Songs/music famous but for a totally different reason

[CinnamonSugar]

There’s lots of music out there that has been used for new reasons and taken on a life of their own in the public mind.

for instance, how about “Hello Muddah, hello Faddah” (bet you are already singing it in your head ) The melody is taken from the ballet Dance of the Hours from the Opera "La Gioconda" by Amilcare Ponchielli, while the lyrics were written by Allan Sherman and Lou Busch. Betcha Mr Ponchielli never would have imagined such a use for his melody!

and those who grew up in the 50’s, when they hear “the William Tell Overture” they probably think first of the Lone Ranger

what are some other songs that are large in the public mind for a different reason than originally intended?

 

[Capt Lightning]

The William Tell overture was a lengthy piece and The Lone Ranger only used the last part of it - just as well as all we would have time for was "Say, who was that masked man?"
I suppose pieces of music that will be forever associated with a film were "Blue Danube Waltz, and Also sprach Zarathustra" in 2001, A Space Odyssey .

 

[Alligatorob]

The most famous Coke commercial

 

[CinnamonSugar]

Then there’s Wagner’s Der Ring des Nibelungen

I once heard a PBS host announce it by its real name, then add wryly, “Or for you Bugs Bunny aficionados, this is ‘Kill the Wabbit’ “

 

[RadishRose]

the ballet Dance of the Hours from the Opera "La Gioconda"

I remember the Disney version in the original "Fantasia" movie featuring ostriches......so funny!

 

[Paco Dennis]