this post was submitted on 27 Feb 2026
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Explanation: You've almost certainly heard Entry of the Gladiators even if not its name. It was originally intended as an uplifting military march, like fearless and proud gladiators presenting themselves to the crowds of the arena.
... but almost everyone who knows it associates it with clowns and carnivals anymore.
It's kind of how "nimrod" now means idiot: source forgotten, irony lost, joke missed.
The band in my high school played it as a warm up everyday of the semester; my accounting class was right next door. I hate the song.
To be fair, clowns and carnivals were the gladiators of their age.
and football and mma are the clowns of our age.
times change but it all has the same bullshit vibe.
I thought that was the world leaders.
Topical. You should write for Leno.
Come on man, my jokes are shit, but not that shit.
nope. the leaders use the circuses and clowns to distract from their terrible policies.
and the number of people who care more about sportsball vs. the number engaged in their own democracies, proves it works.
Wow this is a really cool TIL. Listening to it I can definitely hear how it was composed for marching.
Needs more slide whistle.
And calliope.
Your link is broken.
Whoops! I think it's fixed now.