History Main / MusicalisInterruptus

LettingTheAirOutOfTheBand is related, but not as instant. Compare StopAndGo. See also MusicalWorldHypothesis, or SorryILeftTheBGMOn.

LettingTheAirOutOfTheBand is related, but not as instant. Compare StopAndStart. See also MusicalWorldHypothesis, or SorryILeftTheBGMOn.

LettingTheAirOutOfTheBand is related, but not as instant. See also MusicalWorldHypothesis, or SorryILeftTheBGMOn.

* PDQBach's oratorio ''The Seasonings'' includes a Fugue for Orchestra which begins with the first violins introducing a subject which runs on for a ridiculous 40 seconds (with a number of [[OverlyLongGag fakeout breakpoints]]) before any other instruments can join; it gets cut off soon after. A later recitative is interrupted in a different way:
-->"Then she gave in, in spite of all her teachings, some precious sesame seeds to him and tried to warn him, but in vain, for he interrupted her, say--"'''Aria: "Open sesame seeds"'''

* One scene in the Romberg and Hammerstein operetta ''The New Moon'' had ThePaolo trying to sing a love song and constantly getting interrupted.

* From ''The Burkiss Way'', an ''Old Grey Whistle Test'' spoof brings us the classic delta bluesman, "Caught Short" Williamson:

** "Laundry Day" is cut off mid-chorus by the arrival of the doctor's friend Moist (though it was the third chorus).
** Penny only gets four lines into "Will You Lend a Caring Hand" before being startled out of it.

--->'''Dr. Horrible:''' This world is going to BURN! BURN! BU--Yeah, that's two 'R's, H-O-R-R...right. BURN!

* Possibly the most [[JustifiedTrope justified]] use: In ''DoctorWho'' [[Recap/DoctorWhoS31E12ThePandoricaOpens "The Pandorica Opens"]], [[spoiler: The BGM cuts off because the ''universe explodes.'']] Difficult to have a mysterious string theme when [[spoiler: ''the musicians don't exist'']]

** In that same song, Elle begins a chorus before it sinks in that [[YouShouldKnowThisAlready Warner has just broken up with her.]]

* During ''{{13}}'' Eddie starts to sing a reprise of "Hey Kendra" but Lucy cuts him off
-->'''Eddie:''' Hey Lucy, I've been thinking
-->'''Lucy:''' Can it, Hobbit.

* In the first episode of ''{{Glee}}'', the club gets through about thirty seconds of [[{{Grease}} You're The One That I Want]] before Mercedes interrupts to complain about having to be one of the background singers. In episode 11 Rachel and Finn get through even less of the song before Finn feels the need to speak up about Rachel's "sad clown hooker" getup ([[BeAWhoreToGetYourMan she was dressed the same as Sandy at the end of]] ''{{Grease}}'').

** Legally Blonde ''LOVES'' this trope, using it to varying extents in at maybe ''half'' the songs. The music often picks up right after the interruption, though.

** Legally Blonde ''LOVES'' this trope, using it to varying extents in "Omigod You Guys", "What You Want", "Chip On My Shoulder", "Take It Like A Man", "There! Right! There!", "Legally Blonde" and the reprise for "Serious", ''at least''. None are quite as extreme as the first example, though.

-->-- ''Disney/TheEmperorsNewGroove''

* As quoted above, Kuzco's opening dance number in ''TheEmperorsNewGroove'' gets accidentally interrupted by an elderly man, who pays [[DestinationDefenestration the penalty]].

-->'''-Disney/TheEmperorsNewGroove'''

* PDQ Bach's oratorio ''The Seasonings'' includes a Fugue for Orchestra which begins with the first violins introducing a subject which runs on for a ridiculous 40 seconds (with a number of [[OverlyLongGag fakeout breakpoints]]) before any other instruments can join; it gets cut off soon after. A later recitative is interrupted in a different way:

----> '''Elle:''' ''Yes, I'll give you my haaaand! [[WaitWhatWhoa WAIT, WHAT]]?!

MusicalisInterruptus is a form of MusicalGag. A song is gearing up or getting into full swing, and something interrupts the singer, so the music abruptly stops. Heroes will interrupt villains. Villains will interupt the hero. {{Sidekick}} types will interrupt either or both. Sometimes the singer will even interrupt himself. Occasionally used by MoralGuardians to allow the song to flavor the scene, but stop short of something they consider objectionable for the audience.

For added effect, there is sometimes the RecordNeedleScratch.

See also MusicalWorldHypothesis, or SorryILeftTheBGMOn.

----
<<|ComedyTropes|>>
<<|JustForPun|>>
<<|ScoreAndMusicTropes|>>