Musical Monday - Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do) by Christopher Cross

#1 on the Billboard Hot 100: October 17, 1981 through October 31, 1981.

#1 on the Cash Box Top 100: October 17, 1981 through November 7, 1981.

#1 on the U.K. Chart: Never.

One of the interesting things about doing something like the 1980s Project is that it serves to highlight just how much influence the film and television industry have upon popular music. Arthur's Theme was the theme song for the Dudley Moore comedy Arthur, and while the song is good, I am certain that it's connection to one of the highest grossing movies of 1981 helped it secure the top spot on the charts. The fact that the song won an Academy Award for Best Original Song probably helped to cement it into the popular consciousness.

The song itself matches the movie pretty well. Arthur's Theme is a gentle, kind of laid back song that basically advocates throwing your hands up and accepting what life offers you. Arthur is about a wealthy drunk layabout who more or less takes life as it comes to him, but is affable and good-natured throughout. The movie kind of glorifies being an alcoholic, but Arthur is a friendly and congenial drunk, and so it gets away with it.

One should also be reminded that Arthur's Theme is not an aberration when it comes to songs connected with movies having success on the charts. This was the third song connected with a movie to reach the number one spot in 1981 - the other two being 9 to 5 by Dolly Parton and the other being Endless Love by Diana Ross and Lionel Richie. The Theme from the Greatest American Hero by Joey Scarbury, the theme song to the television show Greatest American Hero, also reached number one on the charts. These four songs spent a combined total of 17 weeks at the top spot on the U.S. charts.

Being attached to a movie or television show seems to be good for songs.

Previous Musical Monday: It's My Party by Dave Stewart and Barbara Gaskin

Subsequent Musical Monday: Private Eyes by Hall and Oates

Previous #1 on the Billboard Hot 100: Endless Love by Diana Ross and Lionel Richie

Subsequent #1 on the Billboard Hot 100: Private Eyes by Hall and Oates

Previous #1 on the Cash Box Top 100: Endless Love by Diana Ross and Lionel Richie

Subsequent #1 on the Cash Box Top 100: Private Eyes by Hall and Oates

List of #1 Singles from the Billboard Hot 100 for 1980-1989
List of #1 Singles from the Cash Box Top 100 for 1980-1989
List of #1 Singles on the U.K. Chart for 1980-1989

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