This is probably the funnest song on the list so that helps a whole lot. When you throw in some wonderful choreography and physical humour, to me, that equals a bonza musical scene. Plus, it gave the extremely excellent Joel Grey a chance to hoof it up. Loves it lots.
9. From Dancer in the Dark, "I've Seen It All" - Performed by Björk, Peter Storemare & Chorus
One of the best songs ever nominated for Best Original Song at the Academy Awards (and one of only two Best Song nominees from the top 10) stemmed from one of the greatest musical sequences in a film. What starts off as if it's a song about giving up but turns into an emotionally powerful number drenched in sadness. She has seen it all and for her there is no more to see, but there's much left in the world for her son.
8. From The Rocky Horror Picture Show, "Sweet Transvestite" - Performed the Tim Curry
Okay, I love this movie so that probably biases me to this bizarre tune, but man - how fun is this?! From Tim Curry's delivery to the oddball supporters to SUSAN SARANDON! The movie is non-stop fun but the pinacle for me was when Tim Curry comes down in the elevator and does his famous line about anticipation. If Transexual, Transylvania is this enjoyable I wanna live there. Just excellent.
7. From Cabaret, "Mein Herr" - Performed by Liza Minelli & Chorus
The Voice! The Voice! The Voice! How great is Liza's voice on this track? Liza rips through this sequence like nobody else and was the highlight of the movie for me. As I've mentioned before I really want to see this movie again because the when I saw it I was a bit disappointed, but that's not due to the music or Liza. And both of those pluses are put of display here.
6. From The Wizard of Oz, "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" - Performed by Judy Garland
I'm not even gonna bother writing anything for this, cause really... if I need to explain it then... sheesh. Although how weird that Liza and Judy are right next to each other on the countdown?
5. From Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Once More With Feeling, "Walk Through the Fire" - Performed by the Cast of Buffy the Vampire Slayer
All throughout Once More With Feeling Anya keeps asking people whether the songs they were singing were top 40 hits? My favourite song from the episode? The song that most sounds like it could before a top 40 crossover hit. Of coarse, people aren't that smart and it wasn't even released as anything other than on the soundtrack. When viewed in context of the episode and the series as a whole it is surprisingly powerful and even non-singer Sarah Michelle's vocals are saved by the intensity of the track. Towards the end when everyone joins in for the big finale of the song it is truly wonderful. I love this song, and the scene itself is just magic. My personal favourite tiny bit is when Tara sings the line "Everything is turning out so dark." So true.
4. From All That Jazz, "Bye Bye Love (Life)" - Performed by Bob Vereen & Roy Schieder
I love this movie, even moreso when in the final half hour it turns into a big brash musical. However, my favourite part was the very end piece featuring Bob Vereen who kept popping up throughout the film - it helped form a running gag and actually works. The movie is a about a man who is so chaotic that he eventually kills himself, so how do they end the movie? With a 10-minute exhausting yet oh-so-exhilirating sequence involving everything but the kitchen sink. There's sequins, women dressed as arteries, sci-fi sound effects, audience interaction and even something resembling a space ship as Roy Scheider's none-too-obvious Bob Fosse clone floats towards a beguiling angel in the form of Jessica Lange. Chaotic is one word, heavenly is another.
3. From Sweet Charity, "Hey, Big Spender" - Performed by the Cast of Sweet Charity
[unfortunately there aren't any images of this]
I've said before that Bob Fosse knows how to direct a musical sequence like nobody else, and here is another stunning example. It helps that this song lends itself so perfectly to film. The beat and the cutting of the tune are perfect for framing and editing to create a simply astonishingly exhuberant musical sequence. It starts slow but before you know it (like the song itself) it's turned into a big band spectacular with amazing choreography that screams sass.
2. From West Side Story, "America" - Performed by the Cast of West Side Story
The first time I saw this sequence I was blown away. The song itself is incredibly catchy and delightful all by itself, but when conbined with the absolutely astonishing filmmaking that's going on here (sets, costumes) and the excellent acting of Rita Moreno and everyone else, and then there's the choreography. WOW. The dancing is just phenomenal. I like to be in America, indeed. The tet-a-tat is so delightful, i just love it so much. I would've loved to included the opening Sharks Vs Jets dance on this list, but for now this is it. The movie's finest moment for me.
That leaves the #1. I'm not gonna post it just now. I'll leave it for a bit. But here's 2 clues.
*The movie it's from has already appeared on the list
*The scene is famous for having a very expensive price-tag attached
Ciao!
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