NBC Enlists The Roots for Reimagined Olympic Theme Song

The Paris Olympics just got even more late-night stars.

Ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon house band The Roots have recorded a song for NBCUniversal’s coverage of the events.

It’s a rendition of “Bugler’s Dream,” the 1958 Leo Arnaud composition that has become synonymous with Olympic coverage since being used for the X Olympic Winter Games in 1968.

Fallon called it a “new, reimagined version of the Olympic theme song” on Thursday’s Tonight Show, before tossing to a music video (which you can view above) of The Roots performing the track at New York City’s Electric Lady Studios.

The show’s description of the song describes The Roots’ version as an attempt to “set the tone for the Olympic Trials,” which begin on Saturday and will air on both NBC and Peacock.

It’s unclear if The Roots will have a continued presence around the 2024 Olympics, but the band members are just the latest in a roster of late-night faces that NBC has enlisted for its coverage.

In April, Fallon signed on to co-host the Closing Ceremony in Paris, after being invited by NBC Sports broadcaster Mike Tirico during an interview on The Tonight Show.

In May, former SNL cast member Leslie Jones joined NBCUniversal’s coverage as “chief super fan commentator.” Over on Peacock, fellow SNLer Kenan Thompson is co-hosting a highlights show with Kevin Hart.

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