Lyrical theme songs for the Games are actually more of an American/Western tradition that began with Atlanta 1996. And musical themes (e.g. what John Williams does) began in 1968 when Leo Arnauld composed "Bugler's Dream":
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Bugler's Dream was only the theme used for America's Olympic Broadcasting network. Then John Williams adopted "Bugler's Dream" for the first segment of the 1984 Los Angeles musical theme (which is a new concept to Olympic Ceremonies).
Until Moscow 1980, Olympic Opening & Closing Ceremonies were much shorter and were just protocol. But Moscow added a cultural component, and then Los Angeles tried to beat the Soviet communists with a even splashier show...leading us to where we are today with the Ceremonies being a dazzling spectacle.
Williams composed the Olympic Fanfare/musical theme for Los Angeles 1984, and eversince then it has been incorrectly thought by many as the official theme of the Olympic Movement and IOC...mainly Americans think of it this way.
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Four years later, after L.A., Calgary and Seoul took it up a notch in 1988. We all know about David Foster's work for 1988, but the South Koreans also made a lyrical theme song of their own for their Games.
LYRICAL THEME SONGS OF THE OLYMPICS
Beijing 2008 -
"You and Me"
Torino 2006 - nothing
Athens 2004 -
"Oceania"
Salt Lake 2002 -
"Light the Fire Within"
Sydney 2000 -
"Dare to Dream", "Heroes Live Forever", "Under Southern Skies", "We'll Be One", "My Island Home", "The Flame"
Atlanta 1996 -
"Power of a Dream", "Reach"
Seoul 1988 - no idea what it's called
Calgary 1988 -
"Winter Games"
BEIJING
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SALT LAKE
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SYDNEY
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ATLANTA
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HOWEVER, note that most of the above mentioned theme songs performed at the Ceremonies of Olympics WERE NOT OFFICIAL THEMES OF THE OLYMPIC ORGANIZING COMMITTEE. For instance, Sydney didn't have an official theme song rather it had a vast collection of theme songs for the Opening Ceremony - the videos above. Rather, it simply made contracts with recording artists and studios to use music. And this is why VANOC's Smith-Valade said:
"There can be seven, eight, or 10 different pieces of music theatre identified with the Games," she added. "What it really comes down to is what the individual likes. For one person, one song may become their official song or the one they associate with the Games, but someone else might find another one that particularly appeals to them."
Olympic songs tend to be cheesy and usually aren't the thing I'd listen on my iPod, but Sydney's songs performed at their Ceremonies were truly amazing.
David Atkins had incredible renditions of the national anthems at the Sydney and Doha openings, and I believe he will do the same for Vancouver and make all Canadians proud. Listen to Advance Australia Fair at the Sydney Opening, it'll make you want to be Australian:
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*fingers crossed* that our Ceremonies won't blow. In my mind, Sydney's Ceremonies were the best ever. Yes, even better than Beijing's. Sydney's had heart and passion and was also visually stunning...Beijing while visually stunning came off as cold and sterile.
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