Oscar's Favorite Tunes Revisited: The 1960s
1960: “Never On Sunday” (Manos Hadjidakis) from Never On Sunday. Melina Mercouri performs the song in a clip from the movie; a major hit, the Greek sound of this classic is a sharp break from previous Oscar-winning songs.
1961: “Moon River” (Henry Mancini, Johnny Mercer) from Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Mercer’s third win is one of the most beautiful songs ever to get an Oscar; this is a clip from the movie, with Audrey Hepburn singing.
1962: “Days of Wine and Roses” (Henry Mancini, Johnny Mercer) from Days of Wine and Roses. The composers won an Oscar for the second year in a row with this bittersweet song, performed by Perry Como in this clip that also features stills of the film’s star, Jack Lemmon.
1963: “Call Me Irresponsible” (James Van Heusen, Sammy Cahn) from Papa’s Delicate Condition. The composers’ fourth win is a very charming tune, sung in this clip by Dinah Washington (the most famous rendition however is by Frank Sinatra).
1964: “Chim Chim Cher-ee” (Richard M. Sherman, Robert B. Sherman) from Mary Poppins. The movie had several popular songs on the soundtrack, but this is the one that took the Oscar. The clip is from the film, with Dick Van Dyke and Julie Andrews performing.
1965: “The Shadow of Your Smile” (Johnny Mandel, Paul Francis Webster) from The Sandpiper. Webster’s third Oscar was for this haunting tune; the clip shows scenes from the film set to Barbra Streisand’s and Johnny Mathis’s versions of the song. I prefer Barbra’s.
1966: “Born Free” (John Barry, Don Black) from Born Free. Some may like Andy Williams’s version better, but this is Matt Monro’s original rendition of the song (dedicated to Elsa the lioness) for the movie.
1967: “Talk to the Animals” (Leslie Bricusse) from Doctor Dolittle. Few liked the movie, but this song, enthusiastically performed by Rex Harrison in the film, is more fondly remembered.
1968: “Windmills of Your Mind” (Michel Legrand, Alan Bergman, Marilyn Bergman) from The Thomas Crown Affair. A haunting theme in the style of “The Shadow of Your Smile”, performed by Rex Harrison’s son Noel. Dusty Springfield has also recorded a version.
1969: “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head” (Burt Bacharach, Hal David) from Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. One of the true classics, sung by B.J. Thomas accompanying stills and clips from the movie. Incredibly uplifting.
Published by Stefan Hedmark 2009-05-31 15:07
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