# Songs, after being used in other media, that ruined the original song **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 27, 2008, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-after-being-used-in-other-media-that-ruined-the-original-song/474701 "2008-11-27T14:35:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2008, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-after-being-used-in-other-media-that-ruined-the-original-song/474701/21 "2008-11-27T23:20:38Z")
[QUOTE=Windwalker] **The Wedding March** and **Pomp & Circumstance** were always crappy, so their being in everything doesn’t matter much to me. [/QUOTE] Assuming the latter refers to Elgar’s _Pomp & Circumstance March #1_ (he wrote five other good but not anywhere near as well known marches under that heading), it and Rossini’s _William Tell_ Overture should be poisoned for me, but aren’t because they’re just too good to be tainted by trite associations (most Americans probably have forgotten about or never knew that the ‘Lone Ranger’ theme was taken from the Tell overture). I don’t have a problem anymore with popular songs being ruined by associations with commercials or promos. I just hit the mute button the instant these things come on the air. You want to sell me something, write your own background music. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2008, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-after-being-used-in-other-media-that-ruined-the-original-song/474701/22 "2008-11-28T03:22:41Z")
> [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](#): > > The Final Countdown is so over-used at sporting event it makes my teeth ache. This one actually changed for me. I used to think of sports, but now my wife and I think of Gob on Arrested Development. ---
**Author:** ![jali](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecae2f/32.png) [@jali](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jali)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2008, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-after-being-used-in-other-media-that-ruined-the-original-song/474701/23 "2008-11-28T04:53:44Z")
**Anticipation** should not be remembered as the ketchup song! ---
**Author:** ![GilaB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8e7dd6/32.png) [@GilaB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GilaB)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2008, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-after-being-used-in-other-media-that-ruined-the-original-song/474701/24 "2008-11-28T05:30:00Z")
The premium TV network Starz had a commercial years ago in which a choir sang ‘Movies movies movies movies movies movies movies’ to Beethoven’s ‘Ode to Joy.’ It’s never been the same for me since. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2008, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-after-being-used-in-other-media-that-ruined-the-original-song/474701/25 "2008-11-28T05:53:28Z")
The music from the Russian dance from the Nutcracker used in a Pizza Hut radio jingle: Eight nine five one one one one Eight nine five one one one one For Pizza Hut delivery It’s free it’s free it’s free it’s free! ---
**Author:** ![Malienation](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4af34b/32.png) [@Malienation](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malienation)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2008, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-after-being-used-in-other-media-that-ruined-the-original-song/474701/26 "2008-11-28T06:56:31Z")
**Killing Me Softly** , after it was used in the movie _About a Boy_. Pity. I used to like that song. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2008, 8:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-after-being-used-in-other-media-that-ruined-the-original-song/474701/27 "2008-11-28T08:50:15Z")
> [@Lucky\_13](#): > > “Fortunate Son” by Creedence Clearwater Revival was ruined for me after it was featured in a commercial for Hanes T-shirts. It’s also been used in commercials for Wrangler jeans. If it’s any consolation, John Fogerty is just as pissed off as you are about it. Unfortunately, Fogerty doesn’t own the rights to most of the songs he wrote during his CCR days, and has no control over where they appear. [Story about the use of Fortunate Son in commercials](http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2002/11/01/DD223445.DTL) ---
**Author:** ![Bacon\_Salt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/65b543/32.png) [@Bacon\_Salt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bacon_Salt)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2008, 8:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-after-being-used-in-other-media-that-ruined-the-original-song/474701/28 "2008-11-28T08:58:17Z")
**jali** , I thought you were talking about [this](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFzyYYZsxGc) song. “No, that’s Rapper’s Delight.” ---
**Author:** ![Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sleeps_With_Butterflies)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2008, 8:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-after-being-used-in-other-media-that-ruined-the-original-song/474701/29 "2008-11-28T08:58:59Z")
“Only Time” by Enya is a song I can’t listen to anymore (and it was her only song I liked!) because there were so many tributes for 9/11 that used it. Now when I hear it, I just feel profoundly sad. ---
**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:** [November 28, 2008, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-after-being-used-in-other-media-that-ruined-the-original-song/474701/30 "2008-11-28T11:49:59Z")
I never really liked “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” after the heavy-handed way it was used in **The Execution of Private Slovik**. They played the Judy Garland version as Slovik (Martin Sheen) was being executed by a firing squad. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2008, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-after-being-used-in-other-media-that-ruined-the-original-song/474701/31 "2008-11-28T16:05:12Z")
For me, it was “American Woman” by the Guess Who, after it was used in the Republican convention to introduce Laura Bush. The worst part is, none of the fuckers who came up with the idea ever bothered to _listen to the lyrics_, which are harshly critical of the U.S. and it’s “military-industrial complex” (which Laura’s husband certainly is a part of.) Duh!! ---
**Author:** ![jali](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecae2f/32.png) [@jali](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jali)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2008, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-after-being-used-in-other-media-that-ruined-the-original-song/474701/32 "2008-11-28T16:36:19Z")
> [@Bacon\_Salt](#): > > **jali** , I thought you were talking about [this](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFzyYYZsxGc) song. > “No, that’s Rapper’s Delight.” I love that ketchup song! Never heard it before - really cute. I meant this:[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hruKnbxAsrw](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hruKnbxAsrw) ---
**Author:** ![Lucky\_13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucky_13/32/13209_2.png) [@Lucky\_13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucky_13)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2008, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-after-being-used-in-other-media-that-ruined-the-original-song/474701/33 "2008-11-28T22:09:41Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > It’s also been used in commercials for Wrangler jeans. Oh, that’s right, it was Wrangler jeans, not Hanes. Sorry. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2008, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-after-being-used-in-other-media-that-ruined-the-original-song/474701/34 "2008-11-28T23:12:07Z")
> [@The New and Improved Superman](#): > > For me, it was “American Woman” by the Guess Who, after it was used in the Republican convention to introduce Laura Bush. > > The worst part is, none of the fuckers who came up with the idea ever bothered to _listen to the lyrics_, which are harshly critical of the U.S. and it’s “military-industrial complex” (which Laura’s husband certainly is a part of.) Duh!! You don’t need to get that far of understanding the song to realize it’s a bad song for this context, just these lines… American woman Get away from me American woman Mama, let me be Though it does describe a lot of people’s feelings toward Ms Bush, I’m sure… ---
**Author:** ![as\_u\_wish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6f9a4e/32.png) [@as\_u\_wish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/as_u_wish)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2008, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-after-being-used-in-other-media-that-ruined-the-original-song/474701/35 "2008-11-29T00:51:28Z")
A couple here: _ **We Will Rock You/We are the Champions** _…well, really, most of the jock jam songs that get played at sporting events ad nauseum. _ **Back in the Saddle** _ by Aerosmith was used by ABC/ESPN to introduce NASCAR in 2007–really wore out the song. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2008, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-after-being-used-in-other-media-that-ruined-the-original-song/474701/36 "2008-12-02T04:07:21Z")
> [@mshar253](#): > > It certainly could have been, and I’m trusting your word on it since you seem to have the research. It’s just seems strange to me that I saw that episode only once–I haven’t seen the reruns or anything–and their use of that song left such a mark on me. I would have sworn it was the commercials, but, regardless, I still can’t listen to the song anymore. 🙂 You could be right anyway – just because I can’t find reference to it doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. I’d like to know for sure myself just for trivia purposes, but it may just have to be one of those extremely minor mysteries of life. 🙂 Sorry the song was spoiled for you either way, I’ve always liked it. ---
**Author:** ![wunderkammer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ed8c4c/32.png) [@wunderkammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wunderkammer)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2008, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-after-being-used-in-other-media-that-ruined-the-original-song/474701/37 "2008-12-02T06:15:45Z")
Massive Attack’s “Teardrop” will always be the opening theme for House for me, complete with the stupidly comical bobbing-head dance that my roommate used to do repeatedly when we watched marathons of the show. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2008, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-after-being-used-in-other-media-that-ruined-the-original-song/474701/38 "2008-12-02T13:25:34Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > And IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII will always love YYYYYYYYYYYYOOOOOOOOOOUUUUUUUUU! > > Whitney did not originate it and her use of it ruined it. So very, very true. Ever since “Carol of the Bells” was parodied on Family Guy, we can’t listen to it without one of the kids piping up, “Ding! Fries are done!” And that was one of the _good_ Christmas carols too. ---
**Author:** ![Wargamer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/df705f/32.png) [@Wargamer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wargamer)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2008, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-after-being-used-in-other-media-that-ruined-the-original-song/474701/39 "2008-12-02T14:10:40Z")
> [@appleciders](#): > > “O, Fortuna” from Camina Burana. This has been overused in every TV show that thinks it needs an over-the-top dramatic scary bit. I used to love it, but I can’t stand it anymore. (Brief Hijack) My kids and I were watching the bonus cartoon _Jak-Jak Attack_ on _The Incredibles_ DVD. And when Jak-Jak was about to manifest his powers for the first time, I knew, KNEW in my heart of hearts, that I was about to hear _O Fortuna_. I literally fell out of my chair laughing when the _Dies Irae_ from Mozart’s _Requiem_ was used instead. (/Brief Hijack) ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2008, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-after-being-used-in-other-media-that-ruined-the-original-song/474701/40 "2008-12-02T14:18:34Z")
The Rolling Stones’ **Start me Up** fills me with rage every time I hear it now, thanks to it being utterly ruined by microsoft on a lighter note, Queen’s **Bohemian Rhapsody** will be associated with the scene of Wayne and Garth headbanging to it in the Mirthmobile… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-after-being-used-in-other-media-that-ruined-the-original-song/474701.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-after-being-used-in-other-media-that-ruined-the-original-song/474701.md?page=3)