sung.
168* SuspiciouslyAproposMusic: When a character plays music, it's oddly relevant to the matter at hand.
169* SuspiciouslySimilarSong: A song or piece of music that sounds like a copyright-friendly version of another song or piece of music.
170* ThemeAndVariationsSoundtrack: The songs are all variations on a theme.
171* ThemeMusicAbandonment: The theme song goes away.
172* ThemeMusicPowerUp: When a character does something amazing, their theme plays loudly.
173* ThemeMusicWithholding: The theme song goes away for a few episodes, but then comes back.
174* ThemeSongReveal: Elements of the plot are suggested via the theme song.
175* ThisIsASong: A song that is, at least partially, about itself.
176* TickTockTune: Music with a ticking motif.
177* TitleThemeDrop: The title screen theme for a game shows up within the actual game.
178* TriumphantReprise: A happier version of a previous song that was depressing in tone.
179* UnDuet: During a breakup, characters try to duet but because the other side is a no-show, they end up with a Solo Duet instead.
180* VariableMix: When game music occasionally changes.
181* VictoriousChorus: A chorus signifies triumph.
182* VillainSong: The villain sings about their villainy.
183* TheVillainSucksSong: The hero sings a song insulting the villain.
184* WalkingInRhythm: A character walks to the beat of the background music.
185* WanderlustSong: A song about roaming.
186* WestminsterChimes: Those "bing bong bing bong, bong bing bing bong" chimes associated with Big Ben.
187* WithLyrics: An instrumental song is given lyrics.
188* XylophonesForWalkingBones: Skeletons and xylophone music is associated.
189[[/index]]

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