I am preparing a sound quiz, where kids have to name tunes and melodies. I have all the usual suspects, such as Pink Panther, Top Gun, Mission Impossible etc. What else could I use, maybe some tunes from commercials? Shouldn’t be too US-centric.
1812 Overture?
Dance of the ??? in Disney?
The James Bond theme?
Got the Bond theme, will check out yours Gus.
The opening drums from Iggy Pop’s “Lust For Life” are pretty recognizable now, at least in US commercials. I don’t know if it’s used with the same frequency in Europe.
My Dog Has Fleas.
The Merry Round Broke Down - the intro to Looney Tunes.
Guantanamera
or a gimme, Kumbaya
“Powerhouse” by Raymond Scott, although that’s not quite fair; most people recognize the tune instantly, but don’t know the name or artist.
“La Cucaracha.”
White Rabbit
Yellow Submarine
Suicide Is Painless (MAS*H theme)
The Teddy Bear’s Picnic (not really, but can’t resist plugging it…)
Waltz of the Flowers, maybe? (I vaguely remember playing it on the piano a LONG time ago)
As for other instantly recognizable themes… maybe the popcorn song?
F_X
I bought a Pachinko Game for my wife for Christmas last year. (that wasn’t the wierd part…the wierd part was, she guessed it without shaking or opening the box. 
)
It’s a pretty new unit with stereo speakers and a monitor that turns into a slot machine when you hit a certain target on the playing field.
While the slot machine is turning, the machine plays (really loudly):
The Most Forgettable Tune Ever.
It took me, literally, two weeks of playing the machine to be able to hum the tune without assistance. They must have created the song intentionally for a gambling environment.
Charlie Brown Theme
Born to Run
Brown Eyed Girl
Rhapsody in Blue
Ah… good times. 
It always used to amaze me, when I played drums in dance bands, how the first two chords of Satisfaction could bring an entire club to its feet, instantaneously. Very recognizable, apparently.
eye of the tiger
you are my obsession - its for a fashion program here
Since it’s been on my mind of late (see here)
The opening of David Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust is pretty recognizable.
If Seinfeld has made it over there, then any of the twangy scene-change (bass?) guitar chords should be pretty recognizable.
Tainted Love
And then any Beatles fan could tell you the name of one of their songs within just a few notes.
The House of the Rising Sun
Dueling Banjos (used in three commercials now)
Strawberry Fields
Londonderry Aire
Beethoven’s Fifth
William Tell Overture
Anticipation (used in a ketchup commercial)
Sleepwalk
I think it’s “Dance of the sugar-plum fairy”. Tchaikovski, The Nutcracker, I think.
Others… maybe “Sweet Home Alabama”, or Beethoven’s “Fuer Elise”?
Blue Danube Waltz by Johann Strauss
Minute Waltz by Chopin
Flight of the Bumblebee by Rimsky-Korsakov
Ride of the Valkyries by Wagner
Canon in D by Johann Pachelbel
Hallelujah Chorus by Handel
Ode to Joy by Beethoven