So, AFI’s long string of “100 Years…” lists continued this week with 100 Years, 100 Songs. Take a look at the top 10:
1) Over the Rainbow (The Wizard of Oz, 1939)
2) As Time Goes By (Casablanca,1942)
3) Singin’ in the Rain (Singin’ in the Rain, 1952)
4) Moon River (Breakfast At Tiffany’s, 1961)
5) White Christmas (Holiday Inn, 1942)
6) Mrs. Robinson (The Graduate, 1967)
7) When You Wish Upon A Star (Pinocchio, 1940)
8) The Way We Were (The Way We Were, 1973)
9) Stayin’ Alive (Saturday Night Fever, 1977)
10) The Sound of Music (The Sound of Music, 1965)
Can someone at AFI maybe check and tell me if this isn’t actually the “80 Years, 80 Songs” top 10? How is it that there’s not a single song from the last 27 years in the top 10? In fact, here are ALL of the entries on the list from within my lifetime:
9) Stayin’ Alive (Saturday Night Fever, 1977)
14) My Heart Will Go On (Titanic, 1997)
16) Evergreen (Love Theme from A Star is Born) (A Star is Born, 1976)
27) Unchained Melody (Ghost, 1990)
31) Theme from ‘New York, New York’ (New York, New York, 1977)
33) Aquarius (Hair, 1979)
40) Fight the Power (Do The Right Thing, 1989)
44) Wind Beneath My Wings (Beaches, 1988)
51) Fame (Fame, 1980)
55) Flashdance…What a Feeling (Flashdance, 1983)
58) Gonna Fly Now (Rocky, 1976)
60) It Had to Be You (When Harry Met Sally…, 1989)
62) Beauty and the Beast (Beauty and the Beast, 1991)
65) I Will Always Love You (The Bodyguard, 1992)
68) Streets of Philadelphia (Philadelphia, 1993)
70) Summer Nights (Grease, 1978)
74) Rainbow Connection (The Muppet Movie, 1979)
75) Up Where We Belong (An Officer and a Gentleman, 1982)
78) 9 to 5 (9 to 5, 1981)
79) Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do) (Arthur, 1982)
81) I’m Easy (Nashville, 1975)
83) The Rose (The Rose, 1979)
85) Come What May (Moulin Rouge!, 2001)
86) (I’ve Had) The Time of My Life (Dirty Dancing, 1987)
90) Seems Like Old Times (Annie Hall, 1977)
91) Let the River Run (Working Girl, 1988)
93) Lose Yourself (8 Mile, 2002)
94) Ain’t Too Proud to Beg (The Big Chill, 1983)
96) Footloose (Footloose, 1984)
98) All That Jazz (Chicago, 2002)
99) Hakuna Matata (The Lion King, 1994)
100) Old Time Rock and Roll (Risky Business, 1983)
Clearly, this list was put together by a panel devoid of anyone under the age of 40. There are at least 5 songs on this list that make me outright retch, and at least 2 that I would sooner put a pencil through my ear than have to listen to again. (In case you couldn’t guess – “My Heart Will Go On” and “I Will Always Love You”.) Bette Midler, Celine Dion, and Whitney Houston are all on this list. It’s nice to see that “Lose Yourself” made the list, but I suspect that’s only because after winning the Oscar for Best Song, they felt obligated to include it. (I haven’t a clue how “Fight the Power” made it onto this list. One of the clerks at AFI must have slipped that in while no one on the panel was looking.)
And how is it that “The Rose” makes this list, but not even one track from The Blues Brothers? (Alright, that’s just a personal gripe.)
Anyway, the point of this whole diatribe…we (the blogging Gen-X public) need to “amend” the AFI list. What movie song from your lifetime would you want to see on this list?
The comment box is standing by.
I don’t think it’s unfair to say that older movies, in general, had more memorable music. Still, you are probably correct that the list was chosen by people who idolize “the classics” and therefore feel that nothing written today could POSSIBLY stand up to what was written back then.
Dumbasses.
That’s pretty much the point I was trying to make. I’m not disputing that the songs in the top 10 deserve to be there, but the entire list in general looks a lot like a list someone my mother’s age would create.
Of course, you never answered the big question – what song would you add to the list?
Hello, Dolly! and Oklahoma are the two songs I was very surprised didn’t make the list. I’m terribly partial to both of them.
I might add in “Oh, Yes! Wyoming!” 🙂
Alright, since no one else is jumping in here…
Like I mentioned, I would have liked to have seen at least ONE song from The Blues Brothers on the list – let’s say “Sweet Home Chicago”. I would also think that “Bohemian Rhapsody” would have shown up from its use in Wayne’s World.
“Perfect Day,” by Hoku. From the “Legally Blonde” soundtrack. 🙂
I’m totally kidding.
How did “Hakuna Matata” make it? I thought “Circle of Life” was a better song. And there’s nothing from the soundtrack of “The Little Mermaid” – good lord!