Follow TV Tropes

Following

Context Main / Sting

Go To

1[[quoteright:182:[[Webcomic/DumbingOfAge https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/dundundun.png]] ]]
2 [[caption-width-right:182:You don't usually see who is stinging]]
3
4Either a brief stab of music used to enhance the drama of the current situation just before an ActBreak (called a "dramatic sting" when used this way), or a brief comical stab on music to enhance a punchline at the end of a scene (most famously, the so-called "{{rimshot}}" -- ''ba-dum-bum-ching''). About 95% of TV shows use them.
5
6"Sting 'em and sling 'em" is a phrase used to describe this kind of break. "Ok, we RackFocus on the jilted bride, then sting 'em and sling 'em."
7
8When used for a cheap shock, the sting becomes a ScareChord. If it comes at the very end of the entire episode, then it's a [[TheStinger Sting]]''[[TheStinger er]]''.
9
10A common version of LampshadeHanging is when a character is shown to have [[LeftTheBackgroundMusicOn ''heard'']] the sound effect, it often crops up in the form of something like "Who keeps ''doing'' that?'' or "Ok, seriously. Knock it off." An {{Invoked|Trope}} example is when the characters themselves provide the sound effects--"Dun dun DAH!".
11
12Compare ScreamerTrailer and {{Rimshot}}. Do not confuse with TheStinger. Or with the ''musician'' Music/{{Sting}}, or the ''{{professional wrestl|ing}}er '' Wrestling/{{Sting}} or the film ''Film/TheSting''. Or that dagger used by [[Literature/TheLordOfTheRings Frodo and his Uncle]], [[OverlyLongGag or the police tactic of pretending to be a customer for drug salesmen or prostitutes, or the pain, action, or body part that occurs at the back of a bee or wasp.]]
13
14----
15!!Examples
16
17[[foldercontrol]]
18
19[[folder:Anime]]
20* Parodied in ''VisualNovel/{{Clannad}}'' where in episode 19, Sunohara plays around with a keyboard that has a sound-effect called 'Hair-raising.'
21--> "What was that, Nagisa-chan? Instead of Okazaki..." DUDUDAAAAAA! "YOU LIKE ME MORE?!"
22* There is one in the [[TheMovie movie adaptation]] of ''VisualNovel/{{AIR}}'' , right before [[ItWasHisSled Misuzu dies in the arms of her adoptive mother]]. It is generally considered very ill-placed, since instead of heightening the drama it diminishes it by cutting off the very sad music leading up to the moment. It is luckily not used in either the [[VisualNovel game]] or the television series.
23[[/folder]]
24
25[[folder:Comic Books]]
26* Before his ''ComicBook/SevenSoldiers'' reboot, Klarion the Witch-Boy demanded that people refer to him as "Klarion... bum bum BUM... the Witch-Boy". He even refused to help characters who did not insert the dramatic sting. (You should not be surprised that Creator/PeterDavid came up with this.)
27[[/folder]]
28
29[[folder:Fan Works]]
30* ''Fanfic/CodexEquus'': PlayedForLaughs with [[Music/StevieRayVaughan Moon Ray Vaughoof]]. One of his favorite joking methods is to play silly tunes with his guitar during funny moments, which enhances the hilarity.
31[[/folder]]
32
33[[folder:Film]]
34* At one point in ''Film/YoungFrankenstein'', Igor supplies his own [[http://www.instantrimshot.com rimshot]] after making a "hunch" joke.
35** In another scene in the same movie, Dr. Frankenstein stumbles upon the Awful Truth ("You don't mean?" "Yes!" "It couldn't be!" "Yes!"). Every time Frau Blucher (*WHINNY*) says "Yes!", she plays a dramatic chord on a violin she's holding.
36* In ''Film/BackToTheFuturePartIII'' Doc trips in shock after seeing Marty and falls onto his own organ, creating a dramatic, scary tone.
37* Parodied in ''Film/JosieAndThePussycats'', after Josie has uncovered the evil plot [[spoiler:to insert subliminal advertising messages on all of her songs]]. She is [[LampshadeHanging immediately mocked]] by [[AlphaBitch Alexandra]], who parrots her discovery and punctuates it with a sarcastic "Dun dun DAH!" sting. Then, [[DoubleSubversion immediately played straight]] when she subconsciously confirms the evil plot as being true...which is followed by an actual sting.
38* ''Film/FerrisBuellersDayOff'': PlayedForLaughs when Grace tells Mr. Rooney that Ferris Bueller is on line two.
39* ''Film/MontyPythonAndTheHolyGrail'': Do you know where we could find... ''a shrubbery?''
40* In the Music/InsaneClownPosse's movie ''Film/BigMoneyHustlas'', '''every''' time Sugar Bear (Shaggy 2 Dope)'s name is mentioned, there is the "Dun dun DAH!" sting.
41* In ''WesternAnimation/TurningRed'', this is used at the end of the scene where Mei turns back into a human for the first time and sits on her bed. It accompanies the bed creaking as it collapses further.
42[[/folder]]
43
44[[folder:Literature]]
45* In ''Literature/SoulMusic'', the raven ''tries'' to verbally invoke this trope before revealing to Susan that her grandfather is (Dah-dah-dah-DAH!) Death. He never succeeds, as the Death of Rats keeps interrupting him, and calls him on it after Susan's gotten fed up and walked away.
46* ''Literature/TheRestaurantAtTheEndOfTheUniverse'': The house band at Milliways gives the [=EmCee=] a sting on every one-liner. He wishes they wouldn't as he doesn't need their help, but it's in their contract.
47[[/folder]]
48
49[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
50* ''Series/{{CSI}}'' loves using this one, with a crescendo of ominous music at the end of an act being chopped off dramatically by a HardCut to black.
51** Cue Music/TheWho (if it's an [[ColdOpen opening setpiece]].) '''''[[Series/CSIMiami YEEEEEEEEEEEEEAH!]]'''''
52* The most well-known dramatic sting is also on a CrimeAndPunishmentSeries: ''Series/LawAndOrder'' and it's '''''chung-chung.'''''
53** ...which was supposedly meant to evoke a steel cell-door closing dramatically, according to WordOfGod
54** In a promo for ''Series/LawAndOrderSpecialVictimsUnit'' that used to air on Creator/USANetwork, Creator/RichardBelzer called it, "The gavel of the judge. Some kind of collective unconscious universal sound."
55* ...Or possibly, depending on one's age, the most well-known dramatic sting is on another CrimeAndPunishmentSeries: ''Franchise/{{Dragnet}}'' and its trademark four-note sting.
56-->'''''DUNNN-DA-DUN DUN. DUNNN-DA-DUN DUN DAAAAAAH!'''''
57* ''Series/WhoWantsToBeAMillionaire'' enhances the drama with an excessive number of musical stings and light changes dropped into the middle of gameplay.
58* Old-school ''Series/DoctorWho'', which made heavy use of multiple-episode storylines and episodes ending in {{Cliffhanger}}s went through a period where every single episode ended with [[HellIsThatNoise a high-pitched, descending electronic scream, accompanied with a rising, bubbling sound that formed into the first notes of the closing theme]], running over the closing credits, into which it was written. The 2005 series resurrected the sting, using it at the end of TheTeaser and just before the closing credits.
59** On at least one occasion, Creator/BonnieLangford, the actress who played [[ScreamingWoman Melanie Bush]], was asked to ''tune her scream'' so it would match the end-of-episode sting, resulting in an eerie effect where her scream fades directly into the theme tune.
60** The ''very'' early episodes, until the show [[Recap/DoctorWhoS7E3TheAmbassadorsOfDeath was already a few months into the '70s]] often end in cliffhangers with [[SubvertedTrope a glaring lack of any musical sting whatsoever]], which just doesn't feel quite right. This is probably why they made such heavy use of it later on.
61** Also, the swooshing sound at the beginning of the ThemeTune.
62* Similar to the ''Series/DoctorWho'' example above, both ''Series/EastEnders'' and ''Series/TheBill'' have very distinctive "drumbeat" stings, which punctuate the final scene of an episode at the point of a cliffhanger, and lead into the credits.
63* ''The Saturday Night Armistice'': The ''[=EastEnders=]'' sting was parodied in a segment suggesting that there was a drummer constantly following the characters around waiting for an appropriately dramatic moment.
64* The original series of ''Series/{{Star Trek|The Original Series}}'' had stings worked into various motifs, which, like all of the music, were endlessly reused in different episodes. The king of these is probably the dramatic sting that ends the third season of ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration''. It's at the very end of [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbbNn0yPJs0 this clip]].
65* ''Series/{{Roseanne}}'': Lampshaded and parodied: the family has to deal with taxes, and every time someone says the word "audit" -- Dun dun daaaah! The characters then look around to see where the sound came from.
66* In an episode of ''Series/{{Scrubs}}'', a loud noise during a showdown between Cox and Kelso turns out to be JD trying to break a coffee pot (stuck on his hand) against a metal pole.
67* ''Series/{{NCIS}}'' has a ''foomp'' and change-to-grayscale effect.
68* In the "Opus" sketch on ''Series/TheWhitestKidsUKnow'', the character Rex Bosworth sings "BUM BUM BAAAAH!!" after he reveals what Freddy must do to free himself from Mt. Everest.
69* Every episode of ''Series/{{Lost}}'' will end with either this or a montage set to SourceMusic.
70* ''Series/TheITCrowd'': Moss sets his phone's ringtone to the traditional "DUM-DUM-DUMMM!" sting. Naturally, it keeps going off at very appropriate (or perhaps inappropriate) times.
71-->"Mum, stop calling me at work!"
72* ''Series/SixtyMinutes'' arguably has a sting of its own: the distinctive ticking of the Aristo stopwatch that appears to end every news story.
73* ''Series/PoliceSquad'': Parodied. Detective Drebin says his scene-ending line, and the sting plays as he looks at the camera. Then he looks away, and a second, lower-pitched sting plays. Then he looks back, and a ''third'' sting plays, and the scene finally ends.
74* ''Series/SavedByTheBell'' uses the same generic sting, regardless of the situation preceding it.
75* ''Series/{{Damages}}'' Season 3 goes crazy with this, episodes one, two, and twelve (the second to last episode) especially.
76* In the original TV special/Movie for Jim Henson's Dog City, the characters find a note that reveals the identity of Ace's real father. The note ends, "Dun dun dah." The characters reading the note are initially confused before realizing that it's a music cue.
77* ''Series/PrisonBreak'' pulls a very distinctive version of this at ''every single commercial break''. This made sense in the first and possibly second seasons, when something dramatic would usually happen right before the ads. It became slightly jarring in later seasons when the audience is used to it, and nothing particularly important would happen before the cut.
78* ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'' has a metallic chomping sounding sting at the end of the title sequence and when the advert breaks start.
79* ''Series/TheElectricCompany1971'' had a cool collection of these to conclude skits. A few were specific to certain themes, such as for {{Western}} (trumpet sounding like a horse whinny) or medieval parodies ({{Parody}} of BaroqueMusic, with concluding {{Rimshot}}-like bell). Even Fargo North Decoder had one that parodied the opening theme for the sketch.
80* ''Series/{{Seinfeld}}'' had a highly distinctive one, snipped out of the first few bars of the show's theme tune: an eight-note phrase in the pentatonic minor scale played on slap electric bass, accompanied by some percussive noises.
81* ''Series/MidnightCaller'': A seven-note sting taken from the theme song's bass line plays every time Jack's show goes to commercial.
82* Brazilian TV is fond of using a comedic sting, namely Music/RickyMartin screaming [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQm8hyMfz2o "UEPA!"]]
83* ''Series/TwentyFour'' uses it's ticking clock effect so predictably that counts as an inversion of this trope on those rare occasions when you see the clock but don't hear the ''dink-donk'' sound effect. This is a silent sting used to indicate that someone has been KilledOffForReal.
84[[/folder]]
85
86[[folder:Music]]
87* Music/TheyMightBeGiants had two prerecorded intros that they would use at the beginning of their concerts to test the sound levels, later released as extras on ''The Early Years''. Both used a dramatically over-the-top sting apparently lifted from somewhere -- especially "Critic Intro", which used it after every single quote as well as [[PunctuatedForEmphasis after every word in their name]].
88[[/folder]]
89
90[[folder:Professional Wrestling]]
91* Wrestling/{{WWE}}'s Elimination Chamber {{gimmick match|es}} accompanies each new entrant being released into the cage with a big, dramatic music sting and flashing spotlights going across all the cages.
92[[/folder]]
93
94[[folder:Puppet Shows]]
95* ''Series/TheMuppetShow'': Lampshaded when Gonzo asks for a "dramatic sting" when he announces an outbreak of "cluckitis"... and gets it. Later, when Scooter mentions the disease, the sting happens again... and he and Kermit react to it.
96[[/folder]]
97
98[[folder:Radio]]
99* ''Extremely'' common in old-time radio shows, particularly of the mystery, horror and drama/suspense varieties. A single minor chord from an electric organ being used to punctuate dramatic moments became such a popular cliché, especially in {{Soap Opera}}s, that it became a StockParody.
100* ''Radio/TheHitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxy1978'' had a few, including one that was noted in the script as "DRAMATIC CHORD ([[Film/MontyPythonAndTheHolyGrail SHRUBBERY]])".
101* Used frequently in ''Radio/HamishAndDougal'', with constant lampshading.
102-->'''Mrs Naughtie''': From your description, that can only be one man. The Laird's ancient ancestor, Count Cardula the Cad!
103-->''Accordion sting''
104-->'''Dougal''': Count Cardula, the accordion player?
105* ''Radio/TheGoonShow'': "And then...''[dramatic sting!]''...nothing happened. But it happened very dramatically!"
106[[/folder]]
107
108[[folder:Recorded Comedy]]
109* From the album ''Another Monty Python Record'': "Cardinal Biggles...get--''the soft cushions!''" Followed soon after with "Get...''the comfy chair!''"
110[[/folder]]
111
112[[folder:Video Games]]
113* The Victory Fanfare after a battle in ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'' games.
114** {{Lampshade|Hanging}}d in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII: Advent Children'', when it starts playing after Tifa has fended off a henchman. (It turns out to be [[SourceMusic the ringtone of that henchman's cellphone]].)
115** Also lampshaded in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXV'', where [[MetaGuy Prompto]] will occasionally hum the victory fanfare after a battle.
116* The "Doo doo doo ''dooooo''!" whenever you [[ItemGet find an important item]] in ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda''.
117** Played with in ''The Phantom Hourglass'': once when Link opens an empty treasure chest (the sting gets cut off), once when Link has just been vigorously shaken about by Linebeck (the sting is distorted) and once when Link receives a harmful item (the sting takes a grim tone).
118*** Also when Link holds up the Phantom Hourglass, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WagpKTe-dNA&feature=related which is snatched away by Oshus.]]
119** Used for the sake of obscure reference when Joey picks up a duel disk in episode 27 of ''WebVideo/YuGiOhTheAbridgedSeries''.
120** The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OkvG3PKEI8 Song of Soaring]] has this kind of feel to it, especially because it fades out after you explode into a bunch of feathers. ''Oh no! Will Link arrive safely at his destination? Stay tuned to find out!''
121* ''VideoGame/EvilGenius'' uses Stings to warn you anything that needs your immediate attention, such as an enemy agent breaking into your base or a super agent arriving into your base.
122* The first, PSX ''Franchise/{{Digimon}}'' game played a happy little sting whenever you convinced a new Digimon to come join the town. Subverted when the chime ''starts'' playing, but veers off into minor [[{{Scales}} key]] like a breaking-down music box when Ogremon abruptly makes a VillainExitStageLeft instead.
123* Used often in ''Franchise/DeadSpace'', including for when [[spoiler: something falls off a shelf.]]
124* The "Dun! Dun! Dun!" happens in ''Super VideoGame/MeatBoy'' when a chapter is entered. It also happens at the end of the good ending.
125* ''VideoGame/LastAlert'': "We are from the Force Project. You'll have to come with me". Dun Dun!
126* ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'' has several, and the most notorious in terms of gameplay are the domination and revenge kill stings, based off of motifs from the game's main theme tune.
127* Whenever the adventure mode is chosen in ''VideoGame/PlantsVsZombies''.
128* The main battle theme of ''VideoGame/{{Persona 5}}'', "Last Surprise", begins with a flamboyant string-based sting before the lyrics kick in.
129* Practically every battle theme throughout the entirety of the ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' series begins with a quick techno sting. The sting itself varies from game to game and the type of enemy being battled, but they almost all begin with one.
130* Every ''VisualNovel/AceAttorney'' game has a "Variation" version of the game's "Pursuit" theme, which starts off with a sting before going immediately into the refrain of the track. To compare, the standard version starts with a few measures of buildup before going into the refrain. It usually plays when the [[PlayerCharacter player attorney]] had a defense that triggered the normal Pursuit theme, got that shot down, only to find new evidence that gets their momentum going again.
131* ''VideoGame/EtrianOdyssey'' games will often precede the current RandomEncounters theme with a jarring riff if the encounter starts off with an enemy ambush. Given that the series is known for its [[NintendoHard already-unrelenting difficulty]], it basically means "prepare to die."
132* In ''VideoGame/TheSims1'', there are various "danger" themes that play when a burglar or raccoon shows up, a Sim or pet dies, there's a fire, or a ghost shows up.
133* Toby eventually does this in Patently Stupid in the Final Round from the 5th Pack in ''VideoGame/TheJackboxPartyPack'' Series.
134--> '''Toby:''' Instead of solving different problems, you all tackle the same problem! Dun dun duuuuun!
135[[/folder]]
136
137[[folder:Webcomics]]
138* In ''Webcomic/EightBitTheater'', one of Red Mage's greatest (and most annoying) obsessions is to sing out a Sting for dramatic effect any time something major occurs.
139* Elan from ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'' does this to RunningGag levels. Including one occasion when he had ''no way'' of knowing something dramatic had happened because he was elsewhere shopping for a bag. Cut to him looking at identical light-brown bags and saying "Dun, dun, dun..."
140* ''Webcomic/{{Blip}}:'' [[MundaneMadeAwesome DUN! DUN!]] [[http://blip.rampagenetwork.com/322/ DUN! DUN!]]
141* Susan of ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive'' does it [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2010-08-05 here]].
142[[/folder]]
143
144[[folder:Web Original]]
145* ''WebVideo/PotterPuppetPals'': At the end of "Ron's Disease", [[spoiler:after Hagrid smacks Dumbledore with a cudgel with a [[RoboticReveal resounding clang]] and otherwise no apparent effect on Dumbledore, Harry exclaims (to a sting), "OHMYGOD, [[RidiculouslyHumanRobots he's an android]]!" Hagrid looks around in confusion, saying, "Wha-?" (to another sting). Dumbledore finally replies, "Yes, it's true, I am an android - a [[WordofGay gay]] android." What follows is a rather original LampshadeHanging of your typical Dun Dun DAAAH! sting, with the DAAH! lasting about five or six seconds.]]
146* ''WebVideo/AtopTheFourthWall'': Parodied in the review of ''22 Brides''. As the comic pulls the "We have you surrounded!" twist no less than three times in succession, the soundtrack plays a dramatic sting that gets higher pitched with each [[TheReveal Reveal]].
147** Beginning with the King of Worms Arc, the series' post-credits storyline segments have ended with a dramatic sting, an ominous techno sound.
148* ''WebVideo/LoadingReadyRun'' used a sting from ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' to end one of their [[http://loadingreadyrun.com/videos/view/446/commodoreHUSTLE-10-Judgement sitcom-esque videos]].
149* Some of ''WebVideo/SomeJerkWithACamera'''s episodes lift the stings from Music/TheyMightBeGiants' concert intros (see above) when he needs to effect an overly-dramatic flair.
150* Parodied in ''WebAnimation/StrongBadEmail'' where Strong Bad shows ''Dangeresque 1: Dangeresque Too?''. All of the musical cues are [[NoBudget done by Strong Bad himself]]. Several stings show up when villains are introduced or even foreshadowed.
151[[/folder]]
152
153[[folder:Western Animation]]
154* ''WesternAnimation/BigHero6TheSeries'': [[BigBad Obake]] ''loves'' doing these. He was [[RevealShot first shown to us]] with one, after all.
155* Parodied in an episode of ''WesternAnimation/HarveyBirdmanAttorneyAtLaw''.
156-->'''Vulturo:''' More decent than ''baseball''? DUN DUN DAH!
157* This, combined with zoom effect. has become a trademark of ''WesternAnimation/BobsBurgers''.
158* Parodied in ''WesternAnimation/{{Freakazoid}}!'' numerous times. The most well-known example is in "The Chip", where it cuts from Dexter receives the defective chip to guest narrator Jack Valenti saying "Bum-bum-buumm!".
159* Animated sitcoms like ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'', ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' and ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark love'' parodying this trope; the normal absence of musical chords will be made up for by the characters themselves providing the sound effects.
160** In the Simpson's episode ''Rosebud'', the Simpsons come into possession of Mr. Burns long lost bear [=BoBo=]. When they first get it, the camera ominously closes in on a tag with the ScareChord that says - "100% cotton". The chord cuts off and the camera frantically searches the bear until it find a tag saying "Property Of Montgomery Burns". Cue sting.
161** And again in the episode with Mel Gibson, ''Beyond Blunderdome'', where Homer suggests a movie idea with a dog with shifty eyes being the villain. The end of the episode ends with a shifty eyed dog. Cue sting.
162** In ''Two Bad Neighbors'', the scare chord is played when Bart skateboards by the Bushes' home. Later, Marge tells Homer as long as he keeps the car filled with gas she'll be happy. Homer sighs in relief, then looks shiftily about as the camera zooms in on the car. Cue sting.
163** A ''[[Series/TheXFiles X-Files]]''-esque sting was used a couple of times in "Homer vs. Patty and Selma".
164* ''WesternAnimation/TheLoudHouse'': A dramatic organ chord sounds out whenever [[CreepyChild Lucy]] appears out of nowhere and scares the person before her.
165* One episode of ''WesternAnimation/MuppetBabies'' had Gonzo as "The Weirdo", a spoof of radio drama ''Radio/TheShadow''. Whenever his name was mentioned, Rowlf played a dramatic sting on the piano... much to Gonzo's annoyance.
166* On an episode of ''WesternAnimation/BeavisAndButtHead'' Beavis tells Butt-Head that he had a nightmare "where everything sucked." Butt-Head replies "But, Beavis, everything does suck!" Dramatic sting and Beavis screams. For a while, the sting was played anytime one said "sucks".
167* ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb'' has a sting for ''pretty much everything'' that happens OnceAnEpisode: when Phineas announces he knows what they're going to do today, "Doofenshmirtz Evil Incorporated!"...They even have one for "fabulous", first used in "Dude We're Getting the Band Back Together" for Love Handel bassist [[CampGay Bobbi Fabulous]].
168* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vk2KeU7AjHU&T=39s An episode]] of ''[[WesternAnimation/GarfieldAndFriends U.S. Acres]]'' had a sting coming up [[BitingTheHandHumor every time "The Network" was mentioned]] (once it was even spoken by a character!). The executive that came up to watch the show's production, Aloysius Pig, even had in [[MyCard his card]]:
169--> [[InkSuitActor ALOYSIUS]] [[Creator/KevinMeaney PIG]]
170--> [[STing DA DUM!]]
171--> [[Creator/{{CBS}} ...THE NETWORK]]
172* ''WesternAnimation/JohnnyBravo'' has an entire episode lampshade hanging this (though it's rather more of a ScareChord being lampshaded).
173* ''WesternAnimation/DrawnTogether'': Frequently used.
174** "What is this, opposite day or dramatic music sting day!?"
175** "NEITHER!"
176* ''WesternAnimation/{{Archer}}'', episode "Skorpio" has at least three such exchanges:
177-->'''Malory:''' So you want this assignment?\
178'''Archer:''' Yes.\
179'''Malory:''' You really, really, want it?\
180'''Archer:''' Yes, I really, really, want it!\
181'''Malory:''' Well, too bad. Because guess what?\
182'''Lana:''' Wah wah!
183** Also in "Sea Tunt", [[CloudCuckoolander Cheryl]] ''[[FourthWallObserver hears]]'' the repeated stings, giving several {{Eye Take}}s:
184--> '''Cheryl''': [[OverusedRunningGag OH MY GOD!]] [[BigShutUp Shut up]], Music/JohnWilliams!
185* In ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDad'' episode "Not Particularly Desperate Housewife", Francine looks to expand her social circle and ends up with a group of women who discuss their affairs. Whenever the Asian member says something witty or catty, we hear a snippet of Oriental music. At one point she does her thing, then Francine tries to say something, only to get interrupted as the woman holds her pose and the music keeps playing. Later on, the sting plays when she says nothing; everyone looks at her, and she remarks "I farted."
186** Another ''American Dad'' example: Stan demands someone play a dramatic sting; the resulting music isn't dramatic enough and Stan is thoroughly disappointed.
187* Parodied in the ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' episode [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E7MayTheBestPetWin "May The Best Pet Win!"]], when Rainbow Dash tells her potential pets that they have to race her "through Ghastly Gorge! [[SayingSoundEffectsOutLoud DUN DUN DUUUUUN!]]"
188* ''WesternAnimation/{{Birdz}}'' had a dissonant four-note synth riff that basically served as the equivalent of "Wah wah wah" horns.
189* Spoofed on ''WesternAnimation/JimmyTwoShoes''. When Lucius ominously announces to Jimmy and Heloise that "you'll both pay", a flat and undramatic "dun dun dun" is heard...which turns out to be coming from a toy that can only make that noise. The same thing happens again when Lucius describes [[BottomlessPit the Abyss of Nothingness]] to them, and then it returns in TheStinger when Lucius is trapped in said Abyss.
190* ''WesternAnimation/DangerMouse'':
191** Colonel K is addressing DM and Penfold on a Greenback plot, with a dramatic sting in three different parts of the assignment. It turns out to be [[TheGhost Miss Boathook, Colonel K's secretary]], on her piano lessons.
192** In the first episode of the 2015 reboot, Danger Mouse is fired because the show can no longer afford to keep paying for the damage he causes in his action sequences; this news ought to be accompanied by a "Dun Dun DUN" sting, but all there is is the narrator ''saying'' "Dun Dun DUN", because they've had to save money by firing the musicians who provide the incidental music.
193* ''WesternAnimation/TheBeatles'' had a two-note guitar sting on either pivotal parts of a story (showing there ''is'' a mysterious passenger on a ship's register in "She Loves You") or as a rimshot (the "probably made of cheaper wax" line made at Paul and John as the boys are imitating their wax figures in "Misery").
194* ''WesternAnimation/DuckTales1987'' was known to have numerous stings that played before a commercial break. One of its most notable ones was the ominous 'Bum-Bum-Bum-Bum-BUUUMMM'.
195* In an episode of ''WesternAnimation/RegularShow'', Mordecai and Rigby watch a horror movie with "the most dramatic stings ever". Scary things happen one right after another, and a sting is played after each one. After the TV remote breaks Benson's windshield, the same sting is heard, causing Rigby to remark, "We probably should have turned the movie off."
196* ''WesternAnimation/ReadyJetGo'' episode "Diggin' Earth" Sunspot does it by drumming the air (aliens!) then hitting a shot blade as a cymbal. A response to Dr. Rafferty's "groundbreaking project" quip.
197* ''WesternAnimation/StarTrekLowerDecks'': In "Second Contact", there's a very dramatic-sounding music clip that plays when Commander Jack Ransom scratches the purple welt on his neck. It's an auditory hint to the audience that his bug bite will cause a ''lot'' problems soon.
198* Occasionally on ''WesternAnimation/{{Animaniacs}}'', StockFootage of Wakko doing one of these would play after a joke.
199* A ''WesternAnimation/RobotChicken'' [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNUzDYQCdwk sketch]] with [[Franchise/{{Barbie}} Barbie and Ken dolls]] experiencing a string of soap opera twists has three dramatic chords after nearly every sentence, and sometimes on repeat.
200[[/folder]]
201
202[[folder:Other]]
203* Older [[Platform/AppleMacintosh Macintosh]] computers sometimes play a Sting (the "Chimes of Death") when they fail a crucial hardware check on boot, with the notes of the ditty telling a savvy tech what's wrong even when video doesn't work
204** Older Macs had fun vocals as well, for normal shutdowns. Creator/ArnoldSchwarzenegger saying "I'll be back", anyone?
205** [=PCs=] are more boring, and use [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power-on_self-test POST beep codes]]. In this case, if you hear anything other than a single beep, something ''very bad'' has happened.
206** Anyone who actually hasn't turned off Windows sounds will hear sounds for all kinds of things, including the rather jarring sound made when the computer can't complete something.
207* The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHjFxJVeCQs Dramatic Prairie Dog]] had no drama until the sting was provided. (Dun dun DUUUUUN.)
208* [[http://www.dramabutton.com/ The Drama button]], for all of life's unnecessary drama.
209* George Lopez uses a snippet of a mariachi song (don't know the tune) to represent Mexicans in some of his jokes. For example, he asks "Who do you think is controlling this state? Guess!" (play song)
210* Used in Music/PDQBach's "Iphigenia in Brooklyn". It is played mostly by double reeds - not oboes and bassoons or anything but double reeds all on their own.
211* Stings are used to emphasize certain words or sentences in recitatives ("spoken" parts set to music) of cantatas and oratorios of the Baroque era. The stings are usually just one note if it comes at the beginning of a recitative, and two notes if it comes in the middle or at the end.
212[[/folder]]

Top