But what I really enjoy is the joy. Regardless of who wins or the country involved, for at least two weeks it doesn't matter. Instead we get to see that pure joy from an athlete achieving a dream, family and friends enjoying the success and fans around the world reveling in the moment. Joy in its purist form that has nothing to with lines on a map or political differences. It doesn't last long but its wonderful to see, if only because if you think about it, how often do you get to see real joy in your daily life? Not much, but for two weeks you get to see it over and over and over.
In the United States, the Olympics Games television rights are owned by NBC (starting in 1988 for Summer Games, 2002 for Winter Games). Their many hours of coverage always begins with a poetic introduction that shows off the host country and ends with their Olympics Closing Ceremony credit montage that summarizes the games in spectacular fashion and while it has the expected focus on the US, it doesn't remain entirely there.
The montage is something I look forward to as Olympics fatigue sets in. With the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games coming to a close today, it seemed like a good time to look at NBC Olympic introductory and closing credit montages over the years in reverse order. If some of this seems familiar, I did the same thing after the 2012 games. I tried to identify the music where possible besides NBC's traditional use of John Williams's "Olympic Fanfare and Theme", Leo Arnaud's "Bugler’s Dream" and Randy Edelman's "Theme from The Adventures of Brisco County Jr". Some of the videos are crap quality since NBC isn't willing to post their versions online.
Thanks to the Olympians for bringing two weeks of joy, peace and the competitive spirit. Looking forward to the next Olympics.
2014 Sochi Olympic Winter Games
Two montages were created with the "classic" closing credits airing at the end of the afternoon broadcast. A shorter second montage aired at the end of the closing ceremonies. Both can currently be found on NBC Live Extra app.
Credits Scroll Music: unknown; "We Own The Night" by The Wanted; unknown; "On Top of the World" by Imagine Dragons
2nd Montage Music: "Titan's Spirit" by Trevor Rabin from movie "Remember the Titans"
2012 London Olympic Summer Games
2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games
2008 Beijing Olympic Summer Games
2006 Torino Olympic Winter Games
Embed disabled, click link above
Music: "Finale" by Randy Edelman from movie "Dragonheart"; "Titan's Spirit" by Trevor Rabin from movie "Remember the Titans"
2004 Athens Olympic Summer Games
2002 Salt Lake City Olympic Winter Games
2000 Sydney Olympic Summer Games - Unable to find
1998 Nagano Olympic Winter Games
1996 Atlanta Olympic Summer Games
2014 Sochi Olympic Winter Games
Music: "Deep Heart" by Audiomachine; "Enjoy the Ride" by Oswin MacKintosh; "Breaking Through" by Audiomachine; "Equinox" by Audiomachine
2012 London Olympics Summer Games
2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games
2008 Beijing Olympics Summer Games
2006 Torino Olympic Winter Games
2004 Athens Olympic Summer Games
2002 Salt Lake City Olympic Winter Games
2000 Sydney Olympic Summer Games
1998 Nagano Olympic Winter Games
1996 Atlanta Olympic Summer Games
NBC did air a full credit/montage to the Sochi Olympics but it wasn't after the Closing Ceremony this time. Instead they aired it after their afternoon Olympic coverage today. I believe some songs they used included The Wanted-"We Own the Night" and Imagine Dragons-"On Top of the World."
ReplyDeleteI think the daytime (and maybe morning on NBCSN?) credits used "Dragonheart" for the credits, while the shortened primetime montage used "Titan's Spirit" (with its success-heartbreak-success progression that works so well). But feel free to check and post what you find! I found this blog invaluable for identifying these pieces after so many years. :)
ReplyDeleteCorrection: NBC used the "Dragonheart" piece for landscape footage (as usual), followed by pop songs over the credits. NBCSN did something else.
ReplyDeleteGreat post. Glad I found. I live the montages at the end just as much as you. As someone who works in TV, I can say that these are the best edited pieces you can find. And, Yeah it was weird that they did the credit role after the afternoon broadcast ended at 6 PM, and not after the Closing ceremony. (I always like to see my collegues who work on the Olympics in the credits) Plus it was wierd Costas did not do the Closing Ceremony. I didnt notice the song they used for the credit montage, but the end montage after CC was Titan Spirit.
ReplyDeleteIt's a shame that Costas didn't do the outro to the closing credits (probably because he's still recovering from conjunctivitis). He always refered to "the names" beforehand in previous Games.
ReplyDeleteI also adore the montages. I even have the ones from Vancouver as a video file on my phone. It's a nice snapshot of all the moments I saw and missed throughout the fortnight of competition, and the music NBC uses is usually quite grand indeed (for Sochi, they used some pop tune for the credits- bleh- but for the full montage, it was majestic).
Thanks for compiling these into one location.
This was the worst montage in NBC's 12 year history of using the Titans Spirit theme. They not only cut short the song but didn't even lead into it with the theme from Dragonheart. I look forward to seeing the beautiful scenery of the host country and then the grand finale with Titans Spirit. The 2008 and 2012 summer games montages have to be two of the greatest ever made. This one wasn't in the same league...
ReplyDeleteThanks for the info. NBC surprisingly posted the "NBC Credit Roll" on their Live App so got to watch. I wasn't able to identify the two instrumental tracks used during it nor find a non-app link to the video.
ReplyDeleteAnyone had any luck finding the sochi closing ceremony montage with the Remember Titan's music?
ReplyDeleteHi there,
ReplyDeleteDoes anybody know how I can find the Credit Montage from the afternoon NBC broadcast? I would very much like to see it! Thank you very much!!
http://m.nbcolympics.com/video/index.html?v=nbc-credit-roll
ReplyDeleteThank you thank you thank you for providing this awesome blog... I caught the song from The Wanted, but couldn't remember the other one (Imagine Dragons) It still haunted me until I found this site this morning. Thank you also for sharing your thoughts and memories of these olympic games. Joy and Peace indeed!!
ReplyDeleteThey also used "the decision to turn around" from the perfect storm soundtrack for the Sydney opening montage
ReplyDelete