O Fortuna has been used, a LOT. The often satirical manner in which it’s been used has been highly criticized and even berated by some critics since the piece was originally meant to be a very powerful and meaningful work of art. Honestly it says more about those that would say such things than it does about those who still love the music and feel that it carries the same punch each and every time that it’s meant to. A song of any type doesn’t need to be limited by what it’s meant to be, no matter how it’s viewed by those that believe they know what’s best. O Fortuna can be enjoyed as a comedic addition or as a serious and pulse-pounding favorite as it as intended.
Here’s a few different clips to show just how that’s possible.
5. The General’s Daughter
This movie is largely about the investigation of just how the general’s daughter was found naked and splayed out on a training field for all to see. Travolta’s character is the military cop that has the unfortunate duty of having to sort out the facts and get right down to the worst part of the job, finding out that it was someone he looked up to that helped to perpetrate the crime.
4. Jackass: The Movie
Jackass is all about comedy. Hard, physical, hysterical, and often times gross comedy, but still enough to make people laugh. Using O Fortuna to introduce the movie and cast isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it would count as satire and some people might have an issue with it. Personally I though the intro was one of the absolute best parts of the entire movie.
3. Excalibur
Excalibur is hailed as one of the all-time best renditions of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. It has everything from sword-swinging knights to wily magicians that tend to do what they think is right as opposed to what people want. As far as medieval movies go it’s remained one of the absolute classics since it’s release and likely will so long as there are those that remember it.
2. Cheaper By The Dozen
Nothing livens up a party quite like a live snake running around, and nothing would ruin it any quicker than for the birthday boy to be smashed by the father of his buddies. Cheaper by the Dozen would be another satirical use of this song and probably heavily frowned on. Honestly I’m not sure as this fit but then again I’m not in charge of the movie, so oh well.
1. 300
As glammed up at is was and as far away from history that this movie got it was still an epic to witness in the theater. Even if it was more than just 300 Spartans, and it was, the deck was certainly stacked against Sparta and their allies. This is where O Fortuna actually meant something close to what was it intended for in the first place.
You can take it as you like just as any other song, but the meaning never really changes.
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