I realize all of the songs on the list have lyrics. My question is why are some of the songs performed by characters and some just part of the soundtrack? If they include both, then they should include instrumentals from sountracks. And then you'd have to wonder why there are no John Williams songs on the list as well.
It's not like the songs were rated based on their importance or poignance to the story being told either. In such event how could they omit the closing scenes from Dr. Strangelove, or the opening to 2001 Space Odyssey? Plus I view the absence of any Beetles songs from Help or A Hard Day's Night a travesty when songs like Moon River, Windmills Of My Mind and Born To Be Wild are included.
And let's face it what about films like Woodstock, Tommy, The Wall, Purple Rain or The Song Remain The Same? Surely some of the classic songs performed in these movies merit mention.
I agree with your criticizing the lack of classic rock, but as for scores, the topic is best songs, not best scores. Mancini's score is ALMOST singable, but if you can't sing it, it ain't a song.
And, no, Mr. Murray, this is not a song.
STAR wars, nothing but STAR wars!
I agree with you. These "Top 100" lists are usually not very comprehensive. They're designed to appeal to the lowest common denominator. They included a lot of popular songs that would appeal to a wide audience in a 3 hour TV special. I wouldn't view it as anything close to definitive.
Fair question. I would posit that a well-designed list should require that a song either be (1) sung or lip-synched by a person or character on-screen [nb: some James Bond title songs like 'For Your Eyes Only' would qualify; some not], or (2) be audible to a character on-screen. The inclusion of a sound in a movie's soundtrack is very different from its material inclusion in a picture.