# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2024, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-popular-and-movie-music-ruined-by-other-associations/1006871/41 "2024-09-07T02:00:13Z")
I’ve heard the same song under the name “Nut Rocker” by Emerson, Lake, and Palmer, on their “Pictures at an Exhibition” album. ---
**Author:** ![gkster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gkster/32/14107_2.png) [@gkster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gkster)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2024, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-popular-and-movie-music-ruined-by-other-associations/1006871/42 "2024-09-07T02:55:19Z")
I was remembering Grieg’s “Morning Mood” and a butter commercial. It was a surprise to learn that in the play it’s set in the North African desert. ---
**Author:** ![JeffB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeffb/32/188_2.png) [@JeffB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JeffB)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2024, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-popular-and-movie-music-ruined-by-other-associations/1006871/43 "2024-09-07T06:50:02Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > When she hears Strauss’ _The Blue Danube_ she thinks of the segment with the cartoon swans in Bob Clampett’s _A Corny Concerto_ (which also had Bugs, although in a another segment (Me, science fiction fan that I am, invariably think of _2001: A Space Odyssey_) For me, I always associate it with the Friskies Buffet cat food commercial. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2024, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-popular-and-movie-music-ruined-by-other-associations/1006871/44 "2024-09-07T10:26:19Z")
Even with the association, I seem to be able to handle the original on its own terms as well [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/f0_zJ-0VHu0/hqdefault.jpg "Everyone's a fruit and nut case - Cadburys Fruit and Nut Chocolate bar") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0_zJ-0VHu0) ---
**Author:** ![Crane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crane/32/3495_2.png) [@Crane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crane)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2024, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-popular-and-movie-music-ruined-by-other-associations/1006871/45 "2024-09-07T12:18:53Z")
I was surprised by the use of Saint-Seans Symphony #3 as the theme for the pig movie Babe. Didn’t make any sense and it took years to eliminate the association. ---
**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 7, 2024, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-popular-and-movie-music-ruined-by-other-associations/1006871/46 "2024-09-07T13:07:52Z")
Another one from _2001: A Space Odyssey_: when was the last time you heard anyone sing “Daisy Bell” in a normal voice? ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2024, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-popular-and-movie-music-ruined-by-other-associations/1006871/47 "2024-09-07T13:10:47Z")
In the 80s I listened to a lot of Queen and while they were well known in US it was more for Another One Bites the Dust than anything else. I loved Bohemian Rhapsody but it wasn’t a widely known song. When Wayne’s World came out it ruined a lot of my love for the song as it was suddenly popular as the sing-a-long with friends in the car song where we all get to headbang at the end. ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2024, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-popular-and-movie-music-ruined-by-other-associations/1006871/48 "2024-09-07T13:27:28Z")
“Yakety Sax” is by no means serious music, but it’s now forever associated with Benny Hill. ---
**Author:** ![Quondam\_Mechanic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quondam_mechanic/32/3404_2.png) [@Quondam\_Mechanic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quondam_Mechanic)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2024, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-popular-and-movie-music-ruined-by-other-associations/1006871/49 "2024-09-07T13:35:50Z")
> [@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, 50% associated with Palm Dairy Products: > [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hi1sScXLThg](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hi1sScXLThg) You need to hear Groucho’s _I Want My Shirt_ from _The Cocoanuts_. ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2024, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-popular-and-movie-music-ruined-by-other-associations/1006871/50 "2024-09-07T13:46:59Z")
here’s a slight twist on the OP: Something which is ruined because I have seen this youtube version of it: Thus Spake Zarathustra" -2001 theme (one-minute long. children’s orchestra attempting to play it.) > **[Childrens orchestra plays the theme song from 2001: A space odyssey](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTL4T_NVGhY,t=1)** > > Well, at least they tried. Seriously–click on it! …a memorable experience that will stick with you for the rest of your life. 🙂 And don’t forget to read the comments…you’ll laugh enough to ease the pain. (“how many elephants were killed in making this video”) ---
**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 7, 2024, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-popular-and-movie-music-ruined-by-other-associations/1006871/51 "2024-09-07T13:49:38Z")
Sounds like they learned from the pros: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/hpJ6anurfuw/hqdefault.jpg "Portsmouth Sinfonia : "Also sprach Zarathustra"") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpJ6anurfuw) ---
**Author:** ![B.Serum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/b.serum/32/14266_2.png) [@B.Serum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/B.Serum)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2024, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-popular-and-movie-music-ruined-by-other-associations/1006871/52 "2024-09-07T15:52:37Z")
“Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” has been completely ruined for me ever since it was used as the melody for “A-B-C-D-E-F-G.” Not that the tune was ever some great piece of music composed by one of the great masters of classical music, but _come on!_ ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@salinqmind1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind1)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2024, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-popular-and-movie-music-ruined-by-other-associations/1006871/53 "2024-09-07T15:59:37Z")
I used to watch ‘Medium’ (tv show about a psychic) and in one of the most gruesome disturbing episodes the song ‘Happy Together’ by the Turtles was playing. I could never hear that great little song afterwards without remembering that horrific episode…another one, ‘Rapper’s Delight’ was playing, and in yet another, something from The Sound of Music… ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2024, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-popular-and-movie-music-ruined-by-other-associations/1006871/54 "2024-09-07T16:10:42Z")
> [@B.Serum](#): > > “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” has been completely ruined for me ever since it was used as the melody for “A-B-C-D-E-F-G.” > > Not that the tune was ever some great piece of music composed by one of the great masters of classical music, but _come on!_ Mozart took this little ditty and elevated it to the stratosphere. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Ezvj-De6bxY/hqdefault.jpg "Mozart, Ah! vous dirai je maman Twinkle Twinkle, Little Star KV 265") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ezvj-De6bxY) ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2024, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-popular-and-movie-music-ruined-by-other-associations/1006871/55 "2024-09-07T16:11:51Z")
Tubular Bells is demon music. I feel bad about it scaring me anytime I hear it because it’s a pretty piece of music. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2024, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-popular-and-movie-music-ruined-by-other-associations/1006871/56 "2024-09-07T16:12:58Z")
> [@Dropo](#): > > The last third of Rossini’s “William Tell Overture,” While the finale is The Lone Ranger theme. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2024, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-popular-and-movie-music-ruined-by-other-associations/1006871/57 "2024-09-07T16:14:47Z")
[“Aloha ʻOe”](https://youtu.be/_-lv7IjDsQU?si=Q99gEurjKP10xB40) is originally a beautiful song of farewell and it holds deep meaning for the Hawaiian people. But for mainlanders it was ruined by cartoons decades ago. The song has shrunk to a couple bars of the chorus played on a slide guitar as a sonic shorthand for “Hawaiʻi.” Hardly anyone has heard the full song or knows what it means. It deserves to be rediscovered and really heard as for the first time. ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2024, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-popular-and-movie-music-ruined-by-other-associations/1006871/58 "2024-09-07T18:46:57Z")
[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/-2yklZeEbFE/hqdefault.jpg "McDonalds Piano Recital commercial") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2yklZeEbFE&t=1/) ---
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2024, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-popular-and-movie-music-ruined-by-other-associations/1006871/59 "2024-09-07T18:53:30Z")
I keep wondering how many people even know what movie that music is from. ---
**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 7, 2024, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-popular-and-movie-music-ruined-by-other-associations/1006871/60 "2024-09-07T19:57:54Z")
When the McDonalds Piano recital was on, I took my young son to the library. There was a room where someone was playing the song and we could hear from hallway. He said to me, "they are playing the McDonalds song. So, the song always takes me back to that situation. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-popular-and-movie-music-ruined-by-other-associations/1006871.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-popular-and-movie-music-ruined-by-other-associations/1006871.md?page=4)