This recording is however missing from the soundtrack album, the sleeve notes of which say 'All music on this album selected by Sylvester Stallone', who instead opted to reprise the original versions of 'Reflections' from the first film, and 'Gonna Fly Now' and 'Conquest' from the second installment. Rocky III included an updated disco influenced arrangement during the training montage on the beach. In Rocky II, an alternative version of the song was used, with a children's choir singing the chorus. The American Film Institute placed it 58th on its AFI's 100 Years.100 Songs list. Conti's single was certified Gold by the RIAA, for shipments exceeding one million in the United States. Billboard ranked Conti's version as the No. Disco versions by Rhythm Heritage and Current were on the chart at the same time (Conti's own version reveals some early disco influence in the orchestration). 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. The song (whose lyrics are only 30 words long) was nominated for Best Original Song at the 49th Academy Awards. Most notably, the Philadelphia Eagles play the song before the opening kick-off of every home game at Lincoln Financial Field.

The song is often played at sporting events, especially in Philadelphia. Released in February 1977 with the movie Rocky, the song became part of American popular culture after main character Rocky Balboa as part of his daily training regimen runs up the 72 stone steps leading to the entrance of the Philadelphia Museum of Art in Philadelphia and raises his arms in a victory pose, while the song plays. ' Gonna Fly Now', also known as ' 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 West and Nelson Pigford. 1976 single by Bill Conti 'Gonna Fly Now'įrom the album Rocky – Original Motion Picture Score

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