| "Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Single byChristopher Cross | ||||
| from the album Arthur – The Album | ||||
| B-side | "Minstrel Gigolo" | |||
| Released | August 14, 1981 | |||
| Recorded | 1981 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 3:53 | |||
| Label | Warner Bros. | |||
| Songwriters |
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| Producer | Michael Omartian | |||
| Christopher Cross singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)" onYouTube | ||||
"Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)" is a song performed and co-written by American singer-songwriterChristopher Cross as the main theme for the 1981 filmArthur, starringDudley Moore andLiza Minnelli. It was recognized as the year's Best Original Song at both the54th Academy Awards and39th Golden Globe Awards.[2]
A commercial success in the United States, it reached the top of both theBillboard Hot 100 andHot Adult Contemporary charts in October 1981, remaining at the top of the Hot 100 for three consecutive weeks. The song topped theVG-lista chart in Norway and was a top-ten hit in several other countries.
The song was written in collaboration between Cross,Burt Bacharach, and Bacharach's frequent writing partner and future wifeCarole Bayer Sager. A fourth writing credit went to Minnelli's ex-husband, Australian songwriterPeter Allen,[2] a frequent collaborator with Bayer Sager. The line in the chorus "When you get caught between the moon and New York City" was taken from an unreleased song written by Allen and Bayer Sager.[3] Allen came up with the line while his plane was in a holding pattern during a night arrival atJohn F. Kennedy International Airport.[4] The song also featuresToto membersSteve Lukather,Jeff Porcaro andDavid Hungate.
The song "Minstrel Gigolo" served as the record'sB-side, having previously backed Cross's debut single, "Ride Like the Wind".
Cross included "Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)" as a bonus track exclusive to cassette and CD versions of his 1983 albumAnother Page.
Themusic video consists of two acts, which are edited together in fade outs. In one, Christopher Cross performs the song with musicians in a recording studio, and the other is the story the song illustrates.
The song won anAcademy Award for Best Original Song at the54th Academy Awards. The song was also recognized as the year's Best Original Song at the39th Golden Globe Awards.
The song ranked No. 79 among theAFI's 100 Years...100 Songs survey in 2004.
Weekly charts[edit]
| Year-end charts[edit]
All-time charts[edit]
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| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United States (RIAA)[22] | Gold | 1,000,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
