The Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (SOCOG) in association with Sony Music Australia and BMG Australia will join forces to release the official album of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony it was announced today.
The album, ‘The Official Soundtrack: The Games of the XXVII Olympiad – Music from the Official Opening Ceremony’, is currently being recorded in Melbourne, home of the MCG where today’s announcement of the line-up of the stars for the Ceremony took place.
The CD will be released exclusively on 15 September at Sydney Olympic Park, Homebush Bay. This will be followed by a nationwide release on Monday, 18 September.
The soundtrack will capture the inspirational live performances from the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony by Australia’s premier artists in a special commemorative package.
All tracks on the album have been written specifically for the Games and the artists chosen reflect the enormous diversity and talent of Australian music.
This album will encapsulate some of the more memorable moments of the Opening Ceremony such as Tina Arena’s performance of ‘The Flame’, John Farnham & Olivia Newton-John’s duet ‘Dare to Dream’, ‘Heroes Live Forever’ by Vanessa Amorosi and a very special version of the National Anthem.
The album will also feature Julie Anthony AM , OBE., Human Nature, talented newcomer Nikki Webster.
‘While there is no gold medal for music there’s no doubt the music of the Opening Ceremony is one of the features of the Olympic Games that will capture everyone’s feelings at the time. I am really thrilled and proud that Sony Music Australia and BMG have teamed up to produce the official album of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. I believe the album will reflect the contribution to the world’s biggest event.’ – Dennis Handlin, Chairman & CEO, Sony Music Entertainment Australia.
‘We are honoured to be part of this exciting Olympic project that brings together some of Australia’s greatest musical talents. Our composers, our musicians and our most loved performers will bring the Opening Ceremony to an emotive climax. This is the music that will launch the 2000 Olympic Games, and it is also the music that will have a permanent place in the memories of millions. The CD recording, which will be released to the public directly after the Opening Ceremony, will be the ultimate keepsake of the Sydney Games. Congratulations to everyone involved.’ – Tim Prescott, Managing Director of BMG Australia
Featured tracks include:
The Flame – Tina Arena
Dare To Dream – Olivia Newton-John & John Farnham
Heroes Live Forever – Vanessa Amorosi
Under Southern Skies – Nikki Webster
Other artists featured on the CD include:
Julie Anthony, Human Nature, Bruce Rowland, Elena Kats-Chernin, David Page, Michael Askill, Chong Lim, Paul Grabowsky/Ian Cooper/John Frolich, Pee Wee Ferris, David Hirschfelder, David Stanhope, Richard Mills and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.
The CD is an official licensed product of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games Consumer Products program and will be available from The Olympic Super Store at Sydney Olympic Park from 15 September 2000.
It will also be available at The Olympic Stores, David Jones, Kmart, music stores nationally and the official Games website www.olympics.com from 18 September.
Source: SOCOG