Comments on: You know that song

Question: You know that song

quelindo — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 09:05:09 -0800

What's the name of that song that is typically associated with the circus?

The lyrics are da da dada dada da da da da da da dadadada...whatever. Here's a link.

By: adamrice

adamrice — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 09:06:53 -0800

March of the Gladiators

By: Ranucci

Ranucci — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 09:09:44 -0800

a.k.a. Entrance of the Gladiators

By: Dizzy

Dizzy — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 09:16:56 -0800

Fascinating.
I just asked 7 friends (we're making lunch) what song enters their minds when I say "Circus" and each one hummed that same tune, even though nobody knew its official title.
Is this an American thing?
Caused by cartoons?
Ingrained circus genes?
Some grad student yet unborn will write a best-seller on this...

By: nax

nax — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 09:24:53 -0800

Ok, we all knew the song (I immediately hummed it). Now, *why* is it the song associated with the circus-- where did that start?

By: evilcolonel

evilcolonel — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 09:25:04 -0800

Popularized by its use in such hit songs as Leo Sayer's The Show Must Go On (as recorded by Three Dog Night), and Sideshow by Blue Magic -- anytime someone wants to evoke a carnival atmosphere.

The Simpsons episode "Marge on the Lam" features an extended performance by Homer.

And there was the old Radio Shack Color Computer game cartridge "Clowns and Balloons."

So you can see how the tune has completely infiltrated pop culture.

By: adamrice

adamrice — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 09:25:12 -0800

Oops, right Ranucci.

By: Dizzy

Dizzy — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 09:43:40 -0800

All true and all very apt, evil-c, but I'm (unabashedly and without any facts) betting that the reference goes back many years pre-Simpsons and computer cartridges...

By: danb

danb — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 09:45:16 -0800

Doot doot

By: essexjan

essexjan — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 10:01:29 -0800

As a slight derail, Aston Villa Football Club used to take the field to that tune. I suspect that, many years ago, someone at the club found a record bearing the label "Entrance of the Gladiators" and thought, wow! This'll be a great tune for the team to walk out to, it'll put the fear of God into the other team, without realising that it was, yes, The Clown Song.

But maybe they won that week, and somehow it stuck and became a tradition at Villa Park for many years. Until Aston Villa did, in fact, become a team of clowns and it was dropped.

/bottomless pit of useless information

By: marsha56

marsha56 — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 10:33:50 -0800

This says that sometime after 1910, it started to be used as a 'screamer march' for circuses. And also mentions the much later references by Leo Sayer and Three Dog Night.

By: A189Nut

A189Nut — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 14:09:32 -0800

It gets played a lot at gymnastic events and swim meets too

By: avocet

avocet — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 15:45:45 -0800

Don't forget the ballet!