this post was submitted on 27 Feb 2026
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History Memes

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[–] PugJesus@piefed.social 80 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (6 children)

Explanation: You've almost certainly heard Entry of the Gladiators even if not its name. It was originally intended as an uplifting military march, like fearless and proud gladiators presenting themselves to the crowds of the arena.

... but almost everyone who knows it associates it with clowns and carnivals anymore.

[–] lath@lemmy.world 27 points 1 month ago (1 children)

To be fair, clowns and carnivals were the gladiators of their age.

[–] mojofrododojo@lemmy.world 19 points 1 month ago (1 children)

and football and mma are the clowns of our age.

times change but it all has the same bullshit vibe.

[–] dumbass@piefed.social 4 points 1 month ago (2 children)

I thought that was the world leaders.

[–] mojofrododojo@lemmy.world 8 points 1 month ago

nope. the leaders use the circuses and clowns to distract from their terrible policies.

and the number of people who care more about sportsball vs. the number engaged in their own democracies, proves it works.

[–] FudgyMcTubbs@lemmy.world 5 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Topical. You should write for Leno.

[–] dumbass@piefed.social 8 points 1 month ago

Come on man, my jokes are shit, but not that shit.

[–] cannedtuna@lemmy.world 11 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Wow this is a really cool TIL. Listening to it I can definitely hear how it was composed for marching.

[–] TexasDrunk@lemmy.world 7 points 1 month ago (1 children)
[–] MelodiousFunk@slrpnk.net 5 points 1 month ago

And calliope.

[–] Aqarius@lemmy.world 10 points 1 month ago (1 children)

It's kind of how "nimrod" now means idiot: source forgotten, irony lost, joke missed.

[–] SpaceCowboy@lemmy.ca 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I love that Bugs Bunny forever changed the meaning of Nimrod.

[–] mindbleach@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 month ago

And Daffy Duck permanently altered the pronunciation of "despicable."

[–] HikingVet@lemmy.ca 6 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

The band in my high school played it as a warm up everyday of the semester; my accounting class was right next door. I hate the song.

[–] mindbleach@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 month ago

My gym teacher used the same mix tape for every goddamn class.

I quite like Duran Duran. Being forced to hear "The Reflex" ever again would make me claw my way through drywall.

[–] Quetzalcutlass@lemmy.world 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)
[–] PugJesus@piefed.social 6 points 1 month ago

Whoops! I think it's fixed now.

[–] Soup@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago (1 children)

It still sounds kinda goofy, though. Not surprised the clowns went with it.

[–] PugJesus@piefed.social 3 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

I know, I don't know if it's just prejudice from how established it is for clowns, but that opening is so clownish it hurts.

tbqh, a lot of that late 19th century orchestral music sounds so bombastic that it loops around into being outright silly.

But orchestral music recovered

[–] DandomRude@piefed.social 45 points 1 month ago (1 children)

If he found out, he would probably say, "Fuč ík" and just go with it.

[–] PugJesus@piefed.social 49 points 1 month ago

"Your music is still known all around the world, by billions of people in dozens of countries, 130 years later."

"I'll take it!"

[–] RickyRigatoni@piefed.zip 31 points 1 month ago

Relevant slimetony post

[–] HotsauceHurricane@lemmy.world 11 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I played second trumpet for this song in solo/ensemble and we went to state for it. It was one of the more fun pieces I've ever played.

[–] FudgyMcTubbs@lemmy.world 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)

In high school, I did solo/ensemble for vocal music, went to state and forgot the words of the piece I hated, and then basically quit classical vocal music after that. True story.

[–] HotsauceHurricane@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago

I believe it. Competition gets too dramatic for high schoolers sometimes.

[–] e8CArkcAuLE@piefed.social 4 points 1 month ago

his homonymous nephew was a resistance fighter against the nazis and was tortured and executed by them.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julius_Fu%C4%8D%C3%ADk_(journalist)