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10 Best Uses Of Classical Music In Classic Cartoons
- Published June 30, 2009 by STLMo - 134 Comments
I grew up watching Bugs Bunny, Tom and Jerry, and Popeye cartoons, because they were regularly shown on the independent stations here in St. Louis. (Disney cartoons weren’t readily available unless the Sunday night Wonderful World of Disney show featured one of them.) Those cartoons helped develop my love of classical music. (Sorry, Mom. You were a huge musical influence, but not quite as much as Bugs Bunny!) While the vast majority of the cartoons of the 1930s-1950s made excellent use of popular music and original compositions, they also used classical music to great effect, creating some of the finest animated masterpieces of all time.
Rossini’s overtures were popular with cartoonists, as were Liszt’s Hungarian rhapsodies and Brahms’ Hungarian dances. In cartoon-land, Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata became synonymous with quiet, moonlit scenes, while the opening notes to his Fifth Symphony were used to introduce Nazis during World War II. The final movement of Liszt’s Les Preludes frequently introduced some cartoons. Any favorites you’d add to this list? Enjoy!
Music: Rossini’s William Tell Overture
Made before the William Tell Overture became identified as The Lone Ranger’s theme, The Band Concert features bandleader Mickey leading an outdoor performance. While the band plows through the overture, Donald Duck continually interrupts by playing “Turkey in the Straw” on his recorder.
Music: Brahms’ Hungarian Dances #5, 7, 6 and 17 (they appear in that order)
The familiar story of the three little pigs was a popular vehicle for cartoonists. This Warner Bros. version cleverly syncs the action with Brahms’ music, so much so that the music seems like a fifth character.
Music: Von Suppe’s A Morning, Noon and Night in Vienna
Bugs is the conductor of a musician-less orchestra. He performs Von Suppe’s “Morning, Noon and Night in Vienna,” but with a twist: He turns part of it into a cowboys and Indians saga, using his ears as props.
Music: Largo al factotum aria from Rossini’s Barber of Seville opera
This famous aria was never showcased better in a cartoon than in this Tex Avery romp (although Long-Haired Hare comes close). After a two-bit magician fails to convince Poochini, the “world’s greatest baritone,” to let him into the opera singer’s act, the magician uses his wand to make life quite difficult for Poochini. It’s one of Avery’s absolute best. It’s often cut these days because of some unfortunate racial stereotypes, but you can still find the uncut original. Note: Watch for the fantastic bit where Poochini “breaks the fourth wall” and plucks a hair from the “film.”
Music: Johann Strauss II’s Die Fledermaus
Tom is the conductor of an orchestra of cats. Naturally, Jerry wants in on the act, and of course, Tom repeatedly shoes him away. Excellent choreography in this one. And both Tom and Jerry look pretty sharp in those tuxes.
Music: Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto #1, Strauss’ Tales from the Vienna Woods and The Blue Danube
Warner Bros. frequently poked fun at Disney, especially considering many animators migrated from Disney to Warner Bros. (and MGM). A Corny Concerto rips on Disney’s Fantasia (see #2), starting with Elmer appearing as an unshaven Stokowski introducing the two segments. The first segment is a wild romp in the Vienna woods with Bugs, Porky and an unnamed dog. The second is more standard fare of a duck protecting a family of swans from a vulture.
Music: Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody #2
The Cat Concerto won the Academy Award for Short Subjects-Cartoons in 1946. Warner Bros. released a nearly identical cartoon the same year, Rhapsody Rabbit, which had many of the same gags. Both MGM and Warner Bros. accused the other of plagiarism, but nothing official came of it. It’s a toss-up as to whether The Cat Concerto or Rhapsody Rabbit is the better cartoon. Also watch Rhapsody in Rivets, an Oscar-nominated Warner Bros. cartoon that features the construction of the “Umpire State Building” while the foreman/conductor leaders the show.
Music: Rossini’s Barber of Seville Overture
Bugs does Rossini in a beautifully timed and written masterpiece. Elmer chases Bugs into a theater. Bugs and an unwilling Elmer act out Rossini’s “Barber of Seville,” with Bugs giving Elmer a full head manicure. Best part: Bugs uses his ears to massage Elmer’s bald head. Some of the lyrics: “Hey you! Don’t look so perplexed/why must you be vexed/can’t you see you’re next? Yes, you’re next. You’re so next!” and this one: “There! You’re nice and clean! Although your face looks like it might have gone through a machine.” (Note: The music here is from the overture, while the music from #7 is from the famous aria of the opera.) The film quality is not good but this is the only English language version I could find on youtube.
Music: Dukas’ The Sorcerer’s Apprentice
Fantasia is one of Disney’s greatest films. It’s a safe bet to say that more people saw the segments of Fantasia as one-off cartoons on TV than actually saw the movie in the theater. The best part (and probably best-known) is the Sorcerer’s Apprentice, with Mickey as the apprentice who literally gets in over his head. The rest of the music featured in Fantasia was: Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite, Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring, Beethoven’s Sixth Symphony, Ponchielli’s The Dance of the Hours, Mussorgsky’s Night on Bald Mountain, and Schubert’s Ave Maria.
Music: Wagner’s Ring Cycle
Bugs and Elmer Fudd do Wagner in this Chuck Jones masterpiece. Some may have put Fantasia first, but this Bugs Bunny short is consistently ranked as the best Bugs Bunny cartoon of all time, and usually the best of all cartoon shorts. Jones reduces Wagner’s whole Ring saga to 6½ minutes in a hilarious parody — and it’s one of the only times Elmer actually “gets” Bugs. You’ll never listen to “Flight of the Valkyries” again without hearing Elmer sing, “Kill the wabbit, kill the wabbit, kill the wabbit!”
June 30th, 2009 at 1:34 am
nice
June 30th, 2009 at 1:36 am
Kill the Wabbit!!!
June 30th, 2009 at 1:37 am
Great list! I liked the Mozart Requiem being used in the short accompanying the Incredibles.
June 30th, 2009 at 1:59 am
i like watching tom and jerry cartoons.. it’s funny.. and good for kids.. ü
June 30th, 2009 at 1:59 am
oh man i remember Magical Maestro!!!
I recorded it on a tape once i still have that tape kickin around somewhere brings back so many good memories!!!!!
June 30th, 2009 at 2:00 am
i wann ahave my pic posted too (here in the comment list) but how??
June 30th, 2009 at 2:00 am
seven!
June 30th, 2009 at 2:05 am
is it strange that I have never even seen any of these – let alone heard of any of them???
June 30th, 2009 at 2:07 am
theres been a bit of a childrens show theme lately
June 30th, 2009 at 2:12 am
All good but sorcerers apprentice has to be my favourite
June 30th, 2009 at 2:15 am
Totally agree with ag – whats with all the cartoon related lists latley. Not a criticism(?) just an observation.
June 30th, 2009 at 2:16 am
i want to request some bizaare/weird/underground list please..? anyone?? or another top 10 of mystery-something..
June 30th, 2009 at 2:23 am
10 has got to be the earliest mash-up ever! and donald really looked like a duck
June 30th, 2009 at 2:26 am
@jhoyce07 (12): coming soon
June 30th, 2009 at 2:31 am
@jfrater (14): that’s so cool JFrat! thanks! ü I’ll wait for that..
June 30th, 2009 at 2:35 am
God I remeber all of this music from when I was a kid but never knew the composers. Thanks listverse for reminding me that classical music is awesome.
June 30th, 2009 at 2:43 am
Ehh… What’s up, Doc?
June 30th, 2009 at 2:49 am
I saw a doco about Chuck Jones a couple of years ago and it showed (among his other creations listed here) a rendering of the Blue Danube where the musical notation comes to life and plays around on the page.
And I ****love**** the Wagner item.
June 30th, 2009 at 3:03 am
hahaha!
i remmembered my childhood!
June 30th, 2009 at 3:11 am
Brilliant list!
Made me laugh and brought back some great memories, thanks!
June 30th, 2009 at 3:13 am
What about the Smurfs?!
June 30th, 2009 at 3:28 am
This is a fantastic list. I already show several of these to my Music Appreciation classes, and now I can buy and show the rest. Thanks!
By the way, research verifies that up until 2nd grade, children actually prefer classical music to other forms when they’re given a choice. By the time the 3rd grade rolls around, they’re more susceptible to peer pressure, and they would never admit to liking classical music from that point on. Sad.
June 30th, 2009 at 3:43 am
I’ve often wondered about that, warrrreagl.
When I take the kids to nursery we have Classic FM on in the car, they actually listen to it. If I have something like BBC R2 on, they ignore it and chatter away!
June 30th, 2009 at 3:46 am
“Welcome to my shop, let me cut your mop!”
Somehow I knew “Rabbit of Seville” would be on here…
It was always a childhood favorite!
June 30th, 2009 at 4:14 am
I can happily say I’ve seen all of these growing up as a kid.
June 30th, 2009 at 4:18 am
Pure genius, these cartoon dudes! Chuck JOnes, Friz Freleng, Mel Blanc. So creative and funny. All those thpeech impediments would be considered terribly un-PC today.
I’m a life-long, professional classical musician. When I was a kid I always enjoyed hens laying eggs to little Turkish Marches by Beethoven. Don’t remember specific cartoons, just that image and music.
Thanks StLMo.
(btw, grew up in KCMo)
June 30th, 2009 at 4:35 am
What’s most amazing is how well they could present a story without ever saying a word. And these cartoons are the perfect way to get kids to listen to classical music without their ever knowing that is what you are doing
.
June 30th, 2009 at 4:56 am
I still love cartoons, and I’m 21. I’ve seen all these clips many, many times. My mother and Grandmother would watch them too. Classic.
Too bad that some of these youtube vids are done by clowns who don’t know what a tripod is (rabbit of seville clip.) Honestly it was too distracting to even watch it.
June 30th, 2009 at 5:08 am
Holy shit, I remember watching number 6 years ago! I loved that episode, right after the episode at the bowling alley.
June 30th, 2009 at 5:26 am
love this list!
June 30th, 2009 at 5:31 am
I totally knew “What’s Up Opera?” was going to be #1, even before and after considering Fantasia. Becfause growing up, you had more people who remember that than ‘Night on Bald Mountain’ simply for the fact that it ran more often on Saturday morning TV than in any theatrical release of Fantasia. I didn’t even watch Fantasia in it’s entirety until I had kids my own. But ‘The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Hour’ was my staple on Saturday AM.
Does any one know where I can get this on DVD?
June 30th, 2009 at 5:36 am
Man, the last 4 lists have been so shitty, just feels like listverse HAS to cut on lists concerning music & cartoons. Frankly, they aren’t interesting or anything, just someone’s attemp to get something of his own on this website. Sucks.
June 30th, 2009 at 5:45 am
7raul7, where is the list you submitted? Certainly, if you’re so opinionated about the quality of the site, then you MUST have submitted a much better list, right?
Right?
June 30th, 2009 at 5:58 am
Great stuff here. I like Tom and Jerry, too. And the music of rock and roll.
—-Messa Boogie Music is On.Dance, Dance, Dance!
June 30th, 2009 at 6:07 am
Yay! I love this list, STLMo!
I grew up on all of these and have seen them all. I also have everyone of them on my ipod. I think these cartoons are what gave me my taste in classics.
I also wanted my kid to have the same feel for this type of music. So when she was born, I went out and got all of the old cartoons on dvd for her so she could grow up on them too. Needless to say, she has a few on her ipod as well.
@7raul7 (32): I second warrrreagl. What list have you done?
I understand if you don’t like a list but come back tomorrow. It’s always something different around here.
June 30th, 2009 at 6:12 am
i submitted 2 … apparently none have been given a look …
June 30th, 2009 at 6:20 am
Hahahaha… best list I’ve seen in awhile. Can’t find Looney Tunes on T.V. anymore which are genius compared to todays cartoon fare.
Elmer: Oh, Bwoonhilda, you’re so wovely.
Bugs: Yes, I know it, I can’t help it.
Seriously, that was one of the few times I remember Elmer being so pissed off.
June 30th, 2009 at 6:28 am
Listen, Frater, you childish squib – I apologize for my intemperence – but I simply must express my displeasure at the recent content of your formerly wonderful and entertaining site……will you please knock it off with the cartoons and science stuff and get back to the baser elements of pop culture for your lists….can we see more celebrity scandals, film and music, serial killers and the like?? Honestly, I would be suprised if many people really give a shit about a lot of the stuff you’re compiling of late.
Sorry again for being a prick but hey, you should see me on Youtube….now that’s an asshole for you.
June 30th, 2009 at 6:37 am
There’s an episode of Boy Meets World where Mr. Feeny takes Eric to the opera and Eric gets really bored and wants to leave, and as he turns his back they start playing Ride of the Valkyries and Eric turns around and screams out “It’s Bigs Bunny!!!!!” and Mr. Feeny says “no, it’s Wagner” and Eric just stares at him. I think of it every time I hear the song.
….I’m weird.
June 30th, 2009 at 6:47 am
I’d say Jamie is doing just fine aministering his own site (from the “About” section):
Traffic
1.5 million unique readers
4.5 million pageviews
Alexa Rank: US Top 5,000
Statistics
965 Articles
140,000 Comments
12,000 Feed Subscribers
6,327 Registered Users
June 30th, 2009 at 6:52 am
Umm, 2 lists which were, IMHO, way more interestin than these lists, were, for reasons unknown, rejected. (sorry for the commas, im helpless) I’m not an admin, so of course i dunno the reason of them not being published. (Most likely, they weren’t relavent to the prevalent ‘mood’ on listverse, as it said in the email sent to me after i submitted the list).
I assure you, a list related to sports, scandals, politics, warfare etc. is goin to garner more views, debates & comments, unlike such childish lists which serve no purpose whatsoever. And to be honest, such lists make me angry as to whatever happened to the great listverse which served the high purpose of educating & enlightening. There are a number of other sites which entertain such lists (cartoon, kids, etc.), but there is precisely one reason why i, like most of my friends whom i introduced to LV, like it, & that is, LV publishes list which are interesting, intriguing, funny & educative while at the same time, are humourous. There is absolutely no wrong in publishing a list like this from time to time, but publishing lists which are boring, to be accurate, in quick succession, make no sense. Or is there a conspiracy to undermine LV’s reputation by some rival list website.
Anyways, some of you would say that this site caters to the taste of a wide spectrum of people, so that is why these kind of lists are published. Of course it isn’t wrong, but ignoring other potentially better list is just plain ignorance.
forgive me for being such a pain, but i want my beloved LV to be better than all, & i assume it will be, as it also is.
June 30th, 2009 at 7:05 am
Despite what some of the detractors are saying, this is a really fun idea for a list! People need to lighten the hell up. I think Listverse has always been incredibly diverse, going from the lighthearted to the heavier or more controversial subjects. Kudos JFrater for keeping the lists interesting and varied. I say, if you want lists that are deeper, do the research and submit a list of your own!
As for this list, I grew up with these cartoons. It’s a shame they are so hard to find on regular TV anymore. My only suggested change would have been to use the entire Fantasia film, not just The Sorcerer’s Apprentice. The whole film was nothing less that genius. (Fantasia 2000 had it’s moments as well, particularly the “Rhapsody in Blue” segment.)
Also, Warner Brothers use of music in their cartoons is legendary. Not just the classical stuff either. The scoring was amazing and truly an integral part of the shorts. In fact, it’s clearly identifiable with the WB characters. Check out the CD “The Carl Stalling Project’ for an amazing collection of cartoon music from a time when cartoons weren’t just slapped together.
June 30th, 2009 at 7:09 am
I keep remembering a hilarious Woody Woodpecker cartoon that had no dialouge; it was Woody furiously playing a grand piano atop a speeding train while being chased. I don’t remember the song he was playing but I remember the entire sequence was brilliant.
June 30th, 2009 at 7:18 am
Hey again. I remember a few of these from my childhood – especially the fantasia one – with all the brooms. I’ll have to check into some of the others when I return home next week. Very unique topic there STLMo – kudos from me.
@callie19 (39): It’s good to be a werdo sometimes – we’re not at all boring
@7raul7 (41): Submitting a list can be fun, but it may not get published straight away. JF has a HUGE backlog of lists I imagine, and I guess he selects them in terms of relevance, and a kind of day-by-day continuity. A good 50% of my lists have appeared so far, so don’t worry, them may show up in good time.
June 30th, 2009 at 7:21 am
@7raul7 (41): Not all lists need to be serious or educational. Some can be just for fun and entertainment. That’s what I took from this list.
Anyways, some of you would say that this site caters to the taste of a wide spectrum of people, so that is why these kind of lists are published. Of course it isn’t wrong, but ignoring other potentially better list is just plain ignorance.
To say that your lists are better than others is rude. I have submitted 2 lists, one was used. I don’t think my lists are better than anyone elses. They cater to certain people and if they liked it, then great for me. But don’t assume that other lists are better than others. It just shows us what type of person you are.
I will be waiting until Jaime decides to use my other list…patiently….for the most part.
I suggest you do the same and keep checking back. If I don’t like a list…I move on and wait for another day.
June 30th, 2009 at 7:25 am
OMFG, #4 is my childhood. Thank you so much, great list.
June 30th, 2009 at 7:37 am
Awesome list, thanks STLMo.
I love, love, LOVE classical music and cartoons, and I’m not ashamed of saying so. The cartoons on this list are part of a wonderful golden age of animation, and classical music was a big part of the greatness of that age. The animation was incredible, the humor was amazing, and the music grand. I grew up with most of these, but I was only able to watch, them on TV on very rare occasions; which means that, sadly, kids today are barely able to see these masterpieces anywhere on TV.
Thanks for the memories
June 30th, 2009 at 7:47 am
Ignore the complainers, STL and JFray. I think this is a great list and a wonderful “other view” to egernunge’s list yesterday which (at the typing of this comment) has received 139 comments so I’m still hard pressed to believe that there weren’t any interested viewers. Oh look at that. I used a period instead of a comma. Wonder of wonders, miracles of miracles.
I work with a wide age range but deal more with the little kiddies at work so to connect with them, I am familiar with Max & Ruby, Yo Gabba Gabba, Backyardigans, etc. because it gives us a conversational piece more at their comfort zone, but THESE cartoons… These are what I watched when I was little and these pieces are what I grew up playing as a musician. Incidentally, I’ve gotten in trouble for singing “Oh Brunhilda, you’re so wovewy!” when rehearsing Flight of the Valkyries. No worries though, because it only took that little bit to get the conductor to start muttering “Kill the wabbit! Kill the wabbit!!” haha… thanks, STL, for that walk down memory lane.
June 30th, 2009 at 7:57 am
that scene from fantaisa has always been my favorite. my grandma had fantaisa and she gave it to us…my mom would have to rewind his part so many times haha.
June 30th, 2009 at 7:58 am
im surprised Swan lake didnt make the list…
June 30th, 2009 at 8:03 am
Heymon – what cartoon was Swan Lake in that you’re thinking of? I know it was used often, but did you have one in mind?
June 30th, 2009 at 8:27 am
Thank You for this wonderful list It brought back so many memories. I am a huge Opera and Classical music fan today because of these cartoons
Hey! if you don’t like the recent lists, just pass them by
or make your own. Nah.That would require some effort
June 30th, 2009 at 8:28 am
@7raul7 (41): Occasionally there is a list published that I don’t care for. Within seconds of experiencing that minor disappointment, I do something I like to call getting over it. Give it a try.
June 30th, 2009 at 8:44 am
Nice original idea for a list STLMo. I really enjoyed it. Not sure if this would qualify but It’s one of my favorite Bugs Bunny Cartoons called Rhapsody Rabbit
June 30th, 2009 at 8:51 am
@blogball (54): Not sure if this would qualify but It’s one of my favorite Bugs Bunny Cartoons called Rhapsody Rabbit
blogball, I can’t believe a seasoned list-writer and commenter like you didn’t read the text entries. Read number 4.
June 30th, 2009 at 8:57 am
#53 of course, anything is worth a try (in such circumstances)
June 30th, 2009 at 9:12 am
What a fun list, and a walk down memory lane to boot. I grew up in Los Angeles and we had plenty of Disney cartoons to watch on local tv channels. Also, I remember going to Disneyland shortly after it opened (mid 50’s) and seeing the entire Fantasia in a movie theater. What a blast.
And Maggot said it best: get over it, all you whiners. I cannot think of a list that would make everyone 100% satisfied.
June 30th, 2009 at 9:15 am
Maggot, guilty as charged. I have seen most of the cartoons on this list and the ones that I didn’t I watched. Then I read all the comments to see if any one had mentioned Rhapsody Rabbit. Then I did what drives me crazy when I see other people do it. I didn’t read the full descriptions. Sorry about that.
June 30th, 2009 at 9:21 am
Great list, I can still recall sitting in the movie house, many many years ago, and they always showed you the cartoons before a few clips of the next attraction, thereafter the main movie would start.
When a cartoon finished you would get that – THAT IS ALL FOLKS on the screen, often we were lucky and they showed you two and all you heard was YEAH and the rustling of 200 kids putting their hands into the popcorn packets all at once, ready for the next one.
I used to enjoy the Road Runner, and that very fast mouse, I cant recall the name now.
Thanks STLMo. – well done.
June 30th, 2009 at 9:27 am
OMG!! Im only 21 but I remember most of these from when I was a kid! memories!!
its a shame kids nowadays grow up watching absolute dribble compared to these masterpieces. great list!
June 30th, 2009 at 9:27 am
@undaunted warrior (59): Speedy Gonzalez. I liked his cousin, Slowpoke Rodriguez. He made me laugh!
June 30th, 2009 at 9:41 am
I saw “Flight of the Valkyries” many years ago and loved when you could hear the audience singing very lowly but still audible “Kill the wabbit, kill the wabbit, kill the wabbit!”.
You could also hear a bunch of pissed off girlfriends/ wives ’sushing’ to be quiet!
June 30th, 2009 at 10:14 am
Hey STL Mo, found another English version of Rabbit of Seville. It’s another one of those “I’ll videotape the tv” deals but the dude used a tripod and the sound’s much better.
June 30th, 2009 at 10:15 am
@Abs (60): I’m 23 and I second what you said!!!
June 30th, 2009 at 10:17 am
This looks like a job for STOOOOOPER DUCK!!
June 30th, 2009 at 10:19 am
@oouchan (45):
I think your lists are better than others.
June 30th, 2009 at 10:31 am
@Abs (60): I’m 34. I still watch cartoons and one of my favorites to watch right now is Spongebob.
@bucslim (65): Yoikes and Away!!!
@bucslim (66): You were being facetious there, weren’t you?
June 30th, 2009 at 10:37 am
Great – I’m old and have seen all of these – Nostalgia ftw!
My favorite is sadly absent. Long Haired Hare. The famous battle between Bugs and the classic opera singer.
@jhoyce07 (6): go to gravatar and pick your pic…
http://en.gravatar.com/
June 30th, 2009 at 10:40 am
Much better Gabbi. Did anybody notice on the shaky one or one might call it the Blair Witch Project version of The Rabbit of Seville you can see the reflection of a window complete with trees blowing in the wind?
June 30th, 2009 at 10:42 am
Sorry Gabi not Gabbi, I think I need more coffee this morning
June 30th, 2009 at 10:47 am
While I enjoy the light, fun lists as well as those more serious ones, it is (IMHO)a little tedious to have so darn many lately. I actually felt a little annoyed to see yet another cartoon list when I checked LV this morning. Again, just my opinion and it certainly won’t stop me from visiting the site
June 30th, 2009 at 10:57 am
@ oouchan (61) Thanks Speedy Gonzales I completely forgot his name, and the laid back Gonzales.
June 30th, 2009 at 10:58 am
I only wish that cartoons today used music as these cartoons did. When I taught music in public schools, I found that most children couldn’t even recognize the melodies from some of these noted pieces. Classical music was still kept alive in the mainstream media through these shows – now the only cartoon I know of that keeps these pieces alive is Family Guy, and the typically use musicals.
Maybe one day….
June 30th, 2009 at 11:12 am
wtf is wrong with listverse – we’ve had enough cartoon- and disney-related lists already! is LV having midlife crisis??
June 30th, 2009 at 11:27 am
Wow; brings back memories. I too am a life-long classical musician, a violist and have played in both the road orchestras of Disney and Warner Brothers. I can honestly say, that Warner Brothers Orchestra was one of the most enjoyable gigs I ever played. Having grown up with all of this, it took me back to childhood and the fun. My folks loved these cartoons, too. There not just for kids. Great list!
June 30th, 2009 at 11:27 am
keep up the good work jfrater
June 30th, 2009 at 11:34 am
LOL @ Pigs in a Polka! Love that bird than slams his nest on the brick chimney!
June 30th, 2009 at 12:15 pm
@7raul7 (41): Raul, I don´t mean to be rude or anything (or do I?), but I will never forget your Football list, it was one of the weakest, least researched and most biased I have ever read (that´s why I remember it).
In fact it created so much controversy among the readers (500 + comments if I recall correctly), that maybe that´s why your current lists are being held.
No offense man, your lists may be controversial, but not “interestin” [sic], let alone “educating & enlightening” as you brag about.
June 30th, 2009 at 12:16 pm
God I like parenthesis! (a lot)
June 30th, 2009 at 12:25 pm
you ever seen a bugs bunny cartoon….on WEED?!?!
June 30th, 2009 at 12:46 pm
This list is far too narrow in scope, and should be called the best use in Warner Bros cartoons.
June 30th, 2009 at 1:08 pm
Uhh, jazzmouse:
#10 and #2 – Disney
#7, #6 and #4 – MGM
Only #9, #8, #5, #3 and #1 are Warner
June 30th, 2009 at 1:12 pm
Mom424 – See #7. I agree, Chuck Jones’ Long-Haired Hare is absolutely terrific, but I like Tex Avery’s zanier Magical Maestro just a tad bit more. (It was a tough choice, but I already had The Grey Hare featured three times.)
June 30th, 2009 at 1:14 pm
haha when i clicked on this site i was listening to ‘Wachet Auf, Ruft Uns Die Stimme (BWV 140)’ Pretty cool. You should listen to it, it is as if it almost as if the whole song is life itself.beautiful
June 30th, 2009 at 1:16 pm
ViolaWoman – Wow! What’s it like to play with those traveling shows?
June 30th, 2009 at 1:46 pm
@7raul7 (41):
since when was Listverse 7raul7verse? i am not always thrilled with the lists, but i read 99.75% of them (becausde if it really isn’t interesting to me i just scan the comments)
if you don’t like the quality of the resent lists, just blog about it elsewhere. i have been an avid LVer since the early days, and it has been a very long time since a submitted list would be featured the next day…i can even remember when Jay would hold contests for best lists to feature while he went about his world travels!
this list was fun & entertaining. brought back some amazing memories of my childhood & drunken evenings watching banned cartoons…
personally, the science/weird/bizarre/obscure/dark/historical/nature lists appeal to me…but i do enjoy the ones just for fun…music/pop trivia/extremem sports…
the food/team sports/classic music ones are meh…but i always can learn & laugh & read the comments, which are often more interesting than the lists!
rtr
June 30th, 2009 at 2:07 pm
Awesome list! I remember almost all of these. <3
June 30th, 2009 at 2:55 pm
As someone said…………..Kill the wabbit, it still makes me laugh
June 30th, 2009 at 3:58 pm
One of my favorites is the piano duet/duel between Daffy and Donald in the Ink & Paint Club in “Who Framed Roger Rabbit”.
I don’t know the name of the classical music piece they are fighting through, tho. Anyone?
June 30th, 2009 at 3:59 pm
Haha old cartoons are so awesome! Especially Mickey
June 30th, 2009 at 4:00 pm
just found it on IMDB – Hungarian Rhapsody #2 by Liszt
June 30th, 2009 at 4:12 pm
I love Bugs Bunny and I hate “What’s Opera Doc?”
As far as I am concerned, that cartoon has nothing to do with Bugs Bunny. It’s like they took the whole premise of the Bugs Bunny cartoon series and ignored it just to show off. It is missing all the things that make a Bugs Bunny cartoon great: the voice, the attitude, the jokes and comments, etc.
As Bugs says: “Eh. It stinks.”
June 30th, 2009 at 4:27 pm
“What’s Opera Doc” was definitely one of the best short cartoons ever.
I especially liked Bug’s tag line: “What did you expect in an opera, a happy ending?”
June 30th, 2009 at 5:00 pm
Great list! I loved these growing up.
June 30th, 2009 at 5:53 pm
@redcaboose (57): I hope you got to go to the Hollywood Bowl’s annual Tribute to Warner Bros Cartoons!
Every year the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra performs the classical music made so familiar to so many through the cartoons. They bring down a huge screen and run the cartoon (silently) and just play the music. It’s always a sold-out show! Of adults! I’d go every year and take my kids, all of whom had grown up on the Warner Bros. cartoons, as had I, with the result that all of us had a hard time at the opera keeping a straight face at times.
Oh! But what fun!
June 30th, 2009 at 7:00 pm
I’ve always loved the fat horse in “What’s Opera, Doc”
June 30th, 2009 at 7:35 pm
Ha! I found the “Convict Concerto” cartoon I mentioned earlier. Not sure if it qualifies as classical music, but it’s pretty funny and has a great score.
June 30th, 2009 at 7:51 pm
OMG I loved those cartoons! And definitely, the classical music made them just brilliant, especially with the timing.
June 30th, 2009 at 8:22 pm
@deeeekay (96):
oh my dog! me tooo! i especially like it when the fat horse has a disapproving look as Bugs runs coyly around while he flirts with Elmer…
rtr
June 30th, 2009 at 9:43 pm
I was going to be very disapointed if number one was anything else. Brings back memories of the good old fashioned cartoons.
July 1st, 2009 at 1:37 am
STLMo: Thank you for one of the best times I’ve had on line in a while! I remember watching these as a kid, and I thoroughly enjoyed watching each of them again tonight. I remember my little brother and I were together when we first saw the Bugs Bunny version of the Barber of Seville. We were literally howling with laughter… it’s still a fond memory between us. Thanks for bringing that all back so well today. Bravo!
July 1st, 2009 at 3:14 am
@86: 7raul7verse .. LOL
@76: i never said that MY lists were enlightening or educational, i said LV usually features many of such kind.
Writing a football list is way more difficult than this kiddish, cartoon related lists. For 20 players, you have to choose between nearly a hundred players who all deserve the same respect & recognition. It created controversy because everyone supports different players & has a different choice, just like my choice is to not like this list, but at the same time there are hundreds of others who like this list & are (…) defending it. Also, i never said that such lists are to be banned, only that their frequency of appearance should be decreased.
July 1st, 2009 at 5:19 am
You know, 7raul7, you’re coming off as a childish sourpuss. If you don’t like something on a site, then complain directly to the site owner via his e-mail. MOST of the people who commented on this list enjoyed the trip down memory lane.
July 1st, 2009 at 5:42 am
okay … i concede defeat … Forgive me, for i have committed a hideous sin. I shalt not ever again complain, im so very f**ckin sorry.
July 1st, 2009 at 5:46 am
@7raul7 (102): I agree with STLMo. Why are you whining? This site caters to many…not just a select group. Please knock off your pointless rantings. I am aware you can have your opinion, but you are carrying it too far here.
Also, i never said that such lists are to be banned, only that their frequency of appearance should be decreased.
It’s not your website. If you have suggestions, please bring it directly to Jaime’s attention. Thank you.
July 1st, 2009 at 5:49 am
@7raul7 (104): No need to become defeated. Just stop rambling about how you feel the direction of someone else’s website should be run on a list. Email Jaime directly. It will go to the intended target….and won’t make you one.
July 1st, 2009 at 8:25 am
Great list of cartoons. I hope Spongebob OST was included here since technically the music there is really of superior quality.
-Messa Boogie Man is here! Google it now!
July 1st, 2009 at 8:26 am
Absolutely fantastic list!!
July 1st, 2009 at 10:47 am
I LOVE all the ones with Bugs Bunny. His wisecracking nature is the perfect foil for classical music. Baton Bunny is a scream, as is “What’s Opera, Doc?”
July 1st, 2009 at 12:35 pm
nice
July 1st, 2009 at 2:00 pm
@102 &104 LOL
I remember all of those cartoons, i love it! Good job jfrater!!
July 1st, 2009 at 2:18 pm
Really nice list! Great work putting it together.
One very nitpicky comment:
though the “Kill da Wabbit” theme is from Die Valkure, part of Wagner’s Ring Cycle, most of the other music is from another Wagner opera: Die Meistersinger (not in the Ring Cycle)
July 1st, 2009 at 2:25 pm
If you hadn’t picked “Kill The Wabbit” as your #1, something was gonna get blowed up!
July 1st, 2009 at 7:43 pm
How does someone think up a list like this ? I know,because when you were little ,on Saturday mornings you were up early glued to the T.V.
Just like the rest of us.
Nice list.
I made straight C`s in Punctuation.
July 1st, 2009 at 7:50 pm
When I seen the Football list I thought it was American style. Didn`t know but a couple guys on there.
Dallas Cowboys will be in the next Super Bowl !
F Pittsburg.
July 1st, 2009 at 10:47 pm
Nice list!. One correction: in “Corny Concerto,” Elmer Fudd is doing commentator (and sometime composer) Deems Taylor, not Stokowski. Bugs, with his marcelled ears and long index fingers, is doing Stokowski (aka “Leopold”) in “Long-Haired Hare.”
Kill da wabbit!
July 2nd, 2009 at 3:53 pm
Fantastic list!!!
A lot of these pieces (and how they relate to other cartoons and pop culture) can be found at:
Kickass Classical
July 2nd, 2009 at 6:51 pm
In The Band Concert, Donald is playing a flute, not a recorder. A recorder is not played transversely.
July 2nd, 2009 at 7:47 pm
“Sellenger’s Round” (“The Beginning of the World”) was often used in the Farmer Gray cartoons. Also some other great classical music, which got me started on my classical-music-loving ways, but I could never track it down.
July 2nd, 2009 at 8:00 pm
@Lomedhi (118):
Not all flutes are played transversely. For example, there’s the ocarina, the tin whistle, and, yes, the recorder.
Donald is not playing the transverse flute or recorder but is actually playing the fife.
To be even more obnoxious, Clara Belle is playing her flute the wrong way until at the very end when it is flipped inside out.
July 2nd, 2009 at 8:10 pm
@bigski (115):
I’m with ya, bigski. Not on cowboys, but the ‘f Pitt’ bit. I’m surrounded by way too many of them lately and I don’t even live in Pittsburgh or even close to it!. (plus i’m still a bit bitter about the whole place because of the Pittsburgh penguins)
July 3rd, 2009 at 4:04 am
I loved the weird little cartoon with the myna bird that walked out imperturbably no matter what was done around/to/with him. It was 40+ years later that I discovered the soundtrack was the Hebrides Overture from Mendelsohn.
July 4th, 2009 at 10:31 am
Bugs Bunny’s Rabbit of Seville is just genius. It’s probably my favourite classic cartoon clip ever.
July 6th, 2009 at 1:29 am
Personally, my favorite bit of Fantasia was the Rite of Spring bit, because FUCK YEAH DINOSAURS.
July 6th, 2009 at 5:32 am
I whole-heartedly agree with the #1, due to the use of one, well-placed word that cracks me up after what must be 1 million viewings. “SMOG!!!!!”
July 8th, 2009 at 7:05 pm
Thank you for posting this! I enjoyed it very much!
August 4th, 2009 at 2:36 am
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EF3bSRIjaNs
best use ever!
October 11th, 2009 at 8:46 am
Hello:
Thanks for remembering these very cool cartoons. Do you remember one with Nutcracker music involving little elves doing things along to the music? I want to show my 7 year old and I’m having trouble finding it.
Tina
October 17th, 2009 at 1:30 pm
does anyone know how I can download the top 10 and burn them onto a dvd. I would like to use these in my general music classroom but I cannot open any utube videos because of the filter.
November 23rd, 2009 at 7:29 pm
It’s like a nostalgia to me to see those wonderful cartoons again. Very good compilation! I love classical music, and I always found it a pity that only few people have found access to classical music and the great joy it can bring to our lives. That’s why I have recently written an article on how to enable “newbies” an easy access to it. I posted it on my blog and would very much appreciate your comments and ideas on how to make it even easier for beginners to get to know classical music.
A Guide to Enjoy Classical Music
Would be great to hear from you!
Thank you,
November 27th, 2009 at 12:05 am
Thanks for this list. I’m teaching a few students about classical music and this will be a perfect addition to it. For many kids, they will remember the cartoon, the music WITH the composer. Thanks for your work! I’ll be sending this to other teachers and homeschoolers.
November 30th, 2009 at 12:44 pm
Manning’s injury may be more serious than reported. That might lead to more turnovers. The giants have not been playing well lately. Time to put them out of their misery.
January 2nd, 2010 at 12:48 pm
i probably would have never heard all this classical music, as a poor kid who grew up in the 1960’s, had it not been for these cartoons. thanks to everyone involved for bringing the classics to the masses! some of my best childhood memories involved watching cartoons and listening to the music on a saturday morning eating my favorite breakfast cereal! =:o)
January 4th, 2010 at 2:53 am
@diamonddave247 (133): Dave, many of us had that same experience! Now fast forward to your adulthood, and your first visit to the Philharmonic…try, just try, getting through getting “The Barber of Seville” without bursting into laughter (the sound of Elmer Fudd singing “Get da Wabbit,get da Wabbit!” sounding firmly in your brain).
It can’t be done!
So many of the cartoons used great classical pieces, that the first time at the Philharmonic, all you can do is suppress the laughter.
One of my favorite memories from school (my school went from K – 8), was a weekly music program, where classical music was piped into the classrooms, and we had to draw what the music felt like to us…how it made us feel. A wonderful program!