Tritsch-Tratsch-Polka op. 214 (also known as "Trish Trash Polka") is a polka written by Johann Strauss II in 1858 after a successful tour of Russia where he performed in the summer concert season at Pavlovsk, Saint Petersburg.
The title may be interpreted as "Chit-chat" and may refer to the Viennese passion for gossip. Strauss may also have been referencing the single act burlesque 'Der Tritsch-tratsch' (with music by Adolf Müller, Sr.) by the famous Austrian dramatist and actor Johann Nepomuk Nestroy, which premiered in 1833 and was still in the stage repertoire at the same time the polka was written. Many point out that the title may also have meant his first wife's (Henrietta Treffz) poodle, also named Tritsch-tratsch, but this etymology remains unsubstantiated as well.
The mood of the piece is jaunty and high-spirited, as were many of Strauss' polkas.
A light-dance-styled remix with vocals appears as a song in Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix under the name Always Smiling.
In the James Bond film Moonraker, the piece is playing whilst a fleeing 007 drives his Gondola/Hovercraft through Venice's St. Mark's Square.
In various episodes of the cartoon Tom and Jerry produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, written and directed by: William Hanna & Joseph Barbera.
Based on original text by Peter Kemp, The Johann Strauss Society of Great Britain. Used with permission.