Best Original Song: A Categorical History (1961-1965)
Today is 1961-1965, and it’s gonna be great:
1961: “MOON RIVER,” FROM BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY’S
“Bachelor in Paradise,” from Bachelor in Paradise
“Love Theme From El Cid (The Falcon and the Dove),” from El Cid
“Pocketful of Miracles,” from Pocketful of Miracles
“Town Without Pity,” from Town Without Pity
Analysis: I don’t have to say anything here. The songs speak for themselves.
(P.S. “Town Without Pity” is awesome and has nothing to do with the movie at all.)
My Vote: “Moon River”
Rankings:
5. “Pocketful of Miracles”
4. “Love Theme From El Cid (The Falcon and the Dove)”
3. “Bachelor in Paradise”
2. “Town Without Pity”
1. “Moon River”
1962: “DAYS OF WINE AND ROSES,” FROM DAYS OF WINE AND ROSES
“Love Song From Mutiny on the Bounty (Follow Me),” from Mutiny on the Bounty
“Song from Two for the Seesaw (Second Chance),” from Two for the Seesaw
“Tender is the Night,” from Tender is the Night
“Walk on the Wild Side,” from Walk on the Wild Side
Analysis: No contest. “Days of Wine and Roses” all the way.
(P.S. Like the smooth jazz of “Second Chance.” Otherwise — weak category.)
My Vote: “Days of Wine and Roses”
Rankings:
5. “Love Song From Mutiny on the Bounty (Follow Me)”
4. “Tender is the Night”
3. “Walk on the Wild Side”
2. “Song from Two for the Seesaw (Second Chance)”
1. “Days of Wine and Roses”
1963: “CALL ME IRRESPONSIBLE,” FROM PAPA’S DELICATE CONDITION
“Charade,” from Charade
“It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World,” from It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
“More,” from Mondo Cane
“So Little Time,” from 55 Days at Peking
Analysis: It’s “Charade” all the way for me. That’s clearly the choice here. “Call Me Irresponsible” and “More” are nice and all, but — “Charade.” (P.S. Henry Mancini is a musical genius.)
My Vote: “Charade”
Rankings:
5. “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World”
4. “So Little Time”
3. “More”
2. “Call Me Irresponsible”
1. “Charade”
1964: “CHIM CHIM CHER-EE,” FROM MARY POPPINS
“Dear Heart,” from Dear Heart
“Hush… Hush, Sweet Charlotte,” from Hush… Hush, Sweet Charlotte
“My Kind of Town,” from Robin and the 7 Hoods
“Where Love Has Gone,” from Where Love Has Gone
Analysis: It’s Mary all the way. Despite that accent.
My Vote: “Chim Chim Cher-ee”
Rankings:
5. “Where Love Has Gone”
4. “Dear Heart”
3. “My Kind of Town”
2. “Hush… Hush, Sweet Charlotte”
1. “Chim Chim Cher-ee”
1965: “THE SHADOW OF YOUR SMILE,” FROM THE SANDPIPER
“The Ballad of Cat Ballou,” from Cat Ballou
“I Will Wait for You, “from The Umbrellas of Cherbourg
“The Sweetheart Tree,” from The Great Race
“What’s New Pussycat?,” from What’s New Pussycat?
Analysis: Wow, they went with the absolute most boring choice on here. It’s the worst song! “The Sweetheart Tree” is better, but shouldn’t have won. “The Ballad of Cat Ballou” would have been spirited, but shouldn’t have won either. And a lot of people might say “What’s New Pussycat?” on principle. And I’d normally agree, Tom Jones and all. But honestly — it’s Umbrellas of Cherbourg all the way. That film is so beautiful that it wins on principle.
My Vote: “I Will Wait for You”
Rankings:
5. “The Shadow of Your Smile”
4. “The Sweetheart Tree”
3. “The Ballad of Cat Ballou”
2. “What’s New Pussycat?”
1. “I Will Wait for You”
– – – – – – – – – –
Tomorrow is 1966-1970.
Love this list!
July 13, 2012 at 4:42 am
Almost done catching up:
1961: none
1962: none
1963: “From Russia with Love” from “From Russia with Love” sung by Matt Monro
1964: “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” from “Mary Poppins” sung by Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke (my winner), “Goldfinger” from “Goldfinger” sung by Shirley Bassey, and “Feed the Birds” from “Mary Poppins” sung by Julie Andrews (those are my top 3)
1965: “Thunderball” from “Thunderball” sung by Tom Jones (my winner)
July 13, 2012 at 9:33 pm