1 One Moment in Time Whitney Houston

The gold standard by which all Olympics theme songs should be judged. Also written for the 1988 summer event, this top-5 hit perfectly encapsulates the spirit of the Games: giving one’s all, facing the pain and ultimately becoming “more than I thought I could be.” But it’s also an expertly constructed pop anthem, which gradually builds to a trumpeting finish as Houston belts, “I will be free.” It’s a knockout vocal performance that only she was capable of giving, and one that elevates this from a rousing torch song to a timeless classic.