# NBC Olympic Theme

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nbc-olympic-theme/344043>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [February 11, 2006, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nbc-olympic-theme/344043 "2006-02-11T23:35:45Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\
**Post date:** [February 11, 2006, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nbc-olympic-theme/344043/1 "2006-02-11T23:35:45Z")

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BOOM  
BOOM-BOOM  
BOOM

DAHHHHH  
DAHHHHH  
DAH-DAH-DAH-DAH…

Does the NBC Olympic Theme have a proper name? Does anyone know if it’s available on iTunes?

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**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\
**Post date:** [February 11, 2006, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nbc-olympic-theme/344043/2 "2006-02-11T23:42:12Z")

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I think you’re thinking of [Bugler’s Dream](http://www.newhousenews.com/archive/story1b021802.html).

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**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\
**Post date:** [February 11, 2006, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nbc-olympic-theme/344043/3 "2006-02-11T23:47:46Z")

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> [@Dewey Finn](#):
>
> I think you’re thinking of [Bugler’s Dream](http://www.newhousenews.com/archive/story1b021802.html).

That sounds like it, from the history. Can’t find it on iTunes. Can’t hear a sample at Amazon because I’m using the Mac at the moment and I don’t have Windows Media player or Real Player on it. (Only QuickTime.)

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**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\
**Post date:** [February 12, 2006, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nbc-olympic-theme/344043/4 "2006-02-12T02:07:06Z")

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NBC is using two theme songs during these Olympics. The slower one, as already mentioned, is _Bugler’s Dream_, the traditional Olympic fanfare. The faster, more upbeat one is the anthem for the 1984 Summer Olympics by John Williams.

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**Author:** ![light\_strand](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a6a055/32.png) [@light\_strand](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/light_strand)\
**Post date:** [February 12, 2006, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nbc-olympic-theme/344043/5 "2006-02-12T02:46:21Z")

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Fanfare for the common man?

From your description it’s hard to say, bet generally the Olympic theme is [“Fanfare for the Common Man”](http://www.wwnorton.com/classical/covers/62401.htm) by Aaron Copeland.

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**Author:** ![Kepi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kepi/32/7251_2.png) [@Kepi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kepi)\
**Post date:** [February 12, 2006, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nbc-olympic-theme/344043/6 "2006-02-12T04:03:25Z")

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> [@light strand](#):
>
> Fanfare for the common man?
> 
> From your description it’s hard to say, bet generally the Olympic theme is [“Fanfare for the Common Man”](http://www.wwnorton.com/classical/covers/62401.htm) by Aaron Copeland.

Copland’s fanfare has never been generally associated with the Olympics. It was, however, used significantly in the Opening Ceremonies of the ‘84 Los Angeles Games, as was John Williams’ “Olympic Fanfare and Theme”. NBC has used Williams’ theme extensively in its Olympic broadcasts over the last 20 years.

No, the theme Johnny is describing is definitely Arnaud’s “Bugler’s Dream” which ABC made famous with its Olympic broadcasts during the 70s. The “boom boom boom boom” he describes would be the timpani intro, followed by the bugle part.