To which of these film soundtracks does "As Time Goes By" belong?
Jukebox material: Discover the top 12 movie songs of all time

Since sound was added to moving images, film and music have been a perfect match. Whether it’s a heart-wrenching drama, an action-packed thriller, or a romantic comedy, the right song at the right time can always elevate the impact of a scene. There have been millions of great tunes in the history of cinema, but only a few have truly conquered our hearts and stood the test of time. In this article, we’ll take a look at 12 emblematic themes that we still sing along to long after leaving the movie theater.
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Singin’ in the Rain
According to the American Film Institute, Singin' in the Rain is the greatest movie musical of all time. Its centerpiece is the film's title song, written by Arthur Freed and Nacio Herb Brown and performed by the brilliant Gene Kelly.
The scene in which this melancholic melody is played has become a staple of American culture. "Singin' in the Rain" was later featured in dozens of films and remains a source of joy for many today.
Image: Metro Goldwyn Mayer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Moon River
The theme song for Breakfast at Tiffany's was composed specifically by Johnny Mercer and Henry Mancini to be performed in Audrey Hepburn’s dreamy voice. The balcony scene in which Fred discovers Holly Golightly playing the song on the guitar is one of the most iconic moments in Blake Edwards' film—and to think it was almost removed from the final cut!
"Moon River" is such a timeless tune that it even won an Academy Award for Best Original Song and has been recorded by many other artists since its release in 1961.
Image: Trailer screenshot, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Let The River Run
Remember those aerial shots of New York paired with the gorgeous music of "Let The River Run" in the title sequence of Working Girl? Just epic!
The main theme of the 1988 film, directed by Mike Nichols, is one of the greatest of all time. Thanks to this song, Carly Simon became the first person in history to win an Oscar, a Golden Globe, and a Grammy for a track composed, written, and performed entirely by a single artist.
Image: David Jones
I Will Always Love You
Dolly Parton wrote "I Will Always Love You" in 1973. While it was a commercial success for the country legend at the time, it is Whitney Houston’s version of the song for The Bodyguard that everybody remembers.
Houston's 1992 pop ballad stayed at number one on the Billboard chart for 14 weeks and became one of the best-selling singles of all time. It also became the actress’s signature song.
Image: Hunters Race
Somewhere Over the Rainbow
According to the American Film Institute, the greatest song in the history of cinema is "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" from _The Wizard of Oz_—and no wonder! The 1939 song won the Academy Award for Best Original Song and was later inducted into the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress for its cultural significance.
The ballad was written by Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg with Judy Garland in mind. At just 16 years old, Garland delivered a masterful performance as Dorothy, and the scene remains one of the most iconic in film history.
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What a Feeling!
Written by Giorgio Moroder, Keith Forsey, and Irene Cara for the 1983 film Flashdance, "What a Feeling!" is one of the most defining songs of the decade. It’s fair to say the film includes other great tracks, like Michael Sembello's "Maniac" and Laura Branigan's "Imagination."
Yet, the main theme, played during the iconic audition scene, became a worldwide bestseller. It spent six weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and won both an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for Best Original Song.
Image: Juli Kosolapova
Stayin' Alive
The Bee Gees contributed several songs to the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack, but without a doubt, the most famous is "Stayin' Alive." This 1977 hit tune, along with John Travolta's iconic dance moves, defined the disco era.
"Stayin' Alive" became one of the British group's most popular songs, earning widespread recognition, including a Grammy Award and a spot on several "greatest songs of all time" rankings.
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GoldenEye
As its name suggests, this song, performed by the great Tina Turner, was written for the 1995 James Bond film GoldenEye. It was composed by Irish musicians Bono and The Edge from U2 with Turner in mind.
Depeche Mode were originally asked to compose the film’s main theme but were too busy at the time. "GoldenEye" reached number two on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 when it was released as a single and, along with "Live and Let Die" by Paul McCartney and "You Only Live Twice" by Nancy Sinatra, is considered one of the best 007 theme songs!
Image: Quang Viet Nguyen
It Must Have Been Love
The soundtrack of Pretty Woman, one of the best romantic comedies of all time, features several great songs—including Roy Orbison's "Oh, Pretty Woman."
However, this time, we’d like to highlight "It Must Have Been Love," a bittersweet tune by Roxette. Originally released in 1987, the song was reintroduced when Touchstone Pictures wanted to feature a track by the Swedish pop duo in the 1990 film. Thanks to this re-release, it became a smash hit in the U.S. and around the world.
Image: Malin Kettil, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Eye of the Tiger
Originally, Sylvester Stallone wanted to use Queen's "Another One Bites the Dust" as the theme song for Rocky III. When permission was denied, he turned to the American rock band Survivor to write an original song.
Since then, "Eye of the Tiger" has achieved massive success and will forever be associated with Rocky Balboa. It remains one of the most frequently used songs at sporting events and is undoubtedly one of the greatest movie songs of all time.
Image: Dolo Iglesias
My Heart Will Go On
Performed by Celine Dion, "My Heart Will Go On" is one of the most listened-to and best-selling songs of all time. Originally composed by James Horner as a motif for the Titanic soundtrack, it was later developed into the film’s official theme song.
This catchy tune, which won multiple Grammy Awards, is the perfect complement to Jack and Rose's tragic love story.
Image: Courtesy of NOAA/Institute for Exploration/University of Rhode Island (NOAA/IFE/URI)., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
As Time Goes By
Of course, we couldn't leave out of this list one of the most emblematic songs in film history: "As Time Goes By" from Casablanca. Play it again, Sam, and let us relive Ilsa Lund and Rick Blaine's unforgettable love story.
Originally composed by Herman Hupfeld for the 1931 Broadway musical Everybody's Welcome, the song achieved international fame thanks to one of Casablanca's most memorable scenes. It became the foundation of the film’s soundtrack and was ranked No. 2 on AFI's 100 Years...100 Songs list.
Image: Geert Pieters