Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)

"Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)", is an award-winning song performed by Christopher Cross, which was the theme to the 1981 film Arthur starring Dudley Moore and Liza Minnelli. It reached #1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and in Japan on Oricon chart.

[edit] Background

The song was written in collaboration between Cross, pop music composer Burt Bacharach, and his frequent writing partner Carole Bayer Sager. A fourth writing credit goes to Minnelli's ex-husband and Australian songwriter Peter Allen, also a frequent collaborator with Bayer Sager; the line "When you get caught between the moon and New York City" from the chorus is taken from an unreleased song they had previously written together.

The song won the 1981 Academy Award for Best Original Song and the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song. The award was presented by singer Bette Midler, who, in her presentation of the nominated songs, called the song " 'That Song About the Moon and New York City,' also known as 'Four on a Song,' " referring to the four songwriters.

In Japan, the song is known as ニューヨーク・シティ・セレナーデ or "New York City Serenade" and has enjoyed popularity over the years. Cross performed the song with J-Pop band SMAP in 2004. The song was even featured in a video that played in Shibuya Crossing (the world's busiest scramble crossing) in 2007.

It is No. 79 on AFI's 100 Years... 100 Songs

[edit] Other versions

This song was also featured in the musical The Boy From Oz, about Peter Allen, in which Peter and Liza perform the song as a duet in Act 1. In the Australian version it was more rightfully placed in Act 2. Peter Allen recorded it live on his Captured Live at Carnegie Hall album in 1985 (recorded in 1984) Other artists who have recorded it include Shirley Bassey, Mel Torme, Ute Lemper and Michael Ball.

Pianist/keyboardist Bradley Joseph arranged an instrumental cover version of this song on his 2005 album, For the Love of It.

In an episode of Will & Grace, Rosario Salazar, a maid, was paid to stop singing after she broke out a harmonica and sang the chorus of Arthur's Theme.

Chart (1981)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	1
Japan Oricon International Singles Chart	1
Norway	1

Preceded by "Endless Love" by Diana Ross and Lionel Richie	Billboard Hot 100 number one single October 17, 1981 - October 31, 1981	Succeeded by "Private Eyes" by Daryl Hall and John Oates
Preceded by "Endless Love" by Diana Ross and Lionel Richie	ARC Weekly Top 40 number one single October 24, 1981 - October 31, 1981	Succeeded by "Start Me Up" by the Rolling Stones
Preceded by "Fame" from Fame	Academy Award for Best Original Song 1981	Succeeded by "Up Where We Belong" from An Officer and a Gentleman