History Main / InvisibleBackupBand

[[folder:Anime]]

* Lampshaded in an episode of ''Series/SesameStreet'' with [[Series/LambChopsPlayAlong Shari Lewis and Lamb Chop]] as the episode's guest stars. Shari, Lamb Chop, and Big Bird sing the song "Perfect as a Pig" to Suey the Pig to boost her confidence in being a pig. When the invisible choir echoes the last line of every voice, all four look around for the source and give each other confused looks.
** Frequently, the characters will call out "Music maestro!" or "Hit it!" when cueing their invisible orchestra. One episode instead had Baby Bear about to sing a song, asking someone off-screen to hit the play button on the music player.
* Naturally, this happens a lot in ''Series/{{Glee}}''. Sometimes, however, it's averted rather hilariously.
** In one instance, Jesse and Rachel are singing Lionel Richie's "Hello" together. Jesse is shown playing the piano, but string and percussion instruments are heard as well. At first, this appears to be an example of this trope; however, the camera then zooms out to reveal an actual back-up band, materialized out of nowhere.
** In another, Rachel is speaking with her mother, and suggests they sing a song together. After the latter agrees, Rachel calls for her pianist, who again shows up from out of nowhere. Rachel explains "he's always around".

[[folder:Music Videos]]

-->"Men: We don't know what we did."
-->"God: He knows what turns you on."
-->"White Guys: Scared of every race."

* Subverted in ''Film/BlazingSaddles.'' Just as you're wondering where the music is coming from, Bart rides past Count Basie and His Orchestra.

* Fancy Lala has one in the anime ''Anime/MagicalStageFancyLala''.

* ''Anime/MagicalAngelCreamyMami'': Creamy Mami has this effect as part of her MagicalGirl powers, which is how she ended up with a career as an idol singer.

Every {{musical}} thrives on this concept. The singer stands alone on stage and hums the opening bars of a song and a few measures later their vocals are harmonized and a band begins to play.

It's time for a character to display his incredible musical talent! The stage is set, an audience gathers, he begins to sing and...

[[WebAnimation/HomestarRunner Whoa! Where'd this choir come from?]]

When a single character begins to sing or play a musical instrument a capella, he will immediately be accompanied by suitable background instrumentals, vocals or both (and maybe even some neat stage effects) with no conceivable source. [[LonelyPianoPiece Piano]], [[SatanPlaysLeadGuitar guitar]], [[{{Sexophone}} sax]], [[OminousLatinChanting gospel choir]]... you name it and it will be a member of the Invisible Backup Band.

Every {{musical}} thrives on this concept.

* Justified in ''Anime/SenkiZesshouSymphogear'' as a secondary function of the girls' DiscoTech armor.

** ''[[Recap/MysteryScienceTheater3000S10E02TheGirlInGoldBoots The Girl in Gold Boots]]:'' Solo guitarist Critter performs multiple times, accompanied by harmonica and other instruments from nowhere. "I love the way you play the harmonica with your ass!"

* In the [[Creator/{{ITV}} Granada TV]] adaptation of ''The Red-Headed League'', SherlockHolmes is accompanied by an imaginary orchestra as he whistles a theme from the concert he attended the previous night.

[[folder: Anime ]]

* [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] in ''Manga/OuranHighschoolHostClub'': Haruhi is seen singing with beautiful music the background, when someone accidentally unplugs the music player.

[[folder: Films -- Animated ]]

[[folder: Films -- Live-Action ]]

* ''Film/WildRebels'' gives the the (anti-)hero a horn accompaniment as he plays guitar for the love interest in the forest.

* The [[OminousMusicBoxTune musical pocket watch]] in ''Film/ForAFewDollarsMore'' is accompanied with what sounds like an orchestra ''and'' a mariachi band.

[[folder: Live Action TV ]]

--> '''Abed''': ''How is your piano still playing this song?''
--> '''Mr. Rad''': ''Glee is the answer when questions are wrong!''

[[folder: Music Videos ]]

[[folder: Theme Parks ]]

[[folder: Video Games ]]

* Inverted in ''VideoGame/LocoRoco'', everybody is aware of game's background music and sing to it. It's played straight in a few cutscenes.

* Averted in ''VideoGame/GitarooMan''. In every stage, the background music is provided by a trio of kids dressed in animal costumes. They only have a pair of cymbals, a ukulele, and an accordion, but somehow they're able to provide the entire soundtrack on their own. According to their in-game bio, being a backup band is their sworn duty.

[[folder: Web Original]]

* {{Inverted}} in ''WebVideo/DoctorHorriblesSingAlongBlog'', where [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast Bad Horse]] writes letters to scan with his theme tune, and a chorus made up of three of the musical's writers dressed as cowboys lean in from off screen to sing along.

[[folder: Western Animation ]]

* Another lampshade hanging: The Music Meister from ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheBraveAndTheBold'' had brass and strings for him during one song, synth for another, and crunchy guitar and piano for yet another, even though he had no visible means of producing that music until his big finale, when he was standing in front of a giant stereo system.

* ''Anime/HimeChenOtogiChikkuIdolLilpri'' does this whenever they "Himechen" (the shows name for their transformation).

** ''[[Recap/MysteryScienceTheater3000S02E07WildRebels]]:'' When the (anti-)hero is playing guitar for the love interest in the forest, and a horn accompaniment suddenly breaks in:

-->'''Jonah:''' That fiddle player in the back is the real talent. I mean, how's he getting all these sounds from one instrument?\\

* Used straight in ''Film/GirlInGoldBoots'' with solo guitarist Critter being accompanied by harmonica and other instruments from nowhere. Snarked by the The ''Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000'' guys: "I love the way you play the harmonica with your ass!"
* ''Film/{{Eegah}}!'' "I see he remembered to bring the Isley Brothers camping with him."
* In ''Film/WildRebels'', when the (anti-)hero is playing guitar for the love interest in the forest, and a horn accompaniment suddenly breaks in:
--->'''Crow:''' Thank you, [[FriendToAllLivingThings Brother Squirrel]], for the horn!

* Speaking of Series/{{Glee}}, in the Series/{{Community}} episode "Regional Holiday Music" which parodied said show specifically made fun of this trope. The Glee club coach tries to convince Abed to join by playing a song on the piano, only to jump up from it for a singing/dancing routine a few lines in. The music continues.