# Classical music melodies in contemporary popular songs? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 17, 2011, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-melodies-in-contemporary-popular-songs/578770 "2011-04-17T23:56:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![The\_Seventh\_Deadly\_Finn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6bbea6/32.png) [@The\_Seventh\_Deadly\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Seventh_Deadly_Finn)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2011, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-melodies-in-contemporary-popular-songs/578770/1 "2011-04-17T23:56:48Z")
Once again, in need of classical music advice, I come to the Dope—my only source for highbrow culture. This is a two-parter: First, I’m pretty sure there are some rock-era songs whose melodies were swiped from long-ago orchestral-type compositions, but beyond Eric Carmen’s “All By Myself” I can’t think of any. I’ll bet you all can, though. Second, as a hack songwriter, I’d like to jumpstart my (so-called) creative process by riffing on some of these old-school, public-domain melodies and themes, just like the famous rip-off artists described above. Who are some catchy, melodic composers who might be good to take a look at? ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2011, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-melodies-in-contemporary-popular-songs/578770/2 "2011-04-18T00:02:57Z")
“O Sole Mio” was the blueprint for Elvis’s “It’s Now or Never.” ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2011, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-melodies-in-contemporary-popular-songs/578770/3 "2011-04-18T00:25:39Z")
ISTR seeing something about the Journey Song “Separate Ways” (this was back when it was a hit, in '83) indicating that the keyboard riff at the beginning of the song was inspired by a Bach piece. However, I’m now unable to find any modern citation of this, and thus, I’m not going to stake anything on it being accurate. ---
**Author:** ![minlokwat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minlokwat/32/2844_2.png) [@minlokwat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minlokwat)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2011, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-melodies-in-contemporary-popular-songs/578770/4 "2011-04-18T00:25:43Z")
The chorus of **Barry Manilow’s “Could It Be Magic”** is lifted straight from **Chopin’s Prelude in C Minor**. Manilow opens the song with it so I’m sure he wasn’t trying to pull one over on anyone. All the same, one wonders if ol’ Frédéric would have approved. It’s [here](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xBG_d-_6bc) in case you haven’t heard it in a while. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2011, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-melodies-in-contemporary-popular-songs/578770/5 "2011-04-18T00:33:06Z")
Is “A Whiter Shade of Pale”'s approximation of J.S. Bach’s “Air on the G String” close enough to mention? ---
**Author:** ![choie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/choie/32/7829_2.png) [@choie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choie)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2011, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-melodies-in-contemporary-popular-songs/578770/6 "2011-04-18T00:55:32Z")
Well, Billy Joel used Beethoven’s _Pathetique_ piano sonata for the chorus of “This Night.” And Sting used a snippet from _Lieutenant Kije_ Suite by Prokofiev for the instrumental sections of “Russians.” He also used a melody by composer Hanns Eisler for “Secret Marriage.” ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2011, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-melodies-in-contemporary-popular-songs/578770/7 "2011-04-18T00:58:58Z")
“[Lover’s Concerto](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGDZc9bdUZM)” by the Toys is from Bach’s [Minuet in G Major](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIKKDXCP2_M). ELO’s “Roll Over Beethoven” quoted extensively from his Fifth Symphony. And, of course, everything else is based upon Pachelbel’s Canon in D. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Seventh\_Deadly\_Finn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6bbea6/32.png) [@The\_Seventh\_Deadly\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Seventh_Deadly_Finn)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2011, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-melodies-in-contemporary-popular-songs/578770/8 "2011-04-18T01:26:21Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > And, of course, everything else is based upon Pachelbel’s Canon in D. 😉 True dat. I recall being embarrassed that I’d been hearing Blues Traveler’s “Hook” on the radio for 15 years before I noticed that it was one of the many offenders. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2011, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-melodies-in-contemporary-popular-songs/578770/9 "2011-04-18T02:30:18Z")
“Full Moon and Empty Arms” (Frank Sinatra) is based on Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2. ---
**Author:** ![multimediac17](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/839c29/32.png) [@multimediac17](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/multimediac17)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2011, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-melodies-in-contemporary-popular-songs/578770/10 "2011-04-18T02:39:44Z")
‘All Over The World’ by Pet Shop Boys, released in 2009, samples Tschaikovsky’s ‘The Nutcracker’. ---
**Author:** ![ErinPuff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dbc845/32.png) [@ErinPuff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ErinPuff)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2011, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-melodies-in-contemporary-popular-songs/578770/11 "2011-04-18T02:43:34Z")
Rufus Wainwright’s “Oh What A World” quotes Ravel’s _Boléro_. ---
**Author:** ![Lucky\_13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucky_13/32/13209_2.png) [@Lucky\_13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucky_13)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2011, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-melodies-in-contemporary-popular-songs/578770/12 "2011-04-18T03:41:54Z")
The Black Eyed Peas’ “My Humps” quotes Dvorak’s New World Symphony. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_A.Robrin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sam_a.robrin/32/14497_2.png) [@Sam\_A.Robrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_A.Robrin)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2011, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-melodies-in-contemporary-popular-songs/578770/13 "2011-04-18T04:05:03Z")
I love coincidences (you could say I’m Jung at heart…)! I’m _also_ a hack songwriter, and just completed this number this week: **MINUET IN FREE** (“Minuet in G”–probably Christian Petzold (not J. S. Bach!)) COPYRIGHT AP 2011 by Sam A. Robrin or whoever the hell it is who writes these things. Go ahead and use it (hey,I lifted the melody), but if you make a little money on it, I want some! [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/on1DDSLdDOo/hqdefault.jpg "Bach- minuet in G major") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=on1DDSLdDOo) The Tree of Liberty Must be Seeded, and watered fre- quently, Tend- ed with strength to bend, So it’s not expend- ed in rigid end- ing. Leafy and richly gree- n All the Seasons of its gene- ity– Though You won’t see them, know: Generations grow From seeds it will sow. The key to liberty: To be Free, spread the blessings e- qually. Eyes Firmly on the prize, We can realize Dreams within aris- ing. E.g.: a guarantee To de- cree property and free- dom se- cured, Firmly reassured; Welcome all aboard To serene accord. ``` Knee- Deep in liberty! No authority Forcing us to flee Slavery. When we learn to value each other, We'll all be free. Live! Love yourself! Give Of yourself! Be the change that you want to see. When we learn to value each other, We will all be free. Drea- my? Well, that may be. Keep it up and see: We can live ire- nically. When we learn to value each other, We'll all be free. Live! Love yourself! Give Of yourself! Be the change that you want to see. When we learn to value each other, We will all be free. ``` ---
**Author:** ![Art\_Rock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/art_rock/32/525_2.png) [@Art\_Rock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Art_Rock)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2011, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-melodies-in-contemporary-popular-songs/578770/14 "2011-04-18T06:27:06Z")
> [@Larry\_Mudd](#): > > Is “A Whiter Shade of Pale”'s approximation of J.S. Bach’s “Air on the G String” close enough to mention? Contrary to popular opinion, expressed once more here, AWSOP is NOT, even remotely, based on J.S. Bach’s “Air on the G String” (which in itself is a misnomer). The melody and the harmonies are akin to Bach’s style in general though, and actually Bach’s Sleepers awake would be a stronger case to claim as an inspiration source. ---
**Author:** ![Art\_Rock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/art_rock/32/525_2.png) [@Art\_Rock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Art_Rock)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2011, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-melodies-in-contemporary-popular-songs/578770/15 "2011-04-18T06:28:41Z")
Some less frequently mentioned that do use classical music melodies: If I had words by Yvonne Keeley and Scott Fitzgerald (Saint Saens, Symphony 3 “with organ”) Beach baby by First Class (Sibelius, swan motif from Symphony 5) ---
**Author:** ![Art\_Rock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/art_rock/32/525_2.png) [@Art\_Rock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Art_Rock)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2011, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-melodies-in-contemporary-popular-songs/578770/16 "2011-04-18T06:29:57Z")
> [@The\_Seventh\_Deadly\_Finn](#): > > Second, as a hack songwriter, I’d like to jumpstart my (so-called) creative process by riffing on some of these old-school, public-domain melodies and themes, just like the famous rip-off artists described above. Who are some catchy, melodic composers who might be good to take a look at? Schubert, Schumann, Chopin, Puccini, Verdi, Tchaikowsky. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Seventh\_Deadly\_Finn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6bbea6/32.png) [@The\_Seventh\_Deadly\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Seventh_Deadly_Finn)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2011, 9:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-melodies-in-contemporary-popular-songs/578770/17 "2011-04-18T09:35:11Z")
> [@Art\_Rock](#): > > Schubert, Schumann, Chopin, Puccini, Verdi, Tchaikowsky. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2011, 10:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-melodies-in-contemporary-popular-songs/578770/18 "2011-04-18T10:00:47Z")
Phil Collins, The Mindbenders - A Groovy Kind Of Love (Clementi: Sonatine in G) Neil Diamond - Song Sung Blue (Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 21 - second movement) The Farm - All Together Now (I know a lot of songs sound a bit like Pachelbel’s Canon, but this one _really_ sounds like it) ---
**Author:** ![mac\_bolan00](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b3f665/32.png) [@mac\_bolan00](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mac_bolan00)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2011, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-melodies-in-contemporary-popular-songs/578770/19 "2011-04-18T11:43:24Z")
“i’ll be loving you eternally” from titiana. “ode to joy” from beethoven’s ninth the little einsteins always sing narrations to the tune of classical pieces. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2011, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-melodies-in-contemporary-popular-songs/578770/20 "2011-04-18T12:11:21Z")
The 80s song [Midnight Blue](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Szjt3-2F5U) by Louise Tucker is based on a movement of Beethoven’s “Pathetique Sonata.” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-melodies-in-contemporary-popular-songs/578770.md?page=2)