# rockin the classics **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 6, 2009, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rockin-the-classics/498948 "2009-06-06T20:08:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2009, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rockin-the-classics/498948/1 "2009-06-06T20:08:45Z")
What are your favorite modern covers of classical music - rocking, amusing, upbeat, unusual, added lyrics, whatever? Mine: “The Duel” from the film Electric Dreams - man’s computer accidently gains a personality and falls in love with his celloist neighbor, plays an electronic accompaniment to her solo concert piece through his pager (Minuet #4 in G (BWV Anh.II.114) from “Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach” by Christian Petzold (formerly attributed to Johann Sebastian Bach)). “Ode to Joy” by Beethoven played by a rock band in the movie “The Money Pit”. “Summer” by David Garrett - seems to be an uptempo violin cover of a classic, although I could be mistaken and it could be some movie theme or something. ---
**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:** [June 6, 2009, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rockin-the-classics/498948/2 "2009-06-06T20:29:21Z")
I enjoy Emerson, Lake, and Palmer’s version of Aaron Copland’s (?) “Fanfare for the Common Man”. I have often wondered if ELO’s instrumental “Fire on High” cribs from any well-known classical pieces, but I haven’t been able to piece anything together. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2009, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rockin-the-classics/498948/3 "2009-06-06T20:50:40Z")
Trans-Siberian Orchestra did a ton of metal covers of famous (or not-so-famous) classical/baroque pieces. [Enjoy](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0C3RncsCPQ&feature=related). There’s also The Great Kat, who’s more of a [shredder](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSZigGuw3F8&feature=related), but has a classical music background too. It’s not always so [extreme](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-FspyiKS6M) 😉 But my favorite’s gotta be [Nightwish’s rendition of Hans Zimmer’s Crimson Tide, Deep Blue Sea](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gb4QLMfOJTg). Not really classical music by the strict definition of the term, but to me “classical music” means any instrumental piece played by a full orchestra. ---
**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:** [June 6, 2009, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rockin-the-classics/498948/4 "2009-06-06T20:58:21Z")
ELP - The Barbarian (Bartok’s Allegro Barbaro), Knife-Edge (Janacek’s Sinfonietta), Pictures at an Exhibition (Mussorgsky), Hoedown (Copland’s Rodeo), Toccata (Ginastera’s Piano Concerto #1), Canario (Rodrigo’s Fantasia para un Gentilhombre), Romeo & Juliet (Prokofiev’s Dance of the Knights). Never been crazy about their jammed-out version of Fanfare for the Common Man. The Nice - Country Pie/Brandenburg Concerto #6 (Dylan/Bach!), Intermezzo from Karelia Suite (Sibelius), Pathetique (Tchaikovsky) Jethro Tull - Bouree (Bach’s Lute Suite in E Minor) Yes - Cans and Brahms (Brahms’s Symphony #4) Procol Harum - Repent Walpurgis (Bach’s Prelude #1 in C from the WTC. Contrary to popular belief, “A Whiter Shade of Pale” is not taken directly from Bach) ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2009, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rockin-the-classics/498948/5 "2009-06-06T22:07:06Z")
I have two CDs that are the opposite of the OP: non-classical pieces, played in the style of Mozaart (both by the Hampton String Quartet). \*What if Mozart Wrote “Roll Over Beethoven” \*and _What if Mozart Wrote “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”_ ---
**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:** [June 6, 2009, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rockin-the-classics/498948/6 "2009-06-06T23:33:36Z")
Spike Jones and His City Slickers did versions of “The William Tell Overture,” and Ponchielli’s “Dance of the Hours.” The Toys’s “Lover’s Concerto” is from “Minuet in D Major,” usually attributed to Bach (though that’s been disputed). Electric Light Orchestra does a version of “Roll Over Beethoven” which quotes liberally from the Fifth Symphony. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2009, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rockin-the-classics/498948/7 "2009-06-06T23:42:37Z")
Ritchie Blackmore used to do a mean version of Beethoven’s 9th. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2009, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rockin-the-classics/498948/8 "2009-06-07T00:17:21Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Spike Jones and His City Slickers did versions of “The William Tell Overture,” and Ponchielli’s “Dance of the Hours.” Also The Nutcracker Suite. Madness did “Swan Lake” (well, one of its melodies) as a ska instrumental. ---
**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:** [June 7, 2009, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rockin-the-classics/498948/9 "2009-06-07T00:43:29Z")
How could I forget Procol Harum’s awesome version of “Blue Danube Waltz”? They also did a cool version of Albinoni’s Adagio. And another Jethro Tull one–Faure’s Pavane. ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2009, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rockin-the-classics/498948/10 "2009-06-07T06:17:13Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > I enjoy Emerson, Lake, and Palmer’s version of Aaron Copland’s (?) “Fanfare for the Common Man”. Their _Pictures at an Exhibition_ (originally by Mussorgsky) is a pretty neat album. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2009, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rockin-the-classics/498948/11 "2009-06-07T07:52:41Z")
Walter Murphy’s _A Fifth of Beethoven_ went #1 on the Billboard pop chart. ---
**Author:** ![GESancMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gesancman/32/2923_2.png) [@GESancMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GESancMan)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2009, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rockin-the-classics/498948/12 "2009-06-07T08:14:24Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Spike Jones and His City Slickers did versions of “The William Tell Overture,” Mastermind does a pretty cool [version](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-URq_fUDHDo) too. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2009, 9:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rockin-the-classics/498948/13 "2009-06-07T09:14:01Z")
William Orbit’s version of Baber’s [Adagio For Strings (Ferry Corsten remix)](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlNgtLCL9sc) ---
**Author:** ![detop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@detop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/detop)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2009, 9:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rockin-the-classics/498948/14 "2009-06-07T09:44:45Z")
The Norwegian group Dollie De Luxe did interesting thing combining rock and opera like in this [Satisfaction/Queen of the Night](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0nhLkmmPKQ) combo ---
**Author:** ![NineToTheSky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5a626/32.png) [@NineToTheSky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NineToTheSky)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2009, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rockin-the-classics/498948/15 "2009-06-07T10:59:28Z")
For pure fun, it’s hard to beat Nutrocker by B Bumble and the Stingers in 1962 (Tchaikovsky’s ‘March of the Wooden Soldiers’ from the Nutcracker suite). ELP did a virtually identical version, too. I’ve also always liked the Doors’ Spanish Caravan, the beginning of which is taken from Asturias by Albeniz. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2009, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rockin-the-classics/498948/16 "2009-06-07T14:13:39Z")
I love “O Mio Babbino Caro” by East Village Opera Company. They also do a nice version of “Nessun Dorma.” ---
**Author:** ![Invisible\_Chimp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f05b48/32.png) [@Invisible\_Chimp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Invisible_Chimp)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2009, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rockin-the-classics/498948/17 "2009-06-07T15:32:06Z")
Dave Edmunds/ Love Sculpture did covers of [Sabre Dance](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpqYU3Nzbts&feature=channel_page) by Khatchaturian and [Farandole](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhDSLUEiDhs&feature=channel_page) by Bizet. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2009, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rockin-the-classics/498948/18 "2009-06-07T16:20:59Z")
Does Elvis’ “It’s Now or Never” count as a cover of “O Sole Mio”? ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2009, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rockin-the-classics/498948/19 "2009-06-07T18:18:59Z")
Emerson, Lake & Powell (not Palmer) did a nice rendition of “Mars. the Bringer of War,” from Holst’s “The Planets.” Lake used to perform that tune live with King Crimson, who later recorded it under the title “The Devils Triangle” on their second album. (That version never did much for me, though.) ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2009, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rockin-the-classics/498948/20 "2009-06-07T19:50:18Z")
> [@Krokodil](#): > > Does Elvis’ “It’s Now or Never” count as a cover of “O Sole Mio”? We can include rock songs that steal the melody of classics, or randomly stick them in as a bridge, if the poster finds them worthy. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rockin-the-classics/498948.md?page=2)