CHEWER'S 250 GREATEST MUSICAL NUMBERS IN CINEMATIC HISTORY - Page 3

76. The American Astronaut - Hey Boy

 

This is the first real musical number in the film, and it was the moment I pretty much fell in love with the movie. That may say something about my mental state. In any case, after I saw The American Astronaut for the first song, I got this song stuck in my head, and it took repeated watchings to get it back out.

 

In any case, the number does do a lot to set the mood of the film. Everything is just slightly off-kilter, except when it's severely off-kilter. And this number, combined with the stand-up comedy and dance contest number which follows (and is much "bigger") give you something of a sense of what the rules are in the film.

 

 

 

 

When I thought about this subject, these two are what I came up with only to find they'd already been posted.  Perfect picks. 

#77 Desperado

 

To go back to my pommie roots, "phwoar!"

 

Sultry songstress sings to the Desperado after riding him to within an inch of his life.  So engrossed is she that she doesn't even notice the bad guys sneaking up, or the impending load to the face (snikt) she may get.

 

Honestly, if you absolutely had to kill a bunch of twats immediately after waking up, it would help waking up to this.

 

Also, out of rep, but damn there are some fine choices in this thread.

Man, I hate to keep doing this to you guys, but...

 

78. "When She Loved Me" - Toy Story 2

 

One of the most heartbreaking tales of estrangement and loss and hurt in film. And it's less than 3 minutes long. And about a cowgirl doll.

 

And because Pixar are jerks, they make Sarah McLachlan sing it.

 

Niagara Falls.

 

Goddamnit, Justin!  Stop bumming me out at work!   [I keed]

79. A Friend Like Me

 

Some great Disney's already, so here is mine.  This song is emblematic of animation and big dance numbers and stand-up comedy.  All three embodied right here.

 

 

I can watch it over and over and find new things to love about it.  Robin at his peak, and Disney at theirs.

Well, let's balance it out a little.

 

80. "Bass Battle" - Scott Pilgrim vs The World

 

More music as a weapon. Nothing fancy. Just a guy, and his girlfriend's ex getting into a fight. But with bass riffs. You know. the usual.

 

http://www.anyclip.com/movies/scott-pilgrim-vs-the-world/bass-battle/

 

80. Little Shop of Horrors - Skid Row (Downtown) (1986)

 

 

A full scale musical number establishes everything you need to know about your next hour and a half (except the cannibalistic plant and masochistic dentist bits). 

82.  “Show Me The Way To Go Home" – JAWS (1975)

 

There's no decent video of this, but I'm sure you all know it.

 

An absolutely essential tension-relieving song that again proves how well Spielberg balances humor and terror.  This comes immediately after the riveting and horrifying Indianapolis speech, and man, does it work.  You can tell all three of those actors had a ball singing this; it’s the ultimate male bonding scene. 

 

Unfortunately, the song is rudely interrupted….

81. THE LITTLE MERMAID - 'Kiss The Girl'

The best song in any Disney film, in my opinion. A great melody, a beautiful lyric, and tons of romance. It's one of those perfect moments in film. Link forthcoming.

82. "Moonchild" - Buffalo '66

 

Although the whole movie is all about 'look at the sensitive soul beneath the rough exterior', this is the first legitimately gentle moment. And if you're not yet on board with Ricci's character, this clinches it.

 

Edited by Hammerhead - 6/5/12 at 9:08pm

82. "Little Shop of Horrors" -  "I Am Your Dentist"

All these "Little Shop of Horrors" choices and the best one hasn't been picked yet???

I AM YOUR DENNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNTIST!

 

When I was first saw Steve Martin in this movie, as a biker with his hair dyed black, I thought this was some bad casting. Boy, was I ever wrong...and I knew how wrong I was when this number started. Maybe I've never been more wrong.

 

Martin's done a lot of great stuff in the movies, but this might be his finest, most iconic comedic moment. I love this sequence so much. Stuff like the inside-the-mouth shot is why I'll always love practical effects more than CGI...there's a cute, rickety charm to them that no other effect can capture.

Alright, I said I wasn't going to do it, but god damn I'm not letting this get to 100 without Busby Berkley showing up.

84. "Remember My Forgotten Man" - Gold Diggers of 1933

I did a small writeup on this in the best films of the 1930s thread and I was hoping to see someone else bring it up here, but I can't let is slide any longer. This spectacular musical number is a dedication to and lamination of the negative effects of war, WW1 in this case, on those who were sent to the front lines. It is in fact a song documenting Post Traumatic Stress Disorder before the condition was medically recognized and I can watch it over an over again and still be wowed by the huge production of it all.

It is as if Berkley was channeling Fritz Lang's Metropolis when he choreographed it.

I suppose I need to throw my personal Disney choice in here somewhere.

 

85. "Be Prepared" - The Lion King

 

Aside from Hellfire, my favorite Disney villain track ever. Its awesome enough just having Jeremy Irons' serpentine voice hissing about kings and successions. Then they visually reference Triumph Of The Will. And show Scar rising from Hell itself to bay at the moon, while hyenas fight over scraps. Everything is just EPIC here. Nothing but love.

 

86. "Pure Imagination" - Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

"Hold your breath, make a wish, count to three"

The ultimate fairytale come to life for kids, at least I know it was one of mine the moment Gene Wilder opens that door and shows his guests the Dr. Seuss like fantasy land he has made for himself. That slow walk down the stairs as he breaks into song about living out your Pure Imagination. Only Wilder could pull off that faraway look of a man almost lost in his own sense of sad whimsy and still have a hint of menace in the way he whips his cane around to stop his guests from rushing past and perhaps to warn his guests that even here in this paradise their actions still will have consequences. Genius acting and great music.

87. "The Steward of Gondor" - Lord of the Rings: Return of the King

 

Perfect marriage of visual, musical, and aural storytelling. And Billy Boyd just wrings every drop of contempt, sadness, dread, and regret out of that song. It still just plain hurts to watch and hear.

 

Man, I like almost all of these, but it's like you guys are making a list of the best musical numbers that aren't in musicals.

 

I think that was encouraged from the mission statement of this thread.

I'm aware they're not out of bounds in any way, shape, or form.  I just would tend to think the list should favor actual musicals, is all.

Vincent Gallo claims that Buffalo '66 is totally a musical. "Look at the shoes!"

(88) Top Secret - Skeet Surfin'

 

Do you like the Beach Boys? How about the NRA?

 

Well, I guess Team ZAZ must have been, because here is a song that combines the best parts of both!

 

 

Watching this for the first time as a kid, it felt like someone had brought pages of MAD Magazine to life. 

OH MAN, WHY DIDN'T I THINK OF THIS BEFORE

 

89. "Wild Signals" - Close Encounters of The Third Kind

 

Humanity being taken to school using a universal language. And yet, fulfills every role a musical should. Its the first conversation between two new friends. Even without context, even without melody or structure, my 7 year old self always knew what was happening here. Which is the point. Even without knowing exactly what we're being taught, we know we have absolutely no reason whatsoever to be afraid, and that whoever it is we're speaking to, we're ready to meet them.

 

No alien film since has pulled that off as eloquently as this.

 

90. "The Theme From SHAFT" -SHAFT (1971)

 

Iconic theme song introduces one of cinema's coolest characters and takes blaxploitation cinema up a level and to the mainstream.

 

<Nevermind, this doesn't count does it?>

 

90. "Stroll On" -BLOW UP

 

The Yardbirds blaze, got live in all their rock n roll ferocity.

 

Edited by Fat Elvis - 6/4/12 at 4:21pm

I'll be happy to go back and revise my pick if requested.

91. "Johnny B. Goode" from Back to the Future

 

Ignoring the concept that a teenage white kid inspired the invention of Rock and Roll, the song is just so fun that you forgive the fact that MJF is obviously faking the entire performance.  And Marty's guitar solo finale is so incomprehensible that the entire movie stops to stare.  Also, bonus points for being an important enough setpiece in the series that it's revisited in the first sequel.

 

 

 

 

Factoid I learned is that a LARGE # of the extras in the scene had fled Europe to escape Nazi persecution....so some of that anger and defiance wasn't acting, it was real. GREAT GREAT GREAT fucking scene. 

 

Aside from that, it also give insight into all 3 of the principals of the movie - Laszlo just can't/won't sit for the Nazis bullshit, Rick could easily avoid the trouble but doesn't, and when Rick sees how Ilsa looks at Laszlo...well, that's kinda the end of his hopes of being with her. 

92. Joyeux Noel - Christmas Night - actually 3 songs, so take your pick - the Scots rendition of "Dreaming of Home"; and the pipe/Sprink renditions of "O Come All Ye Faithful" and "Silent Night"

 

 

Video was removed from Youtube, if I find it I'll post it. 

92) Happiness Pie - Brain Candy (1996)

 

 

When a metal band takes Gleemonex, an anthem for a new generation of blissed out citizens is bored.

 

Runner up from this movie:

 

 

Not as musical, but better choreography.

94.  SOUTH PARK: BLU - 'Uncle Fukka'

 

Why?  Because I've never seen an entire theater pulsate with painful laughter like it did for this song.  There may have been BETTER songs in the film, but none were quite as immediately hilarious as this one was.

 

95. Royal Wedding "You're All The World To Me" (1951)

 

 

Fred Astaire says "Fuck you!" to gravity. An astonishing cinematic achievement.

 

Here it be: (Click to show)

96.  TEAM AMERICA: WORLD POLICE - 'So Ronery'

 

Sympathy.  Melancholy.  Why is everyone out to get me?  Why am I so misunderstood? 

 

You have to admire how this song plays as a parody of the 'I'm so sorry for myself' ballads that other musicals seem to favor.  Also, it's funny as hell.

 

Damn, I really wish I'd thought of this earlier...

 

97. 2001: A Space Odyssey "The Blue Danube" (1968)

 

 

Majestic & hypnotic, this is by far one of the greatest couplings of music to the moving image in cinema history. Swirling in time to Strauss' great work, Kubrick imagines a clockwork universe that dances in waltz time.

 

Here it be: (Click to show)

97. If I Fell - A Hard Day's Night (1964)

Obviously, any time you have these four gentlemen in a room the result is brilliant. I mean, they're the fucking Beatles. What I love about this particular segment is the combination of a great song performed very simply and the utter, tangible, palpable joy they are able to portray. You can see how much these guys loved performing together at the time. Each of them seem to be spending the whole 2 and a half minutes trying to suppress breaking in to wide shit eating grins, and the little smiles that do creep in seem 100% genuine.

Edited by Raspberry Leper - 6/4/12 at 6:57pm

98. A Mighty Wind - "A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow"

 

 

 

 

 

Much like "Stonehenge", this musical number encapsulates the movie in a 3 or 4 minute span; at their best, Christopher Guest's movies tread a fine line of seeing the humor in a character's actions while being sympathetic to the characters themselves - despite how ridiculous they may be, they still get treated with love and get to have some dignity. This is a beautiful song

 

 

And I'm still fucking pissed at Celine Dion's schlock-fest end-credit carpetbagger "Into the West" beating it out for Best Song. 

n/m

#99 Spider-Man 3

Dark dance number.

I imagine there will be a few groans and eye rolls at this but I thought it was great for a couple of reasons.  1) It showcased that Peter's "dark" side was more about being a dick with his powers and 2) Raimi snuck in a dance routine into a mainstream comic book movie.

 

I like it because even while he thinks he's being cool, he's still actually a total Dork, plus it makes a nice change from "stubbly dark glowering" when Superheroes go bad.

 

 

Yeah, you've completely missed the point. Kubrick treats the movement of these objects as if they were dancers, choreographed in time to the music. It's a musical number.

101.  FROM DUSK TIL DAWN - Salma Hayek's Dance

 

Because it's Salma.  And she's smoking hot.  The song provides a perfect backdrop for her dance, too.

 

 

 

Face it, that dance would be wood-inducing if "Metal Machine Music" were playing. 

102.  STEP BROTHERS - 'Por Ti Volare'

 

Will does a surprisingly good job of performing this song straight.  What takes it to the next level is John C. Reilly interjecting BOATS AND HOS! in there at random moments.  It hits the perfect tone for the movie.

 

103. Somebody Super Like You/Life at Last

 

 

 

 

 

Probably not the "best" songs from Phantom of the Paradise (I'd say "The Hell of It" is the strongest, but that only plays over the end credits and doesn't necessarily have a "performance" in it), but when you factor in music + on-screen action, the Undead's proto-Alice Cooper theatrics and Gerritt Graham's scene-stealing turn as "Beef" are probably the high point of the movie.