Also Sprach Zarathustra (2001)
"Also Sprach Zarathustra " is an instrumental by Brazilian musician Eumir Deodato, from his 1973 album Prelude. It is a heavily jazz-funk styled rendition of the introduction from the 1896 Richard Strauss composition Also sprach Zarathustra. The "" mentioned is a reference to the soundtrack for the film 2001: A Space Odyssey.
Released as the album's first single in early 1973, his rendition peaked at number 2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 singles chart on 31 March 1973, number 3 in Canada, and number 7 on the UK Singles Chart. It won the 16th Annual Grammy Awards Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance.
The track has appeared on many compilation and re-issue albums since 1973.
In popular culture
- The track was used in the 1979 film Being There starring Peter Sellers, as his character leaves home for the very first time.
- Retired professional wrestler and pop culture personality Ric Flair used several versions of the opening fanfare as his entrance theme for the majority of his in-ring career.
- The band Phish has played a cover of this song over 200 times across their various live shows.
Lead musicians
- Eumir Deodato – piano, electric piano
- Ron Carter – electric bass, double bass
- Stanley Clarke – electric bass
- Billy Cobham – drums
- John Tropea – electric guitar
- Jay Berliner – guitar
- Airto Moreira – percussion
- Ray Barretto – congas
- Uncredited: string and brass instruments