"Smoke on the Water"/"Beethoven's Fifth".

This one goes to my dear friend Dear Vinchattle. OK, boys and girls, back to the 70s: Even though Deep Purple songs were credited to all five members of the group, lead guitarist Ritchie Blackmore definitely came up with the timeless main riff of "Smoke on the Water" (1973). Blackmore is classically-trained and many of his guitar lines are based on traditional music. Rumors started circulating shortly thereafter that the song's main riff was the opening of one of the best-known classical pieces played backwards. Classical piece? True of false? Answer: Well, kinda, sorta... During a 2007 interview, Blackmore addressed the rumors that the main riff of "Smoke on the Water" was the first eight notes of "Beethoven's Fifth Symphony in C Minor, Op. 67" played backwards. He admitted that it was an "interpretation of inversion" and a "variation". A little artistic license. The first eight notes of the Fifth are GGGEb FFFD "Fate knocking at the door". The "Smoke on the Water" riff goes G Bb C G Bb Db C G Bb C. It evokes Ol' Ludwig but certainly disproves the rumors. So there! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2FzZSBD5LE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOk8Tm815lE&t=23s

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