Results: This is part 2 about people who appeared on other famous singers' or musicians' records. This time the focus is on classical composers.
Published on 03/31/2025
I was going through my music playlists on my iPod and removing some of the songs I tend to skip over because I don't find them good to drive to - the only time I listen to music these days. While doing that I came across a few that borrowed "hooks" from classical composers. Some of these are obvious and some are more subtle. Here are a few you might recognize.
QUESTIONS
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1.
1.
Here are some popular tunes that were heavily influenced by classical music. Some are more recent and some are oldies. Can you name the classical music that served as inspiration (or a cheap hook)? The answers will be at the end.
"Opus 17 (Don't You Worry 'bout Me)" by The Four Seasons
22%
493 votes
Night on Disco Mountain," a track used in the film Saturday Night Fever https://youtu.be/4oMcB0wDcF0
13%
277 votes
The Supremes - A Lovers Concerto https://youtu.be/bA2hY7nhVWE
17%
365 votes
Other (please specify)
0%
10 votes
Not Applicable
57%
1254 votes
| Other Answers | Percentage | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| 0.61% | 7 | |
| The Toys' "A Lover's Concerto" (I thknk they recorded it first?) | 0.09% | 1 |
| "Nut Rocker" by B.Bumble & The Stingers, based on Tchaicovsky's march in "The Nutcracker" ballet | 0.09% | 1 |
| Jethro Tull - To Cry You a Song (Bach's Third Brandenburg Concerto) | 0.09% | 1 |
2.
2.
Here are a few more. Can you name the classical music these were influenced by?
Russians by Sting from 1986 (a message that is just as powerful and relevant today)
18%
405 votes
All by Myself by Eric Carmen from 1975 https://youtu.be/UuliSlNeynk
21%
457 votes
Night of Fear by The Move from 1967: https://youtu.be/niqrrmev4mA
9%
200 votes
Other (please specify)
0%
10 votes
Not Applicable
58%
1277 votes
| Other Answers | Percentage | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| 0.75% | 8 | |
| not sure | 0.09% | 1 |
| miley cyrus | 0.09% | 1 |
3.
3.
And a few more. Can you name the classic?
Annie's Song by John Denver from 1973
29%
641 votes
Because by The Beatles 1969 https://youtu.be/hL0tnrl2L_U
12%
269 votes
Bridge Over Troubled Water by Simon and Garfunkel https://youtu.be/4G-YQA_bsOU
23%
500 votes
Other (please specify)
0%
9 votes
Not Applicable
50%
1097 votes
| Other Answers | Percentage | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| 0.63% | 9 |
4.
4.
Would you like some more of this type of survey?
Yes
28%
626 votes
No
15%
340 votes
Undecided
21%
451 votes
Not Applicable
36%
783 votes
5.
5.
Here are the answers. How many did you know? Comment about how many you got right and enjoy the music anyway.
"Opus 17 (Don't You Worry 'bout Me)" by The Four Seasons was inspired by "The Four Seasons" by Vivaldi
16%
348 votes
Night on Disco Mountain was inspired by Mussorgsky's "Night on Bald Mountain".
9%
203 votes
A Lovers Concerto by The Supremes is based on the classical tune "Minuet in G Major" by Christian Petzold, though it was often mistakenly attributed to JS Bach.
9%
200 votes
Russians by Sting is inspired by Prokofiev's "Lieutenant Kije Suite"
9%
204 votes
All by Myself by Eric Carmen is inspired by Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Opus 18
12%
262 votes
Night of Fear by The Move was drawn from The 1812 Overture by Tchaikovsky
3%
72 votes
Annie's Song by John Denver was drawn from Tchaikovsky's 5th Symphony, 2nd Movement,
15%
336 votes
Because by The Beatles - John Lennon said the song was inspired by Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata.
7%
146 votes
Bridge Over Troubled Water by Simon and Garfunkel, particularly the melody, was inspired by JS Bach's "O Sacred Head, Now Wounded".
14%
306 votes
Other (please specify)
1%
17 votes
Not Applicable
59%
1298 votes
| Other Answers | Percentage | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| 0.53% | 11 | |
| unsure | 0.05% | 1 |
| Could It Be Magic by Manilow, inspired by Chopin Prelude in C minor | 0.05% | 1 |
| Some | 0.05% | 1 |
| Jethro Tull - To Cry You a Song (Bach's Third Brandenburg Concerto) | 0.05% | 1 |
| None | 0.05% | 1 |
| miley cyrus | 0.05% | 1 |
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