# What's this piece of music I've heard in a few Warner Bros cartoons? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 22, 2016, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-piece-of-music-ive-heard-in-a-few-warner-bros-cartoons/772716 "2016-11-22T02:29:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![El\_DeLuxo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_deluxo/32/9043_2.png) [@El\_DeLuxo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_DeLuxo)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2016, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-piece-of-music-ive-heard-in-a-few-warner-bros-cartoons/772716/1 "2016-11-22T02:29:27Z")
I grew up with the classic Warner Brothers cartoons on TV. There’s this one piece of instrumental music that shows up in more than a couple of 'toons, usually when there’s mechanized mayhem going on. It’s not a classical number but a big scary percussive modern compostion. Anyway it starts with this hard-ass one-two-one-two thing like nuh-NUH-nuh-NUH-nuh-NUH-nuh-NUH and then it goes Duht-duht-DAAH-dudududududuh, Duht-duht-DAAH-dudududududuh, Duht-duht-DAAH-dudududududuh, dahdahdududdut DAH DAH! Like I mentioned above, it’s a standard for scenes of machine violence, and big busy factories. Help me out, fellow old-cartoon-obsessionists,what IS the name of that big scary noise ? ---
**Author:** ![proudft](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f05b48/32.png) [@proudft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/proudft)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2016, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-piece-of-music-ive-heard-in-a-few-warner-bros-cartoons/772716/2 "2016-11-22T02:34:10Z")
It’s Powerhouse, by Raymond Scott. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2016, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-piece-of-music-ive-heard-in-a-few-warner-bros-cartoons/772716/3 "2016-11-22T02:35:00Z")
Powerhouse [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/jtIr55-ZJ1U/hqdefault.jpg "Raymond Scott - Powerhouse (1937)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtIr55-ZJ1U) ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2016, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-piece-of-music-ive-heard-in-a-few-warner-bros-cartoons/772716/4 "2016-11-22T02:53:53Z")
Every time this question is asked, it’s Powerhouse…I’m beginning to think it should be a sticky. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2016, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-piece-of-music-ive-heard-in-a-few-warner-bros-cartoons/772716/5 "2016-11-22T03:15:12Z")
I knew that before I even opened the thread. Ain’t I a stinker? ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2016, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-piece-of-music-ive-heard-in-a-few-warner-bros-cartoons/772716/6 "2016-11-22T03:39:42Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Powerhouse > [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtIr55-ZJ1U](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtIr55-ZJ1U) I really hope that song’s on [these guys’](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWO5Ai_a80M) set list! ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2016, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-piece-of-music-ive-heard-in-a-few-warner-bros-cartoons/772716/7 "2016-11-22T03:53:41Z")
I was hoping it was the “Mynah Bird Music”…but if course it’s…Powerhouse. ---
**Author:** ![El\_DeLuxo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_deluxo/32/9043_2.png) [@El\_DeLuxo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_DeLuxo)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2016, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-piece-of-music-ive-heard-in-a-few-warner-bros-cartoons/772716/8 "2016-11-22T03:59:36Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > I knew that before I even opened the thread. Ain’t I a stinker? I saw what you did, there. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2016, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-piece-of-music-ive-heard-in-a-few-warner-bros-cartoons/772716/9 "2016-11-22T04:09:55Z")
Yep. It’s ALWAYS Powerhouse. Knew what it was going to be before I opened the thread. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2016, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-piece-of-music-ive-heard-in-a-few-warner-bros-cartoons/772716/10 "2016-11-22T04:15:27Z")
It’s _Rio_, by Dur—wait, no, it’s Powerhouse. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2016, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-piece-of-music-ive-heard-in-a-few-warner-bros-cartoons/772716/11 "2016-11-22T04:53:08Z")
> [@Dale\_Sams](#): > > I was hoping it was the “Mynah Bird Music”…but if course it’s…Powerhouse. “Mynah Bird Music,” indeed. Harrumph! :mad: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/zcogD-hHEYs/maxresdefault.jpg "Mendelssohn - Hebrides Overture (Fingal's Cave) (Abbado)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcogD-hHEYs) ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2016, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-piece-of-music-ive-heard-in-a-few-warner-bros-cartoons/772716/12 "2016-11-22T04:57:59Z")
> [@proudft](#): > > It’s Powerhouse, by Raymond Scott. Also used beautifully on _ **The Simpsons** _: [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUYyHWywtbg) ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2016, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-piece-of-music-ive-heard-in-a-few-warner-bros-cartoons/772716/13 "2016-11-22T05:47:37Z")
Carrots are divine You get a dozen for a dime It’s maaaaaaaaaaagic. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2016, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-piece-of-music-ive-heard-in-a-few-warner-bros-cartoons/772716/14 "2016-11-22T06:25:08Z")
> [@proudft](#): > > It’s Powerhouse, by Raymond Scott. If you listen to other Raymond Scott works, you’ll hear quite a few familiar motifs from cartoons. Carl Stalling borrowed heavily from Scott when he was doing the music for Warner Brothers cartoons back in the '40s. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2016, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-piece-of-music-ive-heard-in-a-few-warner-bros-cartoons/772716/15 "2016-11-22T12:15:13Z")
Scott sold the rights to his songs to Warner Brothers, so Stalling was free to use them (much like he used songs by the great Harry Warren). Scott moved on to be a pioneer in electronic music. (And John Coltrane was in Scott’s band for a time). ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2016, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-piece-of-music-ive-heard-in-a-few-warner-bros-cartoons/772716/16 "2016-11-22T12:23:03Z")
If it’s a question about cartoon music, it’s almost always “Powerhouse”. If it’s a question about classical music, it’s almost always “Carmina Burana”. If it’s a question about 1920’s-style death rays, it’s almost always “Rio” by Duran Duran. ---
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_Rat)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2016, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-piece-of-music-ive-heard-in-a-few-warner-bros-cartoons/772716/17 "2016-11-22T15:37:16Z")
There’s also a riff of it in [_La Villa Strangiato_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNilsLf6eW4) @5:49 ---
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2016, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-piece-of-music-ive-heard-in-a-few-warner-bros-cartoons/772716/18 "2016-11-22T20:41:22Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > If it’s a question about cartoon music, it’s almost always “Powerhouse”. > > If it’s a question about classical music, it’s almost always “Carmina Burana”. > > If it’s a question about 1920’s-style death rays, it’s almost always “Rio” by Duran Duran. That song from the Muppets= Ma Na Ma Na ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2016, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-piece-of-music-ive-heard-in-a-few-warner-bros-cartoons/772716/19 "2016-11-22T21:01:14Z")
I keep hoping it will be “Freddy the Freshman” or “If I Could Be With You An Hour Tonight,” but it’s alway “Powerhouse.” ---
**Author:** ![txjim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f07891/32.png) [@txjim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/txjim)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2016, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-piece-of-music-ive-heard-in-a-few-warner-bros-cartoons/772716/20 "2016-11-23T16:22:57Z")
I was betting it was “Ride of the Valkyries.” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-piece-of-music-ive-heard-in-a-few-warner-bros-cartoons/772716.md?page=2)