Line #31 Main/SnowySleighBells


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12	->''"Hark how the bells, sweet silver bells\
13	All seem to say, throw cares away\
14	Christmas is here, bringing good cheer\
15	To young and old, meek and the bold..."''
16	-->-- "Carol of the Bells"
17
18	One good way to recognize winter-themed music is the presence of jingly sleigh bells (also known as jingle bells) in the soundtrack.
19
20	These little bells were first used on horse-drawn vehicles to warn bypassers about the arrival of the carriage and most importantly the sleighs (hence the name), as the vehicle would otherwise make no sound at all. The relation between these bells and sleighs might be the origin of this trope and is the premise of the most famous Christmas song of them all: [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jingle_Bells Jingle Bells.]]
21
22	Incredibly common in SlippySlideyIceWorld levels in video games, as well as in ChristmasSongs. Sometimes also featured in [[GrimUpNorth more grim winter-based settings]] where it's more likely to evoke a dogsled than SantaClaus.
23
24	For more musical location associations, see JungleJazz, WaltzOnWater, SteelDrumsAndSunshine, and RegionalRiff.
25
26	----
27	!!Examples:
28	[[foldercontrol]]
29
30	[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
31	* The ''Manga/KaguyaSamaLoveIsWar'' movie uses sleigh bells at several points in its soundtrack due to a good portion of it being set on Christmas Eve, though it's purely used to invoke the feeling of the holiday rather than the season as a whole since it never snows once during the movie (something which is directly pointed out by the characters).
32	* In ''Anime/LoveLive'', sleigh bells are heard in the song "Snow Halation", which ties into its overall theme of SnowMeansLove.
33	* ''Manga/OnePiece'': [[https://youtu.be/aNrW_0QqIT0 Twinkle Twinkle,]] an ImageSong sung by Chopper, has these, mostly during the [[BookEnds intro and outro]] and during the chorus.
34	[[/folder]]
35
36	[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
37	* Santa's sleigh bells become a minor plot point near the end of ''WesternAnimation/ThePolarExpress'' -- Hero Boy, who has been struggling with his faith in Santa, can't hear the bells until he decides to believe, at which point he can hear them.
38	[[/folder]]
39
40	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
41	* The Christmas episode of ''Series/LeCoeurASesRaisons'' has sleigh bells during the interludes between the "Christmas at the Montgomery's'' segments. The Christmas episode of "[[ShowWithinAShow Medical Drama]]" also features sleigh bells each time Brett says the word "Christmas".
42	[[/folder]]
43
44	[[folder:Music]]
45	* A '''lot''' of ChristmasSongs use sleigh bells as a part of their instrumentation, with "Jingle Bells" as the prime example.
46	* Evoked in the opening of "Sleigh Ride": "Just hear those sleigh bells jingling, ring-ting-tingling, too..." Also a big feature of the original orchestral version by Leroy Anderson.
47	* Music/SufjanStevens not only uses sleigh bells on many songs from his ''Songs for Christmas'' box set, but also writes about them in the liner notes, mentioning that playing them properly isn't as easy as you'd think.
48	* Downplayed in the Norwegian Christmas song/parody "Julekveld i skogen" by Rolf Just Nilsen, where sleigh bells are only used as part of the instrumentation in the verses that describe someone arriving in a sleigh.
49	* Evoked in "Winter Wonderland" with the rhyme "Sleigh bells ring, are you listening? / In the lane snow is glistening".
50	* Music/GordonLightfoot's "Song for a Winter's Night" is punctuated with these.
51	* Many of the winter-themed songs by Matthew Villani feature these, and not just the happy Christmas-themed ones, either. In works meant to evoke a blistering chill and a frozen landscape, the sleigh bells only serve to enhance the grim and icy atmosphere rather than evoke anything festive or cheerful.
52	* Classical music gives us the second movement of Prokofiev's ''Lieutenant Kijé'' suite: ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GUzJ7fQBtg&list=PLIa36ETako3MaZaw7-I0qEuflOniBvTWd&index=29&t=0s Troika ride]]'' is an evocation of a horse-drawn Russian sleigh charging through the snow. this is so evocative of Winter - the orchestral percussionist is kept busy ringing sleigh bells throughout - that it has become synonymous with Christmas.
53	** [[Music/EmersonLakeAndPalmer Greg Lake]] plundered ''Troika'' as the main theme for his seasonal hit, ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xKGc0-PUp8 I Believe in Father Christmas]]''.
54	* Used in "Little Saint Nick" by Music/TheBeachBoys, unsurprisingly. But Music/BrianWilson loved sleigh bells and used them in a bunch of non-Christmassy Beach Boys songs as well.
55	* "New York's a Lonely Town", a 1965 hit by Beach Boys soundalikes The Trade Winds about a surfer bemoaning having to spend the winter in the snowy Big Apple, prominently features these.
56	* Some parts of Music/AvaMax's "[[ChristmasSongs Christmas Without You]]" use sleigh bells.
57	[[/folder]]
58
59	[[folder:Pinball]]
60	* ''Pinball/ElvirasHouseOfHorrors'' plays these during the ''Film/SantaClausConquersTheMartians'' mode.
61	[[/folder]]
62
63	[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
64	* The digital implementation of ''TabletopGame/TicketToRide'' unsurprisingly has very prominent sleigh bells in the music playing when having a game on the Nordic Countries based on Scandinavia.
65	[[/folder]]
66
67	[[folder:Video Games]]
68	* ''VideoGame/OneHundredPercentOrangeJuice'': [[VideoGame/QPShooting Aru]]'s theme has a lot of sleigh bells in it, fitting for an apprentice of SantaClaus.
69	* ''VideoGame/AnimalCrossing''
70	** The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUwkx7vQiFM Christmas theme]] from the very first Animal Crossing game makes a heavy use of sleigh bells. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0aCYkAOvmFo The]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZ3v579wzAo remixes]] from the song from ''City Folk'' and ''New Leaf'' do as well, but with less emphasis on the bells.
71	** Several hourly music tracks include sleigh bells when it is snowing.
72	** So does the theme that plays during Snowman's bingo.
73	* ''VideoGame/BanjoKazooie'' has sleigh bells in all wintery themes.
74	* The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhuT9QoWWgk theme]] that plays during Bayonetta's last-minute Christmas shopping spree in ''VideoGame/Bayonetta2'' is rhythmed by sleigh bells.
75	* In ''VideoGame/BigFunInFurbyland'', the remix of Music/JohannesBrahms' "Hungarian Dance n°5" that plays during the wintry second level on ''In the Clouds'' has discrete snowbells rythming the song.
76	* The snowy theme from ''VideoGame/CatQuest'' features very prominent sleigh bells.
77	* [[https://youtu.be/pKlA1YGA_rc "Tire and Ice"]] from ''VideoGame/CrashTagTeamRacing'' has faint sleigh bells, but they're mostly drowned out by everything else going on in the song.
78	* The frozen Forest Folly's track [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHxCaid4z8U "Freezy Breezie"]] in ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountryTropicalFreeze'' has some discrete sleigh bells ringing throughout the song.
79	* The Christmas level on ''VideoGame/DoodleJump'' has sleigh bells playing in the background.
80	* In ''VideoGame/EverybodyEditsUniverse'', the music used [[HolidayMode around Christmastime]] named "Christmas Quest" uses sleigh bells to invoke the sound of Christmas.
81	* ''VideoGame/{{Harmoknight}}'' has [[https://youtu.be/ftqA4-f9OYE "A Frosty Reception & Winter Wonderland."]] The world it plays in is even ''named'' "Sleighbell Slopes", and some of the enemies there are even shaped like sleigh bells!
82	* Sleigh bells ring each time the player freezes a Zoog in ''VideoGame/IgglePop''.
83	* ''Franchise/{{Kirby}}'' series:
84	** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bf7yYuH9D3U Frozen Hillside's track]] from ''VideoGame/KirbyAirRide'' has a sleigh bell ring three times in the background before a {{Beat}}, followed by the bell ringing three more times.
85	** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cg-Rmi2_fmc Most]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5T9NralDMew of the]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEnIu0S1ths levels]] in the well-named Snow Land in ''VideoGame/KirbysEpicYarn'' have a soundtrack heavily featuring sleigh bells.
86	** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5UeyI9iOes Snowy Zone]] from ''VideoGame/KirbyMassAttack'' has a beat made up of sleigh bell rings that have been cut in half to add to the song's pace.
87	** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbUEtAPdW-g Snowball Scuffle]], from ''VideoGame/KirbysReturnToDreamland'', as well as its [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvwp7L5uXaE remix]] from ''VideoGame/KirbyAndTheRainbowCurse'', makes sure to start off with sleigh bells to set the mood for the ice level.
88	* ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'':
89	** The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80dqI2Fa9fw ice theme]] of ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaFourSwordsAdventures'' is a remix of the normal overworld thing with only one thing to differentiate it: sleigh bells, a staple of magical elf culture.
90	** The icy Anouki Village's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pSHX30mXs4 theme]] from ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSpiritTracks'' features jingle bells in some segments.
91	** Faint sleigh bells can be heard in the background of the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjHYIT4JctE Ice Ruins]] track from ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkBetweenWorlds''. Some also ring when Dharkstare summons icy satellites.
92	** The cheery theme played during the ice bowling mini-game in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild'' has upbeat sleigh bells.
93	* ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime'' has the icy region of Phendrana Drifts. The music for the region features sleigh bells alongside an EtherealChoir and a chilly piano.
94	* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bR1-KSTXPYM Several]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SVy4_3nIVw songs]] playing in the frozen [[SlippySlideyIceWorld Powdered Peaks]] in ''VideoGame/{{Miitopia}}'' feature sleigh bells.
95	* ''VideoGame/{{MOTHER}} series'':
96	** The beautiful theme played in the wintry [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieapBou_3cs Snowman]] in ''VideoGame/EarthBoundBeginnings'' has sleigh bells playing through the track. It's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1Md2ODg-0M remix]] from ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosBrawl'' kept them as well.
97	** ''VideoGame/{{EarthBound\|1994}}'' has the theme music for [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UtKQ4InhUE Winters,]] where Jeff and his father reside.
98	* ''VideoGame/{{Pikmin}}'':
99	** ''VideoGame/Pikmin2'': The theme playing in the snowy [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUT6OtEiy6Q Valley of Repose]] features sleigh bells as its percussion instrument.
100	** ''VideoGame/HeyPikmin: In Snowfall Field's third level, Olimar and the Flying Pikmin snowboard down a mountain: each time a Pikmin breaks a layer of the giant snowball that tumbles down with them, sleigh bells ring.
101	%%* ''VideoGame/PizzaFrenzy'': Heard in the music track for the arctic locations.
102	* ''VideoGame/PokemonXAndY'': The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWK7L-XzRcY music]] that plays in the icy Snowbelle City features a sleigh bells in at the beginning and the middle of the song.
103	* ''VideoGame/SkiesOfArcadia'' has sleigh bells added to the dynamic overworld soundtrack when in the Lands of Ice region.
104	* ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'': Sleigh bells are pretty rare in the series in comparison to the number of stages themed on cold and ice over the years, more often opting for chimes or electric guitar. However, they do exist:
105	** ''VideoGame/Sonic3DFlickiesIsland'': The obligatory ice world in this game was called Diamond Dust, and the Saturn and PC versions of the game had light, jingling bells as part of their soundtrack.
106	** ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure'' has [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_eeA-PQmiM "Snowy Mountain,"]] though it's not used to set the rhythm and is mainly there for flavor.
107	** The bells can be heard in [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvLNHF-kcHU "Twinkle Snow Zone Act 1"]] in ''[[VideoGame/SonicAdvanceTrilogy Sonic Advance 3]]'' but is absent in Acts 2 and 3.
108	** In ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed'', sleigh bells can be heard in [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4QyJjMOEcY Holoska's hub area the the daytime]]. They're absent at night.
109	** Used as the primary percussion instrument in ''VideoGame/SonicLostWorld'''s Frozen Factory stages, as can be heard in [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6l1HUDuzyrk "Frozen Factory Zone 1"]] and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-b_1yfJU0g "Snowball Waltz."]]
110	* The Atlantis Deep-Sea Cruise is a polar fishing spot in the ''VideoGame/StreetpassMiiPlaza'' game ''Ultimate Angler'', and its [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIUDZGjN3Y8&list=PL997rjsj8no0SyrB0c55UmYpm-C8uWtpH&index=58 music]] features discrete jingle bells in the background.
111	* ''VideoGame/SugarySpire'': The music in Mt. Fudgetop contains sleigh bells, which fits with the level's SlippySlideyIceWorld nature.
112	* Used very often in the ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'' franchise:
113	** ''Videogame/CaptainToadTreasureTracker'' frosty levels have a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6wHdnht5KQ wintery remix]] of the game's main theme featuring sleigh bells. The opening segment of [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWLB7LCymYE Blizzard on the Snow Express]]'s track features some sleigh bells as well.
114	** The music playing during the frigid Secret Mine's boss fight in ''VideoGame/LuigisMansionDarkMoon'' features rather discrete sleigh bells as percussion.
115	** The ''depressing'' [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmQiEbcbuWw theme]] from the destroyed, Christmas-themed Hollijolli Village from ''VideoGame/MarioAndLuigiPartnersInTime'' features sleigh bells.
116	** The level themes for Gleam Glacier in ''VideoGame/SuperPrincessPeach'' uses joyful Bells extensively in its main instrumentation.
117	** The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7NepeWLuTU theme]] for the frozen Frappe Snowland and Sherbet Land from ''VideoGame/MarioKart64'' has sleigh bells throughout the entire track.
118	** The ''VideoGame/MarioKart8'' [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7aFsq648SM remix]] of the GCN Sherbet Land racetrack has joyful sleigh bells ringing rhythmically through the song. The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hej8cQRMPSU Animal Crossing winter music]] gets the same treatment.
119	** The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hClfiTRnz4 theme]] that plays on the ''Chilly Waters'' board in ''VideoGame/MarioParty3'' has sleigh bells ringing throughout the entire song.
120	** Basically every snow-related track from the ''VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBros'' series have sleigh bells.
121	** [[SlippySlideyIceWorld Fahr Outpost]]'s [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKzxYGIVkbI theme]] in ''VideoGame/PaperMarioTheThousandYearDoor'' features extremely prominent sleigh bells.
122	** So do [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMPiRGepvfY most of the]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFp7kt4G-Ck musics]] playing during the icy World 4 in ''VideoGame/PaperMarioStickerStar''.
123	** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YE2lGLh2Y84 Snow Land,]] from ''VideoGame/SuperMario3DLand'' and its [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGSnbOVj9Tk remix]] from ''VideoGame/SuperMario3DWorld'' are very upbeat wintery tracks, and sleigh bells are the only percussion instrument that is used.
124	** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgbVzp7_kqc Freezy Flake Galaxy's theme]] from ''VideoGame/SuperMarioGalaxy2'' has sleigh bells making sporadic appearances throughout the song.
125	** While all three nitro battle tracks in ''VideoGame/MarioKart7'' have the same melody, the music playing on Sherbet Rink has added sleigh bells.
126	** Sleigh bells ring rhythmically through the entire [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-QSe_LE5gY song playing in the frigid Shiveria]] in ''VideoGame/SuperMarioOdyssey''. When outside of town, where there is almost no music, distant sleigh bells can be heard.
127	** This trope applies to the snow theme in all of the game styles of ''VideoGame/SuperMarioMaker2'', including the new chiptune compositions for the 8- and 16-bit styles, as well as the remixes in the level making mode.
128	* The music playing on the frosty [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPxH07IxeUw&index=425&list=PLbjp_k_WffD0lDor0FSSmECAgLpsLNPT9 Icicle Mountain]] stage in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosMelee'', originating from ''VideoGame/IceClimber'', features very prominent sleigh bells.
129	* The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpVD8aHvlVA Christmas theme]] from ''VideoGame/TomodachiLife'' is punctuated by sleigh bells.
130	* ''VideoGame/WarioLandShakeIt'' has these in the Slipshod Slopes theme, as well as the faster Freezing Fields one.
131	* Sleigh bells are used in the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ri5RiZw0RQM Penguin Slide theme,]] the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VquLba1wVM Snowball Fight theme]] and the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEiorSf4WSQ Core Luge theme]] from the ''VideoGame/WiiFit'' series, since all these activities are heavily related to winter and ice.
132	* ''VideoGame/YoshisWoollyWorld'''s [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMl6TWZMrbU A Little Light Snowfall,]] as well as the frozen World 5's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6ZHlGqgy-c map theme]] both are rhythmed by jingle bells.
133	[[/folder]]
134
135	[[folder:Web Video]]
136	* Video game music analyst Jake Butineau has a video discussing this trope: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URnNcXvn5K4 "Why I Hate Winter Level Music."]] He argues that the "Instant winter, just add sleigh bells!" approach has been overused to the point of cliche, and feels that VG musicians are ignoring all the ''other'' ways they could evoke the mood of winter.
137	-->'''Jake:''' This is called a sleigh bell. You may have heard it in every Christmas song, ever.
138	* The parody {{Christmas Song\|s}} "Communist Christmas" by ''WebVideo/{{Rathergood}}'' features sleigh bells.
139	[[/folder]]
140
141	[[folder:Webcomics]]
142	* The musical comic [[http://brawlinthefamily.keenspot.com/comic/388-ice-world Ice World]] from ''Webcomic/BrawlInTheFamily'' is a "celebration" of {{Slippy Slidey Ice World}}s which is, you guessed it, rhythmed by sleigh bells.
143	[[/folder]]
144
145	[[folder:WesternAnimation]]
146	* Heard a lot during the ''WesternAnimation/DannyPhantom'' ChristmasEpisode ''The Fright before Christmas''.
147	* Used in an eyecatch for the ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'' episode "Mr. Hankey's Christmas Classics", along with a title card [[SoundtrackDissonance apparently intended to parody]] ''Franchise/StarWars''.
148	* ''WesternAnimation/SpongebobSquarepants'':
149	** The opening of the ''WesternAnimation/ChristmasWho'' is a special, carol version of the regular opening, with very prominent sleigh bells.
150	** As one could expect, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uhc9gtE-FY4 Wonderland of Snow,]] the theme playing during the title card of [[Recap/SpongeBobSquarePantsS3E6SnowballEffectOneKrabsTrash Snowball Effect]]'', as well as the theme playing during the montage of a snow-covered Bikini Bottom both feature very prominent sleigh bells.
151	[[/folder]]
152

Context Main / SnowySleighBells