Where have I heard Debussy's La Mer before?

February 2, 2010 11:04 AM

Where have I heard Debussy's La Mer before? It's driving me crazy. I feel like it was the soundtrack to some kind of cartoon or movie, but I don't remember which one. I know it wasn't Fantasia. Can anyone help me out here?
posted by nickhb to Media & Arts (9 answers total)

Debussy's IMDB suggests that it was used in the videogame Drakengard but I don't see any other listings for similar things offhand. Yeah, even dead composers have IMDB pages!
posted by larkspur at 11:14 AM on February 2, 2010

Debussy has so many themes and counterpoints going on that they get ripped off (or "referenced") knowingly or unknowingly, all the time. I've never heard this piece before, but it does sound eerily familiar.

The muted trumpet line at 4:01 - 4:10 is more or less the Simpsons theme

at about 4:45 I'm reminded of Gustav Holst's Military Suite in Eb and some forgotten Sondheim passage
posted by Jon_Evil at 11:46 AM on February 2, 2010

I get a similar vague feeling whenever I hear "La Mer." I wouldn't be surprised if you haven't actually heard it in a movie or cartoon; rather, it was written in the early 20th century and would be essential listening/studying material for any aspiring composer of orchestral soundtracks. So it may sound uncannily familiar even if you're hearing it for the first time since it's had such a strong ripple effect (ha!) in 20th century music.
posted by Jaltcoh at 11:50 AM on February 2, 2010

This is one possible explanation among many, but do you (or does someone you know) listen to biosphere at all?
posted by advil at 12:17 PM on February 2, 2010

It is in the background of Mr. Bean on Holiday too.
posted by bearwife at 12:55 PM on February 2, 2010

IMDB also suggests (uncredited) Civilization – The Worship of Nature. Maybe you've watched that.
posted by tellurian at 4:23 PM on February 2, 2010

No kidding, it sounds like the soundtrack to every "lost at sea" movie from the 40's onward.
posted by trinity8-director at 5:35 PM on February 2, 2010

Everything sounds like Debussy, especially black and white matinee movies and the soundtracks to Japanese RPGs. The first thing I thought of when I heard the soundtrack for the Playstation title Final Fantasy: Tactics was "Nocturnes!"
posted by obiwanwasabi at 12:33 AM on February 3, 2010

No kidding, it sounds like the soundtrack to every "lost at sea" movie from the 40's onward.

This is like saying the Beatles really sound like Oasis.
posted by Jaltcoh at 5:00 AM on February 3, 2010