Greatest Official Olympic Songs/Themes

Attention!!!

The Olympics is the largest and greatest international sporting event with almost all the nations of the world coming together forgetting their petty differences and conflicts with each other. Rio 2016 kicks off today as tens of thousands of athletes compete in over 300 events in 28 sports. To coincide with the opening ceremony, Katy Perry releases the video for her newest single Rise which serves as the official English theme for the Games this year. Music has always played a significant role in the opening and closing ceremonies of this global sporting phenomenon, as host nations highlight their folk music and mainstream artists release inspirational anthems while the International Olympic Committee handpick official songs for the Games out of several nominees. 

Just like the official emblems and mascots which changes each time, there are official songs also for each Olympics. Some songs have gone on to become chart toppers while others have received numerous accolades including Grammys. Whitney Houston's One Moment In Time takes the crown as the most successful Olympic theme worldwide, followed by Vangelis' Chariots Of Fire, which oozes motivation from the first chord. Composer John Williams and vocal powerhouse Sarah Brightman are the only one with double entries. There are also two songs each from the 1984 Winter Olympics, 1988 Summer Olympics, 1996 Summer Olympics and 2006 Winter Olympics. 

This list does not include the Olympic Hymn, the chorul cantata composed by Spyridon Samaras and lyrics by Greek poet Kostis Palamas as after its inception at the 1896 Summer Olympics in Athens, it became part and parcel of the Games and was declared as the official Olympic Anthem by the International Olympic Committee in 1958 at the 54th Session of the IOC in Tokyo, Japan. Since 1960, it has been played at each Olympic Games: during the opening ceremony when the Olympic flag is hoisted, and during the closing ceremony when the Olympic flag is lowered, adjusted by the hosting nations to suit there cultural compositions. Therefore, this is now part of the Olympics and does not vary each year. The following are the 18 best official Olympic songs arranged according to their chart performance and accolades received. 

1. Whitney Houston – One moment in time (1988 Summer Olympics – Seoul, South Korea)
2. Vangelis – Chariots of fire (1984 Winter Olympics – Sarajevo, Yugoslavia)
3. Gloria Estefan – Reach (1996 Summer Olympics – Atlanta, United States)
4. Freddie Mercury & Montserrat Caballé – Barcelona (1992 Summer Olympics – Barcelona, Spain)
5. Katy Perry – Rise (2016 Summer Olympics – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
6. Muse – Survival (2012 Summer Olympics – London, United Kingdom)
7. Celine Dion – The power of the dream (1996 Summer Olympics – Atlanta, United States)
8. Björk – Oceania (2004 Summer Olympics – Athens, Greece)
9. Koreana – Hand in hand (1988 Summer Olympics – Seoul, South Korea)
10. John Williams – Olympic fanfare and theme (1984 Summer Olympics – Los Angeles, United States)
11. Sarah Brightman & José Carreras – Amigos para siempre (1992 Summer Olympics – Barcelona, Spain)
12. Andrea Bocelli – Because we believe (2006 Winter Olympics – Turin, Italy)
13. Richard Strauss – Olympische hymn (1936 Summer Olympics – Berlin, Germany)
14. Flipsyde – Someday (2006 Winter Olympics – Turin, Italy)
15. Liu Huan & Sarah Brightman – You and me (2008 Summer Olympics – Beijing, China)
16. Bryan Adams & Nelly Furtado – Bang the drum (2010 Winter Olympics – Vancouver, Canada)
17. Nikki Webster – We’ll be one (2000 Summer Olympics – Sydney, Australia)
18. John Williams – Call of the champions (2002 Winter Olympics – Salt Lake City, United States)

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Ultimate Anthems of All Time

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There are those songs which speak to your core that you can't help but sing along to them. These songs are a part of our lives wherever we are and knowing the lyrics of these songs are as mandatory as knowing the national anthems of our respective countries. Actually knowing the lyrics to these songs is not from memorizing, but from the fact that they are super easy to remember as the beat and the rhythm that go along with these songs have made it so that we do not forget them. From cricket, rugby and football matches these songs are played all over the world at world cups and championships. 

CCR's Have You Ever Seen The Rain is numero uno on this list as it is a clear classic and an unforgettable anthem. All of them are Rock with most of them leaning towards Pop Rock. Some of the most iconic artists and bands such as Elton John, Janis Joplin, Glen Campbell and Ben E. King are on this list alongside Guns N' Roses, Bon Jovi, Queen and Survivor. Queen leads the number of entries with 3 followed by Elton John with 2. One thing to note is that there are only a few entries by women with Gloria Gaynor with her I Will Survive the only female entry cracking the top 10. So here are the 25 ultimate anthems of all time:

1. Creedence Clearwater Revival – Have you ever seen the rain
2. Guns N’ Roses – Sweet child of mine
3. Bon Jovi – It’s my life
4. Bryan Adams – Summer of ‘69
5. Ben E. King – Stand by me
6. John Denver – Take me home, country roads
7. Neil Diamond – Sweet Caroline
8. Queen – We will rock you
9. Gloria Gaynor – I will survive
10. Glen Campbell – Rhinestone cowboy
11. Elton John – Crocodile rock
12. Puddle of Mudd – She hates me
13. Whitesnake – Here I go again ‘87
14. Big Brother and the Holding Company – Piece of my heart
15. Bob Marley – Could you be loved
16. Smokie – Living next door to Alice
17. Tom Jones – Green, green grass of home
18. Queen – I want to break free
19. Survivor – Eye of the tiger
20. Tina Turner – The best
21. Elton John – Saturday night’s alright
22. Aretha Franklin – Respect
23. Queen – We are the champions
24. Village People – Y.M.C.A.
25. Anastacia – I'm outta love

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Best Songs About Being Sorry/Ultimate Apology Playlist

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Sorry seems to be the hardest word since no one wants to give in. If you cannot admit that you have wronged a person and cannot express it with words, why not sing about it. There are many songs about forgiveness, some are about apologizing to another, while others are about how a person who has wronged you cannot be forgiven. With the recent emergence of global hits from the likes of Adele, Justin Bieber and Enrique Iglesias, it is definitely time for an ultimate apology playlist. Adele's record breaking smash hit Hello takes the crown, with Justin Bieber's equally titanic single Sorry takes second place. At third place is Evanescence's emotional unreleased single Forgive Me. Pop rules the roost in terms of genre with just a few Alternative Rock, Hip-Hop and R&B songs. So here are the top 30 songs about being sorry:

1. Adele – Hello
2. Justin Bieber – Sorry
3. Evanescence – Forgive me
4. OneRepublic – Apologize
5. Bryan Adams – Please forgive me
6. Willie Nelson – Always on my mind
7. Nicky Jam & Enrique Iglesias – El Perdón (forgiveness)
8. Chicago – Hard to say I’m sorry
9. Elton John – Sorry seems to be the hardest word
10. Akon – Sorry, blame it on me
11. Coldplay – The scientist
12. Hoobastank – The reason
13. Taylor Swift – Back to December
14. The Jackson 5 – Want you back
15. Madonna – Sorry
16. Nirvana – All apologies
17. T.I. ft. Andre 3000 – Sorry
18. Jason Derulo – Whatcha say
19. Britney Spears – Everytime
20. Akcent ft. Sandra N – I’m sorry
21. Weezer – Butterfly
22. Sarah McLachlan – Forgiveness
23. The Corrs – Forgiven not forgotten
24. Leona Lewis – Forgive me
25. Shawn Colvin – I’ll say I’m sorry now
26. Anita Baker – I’m sorry
27. Feist – So sorry
28. Ruben Studdard – Sorry 2004
29. Chris Brown – Apologize
30. Flyleaf – I’m sorry 

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Best Movie Songs of All Time

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Almost everyone loves watching movies, but there a lot of factors come into play for a movie to be a good one. Casting, acting, directing and more importantly for us music freaks a good soundtrack play an important role in making a good movie a great one. However, not all great films have great soundtracks, but some do, and these are more or less love stories or at least extremely inspirational ones.  Bryan Adams takes the crown for his Everything I Do in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, since it broke records in the United Kingdom when it was initially released and was number one in almost all the countries it charted, not to mention that it is one of the best selling singles and Bryan Adams' biggest hit of all time. At close second is Whitney Houston's cover of Dolly Parton's I Will Always Love You for the film The Bodyguard. It was a hard choice as to who should take the crown but Bryan Adams takes the peak since his song is original. Surprisingly, Kevin Costner stars in both these films. 

The Bee Gees have three entries in the top 30 itself for their three hits in Saturday Night Fever. Grease and Pretty Woman have two entries each as movies. Barbra Streisand, Bryan Adams, Olivia Newton John and Madonna have 3 entries each with Lionel Richie, Celine Dion, Irene Cara, Prince, Will Smith and John Travolta each having 2 entries. The film series with the highest number of entries in the chart is the James Bond series with 9 entries. Therefore, these are the best movie songs of all time based on chart performance and the accolades received worldwide. 

1. Bryan Adams – Everything I do (Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves)
2. Whitney Houston – I will always love you (The Bodyguard)
3. Debbie Boone – You light up my life (You Light Up My Life)
4. Celine Dion – My heart will go on (Titanic)
5. Bee Gees – How deep is your love (Saturday Night Fever)
6. Olivia Newton John & John Travolta – You’re the one that I want (Grease)
7. Duran Duran – A view to a kill (A View to a Kill)
8. Judy Garland – Over the rainbow (The Wizard of Oz)
9. Survivor – Eye of the tiger (Rocky III)
10. Wet Wet Wet – Love is all around (Four Weddings and a Funeral)
11. Bee Gees – Night fever (Saturday Night Fever)
12. Aerosmith – I don’t wanna miss a thing (Armageddon)
13. Irene Cara – Flashdance…what a feeling (Flashdance)
14. Boys II Men – End of the road (Boomerang)
15. Coolio ft. L.V. – Gangsta’s Paradise (Dangerous Minds)
16. Berlin – Take my breath away (Top Gun)
17. Lionel Richie & Diana Ross – Endless love (Endless Love)
18. Destiny’s Child – Independent women part 1 (Charlie’s Angels)
19. Celine Dion – Because you loved me (Up Close & Personal)
20. UB40 – Can’t help falling in love (Silver)
21. Seal – Kiss from a rose (Batman Forever)
22. Blondie – Call me (American Gigolo)
23. Adele – Skyfall (Skyfall)
24. Prince – When doves cry (Purple Rain)
25. Lionel Richie – Say you say me (White Nights)
26. B.J. Thomas – Raindrops keep falling on my head (Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid)
27. The Verve – Bitter sweet symphony (Cruel Intentions)
28. ABBA – Dancing queen (Muriel’s Wedding)
29. Bee Gees – Stayin’ alive (Saturday Night Fever)
30. Barbra Streisand – The way we were (The Way We Were)
31. R.Kelly – I believe I can fly (Space Jam)
32. Eminem – Lose yourself (8 Mile)
33. Barbra Streisand – Evergreen (A Star is Born)
34. Roxette – It must have been love (Pretty Woman)
35. Lulu – To sir with love (To Sir With Love)
36. Christopher Cross – Arthur’s theme (best thing you can do) (Arthur)
37. Kenny Loggins – Footloose (Footloose)
38. Madonna – Crazy for you (Vision Quest)
39. Huey Lewis & The News – The power of love (Back to the Future)
40. Starship – Nothing’s gonna stop us (Mannequin)
41. Phil Collins – Against all odds (Against All Odds)
42. Stevie Wonder – I just called to say I love you (The Woman in Red)
43. Los Lobos – La bamba (La Bamba)
44. Olivia Newton John – Magic (Xanadu)
45. Ray Parker Jr. – Ghostbusters (Ghostbusters)
46. Jon Bon Jovi – Blaze of glory (Young Guns II)
47. En Vogue – Don’t let go (love) (Set It Off)
48. Dolly Parton – 9 to 5 (9 to 5)
49. Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes – Up where we belong (An Officer and a Gentleman)
50. Evanescence – Bring me to life (Dare Devil)
51. Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart & Sting – All for love (The Three Musketeers)
52. Carly Simon – Nobody does it better (The Spy Who Loved Me)
53. Prince – Kiss (Under the Cherry Moon)
54. Paul McCartney & Wings – Live and let die (Live and Let Die)
55. Colour Me Badd – I wanna sex you up (New Jack City)
56. Olivia Newton John & John Travolta – Summer nights (Grease)
57. Isaac Hayes – Shaft (Shaft)
58. Percy Faith – Theme from A Summer Place (A Summer Place)
59. Peter Cetera – Glory of love (The Karate Kid)
60. Bruce Springsteen – Streets of Philadelphia (Philadelphia)
61. Simple Mind – Don’t you (forget about me) (The Breakfast Club)
62. Beyonce ft. Slim Thug – Check on it (The Pink Panther)
63. Sarah McLachlan – Angel (City of Angels)
64. Will Smith – Men in black (Men In Black)
65. The Cardigans – Lovefool (Romeo & Juliet)
66. Linkin Park – New divide (Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen)
67. All Saints – Pure shores (The Beach)
68. Bette Midler – Wing beneath my wings (Beaches)
69. Chad Kroeger ft. Josey Scott – Hero (Spiderman)
70. Will Smith – Wild Wild West (Wild Wild West)
71. Lisa Loeb & Nine Stories – Stay (I missed you) (Reality Bites)
72. Righteous Brothers – Unchained melody (Ghost)
73. Simon & Garfunkel – Mrs. Robinson (The Graduate)
74. Madonna – Die another day (Die Another Day)
75. Michael Jackson – Will you be there (Free Willy)
76. Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes – (I’ve had) The time of my life (Dirty Dancing)
77. Michael Andrews ft. Gary Jules – Mad world (Donnie Darko)
78. Roy Orbison – Pretty woman (Pretty Woman)
79. Irene Cara – Fame (Fame)
80. Shirley Basset – Goldfinger (Goldfinger)
81. U2 – Hold me thrill me kiss me kill me (Batman Forever)
82. Christina Perri – A thousand years (Twilight: Breaking Dawn – Part 1)
83. Limp Bizkit – Behind blue eyes (Gothica)
84. Don Omar ft. Lucenzo – Danza Kuduro (Fast Five)
85. Smash Mouth – All star (Rat Race)
86. Ewan McGregor & Nicole Kidman – Come what may (Moulin Rouge!)
87. Enya – May it be (The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring)
88. Kelly Clarkson – Breakaway (The Princess Diaries 2: A Royal Engagement)
89. Barbra Streisand & Bryan Adams – I finally found someone (The Mirror Has Two Faces)
90. Sheena Easton – For your eyes only (For Your Eyes Only)
91. Sixpence None the Richer – Kiss me (She’s All That)
92. Madonna – Don’t cry for me Argentina (Evita)
93. Pussycat Dolls – Sway (Shall We Dance?)
94. Garbage – The world is not enough (The World is not Enough)
95. Hilary Duff – Come clean (A Cinderella Story)
96. Diana King – I say a little prayer (My Best Friend’s Wedding)
97. Gloria Estefan – Heaven’s what I feel (Dance With Me)
98. Sophie B. Hawkins – As I lay me down (Now and Then)
99. Sheryl Crow – Tomorrow never dies (Tomorrow Never Dies)
100. Savage Garden – The Animal Song (The Other Sister)

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Greatest Love Songs of All Time

Attention!!!

What is Love? Nobody knows and nobody cares at this point. However, so many have written and produced love songs that it is the theme which drives the music industry. Love songs can be romantic, inspiring and sometimes super cheesy. From the golden 1960s to the mediocre 2010s we have millions of love songs but here I have compiled a list which I think are the greatest love songs of all time. Pop rules in terms of genre with a whole heap of songs from the 1980s and 1990s. Elvis Presley, Bryan Adams, Celine Dion, Diana Ross, Faith Hill, MLTR, Linda Ronstadt, Jason Mraz, Backstreet Boys, Alicia Keys, Kenny Rogers, Elton John, One Direction, Pink, Marc Anthony and Enrique Iglesias have numerous entries on the list with some one hit wonders as well. Presley's Can' Help Falling In Love is numero uno with Lonestar's Amazed at second place. So here are the 175 Greatest Love Songs of All Time:

1. Elvis Presley – Can’t help falling in love
2. Lonestar – Amazed
3. LeAnn Rimes – How do I live
4. Faith Hill – Breathe
5. Joshua Kadison – Beautiful in my eyes
6. Wet Wet Wet – Love is all around
7. Eric Clapton – Wonderful tonight
8. Bryan Adams – Everything I do (I do it for you)
9. Tim McGraw ft. Faith Hill – It’s your love
10. Christina Perri ft. Steve Kazee – A thousand years part 2
11. The Righteous Brothers – Unchained melody
12. Celine Dion – Because you loved me
13. Boys II Men – I’ll make love to you
14. Ed Sheeran – Thinking out loud
15. Etta James – At last
16. Bee Gees – To love somebody
17. Traci Chapman – Baby can I hold you
18. Whitney Houston – Saving all my love for you
19. Diana Ross & Lionel Richie – Endless love
20. Shania Twain – You’re still the one
21. Elton John – Can you feel the love tonight
22. Berlin – Take my breath away
23. Aerosmith – I don’t want to miss a thing
24. Celine Dion – To love you more
25. Kris Kristofferson – Help me make it through the night
26. Linda Ronstadt ft. Aaron Neville – All my life
27. The Pretenders – I’ll stand by you
28. Tina Arena & Marc Anthony – I want to spend my lifetime loving you
29. Vonda Shepard & Robert Downey Jr. – Chances are
30. Ellie Goulding – Love me like you do
31. The Bangles – Eternal flame
32. Foreigner – I want to know what love is
33. Donna Lewis & Richard Marx – At the beginning
34. Lady Antebellum – Just a kiss
35. Sonny & Cher – I got you babe
36. Ben E. King – Stand by me
37. Shania Twain – From this moment
38. Atlantic Starr – Always
39. Albert Hammond – When I need you
40. Lionel Richie – Hello
41. Macy Gray – I try
42. Goo Goo Dolls – Iris
43. Elvis Presley – Love me tender
44. Billy Preston – You are so beautiful
45. The Ronettes – Be my baby
46. Westlife ft. Diana Ross – When you tell me that you love me
47. Peabo Bryson & Roberta Flack – Tonight I celebrate my love
48. Edwin McCaine – I’ll be
49. Van Morrison – Have I told you
50. Savage Garden – Truly madly deeply
51. Lobo – I’d love you to want me
52. Rihanna – Diamonds
53. John Legend – All of me
54. The Waterboys – How long will I love you?
55. The Four Tops – Can't help myself (sugar pie, honey bunch)
56. The Cranberries – Linger
57. Bette Midler – Wind beneath my wings
58. REO Speedwagon – Keep on loving you
59. Norah Jones – Come away with me
60. John Denver – Annie’s Song
61. The Everly Brothers – Let it be me
62. The Police – Every breath you take
63. Barry White – You’re my first, my last, my everything
64. K-Ci and JoJo – All my life
65. Kelly Clarkson – A moment like this
66. Frank Sinatra & Nancy Sinatra – Somethin’ stupid
67. Bon Jovi – Thank you for loving me
68. Percy Sledge – When a man loves a woman
69. Justin Timberlake – Mirrors
70. Pink ft. Nate Reuss – Just give me a reason
71. Jennifer Rush – The power of love
72. Leo Sayer – More than I can say
73. MLTR – Paint my love
74. Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton – Islands in the stream
75. The Platters – Only you
76. Bruno Mars – Just the way you are
77. Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell – Ain’t no mountain high enough
78. Jason Mraz & Colbie Caillat – Lucky
79. Anne Murray – Could I have this dance
80. Linda Ronstadt & Aaron Neville – Don’t know much
81. Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes – (I’ve had) the time of my life
82. The Shirelles – Will you still love me tomorrow
83. Stevie Wonder – You are the sunshine of my life
84. Lifehouse – Hanging by a moment
85. Living in a Box – Room in your heart
86. Don McLean – And I love you so
87. Celine Dion – My heart will go on
88. Bee Gees – How deep is your love
89. Faith Hill – There you’ll be
90. George Jones – Walk through this world with me
91. Glen Medeiros – Nothing’s gonna change my love for you
92. Tina Turner – The best
93. Bryan Adams – Heaven
94. Daniel Bedingfield – If you’re not the one
95. Tony Bennett – The way you look tonight
96. NSYNC – This I promise you
97. Celine Dion – Falling into you
98. Savage Garden – I knew I loved you
99. The Corrs – Runaway
100. Alicia Keys – No one
101. Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes – Up where we belong
102. Everly Brothers – All I have to do is dream
103. All-4-One – I swear
104. Backstreet Boys – Drowning
105. Peabo Bryson & Regina Belle – A whole new world
106. Madonna – Crazy for you
107. Dusty Springfield – I only want to be with you
108. Shanice & Jon Secada – If I never knew you
109. Nickelback – Far away
110. Nat King Cole & Natalie Cole – Unforgettable
111. Meghan Trainor ft. John Legend – Like I’m gonna lose you
112. Dido – Thank you
113. Starship – Nothing gonna stop us now
114. U2 – With or without you
115. REO Speedwagon – Can’t fight this feeling
116. Enrique Iglesias – Hero
117. Jean DuShon – For once in my life
118. Kenny Rogers – Lady
119. Frankie Valli – Can’t take my eyes off you
120. Alicia Keys – If I ain’t got you
121. One Direction – You and I
122. Kylie Minogue & Jason Donovan – Especially for you
123. Love Affair – Everlasting love
124. Carrie Underwood – Inside your heaven
125. Elton John – Something about the way you look tonight
126. Peter Frampton – Baby I love your way
127. Belinda Carlisle – Heaven is a place on earth
128. Mariah Carey – My all
129. The Beatles – In my life
130. Celine Dion – If that’s what it takes
131. Stevie Wonder – I just called to say I love you
132. Jason Mraz – I’m yours
133. Backstreet Boys – Shape of my heart
134. Jessica Simpson – I wanna love you forever
135. Gary Barlow – Forever love
136. Clean Bandit ft. Jess Glynne – Rather be
137. Cyndi Lauper – Time after time
138. Lady Antebellum – I run to you
139. Boyzone – I love the way you love me
140. Donna Lewis – I love you always forever
141. The Jacksons 5 – I’ll be there
142. Elton John – Your song
143. Meiko – Reasons to love you
144. Take That – Rule the world
145. The Heights – How do you talk to an angel
146. Shania Twain – When you kiss me
147. Marc Anthony – When I dream at night
148. Mandy Moore – I wanna be with you
149. MLTR – Take me to your heart
150. Hootie and the Blowfish – Only wanna be with you
151. Vanessa Williams – Save the best for last
152. John Travolta & Olivia Newton John – You’re the one that I want
153. Ellie Goulding – Beating heart 
154. Lifehouse – You and me
155. Alicia Keys – Fallin’
156. Bryan Adams – When you love someone
157. Marc Anthony – I need you
158. Pink ft. Lilly Allen – True love
159. Ella Henderson – Yours
160. Bruno Mars – Treasure
161. Katy Perry – Unconditionally
162. One Direction – Night changes
163. New Romance – You’re my first love (head over heels)
164. Edwin McCain – I could not ask for more
165. R.Kelly & Celine Dion – I’m your angel
166. 98 Degrees – I do (cherish you)
167. Westlife – I lay my love on you
168. Enrique Iglesias – You’re my #1
169. Avril Lavigne – I’m with you
170. Ricky Martin & Meja – Private emotion
171. One Direction – Perfect
172. Laurentiu Duta & Andreea Banica – Shining heart
173. Babyface & Des’Ree – Fire
174. Extreme – More than words
175. Clay Aiken – The way 

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