Best Movie Theme Songs, Ever Review

Have you ever heard a song on the radio and been taken right back to a scene in a movie? Sometimes the music written for, or used in a film is as good as, or even better than, the film, itself. Here's my list of the 10 best movie songs (in no special order), ever - judge for yourself.

I Would Die 4 U - Prince and the Revolution. The movie: Purple Rain. A fun, if dated and corny, movie, but an amazing soundtrack. There's not a loser in the entire album, but this one stands out for me for its' energy, great beat, amazing vocals, and incredible musicianship.

My One and Only Love - Sting. The movie: Leaving Las Vegas. This movie is a heartbreaker, and this version of a jazz standard does me in, every time. I'm not sure I've heard a better version of this song, even though it's been recorded dozens of times.

Miss Celie's Blues (AKA Sister) - Tata Vega. The movie: The Color Purple. I'm not a huge fan of Lionel Ritchie, but he nailed it when he wrote the lyrics for this one. It didn't hurt to have Quincy Jones as a partner, either. It's a great, bluesy, moving, funky song. In this movie, it's the music that really captures the feeling of Alice Walker's great book, and no song does it as well as this one.

Theme From Mahogany (Do You Know) - Diana Ross. The movie: Mahogany. Ok, Mahogany is a pretty bad movie, but this song is gorgeous, and Diana Ross never sounded better. It's definitely a big song, full of emotion, and written to tug at your heartstrings. And it works, a lot better than the film script does!

Moon River - Audrey Hepburn. The movie: Breakfast at Tiffany's. I read somewhere that this is the English language song that's been recorded by more artists than any other. Most people think of the Andy Williams version but, like Henry Mancini, who wrote the song, I think Audrey Hepburn's version in the movie is the best ever recorded. It's really a sweet, simple song that's all about the inflections and phrasing, and Audrey Hepburn, who wasn't a singer, made it hers. It's a classic.

America - Rita Moreno. The movie: West Side Story. This musical is chock full of great songs, but I chose this one because the lyrics are really amazing, and truly ahead of their time. Listen to the words some time (few people bother) and remind yourself this musical was on the stage in the late 1950s. It's no exageration to say this tune is social commentary at it's artistic best. Also, I love, love, love Rita Moreno, and consider her a national treasure.

For All We Know - The Carpenters. The movie: Lovers and Other Strangers. This is a good movie, but a forgettable one. The theme song, on the other hand, is unforgettable, and one of  the best showcases of Karen Carpenter's pitch-perfect voice. I'm through being embarassed to be a fan of The Carpenters - they were a great pop duo, and Karen Carpenter's voice was gold...case closed.

The Real Me - The Who. The movie: Quadrophenia. This is the better of The Who's two forays into movie-making (the other film being Tommy) , and it's a good, solid film, with strong performances. I'm not sure how much interest it holds for anyone over the age of 20, though, except for nostalgic reasons. The music, though, is spot-on...one of the best soundtracks, of any genre, ever. And The Real Me is a great rock song. John Entwhistle's horns are breathtaking, Keith Moon's drumming is tight and furious, Pete Townshend's guitar is flawless, and Roger Daltrey's voice (one of the greatest in all of rock music) is a thing of beauty.

Let the River Run - Carly Simon. The movie: Working Girl. Being from NYC, I'm a little bit of a sucker for this song. I heard an interview with Carly Simon, who said she wrote the song as an anthem to all the unsung bridge-and-tunnel women who drag their butts to work every day, keep NYC going, and never complain about it. I can't hear it without thinking of my mom, who was that working woman for so many years. It's a little corny, but what's life without a little bit of cornball? And, heck, Carly Simon is a really great singer.

Summer Wind - Frank Sinatra. The movie: The Pope of Greenwich Village. I love this movie and I love this song. Again, it wasn't written for the movie, but it's come to be identified with the movie by so many of the film's fans, that it deserves a place on this list. Maybe Sinatra's best tune - playful, fun, and super-cool: it captures summer, and the flavor of this great movie, perfectly.