What is your musical equivalent to apple pie?

black metal death grindcore

Not all apple pies are the same. Not always in the mood for pie, or music. There are to many possibilities to answer truthfully.

The musical compositions of ZUN. Nothing has nurtured my musical preference more than that mans work. It may be a predictable answer from people with a taste for that genre but apple pie is a little generic. Most people experience mother’s cooking or nurturing, or at least something they can compare it to. So I think it’s fitting that the answer be a bit generic for the genre.

Viking metal. And death pie.

The National Anthem as sung by Mariah Carey.

Simon and Garfunkel.

I like apple pie, but only ever so rarely, do I actually feel like eating it.

For music that reminds me of my mum and my childhood home, it would have to be 50s/60s rock-and-roll like the Beatles, Everly Brothers, Bobby Vee, Buddy Holly. That was my mum’s teenage era and she played it a lot when I was growing up. Likewise I inflicted my love for 80s music on my daughter when she was growing up.

Almost anything by Aaron Copland.

I imagine apple pie to be accompanied by banjo music.

Wait, are you asking about the type of music I equate to apple pie or which type of music is like apple pie to me?

Mine is baroque music. Like this.

George Gershwin.

Usually something instrumental like classical music. I love when you get the chills from listening to amazing music.

” For those who aren’t aware of the American symbolism of apple pie. It is evocative to mother’s cooking and nurturing.”

Maybe I’m completely off here, but the invocation of apple pie (see “American as”) always makes me think of a rallying cry of patriotism, specifically for some idealized America where baking involves rolling pins and window sills. Also that, despite the fact that I know precisely one person that makes apple pie from scratch (my sister), somehow this is meant to be a cultural common denominator awaking a happy nostalgia.

Since I have never known that America the whole thing strikes me as exploitation of an American fantasy. This can probably be traced back to my first reading of Catch-22 when I was in high school.

“Dunbar sat up like a shot. “That’s it,” he cried excitedly. “There was something missing – and now I know what it is.” He banged his fist down into his palm. “No patriotism,” he declared.

You’re right,” Yossarian shouted back. “You’re right, you’re right, you’re right. The hot dog, the Brooklyn Dodgers. Mom’s apple pie. That’s what everyone’s fighting for. But who’s fighting for the decent folk? Who’s fighting for more votes for the decent folk? There’s no patriotism, that’s what it is. And no matriotism, either.”

As such, the song I would must closely associate with apple pie is Phil Ochs’ Draft Dodger Rag.

The Beach Boys

Agree with @YARNLADY, Beach Boys. That was the first group that came to mind.

Then Mamas and Papas and Temptations.

@ragingloli I am not going ask.

@woodcutter I’m sorry my reference didn’t strike a chord with you (pun intended) You are of course correct in your assertion.

@Spoa Fair enough, I am not familair with ZUN so I won’t comment further other then it is on list to check out now.

@Symbeline Your mother must have been a great motivator. I briefly fell in love with some Norse mythology metal. It was great for the gym I wish I could remember the name or find more I liked. (hint, hint: ))

@zenzen I am guessing there is a visual component to this as well.

@whitenoise My it has been a long time since I have listened them. There are so many wonderful flavors out there why limit yourself.

@downtide My mother liked the Everly Brothers to and when I hear about Buddy Holly I get an instant ear worm of the Weezers.. Just like Buddy Holly, Oh Oh… Damn!

@Pachyderm_In_The_Room What a laudable and appropriate choice.

@TinyChi Actually I hadn’t given it that much thought. Either or there is no wrong answer. Banjo music is a key component to American folk music. When helping move my grandparents I found two ornate banjos that I thought were lovely, though I think the ukelale is surging lately because of the simplicity of it.

@marinelife I find baroque music intriguingly calming. I wonder why that is.

@filmfann George Gershwin now that is going to bug me. Was it him or Ira that composed ‘Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off.’? And was Ira Gershwin related to him or was that just an amazing coincidence?

@uberbatman I would have to agree. I have been brought to tears solely by Rachmaninov(off) I have seen it spelled both ways, I am unsure of the correct spelling.

@fundevogel Interesting. I believe the ‘American Pie’ thing came about in the 50’s when bigotry, sexism, and all other forms of repression were taking place. Thank you for bringing that to my attention. In view of your take on the question your song choice is perfect. -Confession I am a jaded idealist. I haven’t wanted to give up either part of me. So far the coexistence is manageable.

@YARNLADY Smiles who can resist invoking sunny beaches shaggy haircuts and record players, nostalgia when listening to the BEACHboys.

@linguaphile I still listen to the Temptations though I have yet to find a quality reproduction. And that long ass movie, or was it movies. Anyway many nights in my early teenage years were punctuated by that documentary.

Bing Crosby
“White Christmas”

(The Beach Boys was a very good answer!)

@SABOTEUR I’m dreaming of a White Christmas. Just Like the one’s I used to know. Where the tree tops glisten, and children listen.

That song along with the other one dammit I can only think of White Christmas lyrics right now but wait I’m trying really hard…

The one with chestnuts roasting on an open fire. Are songs I frequently sing hum or whistle at work long before Christmas is near…. The rich smooth crisp voices and images they invoke are heart warming.

@rosehips I think you’re referring to the Nat King Cole tune…Christmas Song.

I was thinking, though, that this apple pie image of America must have been created around the late 50s, early 60s. I find it interesting that I know what the image represents, though I’ve never experienced it. Yet, I’ve never really doubted that it existed somewhere in America.

I think the Norman Rockwell paintings vividly illustrated “apple pie”, and television helped sell it to the American public. This came to mind when I remembered the theme from The Andy Griffith Show (“The Fishing Hole”). Those characters and that town could have stepped out of one of those Rockwell paintings.

Anyway, that theme song is about as apple pie as you can musically get.

Gershwin did write “Let’s Call The Whole Thing Off”, as well as “Rhapsody In Blue” and about a million great tunes. His brother Ira wrote lyrics.

The Andy Griffith Show opening credits.

@SABOTEUR That is it.

I think we all know agree what the symbol represents because we all have experienced it vicariously. Propaganda. I am still waiting on the Norman Rockwell life even if I am not sure I want it and Norman Rockwell is long gone.

Are we any better then Hitler’s Germany? Maybe a little at least we aren’t killing thousands of threats.

We are able to have this discussion in a public forum without fear.

But really we have been brainwashed in a manner no different then the Third Reich.

I may not have watched the Andy Griffith show but I read Little House on the Prairie and watched The Little Rascals.

@filmfann Thanks for clearing that up for me. How marvelous that two were so sympatico.

Thank you for making me hungry
My one slice of apple pie is Missing You by John Waite.
It’s definitely not my favorite song, just as apple pie is definitely not my favorite dessert, but it’s comforting.