Rainbo Electronic Reviews Looks at the AFI's 100 Years... 100 Songs List

The American Film Institute has just released its latest Top 100 list. This time they looked at the 100 Best Movie Songs. Their criterea focused on the impact the song had, both on the movie it appeared in and on American culture. Such lists always spark some controversy, especially when they come from influential and respected organizations like the AFI. We certainly have issues with several of their choices and since the institute president invited commentary and discussion in the broadcast on CBS television, we thought we'd take her up on the offer. So here we present the AFI's top 100 Movie Songs of All Time, with our review of both the original movie and its music, as well as what we thought of the AFI's ranking.

Glaring omissions? Oh, we've got our ideas on that, too. Like "The Theme From The Pink Panther" and the theme from the classic musical "Hello Dolly!"

The AFI ranked the film version of the Broadway musical South Pacific, but not Oklahoma!, Carousel? I won't even mention Aquarius from Hair. Raindrops from Butch Cassidy, but not The Entertainer from The Sting? The banal theme from "Rocky" but not the inimitable "Time-Warp" from Rocky Horror Picture Show? And at long last will we ever see the soundtrack from "Ishtar" released? I'm serious! The masterfully funny songs by Elaine May and Paul Williams from that movie are priceless and throngs of movie fans continually scour the Internet for a glimpse of this mythical product. "I can see her standing by the backroads of my mind, she cracks her knuckles and the scar that's on her knee won't go away!" Telling the truth can indeed be dangerous business. And why "Days of Wine and Roses"?? Why, oh Why?? A more banal example of the effects of the Dreaded Percy Faith Syndrome you'll never find. And where was the theme from "The Pink Panther"???? That may have been Henry Mancini's crowning acheivement in movie scores. And they pick "Luck Be A Lady" from "Guys and Dolls" just because its sung by Marlon Brando over the wittier, snappier, and infinitely more memorable "I Got The Horse Right Here" featuring Frank Sinatra and Stubby Kaye. I'm sure you have favorites that didn't make the AFI's list, too. But we present our comments on the AFI's picks in hopes of stimulating your interest in music in the movies.

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The AFI's List of 100 Best Movie Songs