Cartoon chase music

September 26, 2005 9:27 PM

What's that chase music that was always featured in older cartoons? I believe "Ren and Stimpy" made extensive use of it.
posted by jimmy to Media & Arts (14 answers total)

Response by poster: Lots of horns, or maybe just the one.
posted by jimmy at 9:28 PM on September 26, 2005

You always saw Bugs Bunny running up a staircase, pursued by Yosemite Sam, to the tune of Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody #2.

I have a feeling that's not what you meant, though.
posted by ikkyu2 at 9:37 PM on September 26, 2005

Not sure which one you mean, but it could very well be "Sabre Dance" by Aram Khachaturian. Audio clips here.

Dave Edmunds and Love Sculpture did a wicked (artificially sped-up) version of it on an album whose name escapes me at the moment.
posted by Dr. Wu at 9:50 PM on September 26, 2005

Oops. Those sound clips don't work. Try this one - direct link to mp3 file.
posted by Dr. Wu at 9:52 PM on September 26, 2005

Response by poster: It's not Sabre Dance, though that's a pretty good one as well.
posted by jimmy at 9:54 PM on September 26, 2005

Damn. I was sure that'd be it.
Can you give some more hints? Which cartoons? How old? What's it sound like? Can you post an mp3 of you humming it or something?
Alternately, have you tried any Ren & Stimpy fanpages - they often have sound clips.
posted by Dr. Wu at 9:58 PM on September 26, 2005

Is it Powerhouse by Raymond Scott? (WAV file)
posted by Robot Johnny at 10:12 PM on September 26, 2005

More Powerhouse samples here (mp3) and here (au). The theme was used mostly for mechanical scenes, conveyor belts, robots, etc. more than traditional chase scenes, but Scott's music was definitely used in both the Looney Tunes and Ren & Stimpy cartoons.
posted by Robot Johnny at 10:23 PM on September 26, 2005

Okay, last one: here's Carl Stalling's version, which is a little more manic: (WAV file)
posted by Robot Johnny at 10:31 PM on September 26, 2005

On popular chase theme is the William Tell Overture. It also was used for a sex scene in Clockwork Orange. Some know it as the theme from Lone Ranger.
posted by Goofyy at 4:00 AM on September 27, 2005

There is no one "chase scene" music...
posted by pmurray63 at 4:37 AM on September 27, 2005

Powerhouse is the song that's constantly playing in the background of my head. Especially when I'm doing something difficult, hooking up electronics, plotting to get even with that stupid cat.

"The works? Not the works!"
posted by cptnrandy at 7:03 AM on September 27, 2005

Is it "Yakety Sax" by Boots Randolph?
posted by Tarrama at 7:21 AM on September 27, 2005

If it sounds classical, you might try Themefinder to look it up.
posted by Johnny Assay at 7:22 AM on September 27, 2005