stuyguy: 1
ignorance: 0
Good job! 
But, “Hakuna Matata” *is *the best song from The Lion King!
The Entertainer
Green Onions
Telstar
Spanish Flea
The Hustle
None of these are “songs”?
I will concede though that Waloon’s post of the AFI guidelines stat “music and lyrics” so if that’s what they want to limit themselves to, fine. Awfully closed-minded for a film institute.
From dictionary.com:
So, to answer your question, no. If they do not have lyrics, they are not songs. 
Hey, I understand how you feel about AFI short-changing film scores, but honestly, I would have been disappointed had they actually chosen musical themes for this thing. Because themes are not songs. They are orchestral or instrumental pieces. Not songs. No lyrics. No singing.
Frankly, I’m sick of people calling any old musical piece a song. I’m glad that AFI actually meant “song” with this one. But, like you, I’d be elated if they’d do a 100 Top Film Themes list. I’m not holding my breath, but I’d be elated.
One song from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and it Some Day My Prince will Come?
Not Whistle While You Work.
Not Heigh Ho
Not the one that the Beatles nicked the opening of for one of their songs.
Whatever.
I want to bring up something I mentioned earlier that no one addressed. What the heck is with the *High Noon * theme , Do not Foresake Me, Oh My Darlin’, which weighed in at an unbelieveable #25?
I mean, was it a hit back then or anytime since? Is it considered a standard or a classic? Has anyone besides the original singer even recorded it?
Now, I should mention that I’m no newcomer to olde time musical numbers. I’m quite familiar with every single song that was in the list – except the *High Noon * number (which, I suppose I heard when I saw the movie, but simply forgot).
I say, chuck it off the list entirely and replace it with Lydia the Tatooed Lady. You know I’m right.
When we were planning our wedding we told my future in-laws that we wanted to start at noon.
They both instantly broke into singing “Oh don’t forsake me oh my darling…”
I was disappointed that Babysitting Blues didn’t make the cut. I knew they should have released it as a single.
The tune to “Do Not Forsake Me” was also lifted by Mel Brooks for Blazing Saddles for the “Now comes a time of great decision…are we to stay or up and quit…” song.
Yes, it was a hit record for both Tex Ritter (who sang it on the soundtrack over the opening titles), going to #1 on the Billboard pop singles chart; and Frankie Lane, whose recording peaked at #5 on the Billboard pop singles chart. It was also recorded by Connie Francis, Merle Travis, Moe Bandy, Billy May, Duane Eddy, Peter & Gordon, Henry Mancini, The Boston Pops, Billy Vaughn, Eddie Fisher, and many others. And the song won an Academy Award, too.
Grrrrr…I’ll never be able to admit that instrumentals (not even counting movie themes) are technically not songs. Stupid technicalities!!!
Song
Sing
Sang
Sung
Since the last three imply there must have been words, I can see where the first should as well, but I’m not gonna be the one to tell Booker T & the MGs that their most famous “song” wasn’t one at all.
Thank you, yosemite (you’ll always be ‘yosemite babe’ to me), for the closest thing to a Great Debate I’ve ever participated in
I should add that Tex Ritter’s recording of Do Not Forsake Me stayed in the Top Ten for ten months.
I just think it’s criminal that “We’ll Meet Again” from Dr. Strangelove isn’t on the list.
Daniel
OK, I’m wracking my brains trying to think of the Beatles/Snow White song you have in mind, and I’m coming up blank. You’re not thinking of the Marseillaise/All You Need is Love, are you?
(speaking of which…the Marseillaise in Casablanca would’ve been a good choice for the list)
And I should add that Tex Ritter was John Ritter’s father. Trivia like that is always relevant.
In case you hadn’t realized already, Jack Valenti has nothing to do with the AFI. You are getting mixed up with the MPAA.
Ed
For the record, here is the full list of songs considered for the AFI’s Top 100. (The link is in PDF format.)
I am aware of that. However, having been MPAA president for an ungodly amount of time, he is responsible for a great deal of the whitewashing, bland-izing and general dumbing down and homogenization of mainstream hollywood films, which is really all the AFI takes notice of. Blurb from website:
Jack Valenti represents what is narrowminded, greedy, and reprehensible about the Hollywood machine and the subsequent dumbing down of an art, while the supposed curators of that art revel in that same homogenized product.
But enought about that.
No “On The Street Where You Live?” “I’ve Grown Accustomed To Her Face?”
Amen.
And nothing from Oliver?
Jack Valenti is on the AFI’s board of trustees and has been on the board since its founding in 1967.