# Classical, Popular, and Movie Music Ruined by Other Associations **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** movies\ **Created:** [September 6, 2024, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-popular-and-movie-music-ruined-by-other-associations/1006871 "2024-09-06T19:36:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2024, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-popular-and-movie-music-ruined-by-other-associations/1006871/21 "2024-09-06T21:31:13Z")
When I hear the Queen of the Night’s “revenge” aria from Mozart’s _The Magic Flute_ I think of car commercials. Although I could not remember which car. (Looking it up, I find that it was in Volvo ads.) ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2024, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-popular-and-movie-music-ruined-by-other-associations/1006871/22 "2024-09-06T21:45:07Z")
You can’t listen to Bach’s “Air on the G string” without thinking about “skipping the light fandango” or worse… [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/qdJg9up9fhY/maxresdefault.jpg "Traitor girl fed to shark") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdJg9up9fhY) ---
**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:** [September 6, 2024, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-popular-and-movie-music-ruined-by-other-associations/1006871/23 "2024-09-06T21:56:17Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” is forever _O’Hare Airport United Terminal Theme Song_ in my brain. And, for me, 30+ years of United TV ads, as well. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2024, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-popular-and-movie-music-ruined-by-other-associations/1006871/24 "2024-09-06T22:01:52Z")
Bach’s “Toccata and Fugue in D Minor” is the villain’s theme song in many horror movies. ---
**Author:** ![veryfrank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/87869e/32.png) [@veryfrank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/veryfrank)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2024, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-popular-and-movie-music-ruined-by-other-associations/1006871/25 "2024-09-06T22:07:27Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > The soundtrack for Bohemian Rhapsody has the 20th Century Fox fanfare as the first track, performed by Brian May. I really disliked that movie (the factual inaccuracies drove me up the wall) and I figured the soundtrack would just be Queen’s zillionth best-of collection…but that’s actually a really cool touch. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2024, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-popular-and-movie-music-ruined-by-other-associations/1006871/26 "2024-09-06T22:13:56Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > > [@Jophiel](#): > > > > Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” is forever _O’Hare Airport United Terminal Theme Song_ in my brain. > > And, for me, 30+ years of United TV ads, as well. Whereas Delibes’ “Flower Duet” is mainly known as the British Airways Song. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2024, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-popular-and-movie-music-ruined-by-other-associations/1006871/27 "2024-09-06T22:19:32Z")
For me, Carmen’s “March of the Toreadors” is 50% associated with the Gilligan’s Island version of the “Neither a borrower nor a lender be” speech from Hamlet, 50% associated with Palm Dairy Products: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Hi1sScXLThg/hqdefault.jpg "Palm Dairy Commercial, Oct 3 1987") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hi1sScXLThg) ---
**Author:** ![cieskokid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cieskokid/32/5374_2.png) [@cieskokid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cieskokid)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2024, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-popular-and-movie-music-ruined-by-other-associations/1006871/28 "2024-09-06T22:21:57Z")
here, Metallica’s version, been using “Ecstasy of Gold” in their concerts the past 15 or so years, they do right by this wicked song. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/uQvLsifMZIE/maxresdefault.jpg "Metallica - The Ecstasy Of Gold [Live Copenhagen 2009] [HD] [1080p]") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQvLsifMZIE&t=18/) ---
**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:** [September 6, 2024, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-popular-and-movie-music-ruined-by-other-associations/1006871/29 "2024-09-06T22:28:22Z")
> [@hogarth](#): > > For me, Carmen’s “March of the Toreadors” is 50% associated with the Gilligan’s Island version of the “Neither a borrower nor a lender be” speech from Hamlet, Yup, that’s the association for me with that song. And, speaking of that episode, the _Habanera_ aria from _Carmen_ is 50% Gilligan’s Hamlet soliloquy (“I ask to be, or not to be”), and 50% the singing orange from _Sesame Street_. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/3JQ8yF04y9o/hqdefault.jpg "Gilligan's Island Gilligan as Hamlet sings "To be or not to be" to Carmen's Habenera") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JQ8yF04y9o) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Z8TqOTe3ODc/hqdefault.jpg "Sesame Street: Operatic Orange") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8TqOTe3ODc) ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2024, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-popular-and-movie-music-ruined-by-other-associations/1006871/30 "2024-09-06T22:40:04Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > The standard for this used to be associating Rissini’s _William Tell Overture_ with _The Lone Ranger_, but I suspect that modern kids no longer suffer from that affliction – who the hell watches those old Lone Ranger shows anymore? For those of us who grew up on Saturday matinee westerns, it will always be associated with the masked man. “As Time Goes By” is always associated with “Casablanca” for many. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2024, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-popular-and-movie-music-ruined-by-other-associations/1006871/31 "2024-09-06T22:53:54Z")
It’s long been a general rule of mine that if a company uses a popular song or classical theme I like in its ads, I will mute the ads and avoid buying its products. When I grew up, they were still showing Lone Ranger repeats, but I’ve long since associated the William Tell Overture with, well, just the overture. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2024, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-popular-and-movie-music-ruined-by-other-associations/1006871/32 "2024-09-06T23:03:13Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Whenever she hears Wagner’s _Ride of the Valkyrie_ my wife inevitably thinks of Emer Fudd singing “Kill the Wabbit! Kill the Wabbit!” > (Although a big Bgs Bunny fan, I think of _Apocalypse Now_. In neither case, was the original “ruined” IMHO. perhaps another term? I mean I get where you are coming from- some great old classical music might be forever associated with a cartoon . > [@CalMeacham](#): > > Elmer Bernstein’s theme for _The Magnificent Seven_ – Marlborough cigarettes. Not any more, the movies have outlasted the product ads. > [@CalMeacham](#): > > Gounod’s _Funeral March of a Marionette_ – "Alfred Hitchcock Presents Oka, that one is pretty solid, I cant think of that tune with old Alfred there. > [@CalMeacham](#): > > Ponchielli’s “Dance of the Hours” from _La Gioconda_ – Allan Sherman’s “Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah (A Letter from Camp”) I heard this LONG before I heard the opera. In fact, if Allan Sherman hadn’t ruined it for me, Disney’s _Fantasia_ would have. I think Fantasia did the opposite of “ruin” classical music. They popularized much great music. > [@dirtball](#): > > In my mind, “Stuck in the Middle with You” will always, indelibly, be the music of a sadistic psycho guy cutting off another guy’s ear (_Reservoir Dogs_). I didnt care for the film, so that one- nope. > [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > Whenever I hear Don’t Fear the Reaper I automatically think of “Needs more cowbell!”. Fortunately, SNL is not as powerful as you think. They did a great ad with Pizza rolls, with William Tell Overture, with the Lark commercial guy objecting, then the Lone Ranger step out and tells the coffin nal spokesperson what for. Of course, there also could have been a Swiss with a Crossbow… > [@mbh](#): > > Bach’s “Toccata and Fugue in D Minor” is the villain’s theme song in many horror movies. I associate it with _20000 Leagues under the Sea_ and _Fantasia._ ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2024, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-popular-and-movie-music-ruined-by-other-associations/1006871/33 "2024-09-06T23:08:11Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Whenever she hears Wagner’s _Ride of the Valkyrie_ my wife inevitably thinks of Emer Fudd singing “Kill the Wabbit! Kill the Wabbit!” “You know, it is so sad. All your knowledge of high culture comes from Bugs Bunny cartoons.” (Elaine Benes, Seinfeld) ---
**Author:** ![Author\_Balk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Author\_Balk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Author_Balk)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2024, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-popular-and-movie-music-ruined-by-other-associations/1006871/34 "2024-09-06T23:15:03Z")
Last night they played Glory Glory Hallelujah and thought of another version from childhood. Then I found out that I only knew the first line and realized how bad the rest of it was - especially now. And On Top of Old Smoky is On Top of Spaghetti in my mind. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2024, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-popular-and-movie-music-ruined-by-other-associations/1006871/35 "2024-09-06T23:27:03Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Fortunately, SNL is not as powerful as you think Yes, but younger people have taken it as a go to slam on older artist groups. Without ever having actually listen to the song. That is what irks me. I get past it. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2024, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-popular-and-movie-music-ruined-by-other-associations/1006871/36 "2024-09-06T23:29:57Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Me, science fiction fan that I am, invariably think of _2001: A Space Odyssey_ As do most people when they hear “Sunrise” from Strauss’s _Also sprach Zarathustra_. ---
**Author:** ![SunUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SunUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunUp)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2024, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-popular-and-movie-music-ruined-by-other-associations/1006871/37 "2024-09-06T23:31:26Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Ponchielli’s “Dance of the Hours” from _La Gioconda_ – Allan Sherman’s “Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah (A Letter from Camp”) I heard this LONG before I heard the opera. In fact, if Allan Sherman hadn’t ruined it for me, Disney’s _Fantasia_ would have. This was perfomed at our local symphony’s concert this spring. When the orchestra got to the appropriate part, there was an involuntary giggle that spread through the audience. I was sure everyone there had Allan Sherman on the brain right then and there. > [@mbh](#): > > Bach’s “Toccata and Fugue in D Minor” is the villain’s theme song in many horror movies. Also the TV commercial for Circuit City’s “Midnight Madness” sales. ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2024, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-popular-and-movie-music-ruined-by-other-associations/1006871/38 "2024-09-06T23:33:58Z")
While I wouldn’t say the song was “ruined,” if you grew up in New England during the 1970s, hearing “Nutty” by the Ventures only meant one thing: [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/LpyyKWHuTqw/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AH-BIAC4AOKAgwIABABGGUgZShlMA8=&rs=AOn4CLD6_hFj9Jj_UM36gVE7F3y2AzXm2A "Boston Bruins TV Theme ("Nutty" by the Ventures, aka "Nut Rocker")") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpyyKWHuTqw) ---
**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:** [September 7, 2024, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-popular-and-movie-music-ruined-by-other-associations/1006871/39 "2024-09-07T00:34:18Z")
I can’t listen to Ludwig Van without getting physically sick… ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2024, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-popular-and-movie-music-ruined-by-other-associations/1006871/40 "2024-09-07T01:49:44Z")
On a slightly different note, I took piano lessons around the time that Soylent Green came out. I had learned a simple version of this song, and then that movie used it for the euthanasia scene [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/J-1Bob1dU18/maxresdefault.jpg "Grieg: Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Op. 46: I. Morning Mood") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-1Bob1dU18) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-popular-and-movie-music-ruined-by-other-associations/1006871.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-popular-and-movie-music-ruined-by-other-associations/1006871.md?page=3)