The AFI's Top 100 Movie Songs - #31-40

#31 Theme from New York, New York
from New York, New York

Warner Bros. Studios

Its one of those songs that got done to death. One catchy lyric was apparently enough to impress the AFI, but I just thought it was plodding, pandering, and predictable. Wouldn't have even made my top 500.

#32 I Got Rhythm
from An American In Paris

Warner Bros. Studios

Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron sparkle in this 1950's musical about an ex-GI in Paris after the war. Its one of those movies that you'd have to call a classic, even though you won't find it on a lot of "Top"-anything lists. But as far as the music goes, the Gershwins' "I Got Rhythm" is one of the cornerstones of American music. It makes an enthralling background for Gene Kelly's brilliant choreography. It was recorded by dozens of artists in the intervening years. My only question is how this song in this movie didn't make it into the top 20.

#33 Aquarius
from Hair

Warner Bros. Studios

Another mystery pick. "Aquarius" was a big hit for The Fifth Dimension, whose tightly harmonized vocals, led by by the stunning Marilyn McCoo, with its signature percussion and accompanied by full orchestration made this anthem for the Peace Movement into a crossover hit with the pop crowd for 10 years afterward. The impact of the movie was more due to its heritage on the stage, because it was the first Broadway production to feature nudity. As such, it was a bit notorious, but not very noteworthy as a movie.

#34 Let's Call the Whole Thing Off
from Shall We Dance

RKO Studios

Oh gosh, how many times have we all heard the "po-TAY-to/po-TAH-to" thing? Well, here's where it started - RKO's Fred and Ginger at odds again, until they make up in a big dance sequence... who'd-a-thunk-it? But, again, the Gershwin brothers make up for many of the film's shortcomings with their marvelous "Let's Call The Whole Thing Off", and especially "They Can't Take That Away From Me" whose lyrics spoke volumes to a Depression-era audience who saw foreclosures all around them. A good pick here.

#35 America
from West Side Story

MGM Studios

West Side Story makes the list again here with the acerbic "America" about the plight of Puerto Rican's in America, featuring the gorgeous Rita Moreno. The song rails against the discrimination they faced with a humourous underpinning. It was a memorable tune and a worthy pick.

#36 Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious
from Mary Poppins

Walt Disney Studios

Often called Walt's masterpiece, "Mary Poppins" was a smash hit that has lived on for over 50 years. Featuring the bouncy, beautiful Julie Andrews and the rubber-faced comic Dick Van Dyke, they took audiences on a fanciful trip to turn-of-the-century London. The Sherman Brothers must have been eating their Wheaties the years they wrote the score for this movie, because nothing they did before or afterward ever came close to the quality of their work here. The Sherman Brothers are responsible for such musical travesties as Haley Mills' "Let's Get Together," Annette Funicello's "Pineapple Princess," and their most famous work - the mind-numbing theme park ride anthem "It's A Small World." But paired with the charm and grace of Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke, the tongue-twisting tune "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" was a kid favorite - especially if you'd managed to master saying it backwards like Mary did! The widescreen DVD version allows new audiences to really appreciate the tight choreography of Gower Champion as well as the art direction of many Disney artists and Imagineers like Bill Justice and X. Antencio who were responsible for effects like the magical self-cleaning playroom in the "Spoonful of Sugar" sequence.

#37 Swinging on a Star
from Going My Way

Universal Studios

Back when you could have a priest in a movie and not be a sexual preditor, Bing Crosby cranked out this sugar-coated morality play. A saccharin tale of the Depression, featuring Barry Fitzgerald as the aging parish pastor, and the new young priest played Bing who saves the day. "Swinging on a Star" was a popular little tune in its day, admonishing listeners to stay on the straight and narrow lest one become like one of many barnyard animals. Sorry, but this pick is a mystery to me.

#38 Theme from Shaft
from Theme from Shaft

Warner Bros. Studios

The biggest hit of the Blacksploitation movies, Shaft was a crossover favorite. It didn't hurt that the film was directed by the legendary photographer/cinematographer Gordon Parks, but without a doubt, the thing that got white audiences to give the movie a chance was the hip, sassy Isaac Hayes theme song. A landmark song that certainly deserves to be recognized here. Shut Your Mouth!

#39 Days of Wine and Roses
from Days of Wine and Roses

Warner Bros. Studios

Totally baffling. While the movie was a gritty tale of a co-dependent couple on the downward spiral of alcoholism, with wonderful performances by Jack Lemmon and Lee Remick (be still, my heart!), as popular as it was in its day, the theme song was just another buccolic Henry Mancini concoction destined for Muzak machines. Didn't any of the AFI panel see "Good Morning, Vietnam"?

#40 Fight the Power
from Do The Right Thing

Criterion Collection

I'm going to disqualify myself here. I have a visceral dislike of rap music, and have no respect for Spike Lee or any interest in seeing his movies. Let's just leave it at that.