Olympic Votes

[Josh500 1,620]

Since yesterday was the IOC's vote on where the 2014 Winter Olympics should be held (truth to tell, I'm glad Sochi won, I never rooted for Salzburg!), I was listening to JW's Olympic themes. And it came to me just how GREAT the Olympic Fanfare and Theme is. Especially from 3:10 onwards, it gives me goosebumbs. I really love that trumpet fanfare, you know what I mean! At 2:54 (and again at 3:23) you can hear it very well!

I always thought Summon the Heroes is my favorite, but for now at least, I probably would vote for the Los Angeles Theme. What do you think?

P.S. I didn't include the Olympic Spirit here because that's not an official theme, just something composed for NBC.

[hornist 1,242]

I love the Olympic Fanfare and Theme (Los Angeles) but Summon the Heroes (Atlanta) is even better , perfect music for the Games.

Call of the Champions (Utah) never really worked for me.

[AI 0]

Summon the heroes. is the best Olympic theme.

It represents everything that John Towner Williams stands for.

The cat rises above, and then does it again and again. This piece is masterful.

[Greg1138 3]

Call of the Champions never did it for me - but a tough call between the other two...........have gone for Summon the Heroes after much deliberation!!

[Farawyn 0]

For a long time, I didn't like Summon the Heroes ; the theme didn't seem "hummable" enough to me. Yet for some reason, I listened to it again a few months ago, and loved it ! It's now definitely my favorite olympic theme.

The two others are nonetheless incredible ( "Altius-Fortius-Citius-Clarius" : wow ! ).

[Ollie 1,364]

1984 Olympic Theme.

[Red 75]

"Summon the Heroes"

[Jim 6,172]

The Oylmpic Spirit.

[King Mark 3,908]

Olympic fanfare and Theme

[Damo 0]

I like the Summon the Heroes better out the three.

[JoeinAR 1,955]

there is only one decent piece of music listed and that is the 1984 Olympic theme, it is perfection, the others are shadows.

[BLUMENKOHL 1,090]

The Olympic Hymn by Spyros Samaras.

[Incanus 5,884]

Summon the Heroes is the quitessential Olympic fanfare for me. It was the first Olympic theme I ever heard from JW and it has stayed my favourite ever since.

[pixie_twinkle 60]

Interesting how the votes diminish the more recent the piece is. Although I love John Williams and his quintessentially American sound I do find his more recent concert-celebration pieces to be rather "by the numbers" in comparison to his earlier and fresher sounding pieces. Olympic Fanfare and Theme is a piece that feels as if it's always been there. It's a true great. Summon the Heroes feels a little less enthusiastic (and has the whole Fanfare for the Common Man opening thing...), though I still find it very exciting. Call of the Champions is easily the least rousing of the three, and the most repetitive IMO. Having said that I still give it a spin occasionally and get those pangs of American pride. Even though I'm English

[scissorhands 16]

Call of the Champions

[Trumpeteer 304]

Even with "Bugler's Fanfare" taken out, the 1984 theme is perfection. The button at the end knocks me out every time.

[Kendal_Ozzel 36]

Summon the Heroes, without a doubt.

[Josh500 1,620]

Even with "Bugler's Fanfare" taken out, the 1984 theme is perfection. The button at the end knocks me out every time.

What do you mean button???

[Marian Schedenig 11,335]

Summon the Heroes feels a little less enthusiastic

Really? I find it the far more ambitious piece. Fanfare & Theme is great of course, but it's somewhat by the books, whereas Summon is a bit unexpected and as a result has (for me) more scope.

[MrScratch 296]

I love the Olympic Fanfare and Theme (Los Angeles) but Summon the Heroes (Atlanta) is even better , perfect music for the Games.

Call of the Champions (Utah) never really worked for me.

That's exactly how I feel, Summon The Heroes is definitely the best.

Jeff

[Composer_Fan 2]

Wow, I guess it's just scissorhands and me for Call of the Champions. I don't know why I'm moved so much by it. That piece has the potential to get very old very quickly; it's very repetitive. But what keeps it from becoming tired is how JW mixes up the orchestrations and rhythms at different times. The choir also adds a nice touch, even if it's just "Ah" most of the time.

The other two are fantastic pieces as well!