Tale of Two Perry's (Olympic Perry's)

Just over three months ago, the U.S. Olympic Committee hosted a special "100 Days Out" Road To Rio tour stop in Times Square.

The daylong event featured dozens of Rio-bound Olympians and cameos by medalists of earlier Games. 

The occasion also coincided with NBC's countdown to Rio coverage featuring an appearance by The Band Perry. The group announced their new release "Live Forever" was selected as "official song" for Team USA.

Happily in the right place a the right time, I captured The Band Perry's first Olympic-related interview a couple of hours after their appearance on "The TODAY Show" and they seemed very excited to share details of their new five-ringed status. 

Check out and please share the Olympic Rings And Other Things interview with The Band Perry at Times Square here:

By mid-July, it turned out The Band Perry is not the only official "Perry" at the Games.

NBC announced the network's selection of pop superstar Katy Perry and her fresh song "Rise" as their official Olympic anthem, moving the solo artist into an elite group of Olympic performers including Whitney "One Moment In Time" Houston, Celine "The Power of the Dream" Dion, Aretha "Carry The Flame" Franklin, LeAnn "Light The Fire Within" Rimes, and Gloria "Reach" Estefan. 

Personally, this blogger LOVES (with googly eyes) Katy Perry. Her hit "Dark Horse" ranks among the top songs of my Sochi 2014 travel playlist. I must have listened to that song 100+ times while working in Russia. 

It will be interesting and fun to see if Ms. Hudson brings her "Firework" showcase to Brazil and USA House during the next three weeks (fingers crossed she does). 

After all, I met her ex husband Russell Brand a day after his appearance in London's Olympic closing ceremony and chatting up the Games with Perry would provide a nice bookend to the earlier Mr. Katy conversation. Check out the official video for "Rise" below (and enjoy!). 

Photos by Nicholas Wolaver

Sarah Sings "One Dream"

Over in Beijing, they had so many official Olympic songs, they filled two CDs. Among the greatest hits, "One World, One Dream."

It was surprising to find tonight that one of the official Vancouver tunes has the similar title "One Dream" performed by Canada's own Sarah McLachlan. Check it out!

Always enjoyed Sarah's voice ... even attended a Lilith Fair concert in Atlanta (dragged kicking and screaming by then-girlfriend). My favorite of her tunes is "Into The Fire" -- one of her earliest hits -- which also seems appropriate for the Olympic Torch Relay.

My favorite from Beijing was actually by another Sarah ... Brighman, that is. This performance still gives me chills!

But the all-time chill-inducing Olympic performance (just aheady of those baby grand pianos appearing out of nowhere at LA84): Pavarotti's performance in Torino. Not a dry eye in the house! I was lucky to be there, for his last live performance of his life. Bravo!

Photo via the Sarah McLachlan fan page on Facebook