In 1976, the young Nadia Comaneci conquered the top grade on 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.

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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 Chidlren. Based on best seller with the same name written by Glendon Swathout, the movie told a story of a small groups of misfits teenagers that 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 was due to the fact that 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 to Nadia Comaneci, became the Top 8 song of the year according to Billboard.

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

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