Orchestrating the Olympic Soundtrack: A Melodic Journey Through the Paris Games

From the operatic opening ceremony to athletes' warmup songs, music is intrinsic to the Paris Olympics now underway. As the world's top athletes compete in dozens of disciplines across 32 sports, the soundtrack that accompanies their performances has become an integral part of the experience for both participants and spectators. Whether you're watching from home, snacking during commercial breaks, or seeking a distraction when your favorite athlete isn't performing at their best, this cheeky musical guide will ensure you're in tune with the rhythms of the Paris Olympics.

Harmonizing the Olympian Endeavor: A Playlist for Every Sport

Archery: Hitting the Mark with "The Archer"

As the world's top archers take aim, the perfect musical accompaniment comes in the form of Taylor Swift's "The Archer." This cut from her "Lover" album features apt choreography, with Swift pulling back an invisible arrow, making it the obvious choice for the bow-wielding sport.

Athletics: Sprinting to the Rhythm of "Running Up That Hill"

In the pantheon of aspirational songs that mention or center on running, none has had the resurgence of Kate Bush's gothic '80s tune "Running Up That Hill." This timeless track captures the determination and endurance required to excel in the world of athletics.

Badminton: Gracefully Gliding to the Sounds of "Tous Les Garçons Et Les Filles"

Badminton, with its classic-feeling racquet sport vibe, deserves a similarly first-rate song, and Françoise Hardy's French pop hit "Tous Les Garçons Et Les Filles" fits the bill perfectly. The subtle dignity of the sport is mirrored in the track's understated elegance.

Basketball: Slam Dunking to the Beat of "Forever"

The hip-hop all-star collaboration "Forever" by Drake, Kanye West, Lil Wayne, and Eminem was featured on the soundtrack to LeBron James' 2008 documentary "More Than a Game," making it the perfect basketball track. With James selected as Team USA's male flagbearer this year, the song's connection to the sport and its athletes is even more fitting.

Boxing: Stepping into the Ring with "The Boxer"

Arguably the greatest moment of lyrical songwriting on this list, Simon & Garfunkel's 1969 classic "The Boxer" is a narrative masterpiece that partially centers on, yes, a boxer. This timeless track captures the grit and determination of the sport.

Breaking: Breaking the Mold with "Scorpio"

Some music is inextricable from movement, and Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five's "Scorpio" is the perfect fit for the Olympics' newest sport, breaking. This future-seeking record, with its early-electronica and robot-rap sound, perfectly encapsulates the dynamic and innovative nature of the discipline.

Canoe/Kayak: Drifting on the Waves of "Canoe"

The indie band Small Black's "Canoe" is a perfect match for the canoe and kayak events, with its chillwave-inspired sound evoking the drifting and flowing motion of the water-based sports.

Cycling: Pedaling to the Rhythm of "Tour de France"

Kraftwerk's "Tour de France" is the quintessential cycling track, with its heavy breathing that bleeds into minimalistic electronica. If this doesn't make you want to grab a bicycle, nothing will.

Equestrian: Saddling Up to "Beer for My Horses"

While the word "dressage" may not be the first thing that comes to mind when listening to Toby Keith and Willie Nelson's "Beer for My Horses," the song's equine-centric theme makes it a fitting choice for the equestrian events.

Fencing: En Garde to the Sounds of "Dream Girls"

The K-pop girl group I.O.I's music video for "Dream Girls" features fencing, among other sports, making it the perfect choice to accompany the Olympic fencing competitions.

Field Hockey: Sticking to the Tune of "The Hockey Song"

Although "The Hockey Song" by Stompin' Tom Connors was written for the other kind of hockey, its country classic warmth translates well to the summer sport of field hockey.

Football/Soccer: Scoring with "Puntería"

Shakira and Cardi B's "Puntería" was the official theme of TelevisaUnivision's broadcast of the recently concluded 2024 Copa América, and it's a natural fit for the Olympic football/soccer events as well. Fans of the beautiful game are sure to embrace this energetic track.

Golf: Teeing Off to the Sounds of "Green, Green Grass of Home"

When it comes to golf, nothing beats Porter Wagoner's ode to the green, "Green, Green Grass of Home." Whether you opt for the Tom Jones cover or the original Johnny Darrell version, this classic track captures the serene beauty of the sport.

Gymnastics: Sticking the Landing with "Delresto (Echoes)"

Simone Biles debuted a routine at the U.S. Classic earlier this year that ends with Travis Scott's "Delresto (Echoes)" featuring Beyoncé. This dynamic track perfectly complements the grace and power of Olympic gymnastics.

Handball: Marching Forward with "Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien"

Édith Piaf's instantly recognizable postwar ballad "Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien" is all about moving forward unapologetically. In the case of the handball events, where France has been a dominant force, this song takes on a different meaning, urging the athletes to focus on the future rather than dwell on past accomplishments.

Judo: Throwing Down to "Ain't No Problems"

When it comes to a combat sport like judo, nothing says "intensity" quite like Waka Flocka Flame, Young Thug, and Judo's collaboration "Ain't No Problems." This track perfectly captures the raw energy and determination required to excel in the discipline.

Modern Pentathlon: Conquering Versailles with "Versailles"

The modern pentathlon semifinals and finals will take place at the Palace of Versailles this year, inspiring the choice of Sabaton's "Versailles" as the perfect musical accompaniment for the event.

Rowing: Gliding on the Waves of "The Flood"

Take That's reunion-era cut "The Flood" is the perfect rowing track, with the entire music video centered on the sport, capturing the graceful movements and rhythmic nature of the discipline.

Rugby: Charging to the Sounds of "Hymns and Arias"

In 1973, Welsh singer and comedian Max Boyce wrote "Hymns and Arias" to celebrate Wales' victory over England, and it has since become a rugby classic, perfectly capturing the spirit and camaraderie of the sport.

Sailing: Drifting on the Moonlight with "A Sailboat in the Moonlight"

Sailing is a vintage sport, and no voice takes a listener back to a certain time like Billie Holiday's swinging tone. Her 1937 song "A Sailboat in the Moonlight" perfectly encapsulates the serene and timeless nature of the discipline.

Shooting: Locking and Loading to "Get Low"

In film, shooting is often depicted by athletes getting low on the ground to shoot, and Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz's "Get Low" featuring Ying Yang Twins captures this sentiment, even if the reality of the sport is a bit more complicated.

Skateboarding: Kickflipping to "Kick, Push"

Skateboarding is a relatively new addition to the Olympic roster, first introduced at the Tokyo Olympics. Lupe Fiasco's "Kick, Push" perfectly encapsulates the youthful spirit and culture of the sport.

Sport Climbing: Scaling the Heights of "The Climb"

Miley Cyrus' "The Climb," a barn-burning, country-pop power ballad about perseverance, is almost too fitting for the sport climbing events, capturing the determination and grit required to reach the summit.

Surfing: Riding the Waves of "Surfin' U.S.A."

When it comes to surfing, there was no other choice than The Beach Boys' classic "Surfin' U.S.A.," even though the competition may be taking place in Tahiti.

Swimming: Cutting Through the Water to "Coco Chanel"

Before becoming a celebrated voice in Latin trap and reggaetón, Eladio Carrión was a competitive swimmer, even representing his native Puerto Rico at the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games. His track "Coco Chanel" featuring Bad Bunny is the perfect accompaniment for the Olympic swimming events.

Table Tennis: Rallying to the Rhythm of "Lipstick"

The visual for K-pop group Orange Caramel's "Lipstick" shows the members getting very serious about table tennis, and the song's ebullience perfectly matches the energy of the sport.

Taekwondo: Kicking to the Beat of "Reverie"

With the Olympics taking on special significance for the athletes representing the Palestinian territories this year, the energetic techno track "Reverie" by Sama' Abdulhadi is the perfect choice to accompany the taekwondo events, in honor of competitor Omar Ismail, the lone Palestinian athlete to qualify in his own right for the Games.

Tennis: Rallying to "Tennis Court"

Lorde's "Tennis Court" is the obvious choice for the tennis events, providing a musical backdrop that captures the rhythm and intensity of the sport.

Triathlon: Enduring to the Tune of "Eye of the Tiger"

When all else fails, Survivor's bombastic rock hit "Eye of the Tiger" delivers. The song's chord changes were written to mirror punches in "Rocky III," making it a perfect fit for the endurance-testing triathlon.

Volleyball: Spiking to the Sounds of "Mon Frère"

Three years ago, Earvin N'Gapeth helped France win gold at the Tokyo Olympics. He's competing once again this year, and he also happens to be a very talented rapper, with his track "Mon Frère" serving as the perfect musical accompaniment for the volleyball events.

Weightlifting: Lifting to the Rhythm of "Till I Collapse"

There is nothing people who lift weights love more than Eminem, and his track "Till I Collapse" is the perfect choice to fuel the Olympic weightlifting competitions.

Wrestling: Grappling to the Sounds of "We Are the Men You'll Grow to Love Soon"

The fittingly named London indie rock band Let's Wrestle were once masters at articulating the scars of youth, and adolescence often feels like an internal wrestling match, making their track "We Are the Men You'll Grow to Love Soon" the ideal accompaniment for the Olympic wrestling events.