The AFI's Top 100 Movie Songs - #81-90

#81 I'm Easy
from Nashville

Paramount Studios

Another Robert Altman film makes the list with "Nashville" - a critical look at American politics and pop culture in the 1970's. Keith Carradine's folksy ballad is a pop hit and the film is a hit with critics and the intelligencia. This one had to be here.

#82 Ding Dong the Witch is Dead
from The Wizard of Oz

MGM Studios

OK, another song from a Judy Garland movie, although instead of the cherubic pig-tailed girl from Kansas, this one is sung by the creepy little Munchkins. Just listen to the lyrics! And this is a movie for little kids? Okay, I'm just joking. But as popular as this fun little song has been over the years, I can't agree that it belongs in the Top 100. The credit for "Over The Rainbow" in the #1 spot should have been enough for this film.

#83 The Rose
from The Rose

Twentieth Century Fox Studios

This film is often referred to as a tribute to Janis Joplin, although Bette Midler says they conciously avoided that. The song became a women's anthem for the 1980's and the film a cult favorite. I never saw the film, so I can't comment directly, but I know the film was well-thought of and so I won't quibble with the placement here.

#84 Put the Blame on Mame
from Gilda

Columbia/Tri-Star Studios

This film gave the sultry Rita Hayworth her berth in the annuls of Hollywood history as one of the most beautiful film stars of all time. She was the hottest thing this side of Perdition, and the torch song memorialized here was certainly a milestone in the movies. You'll get no quarrels from me.

#85 Come What May
from Moulin Rouge

Twentieth Century Fox

Nicole Kidman burns up the screen in this dark tale of the French theater. It was not a film I enjoyed, so I'm probably too biased to judge the impact of the song.

#86 (I've Had) The Time of My Life
from Dirty Dancing

Twentieth Century Fox

Jennifer Gray stars in this campy coming-of-age movie about a young girl's family vacation in the Catskills where she meets the stereotypical boy from the wrong side of the tracks. Wrapped in the 1950's nostalgia, mixed with the musical mania for movies like "Fame," "Dirty Dancing" was a pop hit that gave both stars Jennifer Gray and Patrick Swayze their breakthrough roles. Still popular to this day, the steamy dance numbers are joyous and free and you won't get me to say a bad word about this film.

#87 Buttons and Bows
from The Paleface

Paramount Studios

Another stumper. While "Buttons and Bows" enjoyed a modicum of popularity over the years, and I'm as much of a sucker for Bob Hope and, to a certain extent, his co-star Jane Russell as anyone you'll find, this film was just too stupid for me. Its the typical fish-out-of-water, dweeb/bombshell mismatch movie of the era without any real redeeming features beyond the presence of these two great entertainers.

#88 Do Re Mi
from The Sound of Music

Twentieth Century Fox

The witty ditty for kids "Do-Re-Mi" marks the third entry for "The Sound of Music." On the whole, I think its deserved. The Richard Rogers score is a worthy effort and I think you know by now how I feel about Julie Andrews.

#89 Puttin' on the Ritz
from Young Frankenstein

Twentieth Century Fox

Mel Brooks' comic tribute to the horror movies of the 1930's is hgihlighted with this over-the-top-hat performance by Gene (its pronounced FRAHN-ken-steen) Wilder and Peter (The Monster) Boyle in their song-and-dance number in the film's climax, "Puttin' on the Ritz". I ate this movie with a spoon. Its one of my all-time favorites, and so I'm more than willing to set aside any logical objections, and give this choice a nod.

#90 Seems Like Old Times
from Annie Hall

MGM Studios

OK, I'm one of the few people on the planet whose never seen "Annie Hall." However, I've seen parts of it many times while channel surfing or on movie awards shows over the years and I'm enough of a fan of Woody Allen films to know how good he can be. But I gotta tell ya, I was really impressed by Diane Keaton's performance here when I watched it for the first time on the AFI's broadcast. She's got a sweet strong voice and enough charm to fill an auditorium. It's a real shame that she hasn't been given more opportunities to sing in film. I don't recall the song being popular back in the 1970s, but the film is, of course, legendary. Yeah, I'll let this one stand at #90 without complaint.