Top 30 Catchiest Songs from Classic Movie Musicals

good morning good morning good morning welcome to M Mojo and today we're counting down our picks for the very best in catchy hummable Tunes from Classic Hollywood musicals for this list we're only looking at liveaction movies from before 1985 you know you can say it backwards which is docious Ali xtic fragical Rus but that's going a bit too far number 30 That's Entertainment the bandwagon world is a stage the stage is the world of entertain if there is one thing a Show's musical does well it's a song about how great show business is That's Entertainment is a classic number featuring Fred a stair Jack Buchanan Oscar Levant and nette fabre prancing around backstage celebrating the fun of putting on a show they make it look and sound effortless the G May waving the flag that began with the [Music] the americ way that's Entertainment is an oldfashioned show number that became practically synonymous with mgm's brand of musical greatness in the 1950s it had a long life even after the movie with Judy Garland's version becoming one of the most popular recordings of it the world States states [Applause] [Music] world number 29 put on your your Sunday clothes Hello Dolly we're going to find Adventure in the evening air girls in white and a perfume night with the lights of bright as the Stars this Barbara strand vehicle took one of the most singable Charming Broadway shows ever and gave it the big budget musical treatment with the budget being extremely high for its time period the film wasn't able to turn a profit which has unfairly tarnished its reputation but Hello Dolly has more than its fair share of catchy Tunes and this cheerful Ensemble number which sees the entire cast hopping on a train to the city to see the 14th Street parade stands out get out beans and's Monday in Su this JY song is a tribute to the sights sounds and magic of dressing in your best and getting lost in the magic of the city no wonder it was Wally's fave Street number 28 I'm going to wash that man right out of my hair South Pacific you don't have to worry about me anymore because it's all off with him uh-huh she said she was going to wash him out of her hair and she meant it and just to emphasize that point mity Gainer sings this one on the Sands of a South Pacific Beach with a head full of shampoo get the picture I'm going to wave that man right out of my arms I'm going to wave that man right out of my arms I'm going to wave that man right out of my arms and send whether it's the repetition of the chorus the way the lyrics just hug that melody or the Eternal truism that sometimes relationships are impossible this one's a true classic try getting it out of your head once you hear it as often happens when stage musicals are transferred to film the movie unfortunately features an abbreviated version of the song but even edited it's still iconic I of of I went and washed that man right out of my hair and S him on his way number 27 Whatever Lola Wants Damn Yankees whatever l wants L gets and little man little Lola one you a fan bargain was never so catchy this musical comedy classic about a baseball player who makes a deal with the devil to recapture his youth has plenty of toet tappers but it's whatever Lola Wants that has stood the test of time I always get what I aim for and your heart and soul is what I came for Gwen Veron reprised her Broadway role as the beautiful but demonic Lola with Bob fsy also reprising much of his signature choreography as well verden was so hot on stage during this number that she had to tone down the performance for the movie but it's still one Unforgettable seduction you're no exception to the rule I'm irresist you fool G her Slinky mesmerizing movements enhan the spell-like qualities of this erotic song making it impossible to foret get the song was so enticing it was even featured in a 2011 Diet Pepsi [Music] commercial I've been looking for you all night number 26 cheek to cheek Top Hat Irving Berlin's contributions to music range all over the map from profoundly patriotic ballads to Easy Breezy love songs cheek to cheek is definitely one of the latter and I seem to find the happiness I see when we're out together dancing first heard in the Fred aair and Ginger Rogers musical Top Hat Berlin's unusually structured but bouncy tuneful song immediately became an essential part of the American song book it may have lost that Year's best original song oscar but its lasting Legacy is the real win oh I love to climb a mountain and and to reach the highest peak but it doesn't thrill me half as much as dancing cheat to Che a jazz standard cheek to cheek has been covered by some of the most legendary artists over the decades Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett even titled their first joint album after the song indicating just how highly they regard it yes I'm in heaven I'm in heaven and heart that I can speak number 25 40 seconds Street 42nd Street come and meet those dancing feet on theen I'm taking you to 42 Street in the early 1930s sound film was still new and director choreographer Busby Berkeley was one of the first to understand how musicals needed to look on screen recognizing that the camera could capture dancing in a way that was impossible in an actual theater his musical numbers are wonders of Sight and Sound side by side where the underworld can be the elite naughty b a tribute to the fast-paced Sleazy and always exciting streets of New York City 42nd Street's title song is a raw looking number with an incredible Hook the song features a driving Rhythm that makes its lyrics easy to remember even after just one hearing people can remember most of the tune years after its creation the song found new life on Broadway when a stage version of the show hit in [Music] 1980 number 24 Oh What a Beautiful Morning Oklahoma there's a bright golden Haze on the the corn is as high as the elephants are Rogers and Hammerstein basically invented the modern musical before Oklahoma few musicals were interested in utilizing song and dance to fully develop characters Oh What a Beautiful Morning is a great example of the team's talent because it has a beautiful Melody is easy to follow and is full of brightness and optimism and makes it clear exactly who the protagonist curly mlan is a breeze is so busy don't miss a tree and oh old weeping Willer is laughing at me even before it got the Hollywood treatment this famous opening number was covered by popular performers like Frank Sinatra beautiful and bursting with memorable imagery people fell in love with it again over a decade later when it finally came to cinema screens everything's going my way oh what a be beautiful day number 23 Cabaret Cabaret what good is sitting alone in your room come here the music play sure any fan of the musical will tell you it's not as happy as it sounds but cander and E's celebration of Hedonism in the face of a world that's falling apart is still a riff roaring World beater taken out of context it's got zip and Verve and a zest for life that's contagious some of Doom to wipe every smile away life is a c oh CH Liza Manelli has reprised the song for years since winning an Oscar in the highly acclaimed 1972 film version in the same way over the rainbow became her mother signature hit Cabaret has become synonymous with manelli's ability to triumph over tragedy it's only a cabar o CH and I love a [Music] c number 22 get Happy Summer Stock forget your TR come on get happy you better Chase all youres away shout hallelujah come on get happy get ready for the Judgment Day speaking of Judy Garland she performs the definitive version of this Unforgettable classic Garland's version filmed with her in a tuxedo jacket and Fedora and flanked by male dancers is unbeatable is shin come on Lord is to your hand Hallelujah come on gety going to the pr land while the song's imagery is actually somewhat dark if you think about it those religious themes of Salvation and God's judgment have a pretty infectious beat behind them Harold Arland has provided a Melody that has musical surprises in it but is easy enough to pick up and pleasant to sing along to get happy isn't just a song it's an order who are we not to listen to Judy Get Ready Get Ready Get Ready for the Judgment Day number 21 you got trouble The Music Man now friends let me tell you what I mean you got one 1 2 3 4 five six pockets in a table Pockets that Mark the difference between a gentleman and a bum with a capital B and at rhymes with peite stands for pool The Music Man is full of classic Broadway songs meant to grab you by your ear and never let go with this one you might not know every word walking out of the theater but you can remember enough to hum the melody forever they leave the pool hall heading for the dance at the Armory libertine men and Scarlet women and rag time Shameless music that'll grab your son your daughter with the arms of a jungle animal Instinct masteria friends the idle brain is the Devil's Playground trouble you got trouble finds a grifter the so-called Professor Harold Hill working the citizens of River City into a frenzy with his sermon about the evils of pool beer and bad grooming even if your brain can't process every single lyric in real time you're with them when they start singing along to the chorus you got trouble right here in River City right here River City with a capital T and that rhymes with p and that stands for pool we surely got trouble we trouble right here in River City right here remember the main Plymouth Rock and the Golden Rule Number 20 stepping out with my baby Easter Parade if I seem to cinate it's because I've got a date a date with a package of the good things that come with love picture it Fred a stare the white suit Top Hat dancing on the stairs it's an iconic image and an even more iconic song I'm stepping out with my baby can't go cuz I'm in right it's for not for May that I'm all dressed up tonight stepping out with my baby is a song from the 1948 musical Easter Parade starring a stare and Judy Garland with music by Irving Berlin Not only was it the highest grossing musical movie of that year but it also gave us some of the catchiest Tunes Berlin has ever written including this one out with my baby can't go wrong cuz I'm in right it's for sure not for maybe that I'm the song was later made re Famous by Tony Bennett but we love a stairs version with its big band orchestration electric tap number and that signature rhythmic aair flare he makes it look like Smooth Sailing indeed [Music] number 19 I could have danced all night my fair lady I couldn't go to bed my head's too light toy it has there ever been a catchier more joyful Declaration of Happiness if you ask us learner and low really know how to write about having a crush when Professor Henry Higgins takes in ragam muffin Eliza dittle he's is determined to teach her how to speak properly ridding her of her Cockney accent as she learns more the two get closer sharing an impromptu dance one night and well you know the [Music] [Music] rest this is a tune you can't help but sing along to the jubilance of the moment radiates out of the melody r rising and falling as Eliza proclaims her weightlessness and happiness sung by Marne Nixon who dubbed Audrey heurn singing voice it's Joy personified and there's nothing catchier than that I could [Music] have number 18 Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Chitty Chitty Bang Bang chyy bangang bang bangyang bangyang bangyang bangang bangyang bitty bangang who would have thought a song about a flying car could be so darn catchy the movie Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Stars dick vanand djk a man who buys an old car for his kids and fixes it up all the while making up Fantastical stories about it the car affectionately named Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is so beloved by the family they create a song about [Music] it part of the reason this tune is so catchy is due to its utter Simplicity the lyrics The Melody it's all easy to sing easy to remember and easy to love oh you pritty bang bitty bangang love and pritty bang bitty bang bang loves us too apparently the academy thought so too and the song was even nominated ated for an Oscar Chitty Chitty Bang Bang we love you [Music] indeedy number 17 New York New York on the town New York New York New York New York it's a wonderful in what might be the catchiest opening number of all time in 1949's on the town three Sailors played by Jean Kelly Frank Sinatra and Jules munchin head to the Big Apple for 24-Hour leave not to be mistaken for Sinatra's other famous tune about the city New York New York was written by Betty comden Adolf green and the great Leonard Bernstein got to see the whole town right from yonas on down to the b in one [Music] dayk as the three Sailors gallivant around the city riding horses bikes and seeing the sights their Glee is palpable The Swinging feel of the music only lends to that Glee and by the time they hit the last it's a wonderful town you'll be singing right along with them it's a wonderful number 16 Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend gentleman Prefer Blondes theen for love fighting talk to us Harry Winston tell us all about it when you think Marilyn Monroe you think Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend a [Music] [Applause] kiss cont diamond in this 1953 movie musical monell plays laurelai an Engaged woman whose fiance and fiance's father are suspicious of her behavior and they hire a pi to follow her on a trip to Paris when she arrives she finds her credit has been cancelled so she and her friend Dorothy become show girls at a club to get [Music] by she sings This high energy sensual number at the club and nearly everything about it is remarkable from Monroe's inimitable breathy tone to the easily hummable tune this one will get your foot tapping [Music] best best [Music] friend number 15 Don't Rain on My Parade funny girl don't tell me not to live just sitter life's candy and the son's a ball of butter don't bring around a cloud to Rain on My [Music] Parade we've talked a lot about joyful songs on this list so far but does it get sunnier than Don't Rain on My Parade based on the life of Broadway star Fanny Bryce funny girl Stars Barbara strand as the titular character and became an iconic role for the actress of course an iconic role needs an iconic song and that's where Don't Rain on My Parade comes in Fanny sings the song when she decides to marry Nikki arnstein and the song is a strong and Brash Declaration of love and intent hey Mr onstein here I am you can't help but scream this one to the rafters and when strand sings it you get the impression that nothing is going to stop her not even a spot of rain it's [Music] rain number 14 sit down your rock in the boat Guys and Dolls I dreamed last night I got on the boat to heaven and by some chance I had brought my dice along 1955's Guys and Dolls is filled with plenty of Snappy Tunes how could we forget Marlin Brando's rendition of luck be a lady luck if you've ever been a lady to begin with luck be a lady tonight but for this entry we have to go with the unforgettable sit down your rock in the boat this particular tune brings a special brand of light-heartedness and humor to an already delightful film when the gamblers are asked to repent for their sins one gambler nicely retells a wild dream he had the night before where he was convinced to give up his gambling ways and the devil will drag you under the fancy tie Wicked throat sit down down down down down the thus the number begins pairing sweet and plaintive verses from nicely with jumpy upbeat choruses with the entirety of the gambling chorus seriously if you don't sing along you're the one rocking the boat sit down rock sit down sit down sit down rock in the boat sit down [Music] number 13 the trolley song Meet Me In St Louis with ding ding ding [Music] withell it's an easy enough tune to remember just make the sounds a trolley makes Meet Me In St Louis Stars Judy Garland and follows the Smith family over the course of a year many is standard originated in this film all all of them sung beautifully by Garland and her signature voice but nothing is quite as toet tapping catchy as the trolley song with my high starch collar and my high top shoes and my hair piled high up on my head I went to lose a jolly hour on the trolley and lost my heart instead what makes this tune so memorable isn't just the chug chug or clang clang of the trolley but Garland's gorgeous voice as she warbles about being in love the song was even nominated for an Academy Award but unfortunately lost out no worries it's a winner in our hearts to the end of [Music] [Applause] the number 12 d r me The Sound of Music let's start at the very beginning a very good place to start when you read you begin with a b c when you sing you begin with it would be pretty difficult not to include the song that makes up all the songs on this list of course we love Julie Andrew's rendition of my favorite things who doesn't love schnitzel with noodles paper packages tied up with strings these are a few of my favorite things but do Ry me is the most memorable song from this musical classic a de a fale dear a drop of Golden Sun a name I call myself in the film Maria played by Andrews uses Dy to teach the Von trp children how to sing and in doing so she also taught all of us know the not to sing you can sing in addition to the song being an absolute earworm it's hard to forget the amazingly gorgeous backdrop that accompanies the vont trp family as they prance around singing at the top of their lungs the hills are alive indeed number 11 Ease on Down the Road the [Music] come we'll get to the movie that came before the 70s cult classic later on but for now let's focus on this groovy hit the whz is a musical based on El Frank bal's the wonderful Wizard of Oz featuring an all black cast and starring the Diana Ross as Dorothy a teacher from New York who's somehow transported to Oz this incredibly catchy tune comes after she meets the Scarecrow played by Michael Jackson and they find themselves traveling down the famed Yellow Brick [Music] Road they proceed to do just what the song says EAS on down the road the beat the orchestrations it's all so fun and snappy it's impossible not to dance right down that road alongside him he's on down he's on down he's on down down Road Number 10 we're off to see the wizard The Wizard of Oz we're off to see the wizard the wonderful Wizard of Oz is moving right along to another great song for the road The Wizard of Oz is famous for many reasons whether it be the amazing songs or the stunning use of Technicolor but our favorite moment has to be each and every time this JY tune plays whenever a new friend joins Dorothy on her journey they burst into this gleeful song and skipped down the road to their [Music] destination because of the he it's become such a standard and has been covered by everyone from Mitch Miller to Alvin and the Chipmunks and it's easy to see why the words have become so ingrained into our heads and many a family has probably been annoyed by someone whipping this one out on a road trip to see theard the wonderful [Music] [Applause] wi number nine If I Were a Rich Man Fiddler on the Roof If I Were a Rich Man all day long if I were a wealthy man you know you've made it into the catchy song Cannon when you inspire a Gwen Stefani hit Fiddler on the Roof follows the life of tevia a Jewish man living in Imperial Russia in the early 1900s and his daughter's marriage prospects this song comes rather early in the story and features tevia reflecting on his life and what he might be able to do if he just had a little more dough I see my wife my gold looking like a rich man's wife with a proper double chin the song has long sequences of lilting chance which you can hear on Gwen Stefani's rich girl as well and funnily enough those moments without words are the most memorable and catchy of all you wouldn't have to work hard seriously who Among Us hasn't daydreamed about being rich and let out a little dby d be dumb if I were a wealthy number eight Oompa Loompa Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory AZ [Music] forse while far from the best song in this 1971 classic you can't deny the Oompa Loompa theme song gets stuck in your head like no other starring genan Wilder as the Candy Man himself Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory is filled with many strange Fantastical sometimes horrifying sights who could forget the sight of violet blowing up into a blueberry [Music] chewing it STS you sming and brightens your smile but the most memorable image of all has to be Wonka small Workman the Oompa Loompas with orange skin and green hair they work hard and warn you of The Perils of the factory through song If those kids were smart they would have listened to the Ooma loomas and gotten out you will live Happ to like [Music] the number seven consider yourself Oliver consider yourself at home yourself one of the family we'll get to more singing orphans later on this list but for now let's start with the Brits we'd be remiss not to mention this musical's opening number Food Glorious Food is an Ode to eating for the ages but the catchiest number in Oliver comes from none other than the Artful Dodger himself when Oliver finds himself out on the street and arrives in London he meets Dodger another orphan who takes poor Oliver in there isn't a [Music] lotare who cares what we got we share to teach him the ropes and welcome him with open arms he sings consider yourself a brassy showy number sung in that signature accent with dirt on his nose and a top hat on his head Dodger is an unforgettable mentor and this is an unforgettable song [Music] [Applause] number six It's the Hard Knock Life [Music] Annie It's the Hard Knock Life for us it's the hard life for us Tre we get we and now on to more singing orphans but this time girls and this time in New York when we think of this movie We No Doubt think partly of Carol Bernett Tim Curry and bernardet Peters squawking out Easy Street in their signature brassy [Applause] tones but we've got to give it to the little girls themselves for this one belly [Music] taking place while the girls clean up the orphanage It's the Hard Knock Life has such an indelible tune and for its angry harsh lyrics has a sort of joy to it there's something to be said for how much fun you can have while screaming at the top of your lungs you'll stay up to this dump shines like the top of the chry building number five I got rhythm An American in Paris I got rhythm I got girl who could ask it's hard to imagine a more fun time than tap dancing with Jean Kelly and during the scene in An American in Paris these cute kids are definitely having the time of their lives old man trou I don't mind you won't find him hanging around my door in this 1951 musical classic Kelly plays a World War II vet trying to become a painter in the City of Lights the song doesn't have much to do with the plot Kelly's character just sings with some French kids on his way home but for such a simple idea it sure has remained in our Consciousness for All These Years the song was so popular it went on to serve as the foundation for numerous other famous songs as Kelly says who could ask for anything more [Applause] [Music] aan who could ask for anything more number four you're the one that I want Greece I [Music] got and I'm loing to trouble CU of power you're Supply it it's electrif it grease is filled with so many catchy Tunes it was hard to pick just one we could have gone with The Rock and grease [Music] lightning or the reminiscing fun of summer [Music] nights but you're the one that I want is definitely the one that we [Music] want towards the end of Greece Sandy played by Olivia Newton John decides she's going to take matters into her own hands and impress Dany played by John Travolta and boy does she from that classic Black Ensemble to that iconic opening line to the fun and Jazzy ooh oo oo everything about this song makes it impossible not to sing [Music] along number three supercalifragilistic X alidocious Mary Poppins Super califragilistic X alidocious even though the sound of it is something quite atrocious be honest how many times have you tried to spell this if you're anything like us it was always stuck in your head so probably a lot Mary Poppins was an instant classic and certified Julie Andrews as a star and an Oscar winner there were plenty of songs we could have gone with the lovely and healing Spoonful of Sugar comes to mind a spoon of sugar helps the medicine go down the [Music] medicine but there was no other choice than this mouthful of a tune super even though the sound of it is something qu if you it loud you always and even though the sound of it does sound something quite atrocious the wackiness of the number made it an instant hit for kids and adults alike it's so fun and so ridiculous it makes us forget about Dick Van dijk's Cockney accent well almost number two Singing in the Rain Singing in the Rain I'm sing in the rain sing in the rain what a glorious feel and I'm happy again we've got another Jean Kelly entry ladies and gents Singing in the Rain came out in 1952 and while it was only mildly successful then it's since become a classic and much of that success is due to the three talents at its Helm Kelly Debbie Reynolds and Donald ' Conor while OK Conor's make him laugh never fails to get us laughing make them laugh make them laugh don't you know everyone wants to laugh and good morning is a spectacular dancing achievement for all three actors nothing beats Kelly's Sublime titular [Music] number I'm happy again [Music] as he swings himself around the street getting soaking wet in the process the pleasure and Delight in his voice and his movements are infectious what a glorious feeling indeed mancing and Singing in the Rain [Applause] before we continue be sure to subscribe to our Channel and ring the bell to get notified about our latest videos you have the option to be notified for occasional videos or all of them if you're on your phone make sure you go into your settings and switch on notifications number one America Westside Story Puerto Rico my heart de otion let it sink back in the ocean Leonard Bernstein and Steven Sim's Masterpiece musical Westside Story was made into a film and released in 1961 two amazing results it's hard to pick a single most memorable moment from the film The Dancing is Sublime and Natalie Woods exuberance during I feel pretty will never be forgotten I feel pretty oh so pretty I feel pretty and witty and gay but we had to pick a song that captured it all the dancing the singing and the iconography I like to be in America okay by in Amica everything free in Amica for in America the only choice is America a number were Rita Moreno's Anita and George shakir's Bernardo argue about the pros and cons of being an immigrant in the states everywhere crime in America organiz crime in America terrible time in America you forget I'm in America Moreno is Unforgettable and Electric in this scene and the Latin inspired music and humorous though cutting lyrics make this song one for the [Music] Ages which song will you be humming for days tell us in the [Laughter] [Music] comments everyone they want do you agree with our picks check out this other recent clip from M Mojo and be sure to subscribe and ring the bell to be notified about our latest videos [Music]

Channel: MsMojo

Views: 151,053

Keywords: Film, Movies, Musical, best movies, cabaret, catchiest, catchiest classic film musical songs, catchiest musical songs, catchiest songs from classic film musicals, classic, damn yankees, dolly, grease, hello, list, mary poppins, mojo, msmojo, oklahoma, singin' in the rain, songs, south pacific, summer stock, the band wagon, the music man, top 10, top hat, watch mojo, watchMojo, west side story, msmojo musicals, musicals

Id: mfeCHCtOfhw

Length: 40min 18sec (2418 seconds)

Published: Sun May 12 2024