More stories

  • in

    An Epic Summer Olympics Playlist

    Hear triumphant tracks from John Williams, Whitney Houston and, of course, Celine Dion.Celine Dion performing at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.Mike Hewitt/Getty ImagesDear listeners,I just got out my thermometer to confirm and, yep, it’s official: I have Olympic Fever.Like much of the world, I have been glued to my TV watching the Paris Olympics for the past few days. I confess that I am, at best, a fair-weather fan of most of the sports that take place during the Summer Games, but one symptom of Olympic Fever is suddenly caring deeply about things you recently knew next to nothing about. Several days ago, if you asked me to name a male gymnast who is currently competing at the elite level, I would have stared at you blankly. But after Monday, when the U.S. men’s gymnastics team won its first medal in 16 years thanks in part to the bespectacled pommel horse specialist Stephen Nedoroscik, everything has changed. Don’t even get me started on the U.S. women’s rugby team.Today’s playlist, naturally, is a soundtrack for Olympic Fever: A collection of past Summer Olympic songs from the likes of Whitney Houston, Gloria Estefan and Björk, among others — plus a certain Èdith Piaf song that took on new resonance at this year’s opening ceremony.Subtlety is not exactly a virtue when it comes to an Olympic song, so be warned that this playlist contains grandiosity, majesty and even a little schmaltz. But it also has the power to transform whatever you’re doing into an Olympic event, whether that’s running a 100-meter sprint, successfully flipping a pancake or — like Nedoroscik, man of many talents — trying to solve a Rubik’s cube in under 10 seconds. Use it wisely.I want one moment in time,LindsayListen along while you read.1. John Williams and the Berlin Philharmonic: “Olympic Fanfare and Theme”Let’s begin with some fanfare. The prolific composer John Williams — best known for his film scores — has written four different Olympic themes over the years. But his first, composed for the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, is still probably the most widely recognizable. “Olympic Fanfare and Theme” is guaranteed to bring a sense of triumphant grandeur to whatever you’re doing. Put this on at the end of a run and you will be physically unable to slow down.▶ Listen on Spotify, Apple Music or YouTubeWe are having trouble retrieving the article content.Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.Thank you for your patience while we verify access.Already a subscriber? Log in.Want all of The Times? Subscribe. More

  • in

    ‘The Redeem Team’ Review: Squad Goals

    A documentary looks at the 2008 U.S. men’s Olympic basketball team and its mission to bring back gold after a humiliating loss.As narratives of national uplift go, the 1992 U.S. Olympic men’s basketball consortium, known as the “Dream Team,” was one of the most shamelessly contrived. Once international players started to get the hang of hoops, how was America to maintain hegemony? Blitz them with the cream of the professional crop. This strategy wasn’t foolproof. A humiliating loss to Argentina in 2004 deprived the United States of the gold. This aggression would not stand.“The Redeem Team,” a documentary about the 2008 squad that was charged with getting the Americans back to the top spot, is smart in not asking the viewer to feel too bad for the 2004 group. The Argentine player Pepe Sanchez nailed the issue right after the match: “This is a team sport. You play five on five, not one on one.”Taking charge for the 2008 run is the Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski, a figure both respected and despised (the team member LeBron James is frank: “Growing up in the inner city, you hate Duke”). Krzyzewski makes teamwork the priority, and he holds to that even when he brings aboard Kobe Bryant, then a notorious lone wolf.The movie, directed by Jon Weinbach, offers several eye-opening mini-narratives on the way to a rematch with Argentina. Doug Collins, a member of the U.S. team in 1972, speaks to the 2008 players about his painful experience in a game arguably stolen by the Soviet Union. Bryant softens up his old friend Pau Gasol, a member of Spain’s team, the better to execute a shocking “who’s the boss” move on the court. The intimidating presence of Argentina’s ace shooter Manu Ginóbili causes no small concern. While no realistic observer of American sports could call this movie inspirational, these sequences definitely make it engrossing.The Redeem TeamNot rated. Running time: 1 hour 37 minutes. Watch on Netflix. More