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Carl Davis, who wrote the famous ‘Champions’ theme passed away today.
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/aug/03/bafta-winning-composer-carl-davis-dies-aged-86
Probably the piece of music most inextricably linked with the Grand National.
I adore this piece of music, and suspect that would still be the case without the Grand National connection.
What a wonderful legacy to leave something so beautiful behind.
RIP Carl Davis
As with so many things, it would be better if I kept my views on this to myself, but as you know I’m congenitally incapable of that.
Obviously it’s sad when anyone passes away and it was undoubtedly an outstanding piece of music, BUT….
I got sick and tired of it being played year after year after YEAR before the Grand National, I consider it synonymous with that Godawful Clare Balding era which rendered the sport I love on the channel I used to love completely unwatchable for me (and I deeply resented that, actually) and for me if the Grand National was ever about one thing (and it isn’t) it’s Red Rum and not Aldaniti/Bob Champion in 1981 (and I say that having got 16/1 ante-post).
Oh and I thought the movie – like nearly all racing movies (The Rainbow Jacket being an honourable exception) – was lousy.
John Hurt was one of my favourite actors – his Caligula in I, Claudius was amazing – and I liked Edward “The Wicker Man” Woodward too.
But I found them thoroughly unconvincing in their roles in the racing movie.
But it was, for sure, an outstanding piece of music and RIP to a manifestly exceptional composer.
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It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"I associate the Champions theme primarily with the 80s and 90s Nationals i.e. the Des Lynam era. That seems to me to be the time it was used most prominently. Despite its origin in the film Champions, it makes me think of the National in general rather than Bob Champion and Aldaniti specifically.
This probably isn’t an appropriate thread to deviate into a discussion of the merits of Clare Balding, but I disagree that BBC racing deteriorated when she became the lead presenter in place of Julian Wilson!
Anyway, they could play this music on a loop throughout the Grand National coverage as far as I’m concerned. I wish it was used more nowadays.
Josh Gifford came to one of our racing club meetings years ago. He said they planned to make Champions much grittier but unfortunately the powers that be wanted it to appeal to a much wider audience. John Hurt was patron of our local cinema. What a great actor he was.
That piece of music sends shivers down my spine whenever I hear it I absolutely love it. Thank you Carl Davis.⚘
The best thing about Champions the Movie was that Aldaniti played himself ❤ and very good he was too..What a story that was ..a horse and jockey who both cheated death to win the greatest race of all.
I see Bob Champion around and about almost every time I go to Newmarket. He’s President of The Bob Champion Cancer Trust and does a lot of fundraising in the area.
Jac
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