# Woody Woodpecker Theme Song On ATMs. Why? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 20, 2002, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woody-woodpecker-theme-song-on-atms-why/119947 "2002-07-20T06:26:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2002, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woody-woodpecker-theme-song-on-atms-why/119947/1 "2002-07-20T06:26:10Z")
I have already asked this question on MPSIMS and found out I am not the only one who has heard this, so I know I am not crazy (or at least I have a lot of company.) When the money comes out of an ATM, there is the distinctive sound of the Woody Woodpecker theme song played as the money is shot out of the machine. Does anyone know why? Is this just an amazing coincidence, or is there a technical/whimsical reason? ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2002, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woody-woodpecker-theme-song-on-atms-why/119947/2 "2002-07-20T15:27:11Z")
OMIGOD - my main bank has an ATM that does this - it’s the only one I’ve ever heard, and when it’s counting the money it does the little song! It sounded to me at first like the “Woody Woodpecker” theme, but after repeated listening I think it’s really “Charge!” - you know, that little ditty that goes “da da da DA da DA - charge!” Or maybe we are sharing a joint hallucination. ---
**Author:** ![pldennison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@pldennison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pldennison)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2002, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woody-woodpecker-theme-song-on-atms-why/119947/3 "2002-07-20T16:06:50Z")
You’re not crazy – the ATM at the First Union bank next to my office does it, too. I did a double take the first time I heard it. ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2002, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woody-woodpecker-theme-song-on-atms-why/119947/4 "2002-07-20T21:28:38Z")
I’ve gotten so used to the Woody Woodpecker song playing after the cash has been counted but before it’s been dispensed, I’d think something was amiss if I **didn’t** hear it. Of course, it’s not **quite** Woody Woodpecker’s song, because it’s followed up by a little trill and then a note a wholestep lower. **Anthracite:** Now that you mention it, the Woody Woodpecker song **does** bear an uncanny resemblance to “Charge!” Maybe the ATM is telling me to use my Charge Card. \ ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2002, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woody-woodpecker-theme-song-on-atms-why/119947/5 "2002-07-21T02:14:51Z")
I dunno, but Xerox Tektronik color printers sing “Nanny nanny boo boo” as they print. ---
**Author:** ![Pessor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/439d5e/32.png) [@Pessor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pessor)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2002, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woody-woodpecker-theme-song-on-atms-why/119947/6 "2002-07-22T20:23:23Z")
So when’s someone in the know gonna step in here and tell us that it was dreamed up by some ATM manufacturer? ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2002, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woody-woodpecker-theme-song-on-atms-why/119947/7 "2002-07-23T03:38:31Z")
I asked a friend last night who is a 30 year veteran of working for Diebold(major player in ATM market). He knew nothing. And he programs these things and is high enough to know about it. Can anyone let us know the **BRANDS** of ATMS that are doing this. That might help. ---
**Author:** ![Pessor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/439d5e/32.png) [@Pessor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pessor)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2002, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woody-woodpecker-theme-song-on-atms-why/119947/8 "2002-07-24T16:40:19Z")
From the cuff I would actually guess Diebold… Sounds familiar. I’ll check next time if I think of it. ---
**Author:** ![malaka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecc23a/32.png) [@malaka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/malaka)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2002, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woody-woodpecker-theme-song-on-atms-why/119947/9 "2002-07-24T16:57:33Z")
I seem to recall hearing a bit from “I’m in the money” playing when it dispenses $$. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2002, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woody-woodpecker-theme-song-on-atms-why/119947/10 "2002-07-24T19:09:43Z")
Bizarre. Here in Seattle, I don’t think I’ve _ever_ heard an ATM make any sounds other than the buzzing and clicking of the machinery. Where is all this trillage occurring? ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2002, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woody-woodpecker-theme-song-on-atms-why/119947/11 "2002-07-24T19:22:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Cervaise \* > \*\*Bizarre. Here in Seattle, I don’t think I’ve _ever_ heard an ATM make any sounds other than the buzzing and clicking of the machinery. Where is all this trillage occurring? \*\* Here neither. Such musical ATMs are unknown in the Jackson, MS area and in Southeastern Louisiana. Can’t speak for the rest of the country. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2002, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woody-woodpecker-theme-song-on-atms-why/119947/12 "2002-07-24T20:20:00Z")
New York City checking in, and my bank’s ATM definitely sounds like it’s playing “charge!” when dispensing cash. I’ve always written it up to coincidence, as that sound seems to come from the mechanics of the dispenser. ---
**Author:** ![zut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zut/32/2875_2.png) [@zut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zut)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2002, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woody-woodpecker-theme-song-on-atms-why/119947/13 "2002-07-24T20:46:58Z")
Perhaps the OP is referring not to overdubbed music, but rather to the rhythm of the chunking and whirring as the ATM disgorges cash? Seems like I’ve used ATMs before that make a repetitive “duh-duh-duh-DOOOO-duh” noise when spitting out bills. ALmost like the Woody Woodpecker theme. I’ve always put it down as the action of some internal mechanism as it pulls twenties off the stack.