I was just watching a fantastic fan made music video of Revolutionary Girl Utena, http://videos.shoujoai.com/vids/GravityOfLove.mpg and I noticed that it used the song “Gravity Of Love” by Enigma, which itself used parts of
the national Tuna Counsel’s theme song, Oh, for Tuna. (O Fortuna)
Any other songs that used classical music?
P.S. 750 results came up when I searched classical +pop, so if this has been addressed before, I’m sorry.
There’s that 60s tune by The Toys, “A Lover’s Concerto,” which is pretty much completely Bach’s Minuet in G from the Anna Magdalena Notebook adapted to words and a Motown beat.
There’s that Billy Joel song, I think it’s called “This Night”, anyway it’s got doo wop style verses but the refrain is lifted note per note from some Beethoven piece.
I’m sure someone will step in soon to name the Beethoven piece.
The Billy joel song came to mind immediately when I saw the Thread title.
A couple of oldies:
“Stranger in Paradise” (Polovetzian Dances from Borodin’s “Prince Igor”)
“Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah” (Dance of the Hours from Ponchielli’s “La Gioconda”)
Also, I don’t know if Tom Lehrer is Pop, and I don’t know if Gilbert and Sullivan are Classical (actually, I know that neither are either), but there’s Tom’s song “The Elements” based on G&S’s “Modern Major General”.
The one that came immediately to mind was Prozzak’s It’s Not Me It’s You, which is to Dance of the Sugarplum Fairies.
Elvis - “It’s Now or Never” is based on “O Solo Mio”
Eric Carmen did a couple based on Rachmaninov works:
“All By Myself” from Piano Concerto No. 2 and
“Never Gonna Fall in Love Again” from Symphony No. 2
Could It Be Magic by Barry Manilow used Chopin.
Groups like Emerson Lake & Palmer in the 70’s used/stole tons of classical music, but seldom did they segue into what would be considered pop music. the group Renaissance made a living of it but none of this cracked the Top 40.
“Whiter Shade of Pale” quotes Bach (is it Air on the G String?)
Blues Traveler’s “Hook” is set to Pachelbel’s Canon.
This has got to be the fastest growing thread I have ever created. Thanks, every body!
So was something by Vitamin C – remeber her, I thought not. Anyway her one hit wonder was based on Pachebel’s Canon.
The background music for Sting’s “Russians” is Prokofiev’s Lt. Kije Suite.
:smack: THAT’S why that song seemed instantly familiar!
(Ob-anime)
The ending theme of Dragon Half (called “My Omlette”, IIRC) uses Beethoven to hilarious effect.
(/Ob-anime)
Spinal Tap’s “Heavy Duty” makes use of the minuet from Boccherini’s “String Quintet in E major”.
I think her song was “Graduation Day” or something. Parliament did their own soul-ified version called “Oh Lord Why Lord” on Osmium.
The Beach Boys used Ode to Joy (Bach) as the basis of their song Lady Linda on the abominable M.I.U album.
You Know, I think that it is a real nice, list, but I think actually hearing th tunes would be nicer, so I am linking the first few posts to amazon.com recording of each song. I will try to get more tomorow. Unfortunatley, I used to have a recording of Beethovens 9th, from Dragfon Half, but I can’t find it now, but I do recall it. Thank you, dotchan for refreshing my memories.
bienville: Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony wit special preformer, Billy Joel.
pinkfreud: pinkfreud? That can’t be it.
pinkfreud & bienville: Tom Lehrer
Tengu: Prozzak’s It’s Not Me It’s You
Dahnlor already did the work for me. Hooked on ClassicsWell, that’s all for now. Goodnight.