History Main / SteelDrumsAndSunshine

*** ''1'': Yoshi's Tropical Island
*** ''2'': Pirate Land

** Tropical levels in all four ''VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBros'' games, as well as the map theme for World 3 in ''DS'' and Sparkling Waters in ''U''.

** ''VideoGame/MarioKartDoubleDash'': The [[https://youtu.be/qoVaCy4aV6w music]] for the tracks Peach Beach and Daisy Cruiser, which take place on a beach and a cruise ship respectively, have steel drums playing the main melody, accompanied by guitar, maracas, and drums.

* ''ComicStrip/{{Foxtrot}}'': One arc has Roger take the family to the Carribeany Resort, a hotel more than a thousand miles away from any ocean. Roger is the only one not to see past the tourist trap nature of the place, and when he asks his wife if she wants to go to a steel drum concert, argues that it isn't fake because it's a real guy playing the synthesizer.

* Downplayed in "Kokomo" by Music/TheBeachBoys, where the steel drum is mostly percussion, in the background of the multilayered mix,[[note]]producer's Music/PhilSpector's [[SignatureStyle signature "Wall of Sound"]][[/note]] but the first verse ends on the lyrics "We'll be falling in love / to the rhythm of a steel drum band" and there's a big steel drum hit in the middle of the second verse.

* ''ComicStrip/{{Foxtrot}}'': One arc has Roger take the family to the Carribeany Resort, a hotel more than a thousand miles away from any ocean. Roger is the only one not to see past the TouristTrap nature of the place, and when he asks his wife if she wants to go to a steel drum concert, argues that it isn't fake because it's a real guy playing the synthesizer. Who'd just hit the "bagpipes" setting.

Since the steel drum comes from the Caribbean islands, it is often associated with tropical places. Because of that, in fiction, you're likely to hear steel drums in island, jungle, ocean, and especially beach settings. This means that in video games, they'll likely be used in PalmtreePanic and UnderTheSea levels.

* ''WesternAnimation/Animaniacs2020'': In "Warners Unbound," when the Warners are travelling to an island for a vacation, a steel drum rendition of [[ThemeTuneCameo the show's theme song]] plays in the background.

* Downplayed in "Kokomo" by Music/TheBeachBoys, where the steel drum is mostly percussion, in the background of the multilayered mix,[[note]]producer's Music/PhilSpector's [[SignatureStyle signature "Wall of Sound"]][[/note]], but the first verse ends on the lyrics "We'll be falling in love / to the rhythm of a steel drum band" and there's a big steel drum hit in the middle of the second verse.

Compare with BangingPotsAndPans and TrashCanBand. For other music in tropical settings, see JungleJazz and WaltzOnWater. See also RegionalRiff.

* Treasure Trove Cove from ''VideoGame/BanjoKazooie'' prominently features steel drums in it's melody, as does its remix in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosUltimate''.

** ''VideoGame/MarioAndLuigiBowsersInsideStory'' prominently features steel drums in the melody for Cavi Cape.

** ''VideoGame/SuperMario64'' is a notable subversion since its resident water levels, while still employing steel drums as the primary instrument, are foggy and far moodier in tone, leading to a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBPbJyxqHV0 more haunting, gloomier melody]].

** ''VideoGame/SuperMario64'' is a notable subversion since its resident water levels, while still employing steel drums as the primary instrument, are far moodier in tone, leading to a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBPbJyxqHV0 more haunting, gloomier melody]].

** ''VideoGame/MarioGolfToadstoolTour'''s [[https://youtu.be/mGx754Q7zlI main theme]] is played on steel drums and sets an upbeat mood for the game.

** ''VideoGame/SuperMario64'' subverts the "sunshine" part since its resident water levels, while still employing steel drums, are far moodier in tone, leading to a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBPbJyxqHV0 more haunting, gloomier melody]].

[[folder:Film - Animated]]
* ''WesternAnimation/TheLittleMermaid1989'': "[[https://youtu.be/3XiFxrOYZpA Under the Sea]]," Sebastian the crab's song about how it's great to live in the ocean, prominently features steel drums. The song is also popular with pannists in real life.

[[folder:Newspaper Comics]]
* ''ComicStrip/{{Foxtrot}}'': One arc has Roger take the family to the Carribeany Resort, a hotel more than a thousand miles away from any ocean. Roger is the only one not to see past the TouristTrap nature of the place, and when he asks his wife if she wants to go to a steel drum concert, argues that it isn't fake because it's a real guy playing the synthesizer. Who'd just hit the "bagpipes" setting.
[[/folder]]

* "Kokomo" by Music/TheBeachBoys mentions a steel drum band.

* "Beachfront Celebration" by Creator/KevinMacLeod.

* In ''Series/TheOffice'', Michael, who just came back from a trip to Sandals, Jamaica with his girlfriend Jan, is reminiscing in his office playing the titular riff from The Merrymen's "Feeling Hot Hot Hot" on a steel drum.