Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Entertainment/2023 February 4

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February 4

What is this musical sting?

I'm familiar with the names for quite popular musical phrases, like Shave and a Haircut and The Lick, but this musical phrase I've heard many times and still don't know the name of. Here is musical notation for it:

I call it the "Fat-Cat-Sat-Hat Lick" because it features prominently in this Sesame Street song. Is there a name for this? Does it have a name? -insert valid name here- (talk) 16:25, 4 February 2023 (UTC)

Whatever it is, it's an oldie, possibly dating back to vaudeville. I think it used to be used frequently on Laugh-In, and also turns up sometimes in Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me; in both cases, usually following a corny joke. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 19:50, 4 February 2023 (UTC)

The rhythm I hear for the five notes preceding the bar is ♩ ♩ ♩ ♫ . I think the melody above is also not quite as in the Sesame Street song. --Lambiam 19:45, 5 February 2023 (UTC)

Maybe Seven Note Vaudeville Fanfare? Alansplodge (talk) 20:07, 9 February 2023 (UTC)

That sure sounds like it, and reminds me that Weird Al used that little tune at the end of more than one of his polka medleys. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 20:50, 9 February 2023 (UTC)