Clay Aiken – Also Sprach Zarathustra!!??!!

I miss Clay Aiken.  I know he is on a well-deserved break away from the frantic life of a celebrity, but I still miss him.

While Clay is away, I have tried to publish many different types of articles about Clay and the important topics that are a part of his life.  Sometimes they work…sometimes not!  Today…lets celebrate music.  Wednesday will be ALL CLAY!!

Happy National Classical Music Month!

If you think that classical music has zero impact on your life you might want to think again. There are many classical songs that have made their way into our lives through traditional events, television, the big screen and modern music.  In honor of National Classical Music Month, CANN would like to post 8 Top Classical Melody picks that I am pretty sure you have heard. Even though you might not know the names of the composers or the titles of the pieces, it doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy and appreciate the musical compositions.

#8: William Tell Overture

This popular melody is used in situations that are frantic, fast-forwarded and hurried. The melody is frequently used in comical and humorous scenarios both on television and in the movies. It is also the theme song for The Lone Ranger.

#7:  Bach, Minuet in G, Anna Magdalena Notebook (Petzold)

Besides being in Willie Nelson’s 1986 hit version, Bach Minuet in G, the song is often heard at children’s piano recitals.  It has also been featured in many commercials and films.

#6:  2001 A Space Odyssey Opening

The original title to this popular piece is Also Sprach Zarathustra by the composer Richard Strauss. Besides being the popular beginning of 2001- A Space Osyssey the music was heard in the 2005 film “Charlie And The Chocolate Factory”, and was played by Elvis before he would perform on stage.

 #5:  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart–Eine Kleine Nachtmusik

Arguably Mozart’s most famous piece, this number sets the stage for posh parties, banquets, or balls in movies. It was the introductory music for the original 1983 Mario Bros Nintendo game, featured in the 2006 film “Tenacious D In: The Pick Of Destiny,” and is sung by “The Four Peters” in the 2005 episode of Family Guy titled “Model Misbehavior”…now that’s a lot of fame for a song that dates back to the mid 1700’s!

#4: Händel Messiah – Hallelujah Chorus

Whether you have heard it in a religious setting or have seen it in a comedy show, when someone saves the day, this music is popular throughout the world. It is traditional that the audience stands when this piece is played.

 #3: Richard Wagner – Lohengrin, Act 3 – “Treulich geführt ziehet dahin”

Anyone that has attended a wedding, participated in a wedding, or has seen a wedding scene on the big screen, has hummed along to this song at one time or another. A song that was not intended to be a wedding song is now the signature piece for weddings around the world.

 #2 Beethoven’s 5th Symphony

Aside from being Judge Judy’s theme music, this Classical Music piece is famous around the world.  Also played during a 2007 TV commercial for XM satellite radio (featuring Snoop Dogg) this piece that is often referred to as the “Duh, Duh, Duh Duuuuuh”, is really a beautiful piece of music.

#1: Palladio by Karl Jenkins 

What girl doesn’t love this commercial?  It has moved us, and coincidentally the diamond market, when the DeBeers commercials hit television screens across the nation.

Whatever your favorite genre of music might be it is wonderful that the month of September celebrates music.  Having grown up in a home where classical music was all I ever heard, I love listening to Brahms, Mahler, Mozart and many other great composers. Yet, when I heard Clay Aiken sing the first time, my heart soared and life was just a little bit better than the day before.

Do you ever listen to Classical Music?  If so, do you have a favorite composer or composition?

Clay Aiken News Network is an unofficial fansite. We are not affiliated in any way with Clay Aiken or his management. This website was made by fans for fans and makes no impression or impersonation of the official site, which can be found under the domain clayaiken.com.

14 thoughts on “Clay Aiken – Also Sprach Zarathustra!!??!!

  1. I'm not much of a classical music person but Eine Kleine Nachtmusic has always been a favorite. Of coure who doesn't love the Hallejulah Chorus. Some great choices. 🙂

  2. I have to say how much I enjoy the CANN…it is the only place for news and happy information about Clay.
    He has made such a difference in all our lives. I am looking forward to his next move.

    One of my favorite classical music pieces? Ode to Joy….and the Ride of the Valkerie.(sp)

  3. Thanks for the reminder of how much I appreciate classical music. I don't remember who wrote my favorite, or the correct name, but it's Moonlight Sonata. When I was taking piano lessons I thought I had to learn that one, but didn't.

    Maybe Clay should have a theme when he hits that stage. as Elvis did. Any suggestions?

  4. This was fun to listen to. I love classical music. Not all the time..but there are days.

    The first one…William Tell Overture…the follow up to Rossinni…..just cracked me up… I love this music…but the first thing that came to mind, was SueReu's Lost Medley…the Rossini tapes…..

    This made me laugh,and put a smile to the start of my day….I'm going over now to watch "The Lost Medley".

    Thanks Musicfan…this was nice listening to all the different composers…

  5. I love classical music..my favorite composer is Vivaldi and I enjoy most of his works. I love to listen to any harpsichord music. When Jim and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary we had a big church wedding..gown and all.. I made a CD of classical music and invited wedding guests to a one hour candlelight prelude!! We had quite a crowd and it was beautiful to just sit in the church and enjoy this music! Maybe we'll do it again for our 50th which is not to far away..I won't fit into that gown though!!
    Cookie

  6. Before Clay, if I wanted to listen to any relaxing or uplifting music, classical was the ticket. Of course, that has changed after Clay. Anyhow, missed seeing Pachelbel's Canon on your list. A part of it was played as an interlude in Clay's version of O Holy Night during his 07 Christmas In The Heartland Tour. It is the O Holy Night in Erie,PA, that I absolutely love best. So uplifting, and so beautiful.

    Thanks for the classical music blog. I have listened to all of those listed many times, except #1 Palladio. Also have never seen that De Beers commercial before. Might be a regional thing, but now I have.

    • Thanks for telling us about Pachelbel's Canon and how Clay used it! I'm gonna see if I can find the OHN clip of that Erie concert and check it out; I didn't know what I was hearing at the time; Clay's fans are always such a mine of ability and information, I am constantly surprised and greateful!

  7. Thank you for posting all the classical music…I love beautiful music so I like lots of different types of music.

    AND…I miss Clay Aiken too!!

  8. Thank you so very much for today's
    music which I will keep forever in
    file, for me to go listen to whenever
    I feel like it…a treasure of music at
    my disposal —what a gift of music
    to me! Therese

  9. Thank you so much, you sure do come up with interesting stuff, how do you do it?? That info re Jenkins is a real nugget, lol.
    I love classical as well and also grew up with it, my mom was a classical pianist (not professional but very good, I'm told. She loved R&B and R&R, tho, and Elvis, too, LOL!!) I still love it all and a big disappointment to me was when the L.A. classical station at Prudential Square disappeared. Clay is not the only good music commercial radio won't play these days! The situation here is so bad that my niece tried to get XM for her dad, but now it's in bed w/Sirius, the equipment and cost and setup are all pretty daunting, and she finally give it up.
    I love music by just about all the composers that are commonly known, but one of my very favorites is Beethoven, and to me Sibelius, Vivaldi, and Elgar are special; also Carl Orff is thrilling, I saw the first U.S. performance of Carmina Burana at the S.F. Cow Palace.

  10. This is a unique blog and I love it. Thank you for giving us some beautiful music. Most of the songs are ones that I have heard before, but its nice to hear them again!!

    I miss Clay too, but certainly appreciate your blog and the interesting things you come up with to keep us happy.

    CLAY!!! Time to come out and play!!

  11. I love music, majored in music for a while, have played in community orchestra/ wind ensemble, piano, flute, had a crush on Pavarotti, and yet Clay's voice reaches me on some level that nothing else ever has.

    My favorite classical works would probably be Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1 (B-flat minor) and his Violin Concerto in D Major; Mozart's opera Die Zauberflöte, K. 620 (The Magic Flute); and Beethoven's Symphonies No. 5 and No. 9 (Ode to Joy is from the fourth movement of the 9th), and Ave Maria, by Franz Schubert.

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