You may not agree, but I think there are points of contact (presumably quite coincidental) between the slow movement of the Third Symphony and the song Hello by Lionel Richie. Crazy idea, to be sure, but there is something in the hypnotic way that the phrases rise and fall, so romantically yet so gently, that makes me think this way.

The exam question is as follows:
Does this similarity:
EITHER
demonstrate that good musical concepts can exist in a variety of contexts and media, and bring pleasure to countless listeners in whatever form they occur;
OR
show that Sibelius could only manage to write an orgy of variations on a cheap tune* that makes Lionel Richie look like a model of restraint?
[see recent postings in other threads, by gum!]

I think you know my answer!

*Point of order: can a tune actually be cheap? Have you seen how high the copyright and material hire fees are these days?

I think I do know your answer. As for mine, it is somewhat different. I'm thinking it was utter coincidence. In the amount of time between the time Sibelius wrote his third and Lionel Richie wrote "Hello," countless songs must have been written in a huge variety of styles. Undoubtedly several have somewhat resembled the Sibelius, but none other than Richie's have made it so big, or made the similarities so obvious (take your pick). That's my thought! Next!

Andrew B, you're right in implying that a tune cannot be cheap, it'$ all about the money.

In terms of its quality, certainly, a tune can be cheap. Defining a "cheap" tune however, is a difficult task, because "cheap" does not necessarily imply "bad". A bad tune is obviously one lacking in invention, interest, direction, range, cohesiveness and perhaps going a step further one that is underpinned by uninteresting harmonies.

By contrast, a cheap tune may have some or all of the elements of a good melody present, but perhaps in the wrong proportions, or perhaps used in a way that is formulaic and derivative. To support that type of definition on an exam paper, one would obviously have to offer a bevy of examples... and my school days are over. I suppose then the ultimate reference for a non-exam-writing pundit is intuition... One simply knows a cheap tune (Nessun dorma) from a good one (2nd mvmt of Sibelius' 3rd).

First Ronnie Hazelhurst, now Lional Richie!

Personally I myself feel that the second movement of Sibelius's Third has a far greater kinship with the Allegretto from Brahms Third. As for Nessun Dorma, surely this is one of the finest tunes ever written.--kullervopete.