# Different songs, same melody **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 11, 2011, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/different-songs-same-melody/577981 "2011-04-11T18:27:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2011, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/different-songs-same-melody/577981/41 "2011-04-12T04:19:36Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Weird Al Yankovic’s _I Want a New Duck_ has the same melody as Huey Lewis’s _I Want a New Drug_… > [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Okay, the _Vasectomy Song_ from Family Guy is sung to the tune of _Coney Island Washboard_. You do understand what musical parody is, right? I hope that would be a different thread. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2011, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/different-songs-same-melody/577981/42 "2011-04-12T06:37:50Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > You do understand what musical parody is, right? I hope that would be a different thread. I’m pretty sure you were whooshed. I’m sure **kaylasdad** is aware those are parodies and just was yanking our chains. ---
**Author:** ![NiceGuyJack](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/niceguyjack/32/3069_2.png) [@NiceGuyJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NiceGuyJack)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2011, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/different-songs-same-melody/577981/43 "2011-04-12T07:13:40Z")
Little Richard sued CCR for **Travelin’ Band** claiming it was a rip of **Good Golly, Miss Molly**. It was settled out of court, but the melodies are certainly very similar. ---
**Author:** ![dwyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwyr/32/363_2.png) [@dwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwyr)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2011, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/different-songs-same-melody/577981/44 "2011-04-12T07:17:13Z")
The Star Spangled Banner uses the same tune as To Anacreon in Heaven. ---
**Author:** ![Nunzio\_Tavulari](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Nunzio\_Tavulari](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nunzio_Tavulari)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2011, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/different-songs-same-melody/577981/45 "2011-04-12T07:23:28Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > And of course all the songs from the show “Kismet” were based on music by Borodin. We must have been watching the same late-night LP commercials back in the '70s. “And did you know that the melody from “Strangers In Paradise” comes from the Polovtsian Daawnce #2 by Borodin?” ---
**Author:** ![Floater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@Floater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floater)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2011, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/different-songs-same-melody/577981/46 "2011-04-12T13:36:52Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > The German anthem “Deutschland, Uber Alles” was set to an old melody from a Haydn string quartet. And it was originally composed as a hymn to the emperor of Austria. > [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > The Rhodesian national anthem - _Rise, O Voices Of Rhodesia_ - is set to the melody of _Ode to Joy._ [You can also sing the lyrics of _Route 66_ to it](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPilrwXX24I). ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2011, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/different-songs-same-melody/577981/47 "2011-04-12T14:01:04Z")
Andrew Lloyd Webber so is notorious for recycling his medleys that there was once a website devoted to it. Ths Literal Man became When You Want To Fall in Love became Unexpected song. Music of the Night from Phantom was originally written for Sarah Brightman as a song titled Married Man, to be used in Aspects of Love. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2011, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/different-songs-same-melody/577981/48 "2011-04-12T14:19:00Z")
“Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh” by Alan Sherman has the same melody as Ponchielli’s “Dance of the Hours”. ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2011, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/different-songs-same-melody/577981/49 "2011-04-12T15:38:32Z")
> [@dwyr](#): > > The Star Spangled Banner uses the same tune as To Anacreon in Heaven. Simialrly, both the British and Lichtensteinian national anthems use the same tune. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2011, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/different-songs-same-melody/577981/50 "2011-04-12T15:55:49Z")
> [@Floater](#): > > [You can also sing the lyrics of _Route 66_ to it](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPilrwXX24I). The person on that clip certainly can’t. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![expectopatronum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/expectopatronum/32/173_2.png) [@expectopatronum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/expectopatronum)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2011, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/different-songs-same-melody/577981/51 "2011-04-12T16:06:59Z")
three blind mice = hot cross buns ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2011, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/different-songs-same-melody/577981/52 "2011-04-12T18:18:53Z")
> [@expectopatronum](#): > > three blind mice = hot cross buns Not remotely the same. “See how they run” is not the same as “One a penny, two a penny.” ---
**Author:** ![Apocalypso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Apocalypso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apocalypso)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2011, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/different-songs-same-melody/577981/53 "2011-04-12T18:38:37Z")
“_We’re Not Gonna Take It_” (Twisted Sister) vs. “\*O Come All Ye Faithful \*” (the popular Christmas song). Not kidding, look them up and listen! ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2011, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/different-songs-same-melody/577981/54 "2011-04-12T19:05:06Z")
Dan Fogelberg’s “Same Old Lang Syne” has the melody (downtempo) of Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture”. ---
**Author:** ![PSXer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/48db29/32.png) [@PSXer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PSXer)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2011, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/different-songs-same-melody/577981/55 "2011-04-12T19:31:03Z")
deleted ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2011, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/different-songs-same-melody/577981/56 "2011-04-12T19:42:11Z")
> [@Apocalypso](#): > > “_We’re Not Gonna Take It_” (Twisted Sister) vs. “\*O Come All Ye Faithful \*” (the popular Christmas song). Not kidding, look them up and listen! [Heh heh heh](http://youtu.be/vmEfFlbqbbY) (I’m sure you’ve already seen this.) ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2011, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/different-songs-same-melody/577981/57 "2011-04-12T20:02:03Z")
> [@](#): > > The “SpongeBob SquarePants” theme song uses the melody of the old sea chanty “Blow the Man Down.” If we’re going to get into TV themes, the theme to _Animaniacs_ used the tune of a polka called “There is a Tavern in the Town”. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2011, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/different-songs-same-melody/577981/58 "2011-04-12T20:26:52Z")
> [@Mister\_Rik](#): > > [Heh heh heh](http://youtu.be/vmEfFlbqbbY) (I’m sure you’ve already seen this.) Your linky no worky. Let’s try this one instead. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Ke1MCaMjAI0/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AH-BIAC4AKKAgwIABABGH8gRSgbMA8=&rs=AOn4CLD3sJ6u3fkHJTzZVdJeCH4xR2ZAIA "Oh Come All Ye Faithful-twisted sister") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ke1MCaMjAI0) ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2011, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/different-songs-same-melody/577981/59 "2011-04-12T20:40:32Z")
The kiddie song “Have You Ever Seen a Lassie” has the same melody as the old German drinking song “Ach, Du Lieber Augustine.” ---
**Author:** ![Floater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@Floater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floater)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2011, 9:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/different-songs-same-melody/577981/60 "2011-04-13T09:59:03Z")
Don’t insult MA Numminen. He’s a cultural hero in Finland and Sweden. 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/different-songs-same-melody/577981.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/different-songs-same-melody/577981.md?page=4)