Happy Music Monday! In honor of the 4th of March, Scott's decide to focus on the one thing everyone knows: the march! No, no, don't run away, you know more of them than you think. Marches are all over the place in modern society. Don't believe it? He'll prove it right now!
Pomp & Circumstance No. 1 in D Major
If you make it to about the two minute mark, you'll hear what most of us know as The Graduation March. Sir Elgar's contribution to education has long outlived his other works. I'm just sorry I couldn't find that "Peanut Butter And Jelly" version from The Electric Company. You old people know EXACTLY what I'm talking about, too. Fressssh bluuuuberrrry piiiiie!
Never underestimate the memory powers of an aging Gen Xer, right? Scott's got last week's Spotify playlist, plus four more marches, after the jump. Lord help us if he starts talking about the Thundercats somehow.
Before we head on, remember our Spotify playlist will be featuring a great selection from last week's Music Monday comments. The theme of the mix this time is Funny Voices and you'll laugh AND THEN RAWK OUT. But before you start reminiscing, check out our current Music Monday. See you after the jump?
It might take you a minute or so, but when it hits you, it'll make you smile. The great Alfred Hitchcock stole this march for his own personal theme music, and with good reason. The grand Gounod mixed darkness and humor in every measure. How could Hitch settle for anything less?
There's a good chance that John Philip Sousa never expected a song written for America' s Liberty Bell would end up identified with a group of British comedians. Maybe this was payback for stealing My Country 'Tis Of Thee away from their Queen? Or maybe, instead, it was a tribute to the feeling of freedom in this piece? After all, if anyone loves free speech, it's a comedian.
From 1914, this march is known in two different ways. Film lovers know it as a statement of whistled rebellion from The Bridge On The River Kwai while school kids know it with different lyrics about a household cleanser. And why not? Everything about this march sounds like a taunt!
How did a song based in a Czech composer's interest in the Roman empire turn into a song associated with clowns? It's impossible to say. All we can hope for is that Julius Fucik wasn't too heartbroken, and that maybe he got a little money out of the deal. If nothing else, at least he's getting listened to, right? Maybe that keeps his ghost happy. Or maybe he just haunts circuses in hopes of revenge. There's a novel in that, somewhere, probably.
Okay, so, now we throw it open to you. Give it some thought, and you might find your favorite march is still waiting to boldly go in our comments below! If you want to share it, it'd be super, man! But don't worry, we'll accept marches of any kind today. After you've submitted, head on over to our Turntable.fm room for the regular Music Monday enjoyment. Also, Graduation crowd from UNE Photos and Alfred Hitchcock Mural by Mr. Brainwash from SliceofNYC and evil clowns from Pink Moose are used under a Creative Commons License. All other images from the corresponding Wikipedia page.