In 1976, the young Nadia Comaneci conquered the top grade in the Olympics. Seven times. She’s the first to ever get the perfect ten.

Her talent, lightness, and precision charmed the world and the judges. So, ABC Network, aired a profile on her using a track that was then called Cotton’s Dream. From that day on, it became forever Nadia’s Theme.

The very sad song was written in 1971, by Perry Botkin Jr, for a small feature directed by Stanley Kramer called Bless the Beasts and the Children. Based on a best seller of the same name written by Glendon Swathout, the movie tells the story of a small group of misfit teenagers who are in summer camp and get involved in protecting buffalos from hunters.

Amongst the boys there was a boy called Cotton and SPOILER ALERT he gives his life to save the beasts. Cotton’s Dream was nominated for a Grammy and the Oscars, but ever since it was used with Nadia, became hers. There’s more.

Perhaps Cotton’s Dream didn’t become as famous before because the main song in the movie, Bless the Beasts and the Children was sung by The Carpenters, becoming one of their greatest hits. Two years after the film, the composer changed its arrangement to use it in the soap opera The Young and the Restless. Three years later, when it was associated with Nadia Comaneci, became the Top 8 song of the year according to Billboard.

Perry passed away on January, 18, 2021, in Los Angeles. He was 87.

Nadia’s theme, written 50 years ago, is part of the pop culture. Mary J. Blige used it in No More Drama and even the series Lost was also included in its soundtrack. From buffalos to athletes, it belongs to the memory of many generations.

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