The Ecstasy of Gold

{{See also|The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (soundtrack)}} {{Infobox song| | name = The Ecstasy of Gold | cover = | alt = | type = | artist = [[Ennio Morricone]] | album = [[The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (soundtrack)|The Good, the Bad and the Ugly]] | released = 1966 | recorded = | studio = | genre = [[Film score]], [[western music (North America)|western]] | length = 3:22 | label = | writer = [[Ennio Morricone]] | producer = }} "'''The Ecstasy of Gold'''" ({{langx|it|"'''L'estasi dell'oro'''"|i=no}}) is a musical composition by [[Ennio Morricone]], part of his score for the 1966 [[Sergio Leone]] film ''[[The Good, the Bad and the Ugly]]''. It is played while Tuco ([[Eli Wallach]]) is frantically searching a cemetery for the grave that holds $200,000 in gold coins ({{Inflation|US|200000|1862|r=-6|fmt=eq}}). It is sung by [[Edda Dell'Orso]].

==Appearances in other media== * An instrumental metal cover by [[Metallica]] appears on the 2007 Morricone tribute album ''[[We All Love Ennio Morricone]]''. It reached #21 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock charts<ref>{{cite web |title=Chart history: Metallica |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/metallica/chart-history/rtt/ |website=[[Billboard.com]] | access-date=13 March 2022}}</ref> and was nominated for a [[Grammy Award]] in the category of [[50th Grammy Awards#Best Rock Instrumental Performance|Best Rock Instrumental Performance]].<ref>{{cite web|title= Metallica {{pipe}} Artist| url=https://www.grammy.com/artists/metallica/10686 |website=[[Grammy.com]]| access-date=13 March 2022}}</ref> The band has used the original soundtrack recording to open their concerts since 1983.<ref>{{cite web |title=Why Metallica Open Their Concerts With 'The Ecstasy of Gold'|author=Joe DiVita|date=9 July 2020 | url=https://loudwire.com/metallica-ecstasy-of-gold-concert-opener-interview/|website=[[Loudwire.com]]|access-date=13 March 2022}}</ref> * [[Jay-Z]] sampled the beat in his song "Blueprint 2" on his 2002 album ''[[The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse|The Blueprint²: The Gift & the Curse]]''.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Schonfeld|first1=Zach|title=A Brief Guide to the Endless Hip-Hop Samples of Ennio Morricone|url=https://www.spin.com/2020/07/a-brief-guide-to-the-endless-hip-hop-samples-of-ennio-morricone/2/|website=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]|date=July 8, 2020|access-date=May 24, 2024}}</ref> * The main melody and vocals are sampled in the 2022 [[glitch hop]] song "Ecstasy of Soul" by electronic artists [[Zeds Dead]] and [[GRiZ]]. The song peaked at #19 on the US [[Dance/Electronic Songs]] chart.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/griz/chart-history/dan/|title=Griz - Hot Dance/Electronic Dance Songs Chart History|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=January 4, 2022}}</ref> * A number of brands use the composition in their onscreen advertising include [[Dolce & Gabbana]], [[Lamborghini]], [[Rolex]], [[Nike, Inc.|Nike]], [[KFC]], [[H & M]],<ref name=CreativeReview>{{cite web|url=https://www.creativereview.co.uk/the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-in-advertising-music/|title=The Good, The Bad and The Ugly in advertising music|author=Reynolds, Paul|publisher=[[Creative Review]]|language=en-US|url-status=live|date=July 16, 2020|access-date=November 27, 2025|archive-date=November 28, 2025|archive-url=https://archive.today/20251128004955/https://www.creativereview.co.uk/the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-in-advertising-music/}}</ref> and [[Grupo Modelo|Modelo]].<ref name=CreativeReview/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ispot.tv/ad/AK26/modelo-play-the-game|title=Modelo TV Spot, 'Play the Game'|publisher=iSpot|language=en-US|url-status=live|date=June 20, 2016|access-date=November 27, 2025|archive-date=November 28, 2025|archive-url=https://archive.today/20251128004956/https://www.ispot.tv/ad/AK26/modelo-play-the-game}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ecstasy of Gold, The}} [[Category:1966 compositions]] [[Category:1966 songs]] [[Category:Compositions in A minor]] [[Category:Dollars Trilogy]] [[Category:Ennio Morricone songs]] [[Category:Film theme songs]] [[Category:Metallica songs]]