John Williams on the 30th anniversary of "Olympic Fanfare and Theme"

TODAY: "The Hollywood influence on Olympic theme music "
John Williams, the man responsible for countless tunes hummed and whistled by moviegoers on their way out of theatres for the last 40 years, plays a little seen but often heard role in the Olympic Games. In addition to the iconic soundtracks of Star Wars and Indiana Jones, the five-time Oscar-winner is the composer the Olympic score. Williams, who penned the famous piece of fanfare for the 1984 Summer Games in Los Angeles, explains the origins of the theme music you've probably had in your head since the Opening Ceremony.

[@johnhooyer3101]

John Williams makes me cry.

[@Yesnog05]

No matter how many times I watch the Olympics, I get a little teary eyed every time I hear the Olympic theme and fanfare in between commercials

[@natepeace1737]

Our generations Mozart, and Beethoven! Mr. Williams you are under direct orders not to ever die - Your Good Friend God

[@daradiant1]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 For real!

[@handznet]

Exactly

[@kjw79]

Love the sparkling textures of flute and piccolo over the heroic brass and driving snare rhythms. It’s so hummable!

[@thejoint25]

He is the Beethoven of our lifetime. He'll be remembered for centuries to come.

[@bryan_tang]

affirmative

[@-C.S.R]

Dude I just wrote the save thing! You beat me by 4 years!

[@chorlauheung4920]

Remember first listening to this theme as a child back in 1984. I was at home watching the Olympic Games Opening Ceremony on television. I was bedazzled by all the pastel colors and pageantry. Then came the music. John Williams was conducting his acclaimed piece at the Los Angeles Colisseum. As soon as I heard this energetic and pulsating theme, I became hooked as a longtime fan and proponent of the Olympic Games. Over the years, I have had opportunities to meet Olympic Hall of Famers/gold medalists (i.e. Sammy Lee, Rafer Johnson, Mark Spitz, John Nabor, Carl Lewis, Kim Rhode), held Olympic gold medals, held Olympic torches, visited an offical USA Olympic training center, speak before the Los Angeles City Council in support of the L.A. 2028 Olympic Games bid, and, meet the maestro himself, John Williams! The only thing left in my repertoire of things Olympic is to attend an actual Olympic Games, particularly the Opening Ceremony. Hope that happens one day in my lifetime! Sad that the Games aren't happening this year though, due to Covid-19. Still very optimistic and hopeful that they will happen next year in 2021!

[@TheRetroWoman80]

Tears of joy when I hear his compositions, especially this one.

[@sj4632]

John Williams is a modern day Mozart.

[@locofinchaviary]

I hope they do call of champions again in Salt Lake 2034. Most magical thing I've ever seen and heard

[@stevebailey3827]

What a beautiful, beautiful piece of music. Thanks for posting this interview -- I hadn't heard of it!

[@JohnSmith-iu3jg]

You're a bug.

[@stevencounts2570]

Only shows clips from Winter Olympics, but the song was made for LA84 (Summer)

[@RaymondHng]

The _Today Show_ was airing this during the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi.

[@-C.S.R]

He’s our generations Beethoven! He’s an absolute legend!!!

[@greggable2408]

Nobody better! PERIOD!

[@TB1M1]

The passage at 0:17 still gives chills. I wonder how long it took JW to write that part.

[@JuanWayTrips]

I feel bad for every composer who is tasked with composing a theme for each Olympics after 1984, because it will never be able to top this one! The only one top John Williams was John Williams himself for the 1996 Olympics. He'll be 96 for the 2028 Olympics, so hopefully he has one more Olympics in him left!

[@user-rn1lb8sx2c]

Inspiring

[@jackpleus8485]

Like Star Wars shows the prequels

[@charleyhibschweiler4555]

Jack Price Another happy landing

[@colinstubbs7670]

the reporter said brivato: /

[@ultimateredstone]

Bravado I think :)

[@jslasher1]

A poorly written comment on this iconic work.

[@oksanacyr3994]

ehh