# Songs everyone will recognize, but no one know the name of. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 24, 2003, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-everyone-will-recognize-but-no-one-know-the-name-of/177273 "2003-05-24T20:08:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Wumpus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8c91f0/32.png) [@Wumpus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wumpus)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-everyone-will-recognize-but-no-one-know-the-name-of/177273/81 "2003-05-28T12:41:02Z")
Nitpick: Fanfare for the Common Man is by Aaron Copeland. ELP just happened to cover it. Speaking of Copeland, he’s also the man behind “Rodeo” (a.k.a. the “Beef! It’s what’s for dinner” theme.) As well as “Tis a Gift to Be Simple,” taken from an old Shaker hymn, and now used in all manner of commercials. ---
**Author:** ![blanx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f04885/32.png) [@blanx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blanx)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-everyone-will-recognize-but-no-one-know-the-name-of/177273/82 "2003-05-28T13:10:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by bordelond \* > \*\* > Here’s a personal stumper – what’s that “Ey! Oh! Let’s Go!” song? It’s kind of punk-sounding, and is used a lot in commercials (including a current one I can’t remember very well … just saw it today): > > \*Ey! Oh! Let’s Go! > > Ey! Oh! Let’s Go!" \* > > ??? \*\* Pretty sure that’s the Ramones doing “Blitzkrieg Bop” Gabba Gabba hey. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-everyone-will-recognize-but-no-one-know-the-name-of/177273/83 "2003-05-28T14:13:27Z")
Instrumentals are prone to this, aren’t they? Here are a few tunes that I took a lot of effort to find out the name. You’ve all heard them I’m sure, but I’ll be buggered if I can explain them: Baby Elephant Walk Syncopated Clock Take Five Here are a few TV themes that I just happen to know the name of: The Streetbeater (Sanford and Son) Angela (Taxi) The Fishin’ Hole (Andy Griffith) Now, if only someone could tell me the name of that song in the British Airway commercial-- I keep thinking Flower Drum Song but I know that’s not it. ---
**Author:** ![Hobie\_the\_One](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e99b99/32.png) [@Hobie\_the\_One](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hobie_the_One)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-everyone-will-recognize-but-no-one-know-the-name-of/177273/84 "2003-05-28T14:39:02Z")
An oldie but a goodie “Colonel Bogey March” which is the song they whistle in The bridge on the river Kwai. You’d know the tune… ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-everyone-will-recognize-but-no-one-know-the-name-of/177273/85 "2003-05-28T14:49:49Z")
Green Onion - Booker T and the MGs. You know… dum de dum dum dum de dum de dum dum dum de Bwow, bwow bwow bwow de bwow bwow bwow bwow de bwow bwow… ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-everyone-will-recognize-but-no-one-know-the-name-of/177273/86 "2003-05-28T15:00:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by av8rmike \* > \*\*The “Keystone Cops music” is probably the _[Sabre Dance](http://shop.store.yahoo.com/computergear/156.html)_, by Aram Khatchaturian, which is nearly impossible to spell \*\* Nope, I know _Sabre Dance_, and that’s not the one I was thinking of. ---
**Author:** ![davesink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cc9497/32.png) [@davesink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davesink)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-everyone-will-recognize-but-no-one-know-the-name-of/177273/87 "2003-05-28T15:17:59Z")
Just finished “Devil in the White City” by Erik Larson about the 1892 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago. (Incredible read BTW). One anicdote he relates is how one of the fair’s organizers (Sol Bloom, I believe), has set up a middle eastern pavillion in which America will get it’s first look at belly dancers. Since the local orchestra is unfamiliar with middle eastern music, Bloom improvises a few notes on the spot on the piano, notes which we know today as the “snake charmer” music (if you’ve seen any old Warner Bros. cartoons, you know the tune). Needless to say, he never received any royalties. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-everyone-will-recognize-but-no-one-know-the-name-of/177273/88 "2003-05-28T16:43:15Z")
The claim that Sol Bloom wrote that piece of music was [contradicted](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=163534&highlight=Bloom+Chicago) here a few months ago. ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-everyone-will-recognize-but-no-one-know-the-name-of/177273/89 "2003-05-28T17:23:45Z")
I’d say the ultimate song that fits the OP is “Rock & Roll, Pt. 2” by Gary Glitter. Huh? you say? What if I said that song they play at every major sporting event where everyone yells “hey”. If you still don’t know what I’m talking about, there’s an audio clip [here](http://music.barnesandnoble.com/search/product.asp?sourceid=00401402267130802071&ean=081227520120&bfdate=05-28-2003+13:21:29). ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-everyone-will-recognize-but-no-one-know-the-name-of/177273/90 "2003-05-28T17:38:07Z")
Oh, the theme from “Leave it to Beaver” is actually called “The Toy Parade.” Lyrics [here](http://www.geocities.com/tvshowthemelyrics/LeaveItToBeaverSong.html). ---
**Author:** ![LilyoftheValley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/54ee81/32.png) [@LilyoftheValley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LilyoftheValley)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-everyone-will-recognize-but-no-one-know-the-name-of/177273/91 "2003-05-28T20:03:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by t-keela \* > **Lily please excuse me, I have my songs mixed up. I was thinking about the Pina Colada song NOT Margaritaville…sorry, I am drinking a Margarita, maybe that’s what threw me.** **t-keela** getting drinks mixed up! Hehehe! Pass me a margarita, and all will be forgiven.🆒 ---
**Author:** ![LilyoftheValley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/54ee81/32.png) [@LilyoftheValley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LilyoftheValley)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-everyone-will-recognize-but-no-one-know-the-name-of/177273/92 "2003-05-28T20:06:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Labdad \* > \*\*I’d say the ultimate song that fits the OP is “Rock & Roll, Pt. 2” by Gary Glitter. Huh? you say? What if I said that song they play at every major sporting event where everyone yells “hey”. \*\* Great one, **Labdad**! Of course, now I will have that song stuck in my head all day. :mad: do-DO-da-do-da-do… ---
**Author:** ![Eman\_Bruin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Eman\_Bruin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eman_Bruin)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-everyone-will-recognize-but-no-one-know-the-name-of/177273/93 "2003-05-28T20:46:37Z")
Oooh, I got one!! Some people know the song “Soul Bossa Nova” But most people call it “The Austin Powers Song”. It’s that swingin’ sixties-ish song at the beginning the movie that Austin dances to. …or did you all know that already? ---
**Author:** ![jackelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-everyone-will-recognize-but-no-one-know-the-name-of/177273/94 "2003-05-28T21:26:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Wumpus \* > **It’s been in a million commercials over the last five years, so just about everyone recognizes Benny Goodman’s “Sing Sing Sing,” even if they only know it as "that swing song with the drum solo."** I thought (but may be mistaken) that “Sing Sing Sing” was originally by [Louis Prima](http://www.coversproject.com/artist.php/513)? > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by tracer_ > \*\*Ah, but what’s the opening theme music to a Bugs Bunny cartoon called? > > You know, the one that starts with some weird glissando, then immediately launches into trumpets going “DAH, da da da DA DA DA da da da da da, DAH, da da da DA DA DA da da da da da,” then has the cello section play a counter melody, then has a REAL quick descending scale on a piano, then has a xylophone play the first half of the opening trumpet theme again, then closes with trumpets going, “Da da da dah, dah DAAAAAAA!”\*\* I don’t know what it’s called, but that was an AWESOME description of it. I’ve got one: You know that slow, thumping, grinding instrumental music with lots of horns that strippers always strip to in the movies? BWAA-ba-ba-BAAAA, Ba-DA-DA-DAAAA… It’s called “The Stripper.” ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-everyone-will-recognize-but-no-one-know-the-name-of/177273/95 "2003-05-28T22:48:47Z")
I believe **Tracer** is describing the Merrie Melodies theme song, _The Merry-Go-Round Broke Down_. ---
**Author:** ![Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laughing_Lagomorph)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-everyone-will-recognize-but-no-one-know-the-name-of/177273/96 "2003-05-28T23:18:05Z")
How about the wistful little violin and piano tune that was the main theme music for Ken Burns _The Civil War_? How many people know the title is “Ashokan Farewell”? And that it was written in 1 **9** 82? ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2003, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-everyone-will-recognize-but-no-one-know-the-name-of/177273/97 "2003-05-29T01:14:07Z")
“The Merry-Go-Round Broke Down” is the Looney Tunes theme. As I said earlier in this thread, the Merrie Melodies theme from 1936 onward is a slam-bang arrangement of “Merrily We Roll Along”. ---
**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:** [May 29, 2003, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-everyone-will-recognize-but-no-one-know-the-name-of/177273/98 "2003-05-29T01:34:41Z")
Yet another one … It’s not “Freak Out!” by Chic … it’s “Le Freak”. You guys know this disco number: _Aaah … freak out!_ (slick guitar lick) \*[sub]Le Freak … c’est chic(?)[/sub] Freak out!\* ---
**Author:** ![Jervoise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d2c977/32.png) [@Jervoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jervoise)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2003, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-everyone-will-recognize-but-no-one-know-the-name-of/177273/99 "2003-05-29T01:57:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Biggirl \* > \*\*Now, if only someone could tell me the name of that song in the British Airway commercial-- I keep thinking Flower Drum Song but I know that’s not it. \*\* “Aria On Air”, by Malcolm McLaren. Others: Greenday’s song “Time of Your Life”, is actually named “Good Riddance”. That well-known guitar piece from the beginning of _Pulp Fiction_ is “Miserlou”. Another song which crops up in movies, but is unknown to most is Steppenwolf’s “Magic Carpet Ride”. The chorus goes: > [@](#): > > Well, you don’t know what we can find > Why don’t you come with me little girl > On a magic carpet ride? ---
**Author:** ![Sigmundex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e19adc/32.png) [@Sigmundex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmundex)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2003, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-everyone-will-recognize-but-no-one-know-the-name-of/177273/100 "2003-05-29T13:42:52Z")
Again with the Booker T & the MG’s song “Green Onions”, if you’ve ever seen American Graffiti, I believe they played that song near the end when John Milner is racing the guy in the Chevy played by Harrison Ford. Correct me if I’m wrong, and I know you will! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-everyone-will-recognize-but-no-one-know-the-name-of/177273.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-everyone-will-recognize-but-no-one-know-the-name-of/177273.md?page=6)