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The "DuckTales Theme" is the song played during the opening title sequence of the animated series DuckTales. It was written by pop music songwriter Mark Mueller and performed by musical artist Jeff Pescetto.

The song was also performed during the end credits of DuckTales the Movie: Treasure of the Lost Lamp. Scrooge McDuck is seen humming the tune of the song in the story A Game of One Cupmanship. The song is also used during the opening sequence of the 2017 reboot series, performed by Felicia Barton.

Lyrics[]

Life is like a hurricane
Here in Duckburg
Race cars, lasers, aeroplanes
It's a duck-blur!
Might solve a mystery
Or rewrite history!

DuckTales! Woo-hoo!
Every day they're out there making
DuckTales! Woo-hoo!
Tales of derring-do
Bad and good luck tales!

D-d-d-danger! Watch behind you!
There's a stranger out to find you
What to do, just grab on to some...

DuckTales! Woo-hoo!
Every day they're out there makin'
DuckTales! Woo-hoo!
Tales of derring-do
Bad and good luck tales! Woo-oo!

Not ponytails or cottontails, no
DuckTales! Woo-hoo!

Life is like a hurricane
Here in Duckburg
Race cars, lasers, aeroplanes
It's a duck-blur!
Might solve a mystery
Or rewrite history!

DuckTales! Woo-hoo!
Tales of derring-do
Bad and good luck tales!

D-d-d-danger! Watch behind you!
There's a stranger out to find you
What to do, just grab on to some...

DuckTales! Woo-hoo!
Tales of derring-do
Bad and good luck tales! Woo-hoo!

Not ponytails or cottontails, no
DuckTales! Woo-hoo!

Life is like a hurricane
Here in Duckburg
Race cars, lasers, aeroplanes
It's a duck-blur!
Might solve a mystery
Or rewrite history!

DuckTales! Woo-hoo!
Every day they're out there making
DuckTales! Woo-hoo!
Tales of derring-do
Bad and good luck tales! Woo-hoo!

When it seems they're heading for the final curtain
Good deduction never fails
That's for certain!
The worst of messes
Become successes!

DuckTales! Woo-hoo!
Every day they're out there making
DuckTales! Woo-hoo!
Tales of derring-do
Bad and good luck tales! Woo-hoo!

D-d-d-danger! Watch behind you!
There's a stranger out to find you
What to do, just grab on to some...
DuckTales!

(Instrumental bridge)

DuckTales! Woo-hoo!
Every day they're out there makin'
DuckTales! Woo-hoo!
Tales of derring-do
Bad and good luck tales! Woo-hoo!

D-d-d-danger! Watch behind you!
There's a stranger out to find you
What to do, just grab on to some...
DuckTales! Woo-hoo!

Every day they're out there making
DuckTales! Woo-hoo!
Tales of derring-do
Bad and good luck tales! Woo-hoo!

Every day they're out there making
DuckTales! Woo-hoo!
Tales of derring-do
Bad and good luck tales! Woo-hoo!

Not ponytails or cottontails, no
DuckTales! Woo-hoo!

Woo-hoo!
(Repeat and fade)

Life is like a hurricane
Here in Duckburg
Race cars, lasers, aeroplanes
It's a duck-blur!
Might solve a mystery
Or rewrite history!

DuckTales! Woo-oo!
Every day they're out there making
DuckTales! Woo-oo!
Tales of derring-do
Bad and good luck tales! Woo-oo!

D-d-d-danger! Lurks behind you!
There's a stranger out to find you
What to do, just grab on to some...

DuckTales! Woo-oo!
Every day they're out there making
DuckTales! Woo-oo!
Tales of derring-
Bad and good-
Not ponytails or cottontails, no
DuckTales! Woo-oo!

Life is like a hurricane
Here in Duckburg
Race cars, lasers, aeroplanes
It's a duck-blur!
Might solve a mystery
Or rewrite history!

DuckTales! Woo-oo!
Every day they're out there making
DuckTales! Woo-oo!
Tales of derring-do
Bad and good luck tales! Woo-oo!

When it seems they're heading for the final curtain
Good deduction never fails
That's for certain!
The worst of messes
Become successes!

DuckTales! Woo-oo!
Every day they're out there making
DuckTales! Woo-oo!
Tales of derring-do
Bad and good luck tales! Woo-oo!

(Instrumental bridge)

D-d-d-danger! Lurks behind you!
There's a stranger out to find you
What to do, just grab on to some...

DuckTales! Woo-oo!
Every day they're out there making
DuckTales! Woo-oo!
Tales of derring-do
Bad and good luck tales! Woo-oo!

Every day they're out there making
DuckTales! Woo-oo!
Tales of derring-
Bad and good-
Not ponytails or cottontails, no
DuckTales! Woo-oo!

Life is like a hurricane
Here in Duckburg
Race cars, lasers, aeroplanes
It's a duck-blur!
Might solve a mystery
Or rewrite history!

DuckTales! Woo-oo!
Every day they're out there making
DuckTales! Woo-oo!
Tales of derring-do
Bad and good luck tales! Woo-oo!

Life is like a candy cane,
Here in Duckburg
Snowflakes, presents, Santa's sleigh,
It's a duck-blur!
Might make bells jingle,
Or trap Kris Kringle!

DuckTales!
Christmas Eve we're out there makin'
DuckTales!
Tales of Christmas Past and Yuletide
Luck tales!

Life is like an aeroplane
Here in Duckburg
Airplanes, airplanes, aeroplanes!
It’s a duck blur
Might fly an airplane
Or crash that airplane

AIRPLANES! Uh, DUCKTALES!
Now I’m on a boat with Dewey
DuckTales! Woo-oo!
Hey, a scooter! WHOOPS! Kablooey!
DuckTales! Woo-oo!

I’ll catch up in a sec or two
Guys, look out, some guy’s behind you!
Even worse, here comes the key change!

DuckTales! Woo-oo!
Jump in the plane for the refrain
DuckTales! Woo-oo!
Wait, ducks have tails
I just got that
That’s why the name of the show is
DuckTales! Woo-oo!

Life is like an evil scheme, here on GlomTales
Sharks and bombs and Scrooge’s screams, it cannae GlomFail
Cannae top my grand plan, to beat that Scotsman

GlomTales!
Technically I’m Scottish as well
GlomTales!
Uugggghhh—Scrooge stinks, Scrooge stinks, Scrooge stinks, Scrooge stinks

GlomTales!
What’s next? Oh yeah!

C-C-C-CG, it’s so fancy
Once Scrooge sees this, there’s no chance he
Cannae compete with the glory of GlomTales!

Bravest, strongest, and most modest, GlomTales!
Okay, we ran out of budget, but kids 6 to 10 will love it
GlomTales!

Reception[]

The DuckTales theme song has been widely regarded as one of the most memorable for a television program, with Dan Fletcher of Time magazine noting its lasting impact despite being just a children's song: "Some of the lyrics might not make sense to those older than the age of 10 — we're not sure how life in Duckburg is like a hurricane, or exactly what a 'duck blur' is — but the DuckTales song is still awesome." An article from Vanity Fair noted that the song has a tendency to stick in someone's head, a phenomenon known as an earworm. TVLine lists the song among the best animated series themes of all time.

Trivia[]

  • While the second version of the "DuckTales Theme" was eventually dubbed, the first version of the theme for the German dub of the show is remarkable for actually being sung in English, using the theme from the audiobook version in low pitch. Watch YouTube icon Germany's original English-language "DuckTales Theme" on YouTube.
  • For the "Time is Money" serial, several of the clips were replaced with ones prominently featuring Bubba the Cave Duck, and all episodes afterward changed the assortment of clips even further to include a few clips featuring Fenton Crackshell (with and without the Gizmosuit), all taken from the "Super DuckTales" serial.
  • When the original series aired on the Disney Afternoon, a shorter 45-second version of the opening was produced.
  • The shot of Scrooge swimming after a dollar in space was the basis for the "Scrooge" screensaver in After Dark's Disney Screensaver Collection.
  • Although the cheers throughout the song are "whoo-hoo", according to Mark Mueller, the background singers clearly sing "woo-oo". The first episode of the reboot even uses the latter as the title.
  • During the opening sequence of the reboot series, three of the scenes are based on three paintings done by Carl Barks.
  • In one of the Disney XD promos for the reboot series, Marco Diaz from Star vs. the Forces of Evil (another Disney XD cartoon in his "live chat" form) covered the theme for the reboot, along with some other characters from the show.
  • The opening sequences for both the original and reboot series feature Launchpad McQuack's plane diving when the singer sings "aeroplanes", as well as the characters being chased by a mummy during the verse: "There's a stranger out to find you."
  • The use of the British word for fixed-wing aircraft "aeroplanes" instead of the American "airplanes" is a bit of an oddity, considering that the show is American-produced, is set primarily in the United States, and that composer/lyricist Mueller and performer Pescetto are Americans.
  • In season two of the 2017 series, the opening sequence was slightly modified where the scene of Big Bulb shooting a laser was replaced with Gizmoduck, and the scene showing the villains close-up has Bigtime Beagle replaced with Magica De Spell.
  • The theme for the reboot is the first theme song for a Disney XD show to be longer than 30 seconds.
  • To hype the 2017 reboot, a video was made of the main cast singing the theme.
  • The reboot episodes "Last Christmas!" and "How Santa Stole Christmas!" used a holiday version of the theme sung by a Frank Sinatra soundalike.
  • The reboot episode "The Trickening!" has a Halloween version of the theme song sung by a Dracula soundalike (though unlike the Christmas version, the lyrics were unchanged).
  • Two alternate versions of 2017 series' theme were released for the "Theme Song Takeover" short series. The first was on June 27, 2019 with Launchpad, where the lyrics were performed by his voice actor Beck Bennett.[1] The second was on July 19, 2019 with Flintheart Glomgold, where the lyrics were performed by his voice actor Keith Ferguson.[2]
    • The Glomgold takeover song would also be used as the opening song for the episode that would also be called "GlomTales!"
    • Glomgold's version of the theme song takeover also reveals that (within the 2017 universe) McDuck Enterprises owns the song.
  • For Season 3 of the 2017 series, Della Duck was added to the opening sequence, appearing in the running sequence, in the Sun Chaser with Launchpad, in the scene with the family in the treasure room when Pixiu appears to blow out the torch Scrooge has and in the family close-up at the end of the intro.

Videos[]

References[]

External links[]

v - e - d
DuckTales logo
Media
Shows/Movies: 1987 series (videography) • 2017 seriesWalt Disney's World on Ice: Double Feature... Live!Raw ToonageDuckTales the Movie: Treasure of the Lost LampChibi Tiny TalesThis Duckburg Life

Video Games: Video game (HD remake/Soundtrack) • DuckTales 2The Quest for GoldScrooge's LootDisney Heroes: Battle ModeDisney All-Star RacersDisney All-Star Party
Comics: Comic Books (IDW)
Books: The Secret City Under the SeaSphinx for the Memories and Sir Gyro GearlooseScrooge's Treasure HuntChristmas at the North PoleWebby Saves the Day

Disney Parks
DuckTales World Showcase AdventurePLAY!Donald's Duck Pond
Characters
1987 series: Scrooge McDuckHuey, Dewey, and LouieLaunchpad McQuackWebby VanderquackBentina BeakleyDuckworthChief O'HaraShedlock JonesGyro GearlooseLittle HelperYardarmDoofus DrakeFenton CrackshellDonald DuckLudwig Von DrakeGladstone GanderBubba the Cave DuckAbominable SnowwomanTootsie the TriceratopsSkittlesBlackjackPouponGene the GenieGlittering GoldieMad Dog McGurkFeathers GaloreBurt QuackarachMajor CourageMicro DucksAdmiral GrimmitzKing HomerQueen ArielShawebizadGandra DeeMcPapaMcMamaRoboticaBeagle BoysMa BeaglePeteFlintheart GlomgoldPhantom BlotDijonArgus McSwineMagica De SpellMinima De SpellPoe De SpellEl CapitanJoaquin SlowlyMerlock the MagicianCinnamon TealDracula DuckDr. NoGoodMillionara VanderbucksFritter O'WayLawrence LoudmouthBruno Von BeakArmstrongThe SirensCirceHarpiesYuckalindaQueen GriseldaDjinniTerra-Firmie KingOverlord BulovanSolegoGICU-2Magica's ShadowThe Fear DemonsVacation Van Honk

2017 series: Della DuckLenaBradford BuzzardBentley and Buford BuzzardCaptain PeghookManny the Headless Man-HorsePixiuGabby McStabbersonHack and Slash SmashnikovRoxanne FeatherlyToad Liu HaiMark BeaksFalcon GravesAmunetSabafToth-RaZeusSeleneStorkulesCharybdisBriar and BrambleDarkwing DuckGosalyn MallardMegavoltDon KarnageQuackerjackLiquidatorBlack HeronZan OwlsonFisherMannDrosera occidendumJosé CariocaPanchito PistolesFethry DuckJohn D. RockerduckJeevesGavinGrandpappy BeagleViolet SabrewingUnicornPercival P. PeppingtonNightmare BeastPaddywhackBushrootNegaduckDaisy DuckGoofyChip and Dale Monterey JackZipperGadget HackwrenchKit CloudkickerTaurus BulbaMolly CunninghamLieutenant PenumbraGeneral LunarisMoonlandersMoon MitesGilded ManNeighbor JonesSteelbeakIsabella FinchIndy and Ty SabrewingTri-Crested TittertwillAletheiaVeroKing HonestusEmma GlamourInspector TezukaAkitaStrongbeardHeckaJormungandrPonce de LeonMatilda McDuckEmutilda

Episodes
1987 series

Season One: "The Treasure of the Golden Suns" • "Send in the Clones" • "Sphinx for the Memories" • "Where No Duck Has Gone Before" • "Armstrong" • "Robot Robbers" • "Magica's Shadow War" • "Master of the Djinni" • "Hotel Strangeduck" • "Lost Crown of Genghis Khan" • "Duckman of Aquatraz" • "The Money Vanishes" • "Sir Gyro de Gearloose" • "Dinosaur Ducks" • "Hero for Hire" • "Superdoo!" • "Maid of the Myth" • "Down and Out in Duckburg" • "Much Ado About Scrooge" • "Top Duck" • "Pearl of Wisdom" • "The Curse of Castle McDuck" • "Launchpad's Civil War" • "Sweet Duck of Youth" • "Earth Quack" • "Home Sweet Homer" • "Bermuda Triangle Tangle" • "Micro Ducks from Outer Space" • "Back to the Klondike" • "Horse Scents" • "Scrooge's Pet" • "Catch as Cash Can" • "Merit-Time Adventure" • "The Golden Fleecing" • "Ducks of the West" • "Time Teasers" • "Back Out in the Outback" • "Raiders of the Lost Harp" • "The Right Duck" • "Scroogerello" • "Double-O-Duck" • "Luck o' the Ducks" • "Duckworth's Revolt" • "Magica's Magic Mirror"/"Take Me Out of the Ballgame" • "Duck to the Future" • "Jungle Duck" • "Launchpad's First Crash" • "Dime Enough for Luck" • "Duck in the Iron Mask" • "The Uncrashable Hindentanic" • "The Status Seekers" • "Nothing to Fear" • "Dr. Jekyll & Mr. McDuck" • "Once Upon a Dime" • "Spies in Their Eyes" • "All Ducks on Deck" • "Ducky Horror Picture Show" • "Till Nephews Do Us Part"
Season Two: "Time is Money" • "Super DuckTales"
Season Three: "The Land of Trala La" • "Allowance Day" • "Bubbeo & Juliet" • "The Good Muddahs" • "My Mother the Psychic" • "Metal Attraction" • "Dough Ray Me" • "Bubba's Big Brainstorm" • "The Big Flub" • "A Case of Mistaken Secret Identity" • "Blue Collar Scrooge" • "Beaglemania" • "Yuppy Ducks" • "The Bride Wore Stripes" • "The Unbreakable Bin" • "Attack of the Fifty-Foot Webby" • "The Masked Mallard" • "A DuckTales Valentine"
Season Four: "Ducky Mountain High" • "Attack of the Metal Mites" • "The Duck Who Knew Too Much" • "New Gizmo-Kids on the Block" • "Scrooge's Last Adventure" • "The Golden Goose"

2017 series
Season One: "Woo-oo!" • "Daytrip of Doom!" • "The Great Dime Chase!" • "The Beagle Birthday Massacre!" • "Terror of the Terra-firmians!" • "The House of the Lucky Gander!" • "The Infernal Internship of Mark Beaks!" • "The Living Mummies of Toth-Ra!" • "The Impossible Summit of Mt. Neverrest!" • "The Spear of Selene!" • "Beware the B.U.D.D.Y. System!" • "The Missing Links of Moorshire!" • "McMystery at McDuck McManor!" • "JAW$!" • "The Golden Lagoon of White Agony Plains!" • "Day of the Only Child!" • "From the Confidential Casefiles of Agent 22!" • "Who is Gizmoduck?!" • "The Other Bin of Scrooge McDuck!" • "Sky Pirates...in the Sky!" • "The Secret(s) of Castle McDuck!" • "The Last Crash of the Sunchaser!" • "The Shadow War!"
Season Two: "The Most Dangerous Game...Night!" • "The Depths of Cousin Fethry!" • "The Ballad of Duke Baloney!" • "The Town Where Everyone Was Nice!" • "Storkules in Duckburg!" • "Last Christmas!" • "What Ever Happened to Della Duck?!" • "Treasure of the Found Lamp!" • "The Outlaw Scrooge McDuck!" • "The 87 Cent Solution!" • "The Golden Spear!" • "Nothing Can Stop Della Duck!" • "Raiders of the Doomsday Vault!" • "Friendship Hates Magic!" • "The Dangerous Chemistry of Gandra Dee!" • "The Duck Knight Returns!" • "What Ever Happened to Donald Duck?!" • "Happy Birthday, Doofus Drake!" • "A Nightmare on Killmotor Hill!" • "The Golden Armory of Cornelius Coot!" • "Timephoon!" • "GlomTales!" • "The Richest Duck in the World!" • "Moonvasion!"
Season Three "Challenge of the Senior Junior Woodchucks!" • "Quack Pack!" • "Double-O-Duck in You Only Crash Twice!" • "The Lost Harp of Mervana!" • "Louie's Eleven!" • "Astro B.O.Y.D.!" • "The Rumble for Ragnarok!" • "The Phantom and the Sorceress!" • "They Put a Moonlander on the Earth!" • "The Trickening!" • "The Forbidden Fountain of the Foreverglades!" • "Let's Get Dangerous!" • "Escape from the ImpossiBin!" • "The Split Sword of Swanstantine!" • "New Gods on the Block!" • "The First Adventure!" • "The Fight for Castle McDuck!" • "How Santa Stole Christmas!" • "Beaks in the Shell!" • "The Lost Cargo of Kit Cloudkicker!" • "The Life And Crimes of Scrooge McDuck!" • "The Last Adventure!"

Locations
DuckburgAtlantisThe Money BinMcDuck ManorCastle McDuckFountain of YouthScotlandNotre DuckValley of the Golden SunsSt. CanardCape Suzette
Organizations
Air PiratesF.O.W.L.Junior WoodchucksS.H.U.S.H.
Objects
Number One DimeJunior Woodchucks GuidebookGizmosuitGene's LampMerlock's TalismanSun CoinSun ChaserHarp of TroyMillennium ShortcutGyro's HelicopterMolecular ManipulatorGolden GooseWebby's Quacky Patch DollHindentanicMagic MedallionRatcatcherJewel of AtlantisPep!Gummiberry JuiceIron VulturePirate FightersSpear of SeleneSea DuckRanger Plane
Songs
DuckTales ThemeThree Cheers for Bubba DuckBoogie Beagle BluesMoon Stage ThemeSky PiratesThe Three CaballerosHear My Voice
See also
Carl BarksThe Disney AfternoonDarkwing DuckQuack PackDisney XD (Netherlands)Let's Go to Disneyland Paris
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