The Theme Song for Olympic Games: Best Olympic Music

The Olympic Games have long been associated with stirring theme songs and powerful musical compositions that capture the spirit of athletic excellence and international unity. From classical orchestral pieces to pop anthems, Olympic themed music has evolved over the decades to inspire athletes and audiences alike. This article explores the rich history and diversity of theme songs for the Olympic games, highlighting iconic works that have become synonymous with the world's greatest sporting event.

Part 1. Olympic Themed Music

Olympic themed music encompasses a wide range of styles and genres, all designed to evoke the grandeur and emotion of the Games.

Anthems and Hymns of the Early Olympics

The history of music written for the Olympic Games dates back to the 1734 opera L'Olimpiade by Vivaldi which was set during the ancient games. In 1896, the modern Olympics saw the premiere of Spyridon Samaras's Olympic Hymn which featured lyrics by Kostis Palamas. This powerful choral cantata set the tone for future Olympic musical compositions. Another important early anthem was Walter Bradley-Keeler's Hymne Olympique which was adopted after Samaras's hymn fell out of favor.

Patriotic Anthems of Berlin and Beyond

Bradley-Keeler's hymn became the official anthem but Germany still wanted their own for Berlin 1936. Richard Strauss composed the Olympische Hymne which was performed by the Berlin Philharmonic. This showcased how host nations often sought to create their own musical identity for the Games. Nation-specific anthems have remained part of opening ceremonies, adding local flavour to the international event.

Part 2. Theme Song from the Olympics

The concept of a singular theme song from the Olympics has evolved, with certain pieces becoming closely associated with the Games.

Iconic Instrumental Pieces

Though not intended for the Olympics, Leo Arnaud's Bugler's Dream became synonymous with the games after its use in the 1964 Winter Olympics coverage. This brass fanfare has since become one of the most recognizable Olympic themes, especially in North America. Dmitri Shostakovich's Festive Overture served as the theme for Moscow 1980, bringing a touch of Russian classical music to the Olympic soundscape.

These instrumental works demonstrate how powerful melodies can become inextricably linked with the Olympics, even when they weren't originally composed for that purpose. Their ability to convey excitement and grandeur without lyrics made them ideal for television broadcasts and ceremonies.

Ceremony Commissions

Philip Glass's The Olympian was made for the torch lighting at the Los Angeles 1984 opening ceremony. So too was John Williams's Olympic Fanfare and Theme which began his long association with the games. These compositions were specifically crafted to enhance the visual spectacle of Olympic ceremonies, providing a musical backdrop to iconic moments like the lighting of the Olympic flame.

Commissioned pieces like these allow for a perfect marriage of music and Olympic symbolism. Composers can tailor their work to fit the exact mood and pacing of ceremonial events, creating unforgettable audio-visual experiences for audiences worldwide.

Adopted Movie Themes

Vangelis's Chariots of Fire, though from the 1981 movie, resonated and was adopted as the Sarajevo 1984 Winter Olympics theme. This electronic instrumental piece became so closely associated with the Olympics that many people assume it was originally composed for the Games. Its adoption shows how powerful film scores can transcend their original context to become part of the Olympic musical tradition.

Part 3. Best Songs of the Olympics

While instrumental pieces often dominate Olympic ceremonies, vocal songs of the Olympics have also played a significant role in recent decades.

1. The Olympic Spirit

For Seoul in 1988, NBC hired John Williams again who made The Olympic Spirit. Williams also produced pieces for subsequent games like Summon the Heroes for Atlanta 1996. These works, while not official Olympic themes, became closely associated with the Games due to their prominence in American television coverage.

The creation of broadcast-specific themes highlights the growing importance of television in shaping the Olympic experience. These pieces serve as audio branding for networks, helping to create a consistent and recognizable Olympic viewing experience for audiences at home.

2. Canto Olympico

Mikis Theodorakis's six-movement Canto Olympico was aimed at the cultural aspects of Barcelona in 1992. Philip Glass also contributed large-scale works like Orion for Athens 2004. These ambitious compositions sought to explore deeper themes of Olympic history and ideology through music, often incorporating elements of the host nation's musical traditions.

Such works demonstrate how Olympic music can go beyond mere fanfare to become a form of cultural expression and exploration. They provide a musical commentary on the significance of the Games and their place in global culture.

3. First Steps

Elbow's energizing song First Steps accompanied BBC's coverage of London 2012, blending orchestra, choir and band. This approach represents a more recent trend of incorporating popular music into Olympic themes, making them more accessible to a wide audience.

The use of contemporary pop songs allows the Olympics to connect with younger viewers and reflect current musical tastes. It also provides opportunities for collaborations between classical and popular musicians, creating unique Olympic soundscapes.

4. Shostakovich: Festive Overture (Moscow 1980)

Composed in 1947 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the October Revolution, Shostakovich's vibrant piece was chosen as the official theme for the 1980 Moscow Olympics. The event remains memorable and somewhat controversial due to the boycott that occurred in response to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

5. Leonard Bernstein: Olympic Hymn

Leonard Bernstein was commissioned to compose this piece for the 1981 International Olympic Congress held in Baden Baden, Austria, in September 1981. With lyrics by Günter Kunnert, the Hymn premiered at the opening of the congress, attended by Pope John Paul II, HRH Prince Philip, and the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

6.John Williams: Summon the Heroes (Atlanta 1996)

The Olympics returned to the US in 1996 for the Centennial Olympic Games, prompting the IOC to commission John Williams for another American anthem. The result is one of Williams's most thrilling compositions and a standout example of Olympic music. Dedicated to trumpeter Tim Morrison, "Summon the Heroes" was performed for the press in London earlier in 1996 and officially premiered at the opening ceremony on July 19, 1996, by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and conducted by Williams.

Part 4. Download Olympic Themes with HitPaw Video Converter

For those inspired by Olympic music and wanting to enjoy it beyond the Games, HitPaw Video Converter offers a powerful solution for accessing and converting these stirring compositions.

HitPaw Video Converter is a versatile software tool that allows users to download and convert music from various streaming platforms. It's particularly useful for obtaining Olympic-themed music that may be available on platforms like YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, Amazon Music or other streaming services.

Features of HitPaw Video Converter

• Download Olympic theme songs from YouTube Music, Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music and more
• Download Olympic music to various formats (MP3, WAV, M4A, FALC)
• Remove protection from the songs so you can listen to the Olympics songs on any device
• Preserve original quality and ID 3 tags
• Batch download and convert multiple files simultaneously
• User-friendly interface for easy navigation
• Fast processing speeds for quick downloads and conversions

How to Download Olympic Music from Spotify in HitPaw Video Converter

We will show you how to download Olympic music from Spotify in HitPaw Video Converter easily. The steps are similar for other music stream services.

• Step 1:Install and launch this program to a PC or Mac computer. Launch it and go to the Music tab. Open the music downloader feature you like.

  

• Step 2:If you have an account, we suggest you log in to your Spotify account in the web player. Nevertheless, you can download Spotify music without premium account.

  

• Step 3:After successful login, you can search and listen to music directly in the web player. When you open a track, playlist or album, simply click the Download button to start parsing the music info.

  

• Step 4:After analysis, you can preview the music info, and select a desired output format and quality.

  

• Step 5:Finally, click the Convert All button to start downloading Olympic music to local folder.

  

After the downloading process is completed, you can listen to the Olympic songs offline on any device.

Conclusion

The theme song for the Olympic games has evolved significantly since the early days of the modern Olympics. From classical hymns to electronic instrumentals and pop collaborations, Olympic music continues to inspire and unite people around the world. These songs of the Olympics not only enhance the spectacle of the Games but also leave a lasting cultural legacy.

Meanwhile, Olympic music enthusiasts can easily build a personal collection of their favourite theme songs for the Olympic games by using using HitPaw Video Converter. The music downloader feature can download all Olympic songs to MP3.