A tribute to the top 10 greatest musical numbers in cinematic history.
Artwork by Mia Nogueira
On a bright and sunny day in Salzburg, Austria, a rebellious young woman frolics through a field of brilliant greenery, dashing to the summit of the topographical wonder that lies beneath her feet. Feeling trapped and bewildered by her lackluster life at the Abbey, she strides above her world, feeling compelled by the bountiful beauty of the wonderland surrounding her. Suddenly, she feels as though she is conducting an orchestra of natural wonder, extending her arms with enthusiasm and grinning wildly. She opens her mouth.
Nothing comes out.
What are movies without music? Where would Gene Kelly be if he wasn’t singing in the rain? How could Aladdin possibly display his never-ending love for Jasmine without a full orchestra backing him up? Could movies ever have the same intensity, drama, humor, and artfulness if it wasn’t for the tunes that guide it to fame? Absolutely not.
Sometimes, it seems as though society focuses entirely on the plot and/or acting in excellent movies, often forgetting the superb songs that give these movies their lasting impressions. So let us honor these wonderful melodies that make movies the classics they are today.
Pull up a chair, whip out your keyboard, and get in tune, because this is the top 10 greatest musical numbers in cinematic history.
Here are the rules:
1: The song has to have been sung, in some way, by a character(s) in the movie.
2: The song must serve some purpose to the plot
3: The song must be over two minutes long (approximately)
Let’s get started:
#10 – The Rainbow Connection (The Muppet Movie, 1979)
Now here’s a song that’ll make anyone smile. If Kermit the frog playing the banjo and singing a song about the world’s mysteries doesn’t bring a sense of nostalgia, I don’t know what will. While this song has become immensely popular over the years, I would easily say it is overlooked. When people think of The Rainbow Connection, they think, “cute kid’s song.” People seem to like the message, and it’s certainly catchy, but most don’t realize the musical integrity the song possesses. If one looks past the loveable lyrics and the mesmerizing puppetry, what’s found is a relatively complex and imaginative song that, in my opinion, has yet to be matched in a non-Disney children’s film.
#9 – Sweet Transvestite (Rocky Horror Picture Show, 1975)
I’ll be honest, I don’t quite get this song. It’s random, it’s bizarre, it’s out of this world; yet I love every minute of it. Watching Tim Curry (The Wild Thornberries) dance flamboyantly in tight lingerie –leaving very little to the imagination- while spurting sexual innuendos like a broken fountain is sort of like watching a kitten being catapulted into a brick wall. It’s disgusting, it’s demented, and yet it’s impossible to look away. So of course, because of its raunchy humor and relentless quest to make its viewers ill, this song is a ton of fun. Tim Curry is an absolute riot, the choreography is quite original, and even the song is pretty well written. So, what’s the point of this song? I don’t know. And quite honestly, I don’t care.
#8 – Edelweiss (The Sound of Music, 1965)
This is an absolutely beautiful song. In less than three minutes, Captain George Ludwig von Trapp (Christopher Plummer, 9)displays the entirety of his emotions during the disastrous times that have come before him. His fear, his doubt, his patriotism, and ultimately his love for his family, all come out through a delicate tune, lifted by subtle lyrics and a superb singer. When I think of World War II, I think of this song. How strange is that? The choices that were made during the war changed the world, and nothing in film depicts one of these choices as briefly and beautifully as Edelweiss.
#7 – Think (The Blues Brothers, 1980)
Aretha Franklin, without doubt, has one of the most powerful voices ever. Musicals that choose powerful singers usually do one of two things: either they smother the singer’s capabilities for the sake of easy-listening, or they empower the singer to belch out the lyrics like her life depended on it. Fortunately, this film does the latter. When Aretha Franklin shows she’s angry at a man, she sings it, and everyone knows it. Franklin is the perfect portrayal of feminine frustration in this musical cameo, and it fits the atmosphere of the movie wonderfully. Plus, seeing the kings of blues themselves on the same screen as the queen of R&B is pretty outstanding.
#6 – Skid Row (Little Shop of Horrors, 1986)
This is one of those songs that is simply perfect. The choreography is ideal, the tune if flawless, and the atmosphere in which the musical number takes place -a worn-down section of downtown – is both original and familiar. Actually, most of the songs in this movie are top-notch. It proved to be very difficult to find a song from this movie not worthy of a spot on this list, and I ended up wavering between Skid Row, and Mean Green Mother From Outer Space. Ultimately, as much fun as the latter song is –and believe me; it’s fun- Skid Row simply displays the most emotion. It’s a song that shows quality in brevity; within a two-minute song, the characters in the movie transform into the heroes.
#5 – La Tango de Roxanne (Moulin Rouge, 2001)
Technically, this isn’t an original song. In fact, it’s strictly based on the song Roxanne by the Police. Is a cover really worth a spot on the top 10 greatest musical numbers ever? In this case, absolutely. This truly is a gem in a junkyard; a cover that is actually better than its original. Don’t get me wrong, I love the Police’s version. But the transformation of a gentle pop-rock song into a fierce, passionate, and slightly erotic tango makes this version simply breathtaking. During the tango, a slew of men seem to be fighting over one woman, and it’s all done through a dance. This gives the choreography an edge that isn’t seen in most on-screen dances. The cinematography, too, is outstanding, seeming to be playing as large a role to the dance as the dancers themselves. Ultimately, it’s an enthusiastic thrill ride that’ll have the viewer’s heart pounding with excitement.
#4 – The Circle of Life (The Lion King, 1994)
Nobody gets children’s music like Disney. And there’s no better musician than Elton John. Put the two together? Now that’s a song. It’s pretty obvious what makes this musical number great: the unmatched animation, the catchy tune, the epic landscapes. But for me, what makes this song unforgettable is the Watoto choir, adding such authenticity and intensity to the chorus. The entire song is as nostalgic as it is angelic, and it remains to be one of the greatest openings to any film.
#3 – The Abduction of the Seraglio (Amadeus, 1984)
“Music, even in situations of the greatest horror, should never be painful to the ear but should flatter and charm it, and thereby always remain music.” So says Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, the greatest composer in history. Many horrible things happen in this movie. Jealousy, lust, greed, and pure immaturity cover the entire film, making it dark, edgy, and controversial. And yet the music is beautiful. Why? Because, as stated by Mozart himself, music should always remain alluring and graceful. This philosophy is depicted most fully in the scene from the opera, The Abduction of the Seraglio, which is considered one of Mozart’s earliest, yet greatest, pieces. The contrast between ugly circumstances and exquisite music makes this scene deep and complex, sometimes even making the viewer slightly uncomfortable. Dark, mysterious, goofy, and yet prodigious. That is Mozart.
#2 – O Death (O Brother Where Art Thou, 2000)
There are no instruments in this song. Neither is there a supporting chorus-line. There’s no dancing, there’s no clapping, and there’s no hope anywhere in this scene. It’s just a Ku Klux Klan leader singing. That’s it. And out of all the songs in cinematic history, this one displays hatred the greatest. Performed by bluegrass legend Ralph Stanley, the sole purpose of this song is to spread intolerance, prejudice, and pure unadulterated hatred. The fact that this song is so dark and menacing makes the rescue of the KKK leader’s captive (guitarist Robert Johnson) even more joyous, and the KKK leader’s eventual ostracizing from the town almost brought tears of joy to my eyes. It’s a lugubrious ballad; almost a statement in and of itself of the future this severely misled man hopes to see. Is it unnerving? Yes. But it’s also one of the most powerful scenes ever to be put on screen.
#1 – Cabaret (Cabaret, 1972)
Picture this: You’re a performer in Berlin, 1931. You’re pregnant. The father could be one of two men. Both of these men have had sexual relations not only with you, but also with each other. One decides to stay with you. The other leaves, never to be seen again. Without your lover knowing, you have an abortion, fearful of the life you will lead as a mother. Sobbing and guilt-driven, you tell your lover everything. He abandons you, leaving his apartment and returning to London. You are left alone, sobbing, and a Berlin train station. An hour later, you find yourself on stage once again, in front of a chattering audience, and you step into the spotlight. What would you sing? What could you possibly perform that could, in any way, provide remedy for the immense trauma you’ve just experienced?
“Life is a Cabaret, my friend.”
That’s what makes Liza Minnelli’s performance of Cabaret outstanding. The song isn’t morbid. It’s not even downbeat. It’s simply a delightful show-tune, advertising the happenings in the Nightclub at which she performs. It’s the perfect contrast between a performance and reality. The song is performed to perfection. Minnelli shouts the lyrics as if her life depended on it, stepping with ecstasy and dancing with passion. The tune itself is also miraculous, containing a variety of instruments, dramatic ritardandos, and a complex composure that is worthy of an opera. It’s sometimes argued that a good movie is one that has good substance, but a great movie is one that has a good ending. If that’s true, then Cabaret is, without doubt, one of the greatest movies ever made.
So there they are: the top 10 greatest musical numbers in cinematic history. Many acknowledge that music can convey so many things that words cannot. But many fail to realize the significance of the words conveyed. Music is like a different language; one that can say a million things in one bar. And because of this, music remains to be the heart and soul of the film industry.
