Wikipedia

Conquest of Paradise (song)

"Conquest of Paradise" is a song recorded by Greek composer Vangelis. It was the soundtrack from Ridley Scott's 1992 film 1492: Conquest of Paradise[2] and the lead single from the album of the same name. The song achieved success in many territories, including Flanders, Germany, the Netherlands, and Switzerland where it topped the singles chart, but was a relative failure in UK where it only peaked at number 60. The song's popularity had been boosted in Germany by boxer Henry Maske using it as his theme song.[3]

"Conquest of Paradise"
Single by Vangelis
from the album 1492: Conquest of Paradise
B-side"Moxica and the Horse"
Released19 October 1992[1]
GenreNew age
Length4:47
LabelEast West
SongwriterVangelis
ProducerVangelis
Vangelis singles chronology
"Missing"
(1989)		 "Conquest of Paradise"
(1992)		 "Twenty Eighth Parallel"
(1993)

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

Track listings

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CD single

  1. "Conquest of Paradise" – 4:47
  2. "Moxica and the Horse" – 7:12

CD maxi-single

  1. "Conquest of Paradise" – 4:47
  2. "Moxica and the Horse" – 7:12
  3. "Line Open" – 4:43
  4. "Landscape" – 1:37
  • Includes two songs ("Line Open" and "Landscape"), which were not included in the album.

Lyrics

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Throughout the whole song, the following lyrics in Pseudo-Latin were repeated several times:[4]

In nòreni per ìpe,
in noreni coràh;
tirà mine per ìto,
ne dominà.

One time this refrain is:

In ròmine tirmèno,
ne ròmine to fa,
imàgine pro mèno,
per imentirà.

Credits

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Charts

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Certifications

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Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Austria (IFPI Austria)[24] Gold 25,000*
Germany (BVMI)[25] 3× Platinum 1,700,000[26]
Netherlands (NVPI)[27] Platinum 75,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

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Covers

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The song has been covered by many artists, including Blake, Klaus Schulze, Free the Spirit, the Vienna Symphonic Orchestra Project, Kati Kovács, John Williams and the Boston Pops Orchestra (1996), Daylight (1997), Daniel Hůlka (1998), Dana Winner (2002), The Ten Tenors (2004), Rhydian (2009) and Gregorian (2012).

At sport events

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"Conquest of Paradise" is played at home games for the New Zealand Super Rugby team Crusaders, Rugby Premiership team Northampton Saints and Super League teams Widnes Vikings and Wigan Warriors. These days it is the unofficial theme tune for the city of Christchurch where the Crusaders rugby team is based. English football club Sheffield Wednesday also play Conquest of Paradise prior to their theme tune before kick off. "Conquest of Paradise" was also played at the Cricket World Cup (2011) and (2015) 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 and 2014 cricket World Twenty20 championships to uphold International Cricket Council's "spirit-of-cricket" concept just before the national anthems of the two playing teams. The Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc series uses "Conquest of Paradise" at the start, finish and prize ceremonies of its various ultramarathon races.[28] 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!". German boxer Henry Maske used it as his theme song.[3] At the long-distance sled-dog race Finnmarkslopet in Norway, the song is played every time a dog team crosses the finish line. Mexican luchador Pierroth Jr. used the song as his entrance music while wrestling for the AAA promotion. The theme was played at Laurel Park, MD. during the parade of horses at the 2026 Preakness Stakes.

In politics

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In the 1995 Portuguese legislative election, the Socialist Party, led by António Guterres, adopted the song as their campaign theme. Having spent ten years in the opposition to center-right Prime Minister Aníbal Cavaco Silva, it played a big part in changing the image of the party as it was preparing for a new election. Firstly used in Guterres' national caravan to replace the party's anthem,[29] it was used throughout the campaign to introduce Guterres to the crowd in his rallies.[30]

The song became a symbol of the party and Guterres' governments,[31] being used several times throughout the years in political campaigns.[32][33]

In TV shows and cinema

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It was used for many years in the Jeux Sans Frontières, using it during the credits. The single "Conquest of Paradise" has also been inserted in the 2007 Chinese television drama series Soldiers Sortie, and is used as the theme song in the Hindi film, Koyla (1997), Kaalapani (1996) and a Tamil film, Sundara Purushan (1996). The song was also used in the trailer for Mission to Mars (2000). It's also part of the soundtrack of The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (2015), by Guy Ritchie.

In ice shows

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"Conquest of Paradise" was used for a collaboration program performed by two-time Olympic figure skating champion Yuzuru Hanyu and three-time Olympic gymnastics champion Kōhei Uchimura, merging the two Olympic sports to a new performing art genre.[34] The program was inspired by the theme of challenge to the unknown.[35] Hanyu's solo skating part was choreographed by Canadian choreographer David Wilson.[36] The program was performed at the ice show Yuzuru Hanyu Notte Stellata, held on 10–12 March 2023, at Sekisui Heim Super Arena in Rifu, Miyagi. It was a commemoration event on the 12th anniversary of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, also known as the "Great East Japan Earthquake" or "3.11".[37]

At graduations

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The song is also played as the opening song at some primary school, secondary school, high school and university graduation ceremonies in Turkey.

References

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  1. ↑ Strong, Martin Charles (1995). The Great Rock Discography. Canongate Press. p. 865. ISBN 9780862415419.
  2. ↑ King, Alex P. (2004). Hit-parade – 20 ans de tubes (in French). Paris: Pascal. p. 341. ISBN 2-35019-009-9.
  3. 1 2 swisscharts.com (in German) (Retrieved 21 September 2010)
  4. ↑ Vangelis lyrics: 1492, Conquest of Paradise
  5. ↑ "Vangelis – Conquest of Paradise" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  6. ↑ "Vangelis – Conquest of Paradise" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  7. ↑ "Vangelis – Conquest of Paradise" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  8. ↑ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles". Music & Media. Vol. 12, no. 16. 22 April 1995. p. 16.
  9. ↑ "Vangelis – Conquest of Paradise" (in French). Le classement de singles. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  10. ↑ "Offizielle Deutsche Charts" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. To see the peak chart position, click 'TITEL VON', followed by the artist's name. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  11. ↑ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (11.2 '95 – 17.2. '95)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 11 February 1995. p. 20. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  12. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 18, 1995" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  13. ↑ "Vangelis – Conquest of Paradise" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
  14. ↑ "Vangelis – Conquest of Paradise". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  15. ↑ "Official Singles Chart on 31/10/1992 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  16. ↑ "Jahreshitparade Singles 1995" (in German). Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  17. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten 1995" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  18. ↑ "Rapports annuels 1995" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  19. ↑ "Year End Sales Charts: Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 1995". Music & Media. Vol. 12, no. 51/52. 23 December 1995. p. 14.
  20. ↑ "Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 1995" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
  21. ↑ "Single top 100 over 1995" (PDF) (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 17 April 2010.
  22. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1995" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  23. ↑ "Swiss Year-End Charts 1995" (in German). Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  24. ↑ "Austrian single certifications – Vangelis – Conquest of Paradise" (in German). IFPI Austria.
  25. ↑ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Vangelis; 'Conquest of Paradise')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
  26. ↑ Spahr, Wolfgang (20 January 1996). "Sporting Events And Personalities Giving A Big Boost TO Record Sales For Labels". Billboard. p. 41. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  27. ↑ "Dutch single certifications – Vangelis – Conquest of Paradise" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Enter Conquest of Paradise in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 1995 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
  28. ↑ "Alan Lucker: 26th-28th August the UTMB 2011".
  29. ↑ Saraiva, José António (27 May 1995). "Guterres inspira-se em Bill Clinton". Expresso. p. 5.
  30. ↑ "Hinos, campanhas e conquistadores". PÚBLICO (in Portuguese). 24 January 2005. Retrieved 5 May 2026.
  31. ↑ "Congresso do PS aplaude de pé Guterres com Vangelis". Expresso (in Portuguese). 4 June 2016. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
  32. ↑ Tavares, Rita. "Costa ao som de Vangelis a diabolizar regresso do PSD/CDS para espantar as sondagens". Observador (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 7 May 2026.
  33. ↑ ""Este país está à beira da estupidez completa": Manuel João Vieira entra em palco ao som de Vangelis, como Guterres em 1995". Expresso (in Portuguese). 1 December 2025. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
  34. ↑ Matsubara, Takaomi (12 March 2023). 羽生結弦のスピンと同時に内村航平も旋回...地元・宮城でのアイスショーに「つなぐ人」羽生が込めた"被災地"への思い 「あれから12年...」 [Yuzuru Hanyu spins and Kohei Uchimura turns at the same time ... Thoughts on the "disaster area" put into the ice show by Hanyu, the "person who connects", in his hometown in Miyagi: "12 years have passed since then ..."]. Number (in Japanese). Chiyoda, Tokyo: Bungeishunjū. pp. 1–4. Archived from the original on 12 March 2023.
  35. ↑ "Notte Stellata". notte stellata. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  36. ↑ Mitsuoka, Maria-Laura (28 February 2023). "Yuzuru Hanyu: 'Gift' to the figure skating world". Golden Skate. Cary, North Carolina. Archived from the original on 28 February 2023.
  37. ↑ McCarvel, Nick (10 March 2023). "Hanyu Yuzuru's 'notte stellata' show debuts in Japan featuring Uchimura Kohei, Jason Brown and more". International Olympic Committee. Lausanne. Archived from the original on 11 March 2023.
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