Conquest of Paradise (song)

Conquest Of Paradise (song)

"Conquest of Paradise" is a 1992 song recorded by Vangelis. It was the soundtrack from Ridley Scott's 1992 film 1492: Conquest of Paradise and the lead single from the album of the same name. The song achieved huge success in many countries, including Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and Switzerland where it topped the singles chart, but was a relative failure in UK where it only peaked at #33. The song is currently the 50th best-selling single of all time in Germany, where the song's popularity had been boosted by boxer Henry Maske using it as his theme song.

"Conquest of Paradise" is played at home games for the New Zealand Super 15 rugby team Crusaders and Super League team Wigan Warriors. These days it is the unofficial theme tune for the city of Christchurch where the Crusaders rugby team is based.

"Conquest of Paradise" was also played at the 2011 ICC World Cup, the most prestigious cricket tournament, just before the national anthems of the two contesting national teams were played at the start of every match. It was also played during the 2010 ICC World Twenty20 held in West Indies.

At the 2011 Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc, "Conquest of Paradise" was played when competitors finished the 150 km long race.

It is also used by the Engadin Skimarathon to introduce the start of the competitors waves. At least in the years 2010-2013. Usually every minute it is interrupted to announce the time until "go!".

The song has been covered by many artists, including Blake, Klaus Schulze, Free the Spirit, the Vienna Symphonic Orchestra Project, John Williams and the Boston Pops Orchestra (1996), Daylight (1997), Dana Winner (2002), The Ten Tenors (2004) and Rhydian (2009).

The single "Conquest of Paradise" has also been inserted in the 2007 Chinese TV drama series Soldiers Sortie, and is used as the theme song in the Bollywood movie, Koyla (1997).

Its chord progression is based on the old European theme La Follia.