History Main / Sting

[[folder: Comic Books ]]

[[folder: Professional Wrestling ]]

* Wrestling/{{WWE}}'s Elimination Chamber [[GimmickMatches gimmick match]] accompanies each new entrant being released into the cage with a big, dramatic music sting and flashing spotlights going across all the cages.

[[folder: Video Games ]]

** [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] 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]].)

[[folder: Web Comics ]]

* In ''[[Webcomic/EightBitTheater 8-Bit Theater]]'', one of Red Mage's greatest (and most annoying) obsessions is to sing out a Sting for dramatic effect any time something major occurs.

[[folder: Web Original ]]

[[folder: Western Animation ]]

* ''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 after a punch line/stealth insult (the "probably made of cheaper wax" line made at Paul and John as the boys are imitating their wax figures in "Misery").

* ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'' has a metallic chomping sounding sting at the end of the title sequence

* Used frequently in ''Hamish & Dougal'', with constant lampshading.

* ''DangerMouse'' has an episode where 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.

* The house band at [[TheRestaurantAtTheEndOfTheUniverse 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.

[[folder: Live Action TV ]]

** The ''very'' early episodes 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.

* 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 merged 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.

* 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 the same musical sting, which was written into the beginning of the music that ran over the closing credits. The 2005 series resurrected the sting, using it at the end of TheTeaser and just before the closing credits.

Compare ScreamerTrailer. Do not confuse with TheStinger. Or with the ''musician'' [[Music/ThePolice Sting]], or the ''[[ProfessionalWrestling professional wrestler]]'' 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.]]

* The "Doo doo doo ''dooooo''!" whenever you [[ItemGet find an important item]] in the series ''The Legend of Zelda''.

* Old-school ''Series/DoctorWho'', which made heavy use of multiple-episode storylines and episodes ending in [=cliffhangers=] went through a period where every single episode ended with the same musical sting, which was written into the beginning of the music that ran over the closing credits. The 2005 series resurrected the sting, using it at the end of TheTeaser and just before the closing credits.
** The ''very'' early episodes often end in cliffhangers with [[SubertedTrope 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.

* Similar to the ''Series/DoctorWho'' example above, both ''EastEnders'' and ''TheBill'' have had very distinctive "drumbeat" stings, which would punctuate the final scene of an episode at the point of a cliffhanger, and lead into the credits.

* ''LoadingReadyRun'' used a sting from ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' to end one of their [[http://loadingreadyrun.com/videos/view/446/commodoreHUSTLE-10-Judgement sitcom-esque videos]].

* In ''TheWhitestKidsUKnow'' sketch "Opus", the character Rex Bosworth sings "BUM BUM BAAAAH!!" after he reveals what Freddy must do to free himself from Mt. Everest.

* ''{{Damages}}'' Season 3 goes crazy with this, episodes one, two, and twelve (the second to last episode) especially.

* The Victory Fanfare after a battle in ''FinalFantasy'' games.
** {{Lampshaded}} 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]].)
* The "Doo doo doo ''dooooo''!" whenever you [[ItemGet find an important item]] in '"Franchise/TheLegendofZelda'' games.

* ''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 {{Reveal}}.

A common version of LampshadeHanging is when a character is shown to have [[SorryILeftTheBGMOn ''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 even better lampshade, or perhaps an outright subversion, is when the characters themselves provide the sound effects--"Dun dun DAH!".

Compare ScreamerTrailer. Do not confuse with TheStinger. Or with the ''musician'' [[Music/ThePolice Sting]], or the ''[[ProfessionalWrestling wrestler]]'' 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.]]

* At one point in ''YoungFrankenstein'', Igor supplies his own [[http://www.instantrimshot.com rimshot]] after making a "hunch" joke.

* Parodied in ''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}}.

** Cue TheWho (if it's an [[ColdOpen opening setpiece]].) '''''[[CSIMiami YEEEEEEEEEEEEEAH!]]'''''
* The most well-known dramatic sting is also on a CrimeAndPunishmentSeries: ''LawAndOrder'' and it's '''''chung-chung.'''''

* ''WhoWantsToBeAMillionaire'' enhances the drama with an excessive number of musical stings and light changes dropped into the middle of gameplay.
* Old-school ''Series/DoctorWho'', which made heavy use of multiple-episode storylines and episodes ending in [[CliffHanger cliffhangers]], went through a period where every single episode ended with the same musical sting, which was written into the beginning of the music that ran over the closing credits. The 2005 series resurrected the sting, using it at the end of TheTeaser and just before the closing credits.

* ''{{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.
* ''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.

* ''{{NCIS}}'' has a ''foomp'' and change-to-grayscale effect.

* ''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.
* ''SavedByTheBell'' uses the same generic sting, regardless of the situation precceeding it.

* ''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.

A common version of LampshadeHanging is when a character is shown to have [[SorryILeftTheBackgroundMusicOn ''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 even better lampshade, or perhaps an outright subversion, is when the characters themselves provide the sound effects--"Dun dun DAH!".

* ...Or possibly, depending on one's age, the most well-known dramtic sting is on another CrimeAndPunishmentSeries: ''{{Dragnet}}'' and it's trademark four-note sting.

* 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! DUN DUN DUUUUUN!"

A common version of LampshadeHanging is when a character is shown to have [[SorryILeftTheBGMOn ''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 even better lampshade, or perhaps an outright subversion, is when the characters themselves provide the sound effects--"Dun dun DAH!".

Compare ScreamerTrailer. Do not confuse with TheStinger. Or with the ''musician'' [[ThePolice Sting]], or the ''[[ProfessionalWrestling wrestler]]'' Wrestler/{{Sting}} or the film ''Film/TheSting''. Or that dagger used by [[LordOfTheRings 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.]]

* One episode of ''MuppetBabies'' had Gonzo as "The Weirdo", a spoof of radio drama ''TheShadow''. Whenever his name was mentioned, Rowlf played a dramatic sting on the piano... much to Gonzo's annoyance.

** Older Macs had fun vocals as well,for normal shutdowns. ArnoldSchwarzeneger saying "I'll be back",anyone?

** Older Macs had fun vocals as well,for normal shutdowns. ArnoldSchwarzenneger saying "I'll be back",anyone?

** Older Macs had fun vocals as well,for normal shutdowns. ArnoldSchwarzennager saying "I'll be back",anyone?

** Older Macs had fun vocals as well,for normal shutdowns. ArnoldSchwartzennager saying "I'll be back",anyone?

* Older [[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.