[Old News] Vangelis, a musician known for 'Blade Runner' and 'Chariots of Fire,' dies

by Piano Piano!

Vangelis, a synthesizer player and composer known for film scores such as ' Blade Runner ' and ' Chariots of Fire,' has passed away. I was 79 years old.

Vangelis Papathanasiou: Oscar-winning composer passes away at the age of 79 --Οικονομικός Ταχυδρόμος --ot.gr
https://www.ot.gr/2022/05/19/english-edition/vangelis-papathanasiou-oscar-winning-composer-passes-away-at-the-age-of-79/

Vangelis, famed film composer and synth pioneer, dead at 79 | KNKX Public Radio
https://www.knkx.org/2022-05-19/vangelis-famed-film-composer-and-synth-pioneer-dead-at-79

Vangelis, famed film composer and synth pioneer, dead at 79 | KNKX Public Radio
https://www.knkx.org/2022-05-19/vangelis-famed-film-composer-and-synth-pioneer-dead-at-79

Vangelis, composer of Chariots of Fire and Blade Runner soundtracks, dies aged 79 | Music | The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/may/19/vangelis-greek-composer-chariots-of-fire-blade-runner-dies

Born in Volos, a Greek port city in 1943, Vangelis was raised by a painter's father and a musician's mother, and began playing the piano and composing from an early age. He started his professional music activities in high school and played the piano and organ in a jazz band. After studying film and art at an art school, he formed a band called 'Forminx' and was active in Greece.

After the dissolution of Forminks in 1966, Vangelis was in charge of the music for Greek films. Then, in 1967, when a military coup broke out in Greece, he left Greece for London and then settled in France. Vangelis has released several solo albums in his work in France and also composed a number of film scores.

In 1981, Vangelis was in charge of the music for ' Chariots of Fire,' which depicts two runners aiming for the Paris Olympics in the 1920s. At that time, the music of the era movies such as 'Chariots of Fire' generally used an orchestra of orchestra, and it was very rare that music using a synthesizer like Mr. Vangelis was used. However, as a result, 'Chariots of Fire' became a big hit, and Mr. Vangelis won the Academy Award for Best Music. However, Vangelis, who was a fear of flying, refused to attend the award ceremony.

The following is the theme song of 'Fire Runner' 'Chariots Of Fire'

Vangelis --Chariots Of Fire --YouTube


In 1982, Vangelis will also be responsible for the music for Ridley Scott's science fiction movie ' Blade Runner .' However, the soundtrack of 'Blade Runner' by Mr. Vangelis was not released at the time of publication, and the complete soundtrack has not appeared at the time of writing the article.

Main Titles-YouTube


Vangelis has also composed many other official sports competition themes, including the 1997 World Athletics Championships theme, the 2000 Sydney Olympics closing ceremony theme song, and the 2002 Japan-Korea FIFA World Cup theme song. In charge of such things. Also, at the 2012 London Olympics, there was a scene where the theme song of Mr. Vangelis's 'Chariots of Fire' was played during the opening ceremony.

Mr. Bean Live Performance at the London 2012 Olympic Games --YouTube


Vangelis himself returned to Greece in 1989 and moved to the capital, Athens. The cause of Vangelis's death has not been clarified, but according to the local Greek newspaper Οικονομικός Ταχυδρόμος, Vangelis was admitted to a French hospital for treatment of a new coronavirus infection.