The horns from“Gonna Fly Now”are unforgettable, and now the song is hitting a major milestone. Fifty years after Rocky first hit theaters, the theme that soundtracks every training montage ever is getting a fresh moment in the spotlight, thanks to a new film about how the original movie got made.
The backstory is as underdog as the film itself. The original Rocky was made for $980,000 and won three Oscars. The theme, with music by Bill Conti and lyrics by Carol Connors and Ayn Robbins, topped the Billboard Hot 100 on July 2, 1977. Connors says she wrote the lyrics in the shower after watching rough cuts, and she and Robbins were paid just $500 each upfront, with royalties coming later.
This month, I Play Rocky, Peter Farrelly’s film about the making of the original, opens in limited U.S. release Friday and nationwide Nov. 20. Pair that with a 50th anniversary EP featuring a new orchestral version of the theme, and you’ve got a full-on Rocky resurgence. What’s the song that instantly makes you feel unstoppable?
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.