Chariot

“Chariots of Fire - Titles”
Chariots of Fire album cover
Single by Vangelis from the album Chariots of Fire
Released	1981
Genre	New Age
Length	3:33
Label	Polydor
Writer(s)	Vangelis
Producer	Vangelis

"Chariots of Fire" is an instrumental theme written and recorded by Vangelis for the soundtrack of the 1981 film of the same name. The recording has since been covered by numerous performers and used as theme music for various television programmes and sporting events.

On the film's soundtrack album, the piece is called "Titles" because of its use in the movie's opening titles sequence, but it widely became known as "Chariots of Fire". According to Allmusic, the track title was listed as "Chariots of Fire - Titles" on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart, and simply as "Chariots of Fire" on the Adult Contemporary chart.[1] A 1989 CD single release also gave the title of the piece simply as "Chariots of Fire".[2] When the single debuted at #92 on the Billboard Hot 100 during the week ending Dec. 12, 1981, it was known simply as "Titles." Seven weeks later, when it moved to #68, the Hot 100 chart dated Jan. 30, 1982, the single was now listed as "Chariots of Fire" and stayed with that name for the remainder of its chart run. Radio listeners and radio DJs could now better identify with the song.

Vangelis was accused of plagiarising "Chariots of Fire" from a song by fellow Greek composer Stavros Logarides called "City of Violets". Vangelis won in court^[1] by convincing the judge to allow him to bring his setup to the court and demonstrate his method of composing by improvising new music.^[2]

Chart Positions

"Chariots of Fire" enjoyed one week at number-one on the Billboard Hot 100 in May 1982, after climbing steadily for five months (it made #1 in its 21st week on the chart), and to date remains the only song by a Greek artist to top the U.S. Charts. It was Polydor's first-ever #1 single in the U.S.^[3]. The single spent 64 weeks on the Australian charts, although it only peaked at #21. In Japan, "Chariots of Fire" was the biggest-selling single of 1981.^[4] The track proved moderately successful in the UK, where it reached #12, but its parent album peaked at #5 and spent 107 weeks on the album chart.

Video

A video clip was made of Vangelis playing "Chariots of Fire" on acoustic piano in front of a projection of the film.

Cover versions

Innumerable cover versions of "Chariots of Fire" have been recorded in all styles by all manners of artists, including the orchestral sounds of John Williams and the Boston Pops, the electric guitars of The Shadows, the acoustic guitar of Bronn Journey, the 150-bpm house by Trance Opera, the soft piano of Richard Clayderman, the pan flute of Zamfir, and the jazz of The Bad Plus.

Vocal recordings of "Chariots of Fire" have been made by Italian female soprano Gioaria, Mireille Mathieu and Demis Roussos, with lyrics provided by Jon Anderson.^[5][6]

Appearances in other media

Lists of miscellaneous information should be avoided. Please relocate any relevant information into appropriate sections or articles. (June 2008)

• "Chariots of Fire" is often used for slow-motion sequences and parodies of the sports genre. It was used in the soundtrack of National Lampoon's Vacation and Mr. Mom (both 1983), Happy Gilmore (1996), Good Burger (1997), Bruce Almighty (2003), and Madagascar (2005, also included in the soundtrack album), in all cases in parodic slow-motion sequences.
• "Chariots of Fire" was used as the theme for the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo.^[7]
• The theme was used by the BBC as the opening theme for their coverage of the 1984 and 1988 Summer Olympic Games.
• Other films released in theaters crediting Chariots of Fire are: How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (2000), Old School (2003), Bruce Almighty (2003), and Kicking & Screaming (2005).
• On television, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation episode "Dead Ringer" uses music from "Chariots of Fire".
• In "Chariots of Fur", a Monsterpiece Theatre featurette on Sesame Street.
• In the 1990s, the song was used in the introduction to the Swedish television programme Mitt i naturen (In the middle of nature).
• The song was used during the introduction of the Macintosh in 1984.^[8]
• The theme is used in NBC's The Office during character Michael Scott's Dunder Mifflin advertisement (Episode 4.05 "Local Ad")
• The theme is used during the title screen of the NES port of Track & Field

Preceded by "I Love Rock N' Roll" by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts

Billboard Hot 100 number one single May 8, 1982

Succeeded by "Ebony and Ivory" by Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder

Notes

1. ^ Dennis Lodewijks' Elsewhere
2. ^ Dennis Lodewijks' Elsewhere
3. ^ Vangelis interview to Keyboard magazine, December 1992
4. ^ BBC Top of the Pops 2, January 1982
5. ^ Dennis Lodewijks' Elsewhere
6. ^ Dennis Lodewijks' Elsewhere
7. ^ Dennis Lodewijks' Elsewhere
8. ^ Steve Jobs demos Apple Macintosh, 1984 at YouTube

External links

• Song Review from Allmusic

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