this post was submitted on 27 Feb 2026
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History Memes

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[–] PugJesus@piefed.social 64 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (7 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.

[–] Aqarius@lemmy.world 9 points 2 days ago (1 children)

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

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

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

[–] mindbleach@sh.itjust.works 3 points 2 days ago

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

[–] lath@lemmy.world 23 points 3 days ago (1 children)

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

[–] mojofrododojo@lemmy.world 16 points 3 days 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 5 points 3 days ago (2 children)

I thought that was the world leaders.

[–] mojofrododojo@lemmy.world 6 points 2 days 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 4 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Topical. You should write for Leno.

[–] dumbass@piefed.social 7 points 2 days ago

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

[–] HikingVet@lemmy.ca 6 points 2 days 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 2 points 2 days 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.

[–] Ephera@lemmy.ml 10 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Oh man, this is one of the songs that lots of amateur bands have in their repertoire now, because of the clown association, even though it's actually quite a difficult piece.
So, I thought, maybe a recording on YouTube with *checks notes* 18 million views would be better. And let's just say this: Hahaha no.

🫠

[–] mrsemi@lemmy.world 10 points 2 days ago (2 children)
[–] f314@lemmy.world 4 points 2 days ago

Unironically much better!

[–] FudgyMcTubbs@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago

Nothing on PeerTube?

[–] cannedtuna@lemmy.world 9 points 3 days 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 3 days ago (1 children)
[–] MelodiousFunk@slrpnk.net 4 points 2 days ago

And calliope.

[–] Soup@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago (1 children)

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

[–] PugJesus@piefed.social 3 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days 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

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

Whoops! I think it's fixed now.

[–] RickyRigatoni@piefed.zip 26 points 2 days ago

Relevant slimetony post

[–] DandomRude@piefed.social 37 points 2 days ago (1 children)

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

[–] PugJesus@piefed.social 43 points 2 days 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!"

[–] e8CArkcAuLE@piefed.social 3 points 2 days 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)

[–] HotsauceHurricane@lemmy.world 7 points 2 days 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 2 days 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 1 points 2 days ago

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