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Futuristic Theremin Wail: Difference between revisions
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{{trope}}
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{{quote|''"No instrument says "You're in outer space!" more than a small cigar box with a radio aerial stuck to it."''|'''[[Mark Kermode]]'''}}
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The [[Zeerust|retrofuturistic]] and haunting sound of the Theremin is closely associated with [[Speculative Fiction]] and horror from the black-and-white era, but it shows up in some very odd places.
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▲{{examples}}
== [[Anime]] and [[Manga]] ==
* In ''[[Nodame Cantabile]]'', there is an extremely creepy girl who resembles and is mistaken for by some to be a [[Stringy
* In Chapter 2 of ''[[Saint Young Men]]'', the music-related sidenote about Jesus says that "he's curious about theremins".
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* First used in a Hollywood score in Hitchcocks's ''[[Spellbound]]''
* ''[[The Lost Weekend]]'', about a alcoholic's weekend-long binge.
* ''[[The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951 film)|The Day the Earth Stood Still]]'' is one of its most famous uses.
* Used in Tim Burton's bio-pic ''[[Ed Wood (
* Used to represent altered reality in ''[[eXistenZ]]'' and ''[[The Machinist]]''.
* And in countless Horror and Science Fiction B-movies between 1945 and 1960. In those times, if it wailed, it was usually a theremin.
* ''The Delicate Delinquent'', a [[Jerry Lewis]] film from the late fifties, was unusual for having an actual theremin on screen instead of just using it for the score. It's mined for physical comedy, as Lewis' character stumbles upon it, slowly figures out that it's sounds are corresponding to his movements, and starts dancing around it.
== [[Live Action TV]] ==
* The opening to ''[[
* The melody of the theme of ''[[Star Trek:
* The ''[[Midsomer Murders]]'' theme and underscore uses it, to great, creepy effect.
* The theme music to ''[[Dark Shadows (TV series)|Dark Shadows]]'' does, as well.
* Sheldon Cooper from ''[[
* Harry Lubin, composer for ''[[One Step Beyond]]'' and the second season of ''[[
== [[Music]] ==
* [[
* "Whole Lotta Love" by [[
* The '60s psychedelic band Lothar and the Hand People was known for using the theremin.
* The punk-reggae band The Dingees featured a guest thereminist on two tracks from ''The Crucial Conspiracy'', "Summertime" and "We Rot the Voodoo". It fit well with the album's sci-fi [[Conspiracy Theorist]] themes.
* [[
* "Velouria" by the Pixies.
* The Hungarian space rock band Omega has always loved the theremin, and it shows up in multiple songs.
* The Road Hammers may be the only country music band in history to use one.
* Vadim from [[Dragon Force (video game)]] plays one in addition to keyboard.
* [[John Otway]] uses a theremin in part of his cover of Crazy Horses. He doesn't so much play it, as use it to replace the screams in the refrain.
* [[Bill Bailey]] uses it as part of his keyboard setup, usually for comedic effect.
* Several of [[Doctor Steel]]'s songs encorporate the theremin (or at least samples of theremins).
* Possibly subverted in the B-52's song "Planet Claire"
* In their more recent live shows, [[Simon and Garfunkel]] have used a theremin player for the instrumental break in "The Boxer".
* "Mysterons" by [[Portishead]].
* Used in Stab My Back by the All-American Rejects.
* [[Covenant]]'s first hit single was named "Theremin", but it does not use the instrument of the same name.
* Notably used on "Electricity" and "Autumn's Child", both by [[Captain Beefheart]].
* Japanese electropop artist Aira Mitsuki released a single called "Aira no Kagaku CD" (translated as Aira's Science CD). There are two tracks that prominently feature the Theremin - a song called Science Music and her cover of Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence called Senjou no Merry Christmas.
* 20th-century composer [[Percy Grainger]] wrote for an ensemble of four to six Theremins (instead of a string quartet) in his composition "Free Music," utilizing their potential for notes of indeterminate pitch.
* [[The Other Wiki]] lists several composers of 20th-century concert music who called for Theremins in their instrumentation: Bohuslav Martinů, Percy Grainger, Christian Wolff, Joseph Schillinger, Moritz Eggert, Iraida Yusupova, Jorge Antunes, Vladimir Komarov and Anis Fuleihan.
* Used rather poignantly on [[Ulver]]'s ''Shadows of the Sun'' album.
* Ska/punk/funk band Fishbone makes use of a theremin.
== [[Video Games]] ==
* ''[[Destroy All Humans!]]'' uses it to evoke the 1950s alien invasion films which it parodies.
* ''[[The Movies]]'' uses a theremin sound as the stock sound effect for handling a [[Sci Fi]] script.
* ''[[Vampire Bloodlines]]'' has a theremin playing all the way through Dr. Grout's (a batshit insane leader of an equally insane vampiric clan) mansion.
* In episode 3 of ''[[Homestar Runner|Strong Bad's Cool Game For Attractive People]]'', Homsar plays the theremin in Strong Bad's band D-Ö-I. A ''giant'' theremin, that he plays by levitating and moving his whole body up and down
* ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog]] 2's'' final zone has a very long, theremin-heavy theme tune, the [[Wasted Song|last vestige]] of a [[Dummied Out]] level.
** The [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjFMSsKUjLY Egg Carrier] theme in ''[[
* Liberally used in the soundtrack for ''[[Banjo
* A pocket theremin is a usable weapon in ''[[Kingdom of Loathing]]''.
* ''[[Descent]] 3'' uses a theremin-style synth for its [[Recurring Riff|main theme]], as well as for the pentatonic Asian riff heard in Level 4.
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* ''[[Ray Storm]]'' uses it in the [[Nightmare Fuel|infamously nightmarish]] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zvk7qx1v4OI "Molecular Clock"] boss music.
== [[Web Original]] ==
* A theremin makes a last-minute appearance in the ending sequence of ''[[Dr.
== [[Web Comics]] ==
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== [[Western Animation]] ==
* I.R. Baboon plays a Theremin in one episode of ''[[Cow and Chicken
* In an episode of ''[[The Simpsons]]'', they hear what they think is a ghost haunting their attic. On their way up to investigate, the obligatory spooky theremin music starts playing. Homer [[Left the Background Music On|hears the music]] and is not happy about the ghost getting ahold of his theremin.
** Despite being often featured on the soundtrack, it wasn't until the 2011 ''Treehouse of Horror'' episode that an actual theremin was used. (Before that, it was emulated by a synthesizer)
* Used in an episode of ''[[
* In a post-revival episode of ''[[
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