Gonna Fly Now

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"Gonna Fly Now (Theme from Rocky)" is the theme song from the movie Rocky, composed by Bill Conti with lyrics by Carol Connors and Ayn Robbins, and performed by DeEtta Little. The song became part of American popular culture after main character Rocky Balboa completed his daily training regimen while the song plays. The song finishes as Rocky completes his famous run up the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art and raises his arms in a victory pose. The song is also often played at sporting events.

The song is also widely recognized as a theme song of sorts for Philadelphia, because Rocky was set there.

The version of the song from the movie, performed by Conti with an orchestra, hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1977, while a version by jazz trumpeter Maynard Ferguson hit the top 30. Disco versions by Rhythm Heritage and Current were on the chart at the same time. Conti's single was certified gold by the RIAA.

In Rocky II, an alternate version of the song was used, with a children's choir singing the chorus.

Some North American TV stations, including Citytv in Toronto, have used the song as their news theme in the past.

Due to its immense popularity, the song is used frequently in various forms of popular media where a main character is forced to train in order to defeat an opponent.

[edit] References

Preceded by
"Got to Give It Up (Part 1)" by Marvin Gaye		 Billboard Hot 100 number one single
July 2, 1977		 Succeeded by
"Undercover Angel" by Alan O'Day
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