Johann Pachelbel on This Day in History

This Day In History: German composer, Johann Pachelbel, was born on this day in 1653. JP is famously known for one song, Pachelbel's Canon (Canon in D), and since the 1960's this song has made it's way into pop culture starting with a few European bands in the 60's using the music for their own songs (Aphrodite's Child; Pop-Tops). In 2002, pop music producer Pete Waterman described the Canon as "almost the godfather of pop music because we've all used that in our own ways for the past 30 years". He also said that Kylie Minogue's 1988 UK number one hit single "I Should Be So Lucky", which Waterman co-wrote and co-produced, was inspired by Canon in D. The Farm's 1990 single "All Together Now" has its chord sequence lifted directly from Pachelbel's Canon.

The Pet Shop Boys' 1993 cover of "Go West" played up that song's resemblance to both Pachelbel's Canon and the Soviet Anthem. Coolio's 1997 "C U When U Get There" is built around a sample of the piece. Other songs that make use of the Pachelbel's Canon chord progression include "Streets of London" by Ralph McTell (1974), "Basket Case" by Green Day (1994), "Don't Look Back in Anger" by Oasis (1996) (though with a variation at the end) and Maroon 5 used the harmonic sequence of Pachelbel's Canon for their 2019 single "Memories".

In 2012, the UK–based Co-Operative Funeralcare compiled a list of the most popular, classical, contemporary and religious music across 30,000 funerals and Canon in D was the second most popular song at funerals. It was played at Princess Diana's funeral.

The Canon has gained a new found popularity among hard rock guitarists. Simply search "Canon Rock" on youtube.

See also: The Science & Appreciation of Classical Music - 175 Books on DVDROM