Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)
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| "Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)" | |||||||
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| Single by Christopher Cross | |||||||
| from the album Arthur – The Album | |||||||
| A-side | "Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)" | ||||||
| Released | 1981 | ||||||
| Format | LP; Cassette | ||||||
| Recorded | 1981 | ||||||
| Genre | Yacht Rock | ||||||
| Length | 03:52 | ||||||
| Label | Warner Bros. | ||||||
| Writer(s) | Christopher Cross; Burt Bacharach; Carole Bayer Sager; Peter Allen | ||||||
| Producer | Burt Bacharach; Michael Omartian; Andrew Gold; Val Garay | ||||||
| Christopher Cross singles chronology | |||||||
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"Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)", is a song performed by Christopher Cross, which was the theme to the 1981 film Arthur starring Dudley Moore and Liza Minnelli. It reached #1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and in Norway on the VG-lista chart.
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[edit] Background
The song was written in collaboration between Cross, pop music composer Burt Bacharach, and his frequent writing partner Carole Bayer Sager. A fourth writing credit goes to Minnelli's ex-husband and Australian songwriter Peter Allen, also a frequent collaborator with Bayer Sager; the line "When you get caught between the moon and New York City" from the chorus is taken from an unreleased song they had previously written together.
The song won the 1981 Academy Award for Best Original Song and the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song. The award was presented by singer Bette Midler, who, in her presentation of the nominated songs, called the song " 'That Song About the Moon and New York City,' also known as 'Four on a Song,' " referring to the four songwriters.
In Japan, the song is known as ニューヨーク・シティ・セレナーデ or "New York City Serenade" and has enjoyed popularity over the years. Cross performed the song with J-pop band SMAP in 2004. The song was even featured in a video that played in Shibuya Crossing (the world's busiest scramble crossing) in 2007.
It is No. 79 on AFI's 100 Years... 100 Songs
[edit] Notable cover recordings
- Peter Allen - Live at Carnegie Hall (1985)
- Alan Silvestri - American Anthem (1986)
- Roger Williams - Ivory Impact (1987)
- Cincinnati Pops Orchestra - Movie Love Themes (1991)
- Fausto Papetti - Ecos de Hollywood (1991)
- London Symphony Orchestra - Screen Classics, Vol.7 (1994)
- Anita Dobson - Magic of Burt Bacharach (2003)
- Royal Philharmonic Orchestra - Plays the Movies (2003)
- Hugh Jackman and Stephanie J. Block - The Boy from Oz, the Original Broadway Cast Recording (2003)
- Bradley Joseph - For the Love of It (2005)
- Thomas Anders - Songs Forever (2006)
- Dionne Warwick - Live (2007)
- Ornella Vanoni - Sogni Proibiti (2002)
- Shirley Bassey - Sings the Movies (1995)
- Mel Tormé
- Barry Manilow - Greatest Songs Of The Eightes (2008)
- Ute Lemper
- Michael Ball
- Hugh Jackman & Stephanie J. Block
[edit] Trivia
- This song was also featured in the musical The Boy from Oz, about Peter Allen, in which Peter and Liza perform the song as a duet in Act 1. In the Australian version it was placed in Act 2.
- In an episode of Will & Grace, Rosario Salazar, a maid, was paid to stop singing after she broke out a harmonica and sang the chorus of Arthur's Theme.
- In another episode of Will & Grace, Jack McFarland sang Arthur's Theme in his show, Just Jack, using props of cutouts of New York City and the Moon.
- In the episode "Peggy Hill: The Decline and Fall" of King of the Hill, pre-teen Bobby Hill has resorted to singing the song as a lullaby to pacify his newborn uncle, when everybody else has abandoned helping the baby.
- Tom Servo of Mystery Science Theater 3000 sings a verse of this song during a scene from the movie Time Chasers.
- The song was featured in the final episodes of 3rd Rock from the Sun.
- In the episode of King of Queens, "Prints Charming", Arthur states that he used this song for his cellphone ring tone.
| Chart (1981) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 1 |
| Norwegian VG-lista Singles Chart | 1 |
| Swiss Music Charts | 6 |
| Japan Oricon Singles Chart | 17 |
| Japan Oricon International Singles Chart | 1 |
| Preceded by "Endless Love" by Diana Ross and Lionel Richie |
Billboard Hot 100 number one single October 17, 1981 - October 31, 1981 |
Succeeded by "Private Eyes" by Daryl Hall and John Oates |
| Preceded by "Endless Love" by Diana Ross and Lionel Richie |
ARC Weekly Top 40 number one single October 24, 1981 - October 31, 1981 |
Succeeded by "Start Me Up" by The Rolling Stones |
| Preceded by "Hearts" by Marty Balin |
Japanese Oricon International Chart number-one single December 7, 1981 - January 11, 1982 |
Succeeded by "Physical" by Olivia Newton-John |
| Preceded by "Oh Julie" by Shakin' Stevens "Don't You Want Me" by The Human League |
Norwegian VG-lista number-one single 10/1982 16/1982 (2 weeks) |
Succeeded by "Oh Julie" by Shakin' Stevens "Ebony and Ivory" by Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder |
| Preceded by "Fame" from Fame |
Academy Award for Best Original Song 1981 |
Succeeded by "Up Where We Belong" from An Officer and a Gentleman |
