The Centennial Games in Atlanta featured a gospel-choir and marching-bands performing a song with lyrics inviting the world to the host city's doorstep with traditional Southern hospitality and warmth, reflected in the lyrics, as can be seen here.
In 2002, Salt Lake City's opening ceremony had Utah's five Indian nations prominently featured with traditional music and dance. That's Robbie Robertson (Mohawk) with the three-woman Tsalagi choral group Walela, playing "Coyote Dance" as the people enter and Tiger, Auburn University's Golden Eagle mascot, flies overhead; and then "Unity Stomp Dance" and "Making A Noise In This World" after the blessing of the tribal leaders. If you're Native, or even if you're not, this was a uniquely thrilling moment.
Björk wrote and sang "Oceania"—which was later released on Medúlla—for the 2004 Athens Olympics, while her dress got spread through the ground, undulating.
"Ode to Joy" from Ludwig van Beethoven's Ninth Symphony is played in every opening ceremony. It was downright inspirational—or a bit odd—to see the Japanese singing along in the 1998 Nagano Games.
Your national anthem, when your nation wins gold. You know it's true.
From the 2012 London Games:
The official song, "Survival", by Muse. Who else could make such an epic rock theme for the Games?
The absolutely epic "And I Will Kiss", written and arranged by Rick Smith and Underworld and featuring hundreds of amateur drummers led by deaf musician Dame Evelyn Glennie, which played during the "Industrial Revolution" part of the opening ceremony. The title also comes from The Tempest.
The National Health Service and Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital did their entire presentation to the distinctive guitar sound of quintessentially English folklore-rocker Mike Oldfield. He did selections from Tubular Bells, "Far Above the Clouds" and "In Dulci Jubilo".
As we know from his other works, John Williams is made of awesome, as are all of his Olympic themes for television: His original "Olympic Fanfare and Theme", for the 1984 Los Angeles Games; "The Olympic Spirit", for the 1988 Seoul Games; "Summon the Heroes", for the 1996 Atlanta Games; and "Call of the Champions", for the 2002 Salt Lake Games... which, being held in Salt Lake City, featured the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
"Hand in Hand" from the 1988 Seoul Games, whether in English or in Korean.
The 2014 Sochi Games theme. So far, it's still unreleased, so this is the longest and cleanest version available, not to mention the closest we'll get to an official one.
"Garota de Ipanema" playing for Gisele Bündchen'snote also known to NFL fans as the now-former Mrs. Tom Brady final catwalk at the opening ceremony of the 2016 Rio Olympics. As she is seen as one of the more successful Brazilians abroad, this was an excellent way to end a world-class career as an ambassador for her country.
From the Sydney Olympics, Ian Cooper's "Tin Symphony." An utterly amazing Irish-jig inspired piece that managed to showcase the colonial spirit being portrayed in the section it was being used in.
From the Athens 2004 opening ceremony, we have Tiësto's Parade of the Athletes albumperformed live in its entirety. Even the politicians couldn't hold back from clapping to its beat.
From the 2020 Tokyo Games:
tracks from various Japanese video games in its parade of athletes. It looks like the best of Japanese video game music has been piped to the world; the Star Light Zone portion was played TWICE. The medley was used mainly because Keigo Oyamada (Cornelius) retired from the Ceremonies' committee due to his troubled past, but they couldn't find a replacement in time for the Games.
In the opening ceremony, R&B singer MISIA nailed the notoriously difficult to sing National Anthem of Japan.
of Leo Arnaud's "Bugler's Dream