Oriental Riff

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Simple melody of the Oriental Riff

Oriental Riff including the fifth, inverted below the melody note

The Oriental Riff is a musical riff or phrase that is often used to represent "the Orient", Japan, China or a generic east Asia theme. The riff is also known by an extremely diverse set of names: "The Chinese Melody", "The Stereotypical Oriental Tune", "The Asian Jingle" or even the "trope of musical orientalism".

It remains an open question as to whether the Oriental riff has an actual origin in the region it is used to represent or is purely a Western invention. The notes used in the riff are part of a pentatonic scale, giving the riff a resemblance to east Asian music.

1 In popular culture
2 Media
3 See also
4 References

[edit] In popular culture

The "Oriental Riff" has been included as part of numerous musical works. One of its most famous incarnations was in the 1974 #1 hit single "Kung Fu Fighting" by Carl Douglas. The riff has been included in a number of other popular songs, including "Bad Detective," first recorded by The Coasters (1964) and covered by New York Dolls (1974), "A Passage to Bangkok" by Rush (1976), "Blazing Apostles" by Bebop Deluxe (1976), "Turning Japanese" by The Vapors (1980), the Solo section of Thrash Metal Band Trivium's song Anthem (We Are The Fire), "Young Folks, by Peter Bjorn and John (2006), and Rice Rice Baby, by 3 Local Boyz (1990). Computer games using the riff include International Karate (1986) and its sequel International Karate + (1987), which feature music by Rob Hubbard. It was also included in the opening theme music to the cooking show Wok with Yan.

The riff is sometimes accompanied by the sound of a gong^{[citation needed]}.

Zach Galifianakis, a contemporary musical comedian, includes the Oriental Riff in his act:

Whenever my Asian roommate walks in the door, I play this. [he plays the riff] And she says "Zach, why do you do that every time I come in the room?" and I say "Because I don't have a gong."