Pop Songs with Classical Music Melodies

You don’t have to be a music scholar to know that some of today’s pop songs contain melodies that are strikingly similar to classical pieces.

Introduction

Classical music and pop music may seem like two completely different genres, but there are actually many similarities between them. For one thing, many pop songs have been known to borrow melodies from classical pieces. In some cases, the melody is used exactly as it was originally composed; in other cases, it is adapted or rearranged to fit the singer’s voice or the style of the song.

Here are just a few examples of pop songs that borrow melodies from well-known classical pieces. Can you identify the original works?

“All of Me” by John Legend

The song “All of Me” by John Legend is a pop song that features a classical music melody. The song was released in 2013 and quickly became a popular choice for weddings and other special occasions. The melody of the song is based on the classical music piece “Piano Sonata No. 14 ‘Moonlight Sonata’ by Ludwig van Beethoven.

“Stay with Me” by Sam Smith

“Stay with Me” is a song by English singer Sam Smith from his debut studio album In the Lonely Hour (2014). It was released in the United States on 18 May 2014 and in the United Kingdom on 17 May 2014. “Stay with Me” peaked at number one on the UK Singles Chart and number two on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song also peaked at number one in Australia, Denmark, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa and Sweden.

The song’s classical music melody is might be inspired by François Couperin’s “Le fils caché de Jupiter”, which was written in – you guessed it – the 18th century.

“I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston

“I Will Always Love You” is a song by American singer-songwriter Whitney Houston. It was originally released as a single from the soundtrack album to The Bodyguard (1992). The song was later included on Houston’s self-titled album, Whitney (1987), which was re-released in 2000.

The song received positive reviews from music critics, who praised its arrangement and Houston’s vocal performance. It has been covered by numerous artists, including Luther Vandross, Postmodern Jukebox Featuring Puddles Pity Party, and Celine Dion.

The song was a massive commercial success, becoming one of the best-selling singles of all time. It received several awards and nominations, including the Grammy Award for Record of the Year and the Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. The song has been ranked among the greatest songs of all time by various publications.

“Shape of My Heart” by Sting

Sting wrote “Shape of My Heart” in 1994, and it was included on his album, Ten Summoner’s Tales. The song is a reflection on life and love, seen through the lens of a card game. It was inspired by the Russian writer Fyodor Dostoevsky’s short story “The Gambler.”

However, the melody of the song is actually lifted from Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Air on the G String.” This famous classical piece was written in 1720 and is one of Bach’s most beloved works. It has been used in many films and TV shows over the years, most notably in 2006’s The Prestige.

While Sting’s lyrics are about cards and losing, Bach’s melody is a lot more uplifting. It’s about a relationship between a man and a woman, and how their love will never die. In that sense, it fits perfectly with Sting’s lyrics about finding hope in spite of life’s hardships.

“Clocks” by Coldplay

Coldplay’s “Clocks” features a melody that is heavily inspired by Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Prelude in C Minor.” The main melodic motif in the verses is nearly identical to the Bach piece, with only a few notes changed. In the chorus, the melody is slightly altered, but still recognizable.

“Nessun dorma” by Luciano Pavarotti

Nessun dorma” is an aria from the final act of Giacomo Puccini’s opera Turandot. It has been sung by many renowned tenors including Luciano Pavarotti, Plácido Domingo, and Andrea Bocelli. The aria is considered one of the most challenging in all of opera for the tenor voice.

“Con te partirò” by Andrea Bocelli

“Con te partirò” is a song written by Francesco Sartori and Lucio Quarantotto. It was first performed by Andrea Bocelli at the 1995 Sanremo Music Festival and recorded on his album of the same year, Bocelli. The single was first released in 1995 in Italy where it stayed at number one for eleven consecutive weeks and became the best-selling single of all time in that country. In 1996, it was released in the United Kingdom, where it peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart. ASpanish-language version of the song, titled “Time to Say Goodbye”, was also recorded with Sarah Brightman and used as Bocelli’s farewell performance during her retirement from singing at his concert held on 27 April 1997 during her La Luna World Tour. The song has been adapted into many other languages including French and German under its original title, “Con te partirò”.

The song is consideredBocelli’s signature piece. In 2010, Billboard magazine named “Con te partirò” as Bocelli’s biggest hit to date.

“Time to Say Goodbye” by Sarah Brightman and Andrea Bocelli

“Time to Say Goodbye” is a song by English soprano Sarah Brightman and Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli. Written by Francesco Sartori and Lucio Quarantotto, it was first performed by the two artists at the end of 1996. Since its debut, the song has been translated into several languages and covered by many other performers.

The original version of “Time to Say Goodbye” combined classical music with modern pop, a style that had not been done before. It quickly became a hit in Europe, selling more than 12 million copies worldwide. The song’s popularity led to Brightman and Bocelli recorded a classical version, which was released as a single in 1997. This version topped the charts in several countries, including the United Kingdom, Germany, andBocelli’s native Italy.

“Viva la vida” by Coldplay

The song starts with a single piano note, followed by chords played on a church organ. The instrumentation then builds up with the addition of string instruments including a cello and violin playing the same melody in harmony. This section culminates in a grandiose string orchestration, which was arranged by American composer Jon Hopkins. The opening chord progression and melody of the song are based on “Ode to Joy”, the fourth movement of Ludwig van Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony.