# What Classical Melodies are Being Riffed in the 80's Heavy Metal Song? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 16, 2008, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-classical-melodies-are-being-riffed-in-the-80s-heavy-metal-song/441516 "2008-03-16T02:06:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2008, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-classical-melodies-are-being-riffed-in-the-80s-heavy-metal-song/441516/1 "2008-03-16T02:06:04Z")
[![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSG2sMnvyOQ) At the beginning is a melody I’ve heard a thousand times on the piano, but the name escapes me. Something “Arabesque,” maybe? At 2:27 is a melody that sounds vaguely familiar as well. Any ideas? And yes, I know that song was used to great effect in _Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure_. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2008, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-classical-melodies-are-being-riffed-in-the-80s-heavy-metal-song/441516/2 "2008-03-16T02:18:52Z")
The opening is _Rondo Alla Turka_ (Turkish Rondo) from the 11th Piano Sonata by Mozart. I’m unsure of what the second one is. ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2008, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-classical-melodies-are-being-riffed-in-the-80s-heavy-metal-song/441516/3 "2008-03-16T02:25:50Z")
It was in the first [Fantasia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fantasia_(film)) movie by Disney. Argh! It is on the tip of my brain! ETA: Tocatta and Fugue by Bach?! ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2008, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-classical-melodies-are-being-riffed-in-the-80s-heavy-metal-song/441516/4 "2008-03-16T02:29:06Z")
Yes, that is what it is, start at about three minutes fifty seconds on [this](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1z12_Ps-gk) clip. ---
**Author:** ![Satellite\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Satellite\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satellite_Guy)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2008, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-classical-melodies-are-being-riffed-in-the-80s-heavy-metal-song/441516/5 "2008-03-16T02:35:16Z")
Of course, we can’t overlook the classic of classics at 2:34 Shave and a Haircut. 😃 S^G ---
**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 16, 2008, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-classical-melodies-are-being-riffed-in-the-80s-heavy-metal-song/441516/6 "2008-03-16T22:27:47Z")
The second one isn’t the Toccata and Fugue, but there is some resemblance. It could be some other piece or just their improvisation. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2008, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-classical-melodies-are-being-riffed-in-the-80s-heavy-metal-song/441516/7 "2008-03-16T22:32:04Z")
[QUOTE=rowrrbazzle] The second one isn’t the Toccata and Fugue, but there is some resemblance. It could be some other piece or just their improvisation. [/QUOTE] I thought the latter, although I like to be cautious in these threads, and let others float that possibility first in case they’re wrong 🆒