The Big Apple Songs: Arthur’s Theme (The Best That You Can Do)

Tweet

To tell you the truth, I’ve only been to New York City once. It was wild, though: I went to a concert with some friends, and at 5 in the morning on a Saturday night/Sunday morning we were dancing in the empty streets through the snow. Don’t tell me I need to go back, because I don’t. I need places that are more along the lines of the mellow vibe of today’s song. Sing along. Arthur’s Theme (The Best That You Can Do) - Christopher Cross Okay, if I had Bitterman to drive me through the park (“You know how I love the park!”)… Probably not what you’d expect, but hey, when has a countdown of mine ever delivered what you’d expect? I absolutely LOVE Arthur. By extension, I love this song, the main title theme for the film. (And, as usual, when I say I love a film, I’m talking about the original and not any stupid remake.) Christopher Cross was on top of the world during this time. He’d just swept all the Grammy awards for his first album (which truly is a good album…none of that Deep Purple stuff he played in 1970 [for those who don’t know, Ritchie Blackmore was sick on August 28, 1970 and couldn’t make the Deep Purple show in San Antonio, so a young local guitarist filled in: Christopher Cross]), and then he does the movie theme that wins the Academy Award the next year. Two years later, he was in the “where are they now” feature on Entertainment Tonight. Fickle business. Cross still records and performs (he just opened for Burton Cummings and Randy Bachman’s Guess Who tour), and he is a lot more than the mellow stuff you associate with him. Having said that, I’m really glad this “mellow stuff” exists. Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do) Written by Christopher Cross, Burt Bacharach, Carol Bayer Sager, and Peter Allen Recorded by Christopher Cross Released as a single, 1981 NYC LYRICS: When you get caught between the moon and New York City