Chariots of Fire (single)

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The single "Chariots of Fire" features the instrumental "Titles" taken from the score album of the 1981 film "Chariots of Fire". The piece was composed, arranged, produced and performed by Greek musician Vangelis.

A video clip of "Titles" has Vangelis playing acoustic piano in front of a projection of the film.

[edit] Chart Positions

"Titles" hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 on May 8, 1982, where it stayed for two weeks after climbing steadily for five months (it made #1 in its 21st week on the chart). It was Polydor's first-ever #1 single in the U.S.^[1] Only one other instrumental track, 1985's "Miami Vice Theme", by Czech musician Jan Hammer, had also topped the U.S. chart as of 2006.

The single was also #1 in other countries. In the U.K., it reached #12, whereas its parent album peaked at #5 and spent 107 weeks on the album chart. In Japan, it was the biggest-selling single of 1981.^[2]

[edit] Covers

Uncountable cover versions of "Titles" have been recorded in all styles by all manners of artists, like 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, the jazz of The Bad Plus.

"Titles" has even been sung more than once: by Italian female soprano Gioaria, by Mireille Mathieu, and by Demis Roussos, with lyrics provided by Jon Anderson.^[3]^[4]

[edit] Miscellanea

Vangelis was accused of plagiarising "Titles" from a song by fellow Greek composer Stavros Logarides called "City of Violets". Vangelis won in court^[5] by convincing the judge to allow him to bring his setup to the court and demonstrating his method of composing by improvising new music.^[6]
"Titles" was used as the theme for the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo.^[7]
"Titles" is often used for slow-motion sequences and parodies of the sports genre. It is used in the soundtrack of National Lampoon's Vacation (1983), Good Burger (1997) (uncredited), Bruce Almighty (2003), and Madagascar (2005, also included in the soundtrack album), in all cases in parodic slow-motion sequences.
Other films released in theaters crediting Chariots of Fire are: How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (2000), Old School (2003), and Kicking & Screaming (2005).
On TV, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation episode "Dead Ringer" uses music from Chariots of Fire.

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