Best Original Song: A Categorical History (1966-1970)
Oh man, there’s some great stuff 1966-1970.
1966: ”BORN FREE,” FROM BORN FREE
“Alfie,” from Alfie
“Georgy Girl,” from Georgy Girl
“My Wishing Doll,” from Hawaii
“A Time for Love,” from An American Dream
Analysis: It’s “Born Free” all the way. Though “Georgy Girl” is amazing. But “Born Free” is iconic.
My Vote: “Born Free”
Rankings:
5. “My Wishing Book”
4. “A Time for Love”
3. “Alfie”
2. “Georgy Girl”
1. “Born Free”
1967: ”TALK TO THE ANIMALS,” FROM DOCTOR DOLITTLE
“The Bare Necessities,” from The Jungle Book
“The Eyes of Love,” from Banning
“The Look of Love,” from Casino Royale
“Thoroughly Modern Millie,” from Thoroughly Modern Millie
Analysis: They really made a bad choice here. I mean, “Talk to the Animals” is a well-written song (especially when you hear a non-Rex Harrison version), but “The Bare Necessities” is iconic, plus “Thoroughly Modern Millie” and “The Look of Love” — how do you ignore those? So I don’t agree with this one. Give me any of those other three here. Strong category, though.
My Vote: “The Bare Necessities”
Rankings:
5. “The Eyes of Love”
4. “Talk to the Animals”
3. “Thoroughly Modern Millie”
2. “The Look of Love”
1. “The Bare Necessities”
1968: ”WINDMILLS OF YOUR MIND,” FROM THE THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR
“Chitty Chitty Bang Bang,” from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
“For Love of Ivy,” from For Love of Ivy
“Funny Girl,” from Funny Girl
“Star!,” from Star!
Analysis: You know, I actually agree with them here. “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” is what it is, but “Windmills of Your Mind” is so hauntingly catchy. I really like that one. So I agree with it winning. “Funny Girl” and “Star!” are also nice, but — actually, in 1968, “Windmills of Your Mind” fits with the changing times. So I’m a fan.
(P.S. Where the hell is “Springtime for Hitler?”)
My Vote:
Rankings:
5. “For the Love of Ivy”
4. “Star!”
3. ”Funny Girl”
2. “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang”
1. “Windmills of Your Mind”
1969: ”RAINDROPS KEEP FALLIN’ ON MY HEAD,” FROM BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID
“Come Saturday Morning,” from The Sterile Cuckoo
“Jean,” from The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie
“True Grit,” from True Grit
“What Are You Doing for the Rest of Your Life?,” from The Happy Ending
Analysis: Come on, now.
(P.S. The guy who sings “Jean” is really creepy. Oh, and “Come Saturday Morning” is pretty great.)
My Vote: ”Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head”
Rankings:
5. ”What Are You Doing for the Rest of Your Life?”
4. ”Jean”
3. “True Grit”
2. ”Come Saturday Morning”
1. “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head”
1970: ”FOR ALL WE KNOW,” FROM LOVERS AND OTEHR STRANGERS
“Whistling Away the Dark,” from Darling Lili
“Till Love Touches Your Life,” from Madron
“Pieces of Dreams,” from Pieces of Dreams
“Thank You Very Much,” from Scrooge
Analysis: I’m gonna go with the winner. That seems best. I don’t really care though. (But damn, Shirley got some pipes.)
My Vote: ”For All We Know”
Rankings:
5. “Thank You Very Much”
4. “Till Love Touches Your Life”
3. “Whistling the Dark Away”
2. “Pieces of Dreams”
1. “For All We Know”
- – - – - – - – -
Tomorrow is the 70s and I know it only gets better from here.
Just one more set left after this:
1966: “Strangers in the Night” from “A Man Could Get Killed” sung by Sinatra and “A Man and a Woman” from “A Man and a Woman” sung by Nicole Croisille and Pierre Barouh
1967: “Mrs. Robinson,” Bitch!…also “You Only Live Twice” sung by daughter of Franken…I mean, Sinatra, Nancy Sinatra, and “To Sir with Love” sung by Lulu
1968: “Springtime for Hitler” from “The Producers”
1969: “We Have All the Time in the World” from “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service” sung by Louis Armstrong
1970: “Suicide Is Painless” from “MASH” sung by 4 uncredited dudes
July 13, 2012 at 9:49 pm