There are also two companion discs — "Harmony," the official Olympics classical CD and "Phos," the official Olympics Greek music CD.

What all this reminds me of most is Judgment Night — the soundtrack to the 1993 film of the same name. That "fusion" brought together rap and rock acts, and perhaps started another genre of music.

This UNITY CD will not do that. What it does, much more than the harder-edged Judgment Night disc is fulfill the goal of its title. It's one of those professional mix tapes that works. You could drop this in any room and press play and most anyone would find something to like.

That is, with the possible exception of the Moby / Public Enemy track. It's a very political song, which throws up the peace sign but will not be well received by many. Agree or not with the politics of the song, it is a political song and politics, like a courtroom, has become for the most part an adversarial "game."

What this album does very well, is capture a moment in musical time. It's 2004 and this disc reminds you of that. You can see a progression, a certain level at which all this music has become mainstream — not necessarily a bad thing.

Watching the Olympics in England as an American child was one of the few things that made me want to come back home and again be a part of what I had left behind. Spandau Ballet, an 80s era English group, had a song "Gold" that must have been the official Olympic something because it was so perfectly in tune.

The chorus is:
Gold (gold)
Always believe in your soul
You've got the power to know
You're indestructible
Always believe in, that you are
Gold (gold)
Glad that you're bound to return
There's something I could have learned
You're indestructible, always believe in...

Also Whitney Houston's "One moment In Time" played, on television, and I can
remember it hitting the exact, right emotional chord. It started out:

Each day I live
I want to be
A day to give
The best of me
I'm only one
But not alone
My finest day
Is yet unknown

This year Athens, the birthplace of the ancient Olympic games, is reviving its tradition of placing olive leaf wreaths on the heads of medalists, as symbols of peace. The Olympics remain a bigger deal in other countries, where the idea of a global peace — and yes, unity - takes a greater, deeper hold in everyday life. Though TV coverage tries to ruin that Olympics goal, it does survive.

The Olympic flame remains an enduring symbol. This is a worthy soundtrack.