[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CTYymbbEL4]
This piece was composed by Johann Strauss II in 1866. Almost one hundred and fifty years later, it is still one of the most popular and oft-performed pieces of classical music ever written. It has seen much use in pop-culture, acting as a backdrop for scenes of violence, action, and comedy. I recently heard it again while watching 2001: A Space Odyssey. It has also appeared in Arnold Schwarzenegger's True Lies, Oreo commercials, and even an episode of Spongebob Squarepants, a feat I'm sure Strauss would be proud of attaining.
My favorite uses of the song are when it's a drastic juxtaposition against something more violent. The melody is soft, and the three-four waltz feel of the song is soothing. Stuck against something violent or ridiculous, it just adds to the humor. My absolute favorite specific instance is in the classic Looney Tunes short featuring Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig and Elmer Fudd. It's the second piece in the short (see below), a short with some of the earlier versions of these famous characters.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62v8t-QL3ks]
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