# What Songs Can Be Sung To Other Tunes? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 30, 2004, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-can-be-sung-to-other-tunes/266822 "2004-09-30T12:11:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-can-be-sung-to-other-tunes/266822/41 "2004-10-01T12:38:47Z")
A bit off-topic, but I sing some _words_ to tunes from some songs. For example: [ul][li]Whenever I cross the Nooksack River (twice a day) I think of The B-52’s _Love Shack_[/li][li]Chuckanut Road reminds my of _Holiday Road_ from _National Lampoon’s Vacation_[/li][li]The community of Semiahmoo reminds me of The Pogues _Dirty Old Town_[/li][li]“Phenomenon”, either the word or the film, gets sung to _Mannah, Mannah_[/ul][/li]And just for good measure, whenever I pass a statuary yard I put on a Quasimodo voice and shout “Statuary! Statuary!” ---
**Author:** ![doverpro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/838e76/32.png) [@doverpro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doverpro)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-can-be-sung-to-other-tunes/266822/42 "2004-10-01T14:44:51Z")
“Batman” can be sung to almost any blues song. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_Dirx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b77776/32.png) [@Sir\_Dirx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Dirx)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-can-be-sung-to-other-tunes/266822/43 "2004-10-01T18:11:32Z")
Listening to my Pure Moods II cd recently, I realized that “On top of spaghetti” can be sung to “Chariots of Fire.” Makes it sound all dramatic and stuff. Fun. Of course, now I can never listen to the latter without inserting the words of the former. ---
**Author:** ![williamweigand](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b3f665/32.png) [@williamweigand](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/williamweigand)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-can-be-sung-to-other-tunes/266822/44 "2004-10-01T23:14:11Z")
I regularly sing “Volare” to the tune of “Moon River” , and vice versa. ---
**Author:** ![SolGrundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@SolGrundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SolGrundy)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-can-be-sung-to-other-tunes/266822/45 "2004-10-01T23:23:22Z")
Not quite the same thing, but the band Orbital does a great combo version of Belinda Carlisle’s “Heaven is a Place on Earth” and Bon Jovi’s “You Give Love a Bad Name.” Uncanny. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2004, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-can-be-sung-to-other-tunes/266822/46 "2004-10-02T02:20:47Z")
> [@Middlecase](#): > > Did you know that A Whiter Shade Of Pale, by Procol Harum, can be sung quite satisfactorily, and with amusing and edifying results, to the tune of Deutschland Uber Alles? Got any others? FYI, Deutschland Uber Alles, more properly known as Das Lied der Deutschen or Das Deutschlandlied, written in 1841, hijacked the melody from a piece composed by Franz Joseph Haydn in 1797. The hymn _I Am Waiting for the Dawning_ is attributed to S. Trevor Francis ~1835 continues in popularity, being found in some current hymnals. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2004, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-can-be-sung-to-other-tunes/266822/47 "2004-10-02T02:42:44Z")
There was (and may still be) a band called Big Daddy. They took current hits and performed them in the style of 50’s & 60’s tunes. Examples: “Welcome to the Jungle” = “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” “Ice Ice Baby” = “Johnnie B. Goode” “…Jungle” will bring (laughter) tears to your eyes the first time you hear it. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_Rhosis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@Sir\_Rhosis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Rhosis)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2004, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-can-be-sung-to-other-tunes/266822/48 "2004-10-02T02:55:58Z")
I like singing “Amazing Grace” to “(Ghost) Riders In The Sky.” Sir Rhosis ---
**Author:** ![Roland\_Orzabal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c2a13f/32.png) [@Roland\_Orzabal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roland_Orzabal)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2004, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-can-be-sung-to-other-tunes/266822/49 "2004-10-02T03:18:02Z")
> [@doverpro](#): > > “Batman” can be sung to almost any blues song. I was unaware that “Batman” had any words other than “BATMAN!” You know, _duh na na na na na na na, duh na na na na na na na, BATMAN!_ Elfman’s Batman theme is an instrumental. Unless there is a different song that goes by that name, color me 😕 ---
**Author:** ![saoirse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@saoirse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saoirse)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2004, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-can-be-sung-to-other-tunes/266822/50 "2004-10-02T05:16:05Z")
I always enjoyed conflating “If I Had a Million Dollars,” by the Barenaked Ladies, with “If I Had a Rocket Launcher,” by Bruce Cockburn. If I had a rocket launcher _If I had a rocket launcher_ Some son of a bitch would die _But not really, that would be cruel_ ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2004, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-can-be-sung-to-other-tunes/266822/51 "2004-10-03T06:13:23Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > _Amazing Grace_ can also be sung to the tune of _The Mickey Mouse Club_ theme. _Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me – A-M-A, Z-I-N’, G-R-A-C-E! I once was lost, but now I’m found, was blind but now I see – A-M-A, Z-I-N’, G-R-A-C-E! ‘Mazin’ Grace, ‘Mazin’ Grace, Forever let us hold your head up high! High! High! High!_ Yeah, I can see that … ---
**Author:** ![widdleytinks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a4c791/32.png) [@widdleytinks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/widdleytinks)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2004, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-can-be-sung-to-other-tunes/266822/52 "2004-10-03T06:20:19Z")
The ABC Song Twinkle Twinkle Little Star Baa Baa Black Sheep ---
**Author:** ![buns3000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c89c15/32.png) [@buns3000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buns3000)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2004, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-can-be-sung-to-other-tunes/266822/53 "2004-10-03T07:43:05Z")
> [@SolGrundy](#): > > Not quite the same thing, but the band Orbital does a great combo version of Belinda Carlisle’s “Heaven is a Place on Earth” and Bon Jovi’s “You Give Love a Bad Name.” Uncanny. Beat me to it, dude. I sure hope JBJ sued somebody’s ass for many dollars over that one. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2004, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-can-be-sung-to-other-tunes/266822/54 "2004-10-03T07:56:22Z")
> [@Sir Dirx](#): > > Listening to my Pure Moods II cd recently, I realized that “On top of spaghetti” can be sung to “Chariots of Fire.” For me, it was the opposite. I’d never heard Chariots of Fire until recently, and when I did, I thought “This is famous movie music? It’s just a dramatic version of On Top of Spaghetti!” ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2004, 9:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-can-be-sung-to-other-tunes/266822/55 "2004-10-03T09:26:50Z")
> [@danceswithcats](#): > > FYI, Deutschland Uber Alles, more properly known as Das Lied der Deutschen or Das Deutschlandlied, written in 1841, hijacked the melody from a piece composed by Franz Joseph Haydn in 1797. The hymn _I Am Waiting for the Dawning_ is attributed to S. Trevor Francis ~1835 continues in popularity, being found in some current hymnals. I knew it was also a hymn, but not the Haydn connection: any link with the original to Bach, given that A Whiter Shade Of Pale pretty much plagiarised him? ---
**Author:** ![Roland\_Orzabal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c2a13f/32.png) [@Roland\_Orzabal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roland_Orzabal)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2004, 10:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-can-be-sung-to-other-tunes/266822/56 "2004-10-03T10:07:30Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > For me, it was the opposite. I’d never heard Chariots of Fire until recently, and when I did, I thought “This is famous movie music? It’s just a dramatic version of On Top of Spaghetti!” I had never heard Chariots of Fire before (at least, not that I was aware of), so I checked around for a RealAudio sample. And may I just say _HA ha ha_ ha ha haaa ha ha!!! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Monstre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@Monstre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monstre)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2004, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-can-be-sung-to-other-tunes/266822/57 "2004-10-03T18:56:35Z")
Amazing Grace can be sung to just about anything. Similarly, lots of stuff can be sung to the Gilligan’s Island theme. The 80s hair band _Poison_ – came out with _Every Rose Has Its Thorns_, and then later they did _Something to Believe In_. These are essentially the same song (slight melody change, different words, same accompaniment works on both). Play one and sing the other. ---
**Author:** ![Rock-n-Rolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/22d042/32.png) [@Rock-n-Rolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rock-n-Rolga)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2004, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-can-be-sung-to-other-tunes/266822/58 "2004-10-03T19:45:09Z")
While visiting Ireland early this August I heard a new single on the radio whose chorus maps _perfectly_ onto the chorus of “Satellite of Love” by Lou Reed. Wish I knew who did the newer single, it was quite pretty despite the (probably unintended) coincidence. The vocals were female and kind of breathy and the song overall was quite lush and pretty. “Built for Speed” and “On the Road”, both by Motorhead, are essentially identical. If there’s a reason why, I’m unaware of it. Not that I’d ever criticize Lemmy & co.! 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2004, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-can-be-sung-to-other-tunes/266822/59 "2004-10-03T19:47:55Z")
> [@Rock-n-Rolga](#): > > “Built for Speed” and “On the Road”, both by Motorhead, are essentially identical. Sounds like there might be kind of a thematic similarity in there, too. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Flamsterette\_X](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/41988e/32.png) [@Flamsterette\_X](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flamsterette_X)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2004, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-can-be-sung-to-other-tunes/266822/60 "2004-10-03T22:42:43Z")
The Tragically Hip song _Scared_ and _Amazing Grace_. (my good friend Eric gave me a cute demo of this a few years ago…) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-can-be-sung-to-other-tunes/266822.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-can-be-sung-to-other-tunes/266822.md?page=4)