# Top Fifty Most-Recognized Tunes
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-fifty-most-recognized-tunes/361475
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [June 20, 2006, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-fifty-most-recognized-tunes/361475 "2006-06-20T20:21:28Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish)
#### Post date: [June 20, 2006, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-fifty-most-recognized-tunes/361475/1 "2006-06-20T20:21:28Z")
Somewhere I read that of the top 10 most-recognizable tunes worldwide, 4 of them were from the Nutcracker Suite. One was probably Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy,” and probably another was Mozart’s “Eine Kleine Nachtmusik.”
Assuming we’re talking about actual tunes (with words or without), and not snippets of music (like the “Intel Inside” sonic logo), what other tunes should qualify for the coveted most-recognized worldwide?
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### Author:  [@II\_Gyan\_II](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/II_Gyan_II)
#### Post date: [June 20, 2006, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-fifty-most-recognized-tunes/361475/2 "2006-06-20T20:35:21Z")
**Classical** :
Opening of Mozart - Eine Kleine Nachtmusik
Opening of Mozart - Symphony 40 in G minor
Opening of Beethoven - Symphony 5 - movement I
Theme from Beethoven - Symphony 9 - movement IV (Ode to Joy)
Beethoven - Bagatelle ‘Fur Elise’
Beethoven - Piano Sonata 14 ‘Moonlight’ - Ist movement
Opening of Bach - Tocatta and Fugue in D minor
British Airways adaptation of aria ‘Sous le dome epais’ from Leo Delibes’ opera Lakme
Spring - 1st movement from Vivaldi’s Opus 3
Strauss’ Blue Danube Waltz
Pachelbel’s Canon
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### Author:  [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)
#### Post date: [June 20, 2006, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-fifty-most-recognized-tunes/361475/3 "2006-06-20T20:39:16Z")
I would think that Lennon’s _Imagine_ would be one, although I honestly don’t know how well it was received outside of the western (english-speaking) community.
Pachabel’s _Canon_ would be another and you’ve gotta wonder about Ravel’s _Bolero_.
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### Author:  [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)
#### Post date: [June 20, 2006, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-fifty-most-recognized-tunes/361475/4 "2006-06-20T20:45:42Z")
Sorry… Pachelbel.
For the rock route, I’d guess _Stairway to Heaven_ and _Hey Jude_ as well.
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### Author:  [@Lama\_Pacos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lama_Pacos)
#### Post date: [June 20, 2006, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-fifty-most-recognized-tunes/361475/5 "2006-06-20T20:58:48Z")
The Star-Spangled Banner-- though I may be overestimating its international exposure. I’d bet it’d be in the top _fifty_, though.
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### Author:  [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)
#### Post date: [June 20, 2006, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-fifty-most-recognized-tunes/361475/6 "2006-06-20T21:03:00Z")
Tequila
Wild Thing
Wipe Out
La Bamba
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### Author:  [@Lama\_Pacos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lama_Pacos)
#### Post date: [June 20, 2006, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-fifty-most-recognized-tunes/361475/7 "2006-06-20T21:03:51Z")
I’m wondering if a criterion is that the person has to be able to _name_ the work?
Also, I think people are overestimating the mass influence of “high” culture. I’d bet good money that more people in the world are familiar with “I Will Always Love You” or “Wonderwall” than Vivaldi’s “Spring”.
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### Author:  [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)
#### Post date: [June 20, 2006, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-fifty-most-recognized-tunes/361475/8 "2006-06-20T21:04:20Z")
> [@II Gyan II](#):
>
> Theme from Beethoven - Symphony 9 - movement IV (Ode to Joy)
I was going to start a thread about how this tune shows up in the most interesting places. It’s on a cut from one of Carbonleaf’s live albums, in Indigo Girls’ Cedar Tree…
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### Author:  [@Lama\_Pacos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lama_Pacos)
#### Post date: [June 20, 2006, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-fifty-most-recognized-tunes/361475/9 "2006-06-20T21:07:56Z")
Of course (sorry to keep popping in), the mental calculus involved in all this is very confusing. One third of all the people in the world live in India and China, but neither either of those countries have as much colonial and neo-colonial cultural influence as the US or Europe. But if there was a song universally recognized, say, by pretty much all Chinese people, would that 1 billion people be enough to push it into the top 50? Or an extremely well-known Bollywood song could easily take the majority of Indians, a lot of other South Asians, and South Asian expats living in the Caribbean and British Isles.
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### Author:  [@Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish)
#### Post date: [June 20, 2006, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-fifty-most-recognized-tunes/361475/10 "2006-06-20T21:59:51Z")
> [@Lama Pacos](#):
>
> I’m wondering if a criterion is that the person has to be able to _name_ the work?
I can’t quite remember where I read of the original claims, or how they determined which songs were “recognizable” or what criteria were used.
I can’t even be sure how they decided something was “globally” recognized — whether being popular in one very large country was enough, or if multiple countries were required.
I’m guessing that naming the title of the song, or the name of the composer, was not part of the requirement. Maybe they proved they could recognize it if they could hum along?
> [@](#):
>
> Also, I think people are overestimating the mass influence of “high” culture.
It’s not so much “high culture” as “songs without language.” The Nutcracker Suite, written for dance, is more accessible across cultures than a song in any one language.
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### Author:  [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)
#### Post date: [June 20, 2006, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-fifty-most-recognized-tunes/361475/11 "2006-06-20T22:37:36Z")
William Tell Overture – not only the finale, but the “storm” and “morning” sections are constantly used by films and TV.
1812 Overture – Tchaikovski’s cannons are better know than Pachebel’s. 🙂
Hungarian Rhapsody
The Beautiful Blue Danube
Rhapsody in Blue.
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### Author:  [@PoorYorick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PoorYorick)
#### Post date: [June 20, 2006, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-fifty-most-recognized-tunes/361475/12 "2006-06-20T22:38:51Z")
If we’re just talking about generic “tunes,” I’d have to include “Happy Birthday to You,” “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” and other childhood ditties of that ilk.
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### Author:  [@Millit\_the\_Frail](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Millit_the_Frail)
#### Post date: [June 20, 2006, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-fifty-most-recognized-tunes/361475/13 "2006-06-20T22:39:04Z")
The Empire Carpet commercial, hands down.
🙂
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### Author:  [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)
#### Post date: [June 20, 2006, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-fifty-most-recognized-tunes/361475/14 "2006-06-20T22:46:17Z")
> [@Lama Pacos](#):
>
> But if there was a song universally recognized, say, by pretty much all Chinese people, would that 1 billion people be enough to push it into the top 50?
“For anyone who has ever wondered who in the world buys Richard Clayderman records, it’s the Chinese, and there are a billion of them.”
–Douglas Adams
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### Author:  [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)
#### Post date: [June 20, 2006, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-fifty-most-recognized-tunes/361475/15 "2006-06-20T22:49:32Z")
_Happy Birthday to You_, written by Patty and Mildred Hill- I remember reading that this is one of the top three most-sung songs, along with _Auld Lang Syne_ and one other I forget.
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### Author:  [@Lama\_Pacos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lama_Pacos)
#### Post date: [June 20, 2006, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-fifty-most-recognized-tunes/361475/16 "2006-06-20T22:51:47Z")
I’d posit some Christmas carols-- maybe Jingle Bells and Silent Night?
Also, perhaps Amazing Grace.
And for classical, I’d put O Fortuna from Orff’s Carmina Burana. I don’t know if it’d be in the true 50, but I certainly think it’s as recognizable as many of the classical pieces mentioned here.
I’m also thinking some movie themes might be up there. Star Wars? Indiana Jones? Again, though, I worry about US-centrism-- I don’t know how much these tunes have permeated the rest of the world.
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### Author:  [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)
#### Post date: [June 21, 2006, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-fifty-most-recognized-tunes/361475/17 "2006-06-21T01:47:57Z")
Greensleeves, Londonderry Air (aka Danny Boy)
White Christmas, Silent Night, Adeste Fideles (O Come All Ye Faithful), Joy To The World
God Save The Queen (My Country 'Tis of Thee), La Marseillaise, Star Spangled Banner, Oh Canada!
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### Author:  [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)
#### Post date: [June 21, 2006, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-fifty-most-recognized-tunes/361475/18 "2006-06-21T03:39:36Z")
Definitely “Happy Birthday” and several children’s songs and Christmas carols. How about some classic tv themes, like The Twilight Zone’s "doo-doo-doo-doo doo-doo-doo-doo "?
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### Author:  [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)
#### Post date: [June 21, 2006, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-fifty-most-recognized-tunes/361475/19 "2006-06-21T04:06:45Z")
Theme from _Peter Gun_
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### Author:  [@Tracy\_Lord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tracy_Lord)
#### Post date: [June 21, 2006, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-fifty-most-recognized-tunes/361475/20 "2006-06-21T05:48:25Z")
Sing Sing Sing (With A Swing)?
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