# Pop/rock songs lifting from classical music. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 28, 2012, 9:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-rock-songs-lifting-from-classical-music/610973 "2012-01-28T09:28:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2013, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-rock-songs-lifting-from-classical-music/610973/61 "2013-03-07T07:38:58Z")
Deodato remade _Jesu, Joy Of Man’s Desiring_ into _Bachmania_. They also released modernized versions of _Also Sprach Zarathustra_, _Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun_, and _Rhapsody In Blue_, leaving the titles unchanged. Duke Ellington did a modern version of _The Nutcracker_ march, calling it the _Peanut Brittle Brigade_. He also did a number called _Sugar Rum Cherry_ based on the _Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies_. Mannheim Steamroller has a modern version of _Ride Of The Valkyries_. ---
**Author:** ![Banksiaman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banksiaman/32/3334_2.png) [@Banksiaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banksiaman)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2013, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-rock-songs-lifting-from-classical-music/610973/62 "2013-03-07T08:16:03Z")
I’m surprised, saddened really, that no one has mentioned Nigel Tufnell’s piece in D minor, inspired by Bach and Mozart, which admittedly was still a work in progress when he was filmed. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDIipofjBQg](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDIipofjBQg) ---
**Author:** ![Eutychus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Eutychus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eutychus)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2013, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-rock-songs-lifting-from-classical-music/610973/63 "2013-03-07T12:30:16Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Frank Zappa often quoted from [Igor Stravinsky](http://researchblog.andremount.net/?p=250). The “Jupiter” movement from Holst’s “The Planets” is also quoted in “Invocation and Ritual Dance of the Young Pumpkin” from the Absolutely Free album. ---
**Author:** ![Pitchmeister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pitchmeister/32/3459_2.png) [@Pitchmeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pitchmeister)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2013, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-rock-songs-lifting-from-classical-music/610973/64 "2013-03-07T12:41:40Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > There are eight notes, plus accidentals. There will be some overlap. > > And if you are going to steal, steal from the best. Actually, there are seven notes. The eighth note is the first again. ---
**Author:** ![FrankJBN](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f0a364/32.png) [@FrankJBN](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FrankJBN)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2013, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-rock-songs-lifting-from-classical-music/610973/65 "2013-03-07T15:12:15Z")
The Three Stooges serenade the lovely Elaine on behalf of Cedric the blacksmith in “Squareheads of the Round Table” Imagine my surprise a decade ago when I saw the Met performing Donizetti’s "Lucia di Lammermoor " Oh, Elaine, come out, oh please come out Time is short, the guards are hanging about. Your Cedric’s here. No kiddin,’ Cedric’s here! ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2013, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-rock-songs-lifting-from-classical-music/610973/66 "2013-03-07T15:15:20Z")
> [@Pitchmeister](#): > > Actually, there are seven notes. The eighth note is the first again. Damn, I _knew_ all those piano keys were some kind of scam to jack up the price! ---
**Author:** ![ioioio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ioioio/32/316_2.png) [@ioioio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ioioio)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2013, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-rock-songs-lifting-from-classical-music/610973/67 "2013-03-07T23:44:07Z")
The chorus of Billy Joel’s _This Night_ is the second movement of Beethoven’s _Pathétique Sonata_. BJ does credit “L.V. Beethoven” as one of the song’s authors. [Link to comparison.](http://www.whosampled.com/sample/view/76975/Billy%20Joel-This%20Night_Ludwig%20Van%20Beethoven-Sonata%20No.%208%20Pathetique%20-%202nd%20Movement/) ---
**Author:** ![Headrush042](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a5b964/32.png) [@Headrush042](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Headrush042)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2013, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-rock-songs-lifting-from-classical-music/610973/68 "2013-03-08T00:13:30Z")
Evanescence’s [Lacrymosa](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxFvdunfv-4) is based off (and directly quotes) the [Lacrimosa](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1-TrAvp_xs) movement of Mozart’s Requiem. Tarja Turunen’s [I Walk Alone](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85o7cEsb4ug) is based off (and directly quotes) the [Introitus/Kyrie](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d88xIIRDI9U) movement of Mozart’s Requiem. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2013, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-rock-songs-lifting-from-classical-music/610973/69 "2013-03-08T05:40:29Z")
> [@Jeff\_Missinne](#): > > His “Catch a Falling Star” and, believe or not, “Hot Diggety Dog, Ziggety Boom” were also based on classical themes. The second I knew is from Chabrier’s “España”. Googling says the first is based on a passage in Brahms’ Academic Festival Overture, which is based on the student song [Was kommt dort von der Höh’](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhNRzZaV0sE), except that the Como song starts on the third of the scale, not the tonic. That’s really stretching the comparison, IMHO. (Additionally, the beginning of the student song sounds a lot like “The Farmer in the Dell”/“A-hunting we will go”. That is credited to [Thomas Arne](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Hunting_We_Will_Go), written in 1777 for “The Beggar’s Opera”.) ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2013, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-rock-songs-lifting-from-classical-music/610973/70 "2013-03-08T13:51:15Z")
> [@Beastly\_Rotter](#): > > Grieg’s “In The Hall Of The Mountain King” gets [The Who treatment](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRsccsEKkbk), with Keith Moon on spooky noises. May contain traces of amphetamines. > [@KarlGauss](#): > > But, it’s not nearly as terrific as [SRC’s version](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9jn764Wh7g). which is rocking and leads into Bolero (at least on the album). ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2013, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-rock-songs-lifting-from-classical-music/610973/71 "2013-03-09T01:49:26Z")
Paivi Paunu and Aarnu Raninen’s Finnish adaptation of Mozart’s Symphony No.40 [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNb8\_Q4CYrM&playnext=1&list=PL4632A87B7BF071BC&feature=results\_video](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNb8_Q4CYrM&playnext=1&list=PL4632A87B7BF071BC&feature=results_video) ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2013, 8:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-rock-songs-lifting-from-classical-music/610973/72 "2013-03-09T08:34:31Z")
Paul Simon’s [American Tune](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0wIbgDVp5c) is based on a melody line from St. Matthew Passion by J. S. Bach (which itself is based on the song “Mein G’müt ist mir verwirret” by Hans Leo Hassler). ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2013, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-rock-songs-lifting-from-classical-music/610973/73 "2013-03-09T16:17:56Z")
“Cherry Blossom Clinic” by the Movie (from the \*\*\*Shazam! \*\*\*album) included short snippets of Bach’s “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” and bits of Tchaikovsky’s “Nutcracker Suite.” The original lineup of King Crimson used to play Holst’s “Mars, the Bringer of War” in concert. On their second album, they recorded a track called “The Devil’s Triangle” Which was largely based on that Holst piece. ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2013, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-rock-songs-lifting-from-classical-music/610973/74 "2013-03-09T16:30:42Z")
The aforementioned Electric Light Orchestra (Roll Over Beethoven) started their fifth album ‘Face the Music’ with the classic _Fire on High_. During the first part of the song, the chorus from Handel’s _Messiah_ can be heard in the background. That is rather obscure, I suppose. ---
**Author:** ![BurnMeUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@BurnMeUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BurnMeUp)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-rock-songs-lifting-from-classical-music/610973/75 "2013-03-12T18:46:46Z")
Bright Eyes - [Road to Joy](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18S8D8kHFlE) Toy Dolls - [Sabre Dance](http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8gp05_toy-dolls-sabre-dance_music#.UT93u7vn-Uk)- although it’s a direct replaying. ---
**Author:** ![phungi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/phungi/32/395_2.png) [@phungi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phungi)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2013, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-rock-songs-lifting-from-classical-music/610973/76 "2013-03-13T15:30:52Z")
> [@SecretaryofEvil](#): > > This comedian demonstrates about 14 different pop/rock songs that use Pachebel’s Canon. > > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdxkVQy7QLM](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdxkVQy7QLM) that is good stuff, thanks! ---
**Author:** ![TheBoltEater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/779978/32.png) [@TheBoltEater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheBoltEater)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2013, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-rock-songs-lifting-from-classical-music/610973/77 "2013-03-14T00:40:06Z")
Certainly more rock than pop, but the [2112 Overture by Rush](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzpDOB2JYKc) has a section at the end based on… well, you can probably guess (hint - subtract 300). ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2013, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-rock-songs-lifting-from-classical-music/610973/78 "2013-03-14T05:51:50Z")
> [@Mr\_Downtown](#): > > Sting’s [Russians.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rk78eCIx4E) Specifically, Prokofiev’s [Lieutenant Kijé.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1scluzlPz0) ---
**Author:** ![Rodgers01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@Rodgers01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodgers01)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2013, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-rock-songs-lifting-from-classical-music/610973/79 "2013-03-14T07:52:12Z")
> [@mutantmoose](#): > > This is great: > > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwvqdXR3XnI](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwvqdXR3XnI) > > Adya & Geisha adapted from Mozart’s Cherubino’s Aria (from Marriage of Figaro) That drove me crazy. The whole time I kept wanting them to sing past the first phrase, and they never did! ---
**Author:** ![Greekfreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c68b51/32.png) [@Greekfreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greekfreak)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2013, 10:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-rock-songs-lifting-from-classical-music/610973/80 "2013-03-15T10:30:37Z")
KISS “Great Expectations” shamelessly rips off Beethoven’s “Sonata Pathetique”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-rock-songs-lifting-from-classical-music/610973.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-rock-songs-lifting-from-classical-music/610973.md?page=5)