Sky’s the limit for the uses of familiar work
“Rhapsody in Blue” not only is performed all over the world, but has become part of our culture. Here are some examples.
United Airlines: Even if you never have flown the “friendly skies,” or if you fast-forward through commercials, “Rhapsody in Blue” comes to mind when you think of the airline. How many customers have waited on hold for a representative since United adopted the work as its theme song in 1987? In the movies: Robert Alda as George Gershwin in the 1945 movie “Rhapsody in Blue” is the most obvious example. The composition has had many other appearances, including “St. Louis Blues” (1929), “King of Jazz” (1930) and “The Great Ziegfeld” (1936). The music also represented New York City in such movies as “Fantasia 2000” and Woody Allen’s “Manhattan” (1979). And in the 2013 version of “The Great Gatsby,” directed by Baz Luhrmann, the piece marks the first appearance of the title character played by Leonardo DiCaprio. Miscellany: The Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson loves the piece and feels that “Good Vibrations” is “a smaller, psychedelic version of ‘Rhapsody in Blue.’ ” ... Eighty-four pianists played the piece simultaneously at the opening ceremony of the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles . ... Herbie Hancock and Lang Lang performed the music at the 50th Grammy Awards in 2008.
And lest we forget: It wouldn’t be a cultural experience if the Simpsons weren’t involved. Television’s first and foremost family used the work in the 2010 episode “Elementary School Musical” and in 2012 in “The D’oh-cial Network.”