John Williams - OlympicTheme Call of the Champion-Recording

[7927jackpark]

What a great legacy! And he'll inspire generations of composers long after he passes....and you don't need to watch something to truly appreciate how great the man's talent is!

[TheWingGundam]

1 person is not a champion... i gotta say thats pretty good!

[LeoW2012]

@TheWingGundam "i gotta say thats pretty good!" .. if you mean your comment with that, i gotta say it's pretty lame

[oasotam]

it sheds my skin, these themes

[jbeatles99]

GENIOUS BETTER THAN MOZART!

[darkprose]

There's mistaking a Williams' composition. The heart, the grandeur -- his style is overwhelmingly present in every bar.

[darkprose]

@darkprose There's NO mistaking it, I meant, of course...

[Spindriftful]

When John Williams dies, it'll be big. Who will Steven Spielberg hire to replace him?

[blondiepianist]

@Spindriftful

Howard Shore? LOL. I know, there's really no one out there with his style that is as good as him.

[kirbydan465]

Amazing! Incredible. Thank you John Willams.

[kirbydan465]

One word, amazing! Thank you John Williams.

[kirbydan465]

Only one word - unbelievable. Wow! How many human beings can compose this increible piece and stand in the middle of 200+ world class musicians? My God. Brilliant.

[thecopykidofthestarz]

see how John isnt a show off, he is a gentleman about his work.

he is world Class, I mean he is the best of them all. and yet he respects those he works with as if they are greater than he is.

I have so much respect for the man for that reason.

[nightswimmer99]

@thecopykidofthestarz I agree. He understands that his compositions are only marks on paper without the dedicated musicians who translate them into music. Wise man.

[vampireeclipses91]

I love seeing him AT his best..while he's conducting! Soo much more amazing live, but here is just as thrilling. <3 Best composer EVER!!! <3 <3 <3

[TeamKween2010]

If someone has the full album can they upload it to YouTube. I love this amazing work by the great John Williams :)

[vampireeclipses91]

@TeamKween2010 i actually have the full album. plus the williams and spieglburg collaboration,and the williams on williams cd. sooo yeah :)

[TeamKween2010]

@vampireeclipses91 Do you think you can upload all the tracks to YouTube or upload them to a Mediafire account? :)

[vampireeclipses91]

@TeamKween2010 uhmm i could attempt. my computer is slow though

[mrdrodrigues]

Everything John Williams composes sounds extraordinary. Listen to this! It's magic!

[LLJtbone]

This is very exhilerating music. The chorus just makes it that much more exciting to hear.

[43018nat]

he is a genious!!!!!

[PghAirportArea]

@43018nat It's hysterical that someone can't spell genius. (You apparently are not.)

[oasotam]

god of war 3 is coming

[BlinkinFirefly]

I LOVE JOHN WILLIAMS HE IS MY FAVORITE COMPOSER!!! And I believe the best of our time. =) this Olympic theme is nothing short of MAGICAL!!! Swifter Higher Faster Clearer!!!

[starwarsworld]

good thing he isn't mormon!

[starwarsworld]

is John Williams Mormon?

[Wahpinga]

@starwarsworld Yes, John Williams is a Moron.

[EaiteRandjamee]

@starwarsworld No, unfortunately he is not Mormon to my knowledge. However, he has taken the helm of both the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the Orchestra at Temple Square a few times. World class performances all. Good question +1 Karma.

[Towmotorseth]

@starwarsworld No, he is his own deity. No reason for him to follow a religion.

[horsegerbil]

John Williams and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Both incredible.

Put together...

Amazing!

[ajb1776]

As a Catholic, I come to the defense of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. It is a world class choir that holds its own. John Williams is right to work with them.

[jesus316]

Is it just me, or does it sound a bit like hymn of the fallen from Saving Private Ryan during the choir?

[jgreen3900]

@jesus316 maybe somewhat...Williams and many other composers have a "habit" of borrowing their own music and adapting it for different purposes---either way, GREAT song by Mr. Williams!

[petronopulas]

The difference between Mozart , Beethoven and john Williams is the former are both dead. Mr Williams is very much alive and turns out some spectacular music. Well remarked Zoltan

[k6musicteacher]

I too love John Williams, but.... he has been correctly accused of "borrowing" the work of other's throughout history to compete his music scores. I could elaborate but I will just say that, John's original stuff is spectacular!

[Tan2Mill]

John Williams calls the Mormon Tabernacle Choir a "world class artistic institution." I'm pretty sure his opinion is held in much higher regard and has more experience behind it than NateMelo614's.

[Hail2TheVictorsBaby]

reminds me of the first time I ever saw Sasha Cohen.

[danplusplus0]

Did that person down there just call the Mormon Tabernacle Choir a poor excuse for a chorus? That's really funny.

[firesyde424]

Please, tell me why you consider Mozart and Beethoven masters, but not John Williams? And it had better be a good reason. John Williams's music is every bit as popular and creative.

[munchkin0518]

To all you idiots droning on about Beethoven- if Mozart and Beethoven could sit down with Williams and have tea together, even they would applaud him and say, "We've got to hand it to you. Your music is something else." Genius would recognize genius. They might even ask him for some tips. So take your Beethoven afficionado crap somewhere else. It doesn't belong here.

[ThaSchwab]

Yes, but Beethoven and Mozart both are and will be better than John Williams. Williams is great composer, and everything, and I truly enjoy his music, but let's face it. Beethoven and Mozart were masters.

[k6musicteacher]

The biggest difference between Mozart, Beethoven and Williams is that ALL of Mozart and Beethoven's works are originally their own. Williams cannot truly say that and look himself in the face. I love John Williams work, but unfortunately, that is the truth!

[TeensAreNotChildren]

>>>ALL of Mozart and Beethoven's works are originally their own.

Completely false.

Mozart and Beethoven and even Bach borrowed liberally from other european composers (especially the Italians during the Ranaissance). Remember we didn't have copyright laws back then, so copying was considered a compliment to the original author.

[k6musicteacher]

Mozart and Beethoven's goals were to CHANGE music (extend the harmonic phrases, make the development sections more diverse). The worst thing they did when they borrowed a melody was to CHANGE it for the sake of musical development. Williams borrows numerous motifs without bothering to change the key, tempo, or even the original instrument the melody was written for. This is what I mean when I say their works are their own and Williams is correctly accused of copying.

[andrescubamusico]

Hi, of course I believe in freedom of speech, but please, Can you tell me Why do you think that?. You can write me a private message if you want to. Thanks!.

[zoltan902]

What the hell is going on in these comments??? If you've got nothing positive or informed to add, then keep quite, and you'll remain the more intelligent for it.

[gpdaza53]

This music was used to great effect by the Ateneo de Manila High School in two of its Intramurals Opening ceremonies. Thanks for the superb music, Mr. Williams! You are the MASTER!

[EccoLima]

Take Beethoven's 9th and take out the orchestra and chorus. It remains outstanding. Take Williams and arrange him for solo piano. Boring. He's just efect.

[betenoireXX]

He's still my favorite

[CountDukie]

Mormon Tabernacle Choir is the BEST

[NateMelo614]

oh god...

[CountDukie]

what?

[NateMelo614]

they're a terribly poor excuse for a chorus.

[CountDukie]

wow

[kid16183]

I sang this in a live concert!

[omarxcpre]

higher...stronger....faster

[maxaholicbby]

swifter, higher, faster

[tamtran0208]

it was worse than Summon The Heroes , but longer than Summon The Heroes

[Rexpilot0990]

Much like your mom's performance.

[BahamutWolf]

Anyone got the mp3 of this song?? I would like to have it as I have the other 3 called "Olympic Fanfare and Theme", "Summon The Heroes", and "Olympic Spirit"

[BoeingRules]

You can find them on iTunes.

[betenoireXX]

OMG John Williams was my favorite when i was younger!

[wikitokyo]

素晴らしい！

[pfbinh]

I like his transitions

[jokerazzurro]

Ennio Morricone is the best one

[Kuntipac]

Yea right. And you are Bill Gates.

[YogaNate79]

John Williams will be remembered as the King of Music who easily beats Beethoven, Mozart, Chopin, Wagner, Vaughn, Elgar. Nobody matches John Williams ever and that is a fact.

[isamec]

Wow. This is full in my mind. John Williams is problably the most advanced composer and of OUR TIME (!!!) HE is the composer of World Piece (since Olympics, noone composer had this title) and I think the best composer ever! He will die. His works live FOREVER!!!

[isamec]

Wow. This is full in my mind. John Williams is problably the most advanced composer and of OUR TIME (!!!) HE is the composer of World Peace (since Olympics, noone composer had this title) and I think the best composer ever! He will die. His works live FOREVER!!!

[hdelaveg]

While I love John Williams, and he is one of my favorites, I think that it is awful foolish of you to say that he transcends Mozart and Beethoven. I promise you one thing...John Williams himself would heartily disagree with you on that.

[Kersebos]

that's just something stupid to say

[magshx]

How can you compare composers of totally differrent era of music??

[YogaNate79]

And how can two other notable American composers such as Barber and Gershwin be compared then?

The works of the old classical composers are outdated. Williams, Horner, Barry, and Silvestri make music for films that appeal to us. I mean come on when was the last time someone sat and listened to Fur Elise?lol! John Williams music runs circles around Mozart, Bach, Beethover, Wagner, and Chopin.

[magshx]

And you're trying to tell me that when a composer writes music for people living in later era he's better? If you really mean what you say, then in hundred years every composer that'll be considered as contemporary should be better than Williams was?

The quality of a composer depends on his talent, music education and luck. Not on the time when he lives!

[YogaNate79]

People will always listen to the oldies. All I am saying is that music trands change with the times. Peoples tastes of music constantly change. Most composers these days would not sit in front of the piano and make something up like Canon in D, although very beautiful.

Can you imagine the movie Jaws with a msical score with something as Moonlight Sonata? How ridiculous would that be?

[magshx]

No doubt, but you can't say that if Mozart would born in these times he couldn't write maybe a better Jaws music. You simply can't compare two composers of different music era, mainly because they're composing music for another purpose and "music fashion".

[YogaNate79]

Mozartcould not have written a better theme for Jaws because that sort of music was not his expertise. John Williams writes film scores as does James Horner, Alan Silvestri and John Barry. Mozart wouldn't have a clue about contemporary composing at all. He wrote concertos not film scores.

[magshx]

You seem to be a little out. I'm off course talking about the talent of the composer. Imagine that Mozart (or similar) is born in these times with contemporary education. How can you say he has no chance to be better?? Expertisement depends on the way the musician is focused on!! If Williams is more expertized in film music, it's because he's on it all his life. If there were same conditions for Mozart and Williams... you can't know who'd be better!!

[YogaNate79]

Its like saying that George Gershwin could compose Fur Elise or Mozart could have composed Rhapsody in Blue.

John Williams is a master because he has his own style that is uniqie from everybody else. His works for Jaws, Star Wars, ET, Schindlers List, and Saving Private Ryan are works of art.

Certainly nobody could replicate Da Vinci's Mona Lisa and neither could anyone replicate William's Olympic Fanfare.

[magshx]

No doubt, John Williams is a master, but as well as music advances, the music style is changing. I really doubt that if you'd play Williams' piece in times of Mozart, they'd say "Mozart is much better!". But this is not because of he's better, but because his music is more favorite in that times, so comparing composers of different era is absolutely irrelevant. Every composer is affected by the time he lives in!

[YogaNate79]

Even more so it has changed within the past 50 years. What Henry Mancini composed for Breakfast at tiffany's seems rather simple than what someone such as Horner or Goldstein are producing in the 21st century.

And likewise, I am sure that in 50 years time, someone will look back on Horner's Titianic score and laugh.

[magshx]

If you look at Mozart's score and laugh, then sorry but you're probably musical outsider.

Have you ever heard a piece of him or Bach or some music geniuses of music history?

[YogaNate79]

Many in fact.... my entire lap top has the complete works of J.S. Bach, Mozart, Beethover, Wahgner, Chopin, Lizst, Tchiakovsky, Gershwin, Mancini, Williams, Horner, Barber, Vivaldi, Pachelbel, Clarke, Elgar, Schubert, and many many others.

[magshx]

And despite you still think Williams beats them all? If so, then it's not a fact, but your personal opinion.

By the way I didn't ask what you have in your laptop, but whether you listened to them. E.g. I have about 20 hours Dvorak's music I've never listened to in my laptop.

[YogaNate79]

Personally I prefer Edward Elgar or Samuel Barber.... Nimrod and Adagio for Strings are shear genius.

[magshx]

How should this be understood? That you actually disagree with you own? You said that Williams "beats them all" :)

[YogaNate79]

I retract my previous statemkent partially.

John Williams beats all of the film score composers in the world. Not all musicians.

Horner, Barry, Goldstein, Elfman, and Silvestri are all good.... but Williams is King.

[magshx]

Now I might agree with you...

[YogaNate79]

Next to Henry Mancini and George Gershwin.... John Williams is the man.

[wimmzey]

I think you mean to say GOLDSMITH not GOLDSTEIN right? he deserves to be remembered right. and Horners piece "south hampton" from titanic will never be laughted at.

[GoldenGoalie21]

This is what I want to do with my life

he is part of my inspiration

[allenpaul1971]

John Williams is a piece of Americana

[samblackhole]

and (in my opinion) he's the best componist of the world...

[jordank23]

Well Said. His music has truly become a piece of American Culture when you think about it...

[rachelcakes1985]

And the world.

[tptmaster90]

His music is amazing. I consider him one of the best, if not the best, American composers of all time. From love themes to fanfares, is there anything John Williams can't write?

[daredevil101888]

It doesn't matter whether John Williams "stole' or "borrows" music. He is a genius no matter how you slice it. His music is absolutly amazing (even that might be an understatemet). I could listen to his scores all day, sometimes I do.

[0079110]

But he is GIANT in film music production. Liked him last time, but feel that his music a bit boring and too John William style....But he is great.

[mjfindlay1968]

I have the DVD Light of the World and some clips of this is on that. He is America's composer and he is conducting America's Choir. SO lovely.

[trombonation7]

AMAZING what a great composer! Brilliant

[felixxxf]

the mozart of this era.... simply stunning....

[bradleighstockwell]

I am a huge fan of Williams - and heard live, his music is overwhelming - but I cringe when I read of him being compared to composers who turned out symphonies, concertos, quartets, masses, etc. He has almost single-handedly preserved the tradition of symphonic music, but he's not Mozart or Bach or Mahler. He owns his own place and no one can come close to him there. He writes one type of music brilliantly, but to call him our era's Mozart, um, er . . .

[jspartacus]

Agreed. His compositions are fun, but highly contrived. All cinematic composers fall into this category; it's their job to make nice, safe, accessible music to accompany and accent a visual, not overwhelm it by taking center stage. His music is akin to Big Macs, Coca-Cola, Twinkies... hugely popular with the masses, but nutritionally vapid.

[bradleighstockwell]

I think if he cut back on the film work he might come up with something great, but it's getting late in the day. I think of Erich Korngold; he had it ALL and was brilliant. He wrote operas such as "Die Tote Stadt" and was on the fast track to becoming the successor to Strauss and Mahler. He wound up in Hollywood turning out Romantic film scores that became "The Hollywood Sound," but the torrent of GREAT works ended. Korngold described the arc of his career as "From Genius to talent." Ouch.

[jspartacus]

John Williams has potential, but sadly, he wastes his talent catering to the lowest common denominator. Yeah, he can write stuff that tugs at the heartstrings, or gives ominous overtones, but honestly, John Williams is just a movie composer. People fail to recognize the difference, but they're the same people who put Chris Botti and Miles Davis in the same category.

[PierceHardwood]

You have to be kidding me. Have you heard any of his concert music? You say he doesn't, that he's just a movie composer, when there's so much evidence to the contrary.

[jspartacus]

His concert music is nothing special. It's neither innovative nor particularly interesting. It merely exists as a highly contrived means of pulling at the heartstrings. If you've fallen spell to this, your musical palette must consist of Twinkies and Big Macs. That's your choice, of course. Someone has to keep the pockets of the big corporations (who pay to have this drivel churned out) lined with money.

[PierceHardwood]

Pulling at the heartstrings? How does Five Trees do this? Or Soundings? Or his Viola concerto? Or his 'cello concerto? Such works attempt to musically portray ideas; sure, they don't attempt to innovate through technique, but merely style. This is of the branch of Ravel, Beethoven, Stravinsky (et cetera) rather than Lutoslawski or Hindemith; perfectly valid.

You fell to ad hominem so quickly. There was no need.

[NateMelo614]

He's composed for more movies, shows, and events, than any composer of the modern age. You dont know what you're talking about, and your little analogies make no sense, they're quite stupid, actually. John Williams is a great composer and will never be recognized as anything less.

[jspartacus]

Williams will only be remembered as a movie composer, and never in the same breath as Debussy, Bach, or Beethoven. Even if McDonalds started churning out amazing basil salmon terrine... they're famous for Big Macs.  Hate to pop your bubble, but you asked for it.

[NateMelo614]

He's actually a world renown classical guitarist as well...He's composed for much more than the classical composer's have. He's composed for many media events and the Olympics, hes composed for the most famous franchises of our day...Comparing Williams to Beethoven and Bach (Debussy sucks), is stupid because music has changed greatly since then, and, they were the first real composers of classical music that people recognized, its a totally different league. If Beethoven existed today and not

[NateMelo614]

hundreds of years ago, he'd probably only be known as a "movie composer" ...you're probably just some fat arse (judging by your love for comparing genres with fattening foods and beverages) who just comes on youtube to pick fights with people...there have been more people on this page who support williams than people like you who dont...so we've won, drop it...

[ThePiano1991]

He is not a classical guitarist, that is the other John Williams. This John Williams was a recording artist in a jazz band (he played the piano) before he started to compose for film.

[BowieZ]

Williams will only be remembered by WHOM? A bunch of cynical elitists?

Billions of people know and love Williams' music and it will live on forever in history. Yes, he is primarily a film composer, but there's no shame in that. Films are an artform, and so is film music.

Grow a pair of balls and admit that something popular can be excellent quality and inspire millions of musicians.

[Adian00]

I don't care that you don't like him - everyone has an opinion but you can't deny that John Williams has made signifigant contributions to Music.

[ThePiano1991]

Thats your opinion, but let me tell you, he will be rememberd for all his works, film or concert. He has done some amazing works from the film music scene, for very special events!

[f1khamba]

Music doesn't have to cater to a small segment of society in order to be brilliant. John Williams has the god given ability to write a melodic line that touches the hearts of millions of people across the world regardless of origin, culture, or nationality. To say this man's craft is "cookie cutter" music and then compare it to twinkies and big-macs is absolutely absurd and disrespectful.

[f1khamba]

Spartacus: If you think his compositions lack depth or musical creativity in any form, I'd love to hear what you consider great music.

[jimmydm64]

Those that say he is genius have never studied compostition or musical theory. He is jsu "today". What the "layman" fails to realize is that he is standing on the shoulders of the truly genius composers of the 19th and 20th centuries. Stravinsky, Holst, Tchaikowsky(Sp), Vaughan-Williams, Britten...etc.

[samkittycat61]

U know if Williams had only done all those star wars and raiders i would agree. BUT step aside. Williams also did Schindler's List which SOUNDS like none of those composer u listed. He has changed the way we listen to music not just for Movies, but Orchestra.

[bachopinberg]

John Williams stands on the shoulders of Stravinsky who stands on the shoulders of Debussy who stands on the shoulders of Chopin who stands on the shoulders of Bach who stands on the shoulders of ...ehm ect (I studied composition and all of them are genius)

[tiffanynicolega]

MMEd here... whats your point???? if you want to say John "stole", Wagner would be more accurate, but your tauting that as if it makes you more intelligent than everyone else?? So what if the layman realized it or not. It doesnt detract from what they enjoy or the FACT that JW is one of the greatest soundtrack composers of the 20th Cent. (and yes there are otheres)I agree with bachopinberg below.

[tiffanynicolega]

Einstein (differant field I know) said "If I have seen farther than any man, it is because I have stood on the shoulders of GIANTS!"

I think old John is in goood company!!!

[jimmydm64]

and...I urge everyone who loves John Williams to listen to the scores of some of these forgotten (at least popularity wise) composers and tell me you don't hear shocking similarities. Especially Stravinsky, who I know every film composer steals..um borrows from. John Willams happened to be in the right place exactly the right time. There are many great composers who can write just as brilliant music. And.. for the record the credit should go to George Lucas for saving symphonic music in cinema.

[jordank23]

And I urge you sir, one who HAS studied music theory and composition to note, that every composer stands on the shoulders of the prior talent. Maybe he is at the right moment in time and the right place, but it is HE who is, not joe smith, or Sandy Clair.  John Williams found a way and had the right talent and melody in his mind to create and connect with these generations. That's like saying Stravinsky didn't stand on someone elses shoulders at his time. Come on now.

[jordank23]

Oh but to clarify, I'm not compairing him to the greats of that time, I'm just stating that he is John Williams and he is the one who made it in his time, so he deserves credit. Making statements such as he stole yada yada, well what he's the only composer to "LIFT" from others? Many composers do it all the time every day intentionally and not, but none of them have become John Williams....

[BicT31]

Well said and John Williams is one of the great ones in my opinion. I can almost bet he will be remembered for as many years as Bach or Mozart.

[pianokeys37]

Well, apparently you have not studied music theory or composition either, because one of the worst "thieves" of music was...oh...STRAVINSKY. He, himself, said it best..."good composers borrow, great composers steal." Perhaps you should check your attitude and knowledge at the door. There hasn't been an original composer in hundreds of years (and that includes, Beethoven, Wagner, Schoenberg)...that's what makes the art form so unique...it is one ever-evolving work of art...

[marchingguy]

Beautiful. How music should be done!

[shortyg53]

Which film does this theme make you think of? SUPERMAN? HOOK? STAR WARS? HARRY POTTER? ET? HOME ALONE? It's SOOOOO Breathtaking and Heroic, it nearly bringing tears to my eyes.

[joelhillan]

One of the most brilliant musical minds in the history of the world.

[saltlakecity2002]

Yes, of the 20th/21st century. John Williams is brilliant!!