The Oscars: Best Song Winners (1934-2024)

The Oscars: Winners for Best Original Song, 1934-2024

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, better known as the Oscars, has given out its annual movie awards since 1934. Among the awards is the Academy Award for Best Original Song. The field is limited by eligibility requirements and has overlooked some songs which are integrally linked to their movies. Bill Haley’s “We’re Gonna Rock Around the Clock” (The Blackboard Jungle) and Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You” (The Bodyguard) come to mind. Still, the Oscar-winning writers are a who’s who of quintessential songwriters and composers including Harold Arlen, Burt Bacharach, Carole Bayer Sager, Irving Berlin, Hoagy Carmichael, Hal David, Marvin Hamlisch, Oscar Hammerstein II, E.Y. “Yip” Harburg, Jerome Kern, Alan Jay Lerner, Frank Loesser, Frederick Loewe, Henry Mancini, Alan Menken, Johnny Mercer, Tim Rice, Richard Rodgers, Stephen Sondheim, Andrew Lloyd Webber, and Paul Williams. In addition, a number of notable singers have put their songwriting stamp on Oscar, including Adele, Fred Astaire, Nat “King” Cole, Phil Collins, Bing Crosby, Celine Dion, Bob Dylan, Judy Garland, Elton John, Carly Simon, Bruce Springsteen, Barbra Streisand, and Stevie Wonder. Click here for other ‘song of the year’ awards. Spotify Podcast: Check out the Dave’s Music Database podcast episode Some of the Most Iconic Oscar-Winning Songs which references songs on this list. Premiere: March 29, 2022 at 7pm CST. New episodes based on Dave’s Music Database lists are posted every Tuesday at 7pm CST. Winners by Year: 1934: “The Continental” Leo Reisman (Jerb Magidson, Con Conrad) The Gay Divorce 1935: “Lullaby of Broadway” The Dorsey Brothers with Bob Crosby (Harry Warren, Al Dubin) Gold Diggers of 1935 1936: “The Way You Look Tonight” Fred Astaire with Johnny Green & His Orchestra (Jerome Kerns, Dorothy Fields) Swing Time 1937: “Sweet Leilani” Bing Crosby with Lani McIntire & His Hawaiians (Harry Owens) Wakiki Wedding 1938: “Thanks for the Memory” Shep Fields with Bob Goday (Ralph Rainger, Leo Robin) The Big Broadcast of 1938 1939: “Over the Rainbow” Judy Garland (Harold Arlen, E.Y. “Yip” Harburg) The Wizard of Oz 1940: “When You Wish Upon a Star” Cliff Edwards (Ned Washington, Leigh Harline) Pinocchio 1941: “The Last Time I Saw Paris” Kate Smith (Jerome Kern, Oscar Hammerstein II) Lady Be Good 1942: “White Christmas” Bing Crosby with the Ken Darby Singers (Irving Berlin) Holiday Inn 1943: “You’ll Never Know” Dick Haymes with the Song Spinners (Harry Warren, Mack Gordon) Hello, Frisco, Hello 1944: “Swinging on a Star” Bing Crosby with the John Scott Trott Orchestra & the Williams Brothers Quartet (Jimmy Van Heusen, Johnny Burke) Going My Way 1945: “It Might As Well Be Spring” Dick Haymes (Oscar Hammerstein II, Richard Rodgers) State Fair 1946: “On the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe” Johnny Mercer & the Pied Pipers (Harry Warren, Johnny Mercer) The Harvey Girls 1947: “Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah” James Baskett (Allie Wrubel, Ray Gilbert) Song of the South 1948: “Buttons and Bows” Dinah Shore & Her Harper Valley Boys (Jay Livingston, Ray Evans) The Paleface 1949: “Baby It’s Cold Outside” Johnny Mercer with Margaret Whiting (Frank Loesser) Neptune’s Daughter 1950: “Mona Lisa” Nat “King” Cole (Raymond Evans, Jay Livingston) Captain Carey, U.S.A. 1951: “In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening” (Bing Crosby with Jane Wyman (Hoagy Carmichael, Johnny Mercer) Here Comes the Groom 1952: “High Noon (Do Not Forsake Me)” Tex Ritter (Ned Washington, Dmitri Tiomkin) High Noon 1953: “Secret Love” Doris Day (Paul Francis Webster, Sammy Fain) Calamity Jane 1954: “Three Coins in the Fountain” The Four Aces (Jule Styne, Sammy Cahn) Three Coins in the Fountain 1955: “Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing” The Four Aces (Sammy Fain, Paul Francis Webster) Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing 1956: “Whatever Will Be Will Be (Que Sera Sera)” Doris Day (Jay Livingston, Ray Evans) The Man Who Knew Too Much 1957: “All the Way” Sammy Cahn (Sammy Cahn, James Van Heusen) The Joker Is Wild 1958: “Gigi” Les Baxter (Frederick Loewe, Alan Jay Lerner) Gigi 1959: “High Hopes” Frank Sinatra (Sammy Cahn, James Van Heusen) A Hole in the Head 1960: “Never on Sunday” Don Costa (Manos Hadijidakis, Billy Towne) Never on Sunday 1961: “Moon River” Henry Mancini with Audrey Hepburn (Henry Mancini, Johnny Mercer) Breakfast at Tiffany’s 1962: “The Days of Wine and Roses” Henry Mancini (Henry Mancini, Johnny Mercer) Days of Wine and Roses 1963: “Call Me Irresponsible” Frank Sinatra (Sammy Cahn, James Van Heusen) Papa’s Delicate Condition 1964: “Chim Chim Cheree” Julie Andrews with Dick Van Dyke, Dotrice, & Garber (Richard Sherman, Robert Sherman) Mary Poppins 1965: “The Shadow of Your Smile” Tony Bennett (Johnny Mandel, Paul Francis Webster) The Sandpiper 1966: “Born Free” Roger Williams (John Barry, Don Black) Born Free 1967: “Talk to the Animals” Rex Harrison (Leslie Bricusse) Doctor Dolittle 1968: “Windmills of Your Mind” Noel Harrison (Michael Legrand, Alan Bergman, Marilyn Bergman) The Thomas Crown Affair 1969: “Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head” B.J. Thomas (Burt Bacharach, Hal David) Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid 1970: “For All We Know” The Carpenters (Jimmy Griffin, Fred Karlin, Robb Wilson) Love and Other Strangers 1971: “Theme from Shaft” Isaac Hayes (Isaac Hayes) Shaft 1972: “The Morning After” Maureen McGovern (Al Kasha, Joel Hirshhorn) The Poseidon Adventure 1973: “The Way We Were” Barbara Streisand (Marvin Hamlisch, Alan Bergman, Marilyn Bergman) The Way We Were 1974: “We May Never Love Like This Again” Seals & Croft (Dash Crofts, Jimmy Seals) The Towering Inferno 1975: “I’m Easy” Keith Carradine (Keith Carradine) Nashville 1976: “Evergreen” Barbra Streisand (Barbra Streisand, Paul Williams) A Star Is Born 1977: “You Light Up My Life” Debby Boone (Joe Brooks) You Light Up My Life 1978: “Last Dance” Donna Summer (Paul Jabara) Thank God It’s Friday 1979: “It Goes Like It Goes” Jennifer Warnes (David Shire, Norman Gimbel) Norma Rae 1980: “Fame” Irene Cara (Michael Gore, Dean Pitchford) Fame 1981: “Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do)” Christopher Cross (Burt Bacharach, Christopher Cross, Carole Bayer Sager, Peter Allen) Arthur 1982: “Up Where We Belong” Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes (Will Jennings, Jack Nitzsche, Buffy Saint Marie) An Officer and a Gentleman 1983: “Flashdance...What a Feelin’” Irene Cara (Irene Cara, Giorgio Moroder, Keith Forsey) Flashdance 1984: “I Just Called to Say I Love You” Stevie Wonder (Stevie Wonder) The Woman in Red 1985: “Say You Say Me” Lionel Richie (Lionel Richie) White Nights 1986: “Take My Breath Away” Berlin (Giorgio Moroder, Tom Whitlock) Top Gun 1987: “I’ve Had the Time of My Life” Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes (Frank Previte, John DeNicola, Donald Markowitz) Dirty Dancing 1988: “Let the River Run” Carly Simon (Carly Simon) Working Girl 1989: “Under the Sea” Samuel Wright (Howard Ashman, Alan Menken) The Little Mermaid 1990: “Sooner or Later” Madonna (Stephen Sondheim) Dick Tracy 1991: “Beauty and the Beast” Celine Dion with Peabo Bryson (Howard Ashman, Alan Menken) Beauty and the Beast 1992: “A Whole New World” Peabo Bryson & Regina Belle (Alan Menken, Tim Rice) Aladdin 1993: “Streets of Philadelphia” Bruce Springsteen (Bruce Springsteen) Philadelphia 1994: “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” Elton John (Elton John, Tim Rice) The Lion King 1995: “Colors of the Wind” Vanessa Williams (Alan Menken, Steve Schwartz) Pocahontas 1996: “You Must Love Me” Madonna (Andrew Lloyd Webber, Tim Rice) Evita 1997: “My Heart Will Go On” Celine Dion (James Horner/Will Jennings) Titanic 1998: “When You Believe” Whitney Houston & Mariah Carey (Stephen Schwartz) The Prince of Egypt 1999: “You’ll Be in My Heart” Phil Collins (Phil Collins) Tarzan 2000: “Things Have Changed” Bob Dylan (Bob Dylan) Wonder Boys 2001: “If I Didn’t Have You” Billy Crystal & John Goodman (Randy Newman) Monsters, Inc. 2002: “Lose Yourself” Eminem (Marshall Mathers, Jeff Bass, Luis Resto) 8 Mile 2003: “Into the West” Annie Lennox (Fran Walsh, Howard Shore, Annie Lennox) Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King 2004: “Al Otro Lado Del Rio (On the Other Side of the River)” Jorge Drexler (Jorge Drexler) The Motorcycle Diaries 2005: “It’s Hard Out Her for a Pimp” Three 6 Mafia (Jordan Houston, Cedric Coleman, Paul Beauregard) Hustle & Flow 2006: “I Need to Wake Up” Melissa Etheridge (Melissa Etheridge) An Inconvenient Truth 2007: “Falling Slowly” The Swell Season (Glen Hansard, Markéta Irglová) Once 2008: “Jai Ho” Pussycat Dolls (A.R. Rahman, Gulzar) Slumdog Millionaire 2009: “The Weary Kind” Ryan Bingham (Ryan Bingham, T-Bone Burnett) Crazy Heart 2010: “We Belong Together” Randy Newman (Randy Newman) Toy Story 3 2011: “Man or Muppet” Jason Segel, Peter Linz, Bill Barretta, and Jim Parsons (Bret McKenzie) The Muppets 2012: “Skyfall” Adele (Adele, Paul Epworth) Skyfall 2013: “Let It Go” Idina Menzel (Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Robert Lopez) Frozen 2014: “Glory” Common & John Legend (Common, John Legend) Selma 2015: “Writing’s on the Wall” Sam Smith (Jimmy Napes, Sam Smith) Spectre 2016: “City of Stars” Ryan Gosling & Emma Stone (Justin Hurwitz, Benj Pasek, Justin Paul) La La Land 2017: “Remember Me” Miguel & Natalia Lafourcade (Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Robert Lopez) Coco 2018: “Shallow” Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper (Lady Gaga, Mark Ronson, Anthony Rossomando, Andrew Wyatt) A Star Is Born 2019: “I’m Gonna Love Me Again” Elton John and Taron Egerton (Elton John, Bernie Taupin) Rocketman 2020/2021: “Fight for You” H.E.R. (D’Mile, H.E.R., Tiara Thomas) Judas and the Black Messiah 2021: “No Time to Die” Billie Eilish (Billie Eilish, Finneas O’Connell) No Time to Die 2022: “Naatu Naatu” M.M. Keeravani and Chandrabose featuring Rahul Sipligunj & Kaala Bhairava (M.M. Keeravani & Chandrabose) RRR 2023: “What Was I Made For?” Billie Eilish (Billie Eilish, Finneas O’Connell) Barbie Winners Ranked by Overall Dave’s Music Database status: Year: “Song” Performer Associated Most with Song * (Composers) Title of Movie * Not necessarily the performer featured in the movie 1942: “White Christmas” Bing Crosby with the Ken Darby Singers (Irving Berlin) Holiday Inn 1939: “Over the Rainbow” Judy Garland (Harold Arlen, E.Y. “Yip” Harburg) The Wizard of Oz 1997: “My Heart Will Go On” Celine Dion (James Horner, Will Jennings) Titanic 2002: “Lose Yourself” Eminem (Marshall Mathers, Jeff Bass, Luis Resto) 8 Mile 1936: “The Way You Look Tonight” Fred Astaire with Johnny Green & His Orchestra (Jerome Kerns, Dorothy Fields) Swing Time 1940: “When You Wish Upon a Star” Cliff Edwards (Ned Washington, Leigh Harline) Pinocchio 1977: “You Light Up My Life” Debby Boone (Joe Brooks) You Light Up My Life 1950: “Mona Lisa” Nat “King” Cole (Raymond Evans, Jay Livingston) Captain Carey, U.S.A. 1944: “Swinging on a Star” Bing Crosby with the John Scott Trott Orchestra & the Williams Brothers Quartet (Jimmy Van Heusen, Johnny Burke) Going My Way 1948: “Buttons and Bows” Dinah Shore & Her Harper Valley Boys (Jay Livingston, Ray Evans) The Paleface 1984: “I Just Called to Say I Love You” Stevie Wonder (Stevie Wonder) The Woman in Red 1983: “Flashdance...What a Feelin’” Irene Cara (Irene Cara, Giorgio Moroder, Keith Forsey) Flashdance 1973: “The Way We Were” Barbara Streisand (Marvin Hamlisch, Alan Bergman, Marilyn Bergman) The Way We Were 1961: “Moon River” Henry Mancini with Audrey Hepburn (Henry Mancini, Johnny Mercer) Breakfast at Tiffany’s 1971: “Theme from Shaft” Isaac Hayes (Isaac Hayes) Shaft 1987: “I’ve Had the Time of My Life” Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes (Frank Previte, John DeNicola, Donald Markowitz) Dirty Dancing 1937: “Sweet Leilani” Bing Crosby with Lani McIntire & His Hawaiians (Harry Owens) Wakiki Wedding 1986: “Take My Breath Away” Berlin (Giorgio Moroder, Tom Whitlock) Top Gun 1943: “You’ll Never Know” Dick Haymes with the Song Spinners (Harry Warren, Mack Gordon) Hello, Frisco, Hello 2018: “Shallow” Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper (Lady Gaga, Mark Ronson, Anthony Rossomando, Andrew Wyatt) A Star Is Born 1946: “On the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe” Johnny Mercer & the Pied Pipers (Harry Warren, Johnny Mercer) The Harvey Girls 1969: “Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head” B.J. Thomas (Burt Bacharach, Hal David) Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid 2013: “Let It Go” Idina Menzel (Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Robert Lopez) Frozen 1993: “Streets of Philadelphia” Bruce Springsteen (Bruce Springsteen) Philadelphia 1985: “Say You Say Me” Lionel Richie (Lionel Richie) White Nights 1953: “Secret Love” Doris Day (Paul Francis Webster, Sammy Fain) Calamity Jane 1949: “Baby It’s Cold Outside” Johnny Mercer with Margaret Whiting (Frank Loesser) Neptune’s Daughter 1992: “A Whole New World” Peabo Bryson & Regina Belle (Alan Menken, Tim Rice) Aladdin 1945: “It Might As Well Be Spring” Dick Haymes (Oscar Hammerstein II, Richard Rodgers) State Fair 1956: “Whatever Will Be Will Be (Que Sera Sera)” Doris Day (Jay Livingston, Ray Evans) The Man Who Knew Too Much 1935: “Lullaby of Broadway” The Dorsey Brothers with Bob Crosby (Harry Warren, Al Dubin) Gold Diggers of 1935 1982: “Up Where We Belong” Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes (Will Jennings, Jack Nitzsche, Buffy Saint Marie) An Officer and a Gentleman 1955: “Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing” The Four Aces (Sammy Fain, Paul Francis Webster) Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing 1938: “Thanks for the Memory” Shep Fields with Bob Goday (Ralph Rainger, Leo Robin) The Big Broadcast of 1938 1934: “The Continental” Leo Reisman (Jerb Magidson, Con Conrad) The Gay Divorce 1978: “Last Dance” Donna Summer (Paul Jabara) Thank God It’s Friday 1994: “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” Elton John (Elton John, Tim Rice) The Lion King 1981: “Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do)” Christopher Cross (Burt Bacharach, Christopher Cross, Carole Bayer Sager/Peter Allen) Arthur 1976: “Evergreen” Barbra Streisand (Barbra Streisand, Paul Williams) A Star Is Born 1991: “Beauty and the Beast” Celine Dion with Peabo Bryson (Howard Ashman, Alan Menken) Beauty and the Beast 1947: “Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah” James Baskett (Allie Wrubel, Ray Gilbert) Song of the South 1941: “The Last Time I Saw Paris” Kate Smith (Jerome Kern, Oscar Hammerstein II) Lady Be Good 1957: “All the Way” Sammy Cahn (Sammy Cahn, James Van Heusen) The Joker Is Wild 2012: “Skyfall” Adele (Adele, Paul Epworth) Skyfall 2023: “What Was I Made For?” Billie Eilish (Billie Eilish, Finneas O’Connell) Barbie 1954: “Three Coins in the Fountain” The Four Aces (Jule Styne, Sammy Cahn) Three Coins in the Fountain 1962: “The Days of Wine and Roses” Henry Mancini (Henry Mancini, Johnny Mercer) Days of Wine and Roses 1999: “You’ll Be in My Heart” Phil Collins (Phil Collins) Tarzan 1966: “Born Free” Roger Williams (John Barry, Don Black) Born Free 1952: “High Noon (Do Not Forsake Me)” Tex Ritter (Ned Washington, Dmitri Tiomkin) High Noon 1980: “Fame” Irene Cara (Michael Gore, Dean Pitchford) Fame 1963: “Call Me Irresponsible” Frank Sinatra (Sammy Cahn, James Van Heusen) Papa’s Delicate Condition 1995: “Colors of the Wind” Vanessa Williams (Alan Menken, Steve Schwartz) Pocahontas 1959: “High Hopes” Frank Sinatra (Sammy Cahn, James Van Heusen) A Hole in the Head 1965: “The Shadow of Your Smile” Tony Bennett (Johnny Mandel, Paul Francis Webster) The Sandpiper 1951: “In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening” (Bing Crosby with Jane Wyman (Hoagy Carmichael, Johnny Mercer) Here Comes the Groom 1972: “The Morning After” Maureen McGovern (Al Kasha, Joel Hirshhorn) The Poseidon Adventure 1989: “Under the Sea” Samuel Wright (Howard Ashman, Alan Menken) The Little Mermaid 1970: “For All We Know” The Carpenters (Jimmy Griffin, Fred Karlin, Robb Wilson) Love and Other Strangers 1998: “When You Believe” Whitney Houston & Mariah Carey (Stephen Schwartz) The Prince of Egypt 1964: “Chim Chim Cheree” Julie Andrews with Dick Van Dyke, Dotrice, & Garber (Richard Sherman, Robert Sherman) Mary Poppins 1960: “Never on Sunday” Don Costa (Manos Hadijidakis, Billy Towne) Never on Sunday 2007: “Falling Slowly” The Swell Season (Glen Hansard, Markéta Irglová) Once 1996: “You Must Love Me” Madonna (Andrew Lloyd Webber, Tim Rice) Evita 1974: “We May Never Love Like This Again” Seals & Croft (Dash Crofts, Jimmy Seals) The Towering Inferno 1975: “I’m Easy” Keith Carradine (Keith Carradine) Nashville 1968: “Windmills of Your Mind” Noel Harrison (Michael Legrand/Alan Bergman, Marilyn Bergman) The Thomas Crown Affair 1958: “Gigi” Les Baxter (Frederick Loewe, Alan Jay Lerner) Gigi 2000: “Things Have Changed” Bob Dylan (Bob Dylan) Wonder Boys 1988: “Let the River Run” Carly Simon (Carly Simon) Working Girl 2008: “Jai Ho” Pussycat Dolls (A.R. Rahman, Gulzar) Slumdog Millionaire 2021: “No Time to Die” Billie Eilish (Billie Eilish, Finneas O’Connell) No Time to Die 2015: “Writing’s on the Wall” Sam Smith (Jimmy Napes, Sam Smith) Spectre 2014: “Glory” Common & John Legend (Common, John Legend) Selma 2006: “I Need to Wake Up” Melissa Etheridge (Melissa Etheridge) An Inconvenient Truth 1967: “Talk to the Animals” Rex Harrison (Leslie Bricusse) Doctor Dolittle 2001: “If I Didn’t Have You” Billy Crystal & John Goodman (Randy Newman) Monsters, Inc. 1990: “Sooner or Later” Madonna (Stephen Sondheim) Dick Tracy 2020/2021: “Fight for You” H.E.R. (D’Mile, H.E.R., Tiara Thomas) Judas and the Black Messiah 2003: “Into the West” Annie Lennox (Fran Walsh, Howard Shore, Annie Lennox) Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King 1979: “It Goes Like It Goes” Jennifer Warnes (David Shire, Norman Gimbel) Norma Rae 2016: “City of Stars” Ryan Gosling & Emma Stone (Justin Hurwitz, Benj Pasek, Justin Paul) La La Land 2005: “It’s Hard Out Her for a Pimp” Three 6 Mafia (Jordan Houston, Cedric Coleman, Paul Beauregard) Hustle & Flow 2019: “I’m Gonna Love Me Again” Elton John and Taron Egerton (Elton John, Bernie Taupin) Rocketman 2011: “Man or Muppet” Jason Segel, Peter Linz, Bill Barretta, and Jim Parsons (Bret McKenzie) The Muppets 2017: “Remember Me” Miguel & Natalia Lafourcade (Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Robert Lopez) Coco 2010: “We Belong Together” Randy Newman (Randy Newman) Toy Story 3 2004: “Al Otro Lado Del Rio (On the Other Side of the River)” Jorge Drexler (Jorge Drexler) The Motorcycle Diaries 2009: “The Weary Kind” Ryan Bingham (Ryan Bingham, T-Bone Burnett) Crazy Heart 2022: “Naatu Naatu” M.M. Keeravani and Chandrabose featuring Rahul Sipligunj & Kaala Bhairava (M.M. Keeravani & Chandrabose) RRR Resources/Related Links: American Film Institute (6/22/2004). “The Top 100 Movie Songs of All Time” Dave’s Music Database: “Top 100 Movie Songs” Dave’s Music Database: “Other ‘Song of the Year’ Awards” Academy for Motion Picture Arts and Scienes (official site) Wikipedia: “Academy Award for Best Original Song” First posted 2/27/2019; last updated 3/10/2024.

USA: #1 Pop Songs, 1990-1999

USA’s #1 Pop Songs: 1990-1999

These are the #1 pop songs on the United States pop charts from 1990 to 1999. Songs could have hit #1 on any of the following charts: Billboard Hot 100 chart, 1958-present (BB) Billboard Airplay, 1984-present (BA) Cashbox, 1950-1996 (CB) Radio & Records/Mediabase, 1973-present (RR) Numbers following the letter codes indicate how many weeks the song spent at #1 on that chart. Links go to specific lists of the biggest songs of all time for that chart. Also, when “BB” appears in blue it indicates a link to the Stereogum.com series on Billboard #1 songs. Click here to access a full list of #1 songs from 1890 to present. See other chart-based lists here. 1990: 1/12: Michael Bolton “How Am I Supposed to Live Without You?” (BB: 3, BA: 2, RR: 2) 1/20: Technotronic with Felly “Pump Up the Jam” (CB: 2) 1/26: Rod Stewart “Downtown Train” (CB: 1, RR: 1) 2/2: Paula Abdul with the Wild Pair “Opposites Attract” (BB: 3, BA: 4, CB: 2, RR: 3) 2/23: Janet Jackson “Escapade” (BB: 4, BA: 4, CB: 3, RR: 4) 2/24: Seduction “Two to Make It Right” (CB: 1) 3/3: Roxette “Dangerous” (CB: 1) 3/23: Taylor Dayne “Love Will Lead You Back” (BB: 1, BA: 2, CB: 1, RR: 2) 3/24: Alannah Myles “Black Velvet” (BB: 2, CB: 2) 4/6: Jane Child “Don’t Wanna Fall in Love” (BA: 2, RR: 2) 4/14: Tommy Page “I’ll Be Your Everything” (BB: 1, CB: 1) 4/20: Sinéad O’Connor “Nothing Compares 2 U” (BB: 4, BA: 4, CB: 3, RR: 3) 5/11: Madonna “Vogue” (BB: 3< BA: 3, CB: 3, RR: 4) 6/2: Heart “All I Want to Do Is Make Love to You” (CB: 1) 6/8: MC Hammer “U Can’t Touch This” (RR: 1) 6/9: Wilson Phillips “Hold On” (BB: 1, CB: 1) 6/15: Roxette “It Must Have Been Love” (BB: 3, BA: 3, RR: 1) 6/22: New Kids on the Block “Step by Step” (BB: 3, BA: 1, CB: 5, RR: 2) 7/6: Glenn Medeiros with Bobby Brown “She Ain’t Worth It” (BB: 2, BA: 3, CB: 2, RR: 3) 7/27: Mariah Carey “Vision of Love” (BB: 4, BA: 3, CB: 2, RR: 3) 8/17: Janet Jackson “Come Back to Me” (BA: 2, CB: 1, RR: 1) 8/24: Sweet Sensation “If Wishes Came True” (BB: 1, CB: 1, RR: 1) 8/31: Wilson Phillips “Release Me” (BB: 2, BA: 3, RR: 3) 9/8: Jon Bon Jovi “Blaze of Glory” (BB: 1, CB: 2) 9/21: Phil Collins “Something Happened on the Way to Heaven” (BA: 2, RR: 2) 9/22: Prince “Thieves in the Temple” (CB: 1) 9/29: Nelson “Can’t Live Without Your Love and Affection” (BB: 1, CB: 1) 10/5: George Michael “Praying for Time” (BB: 2, BA: 2, CB: 2, RR: 2) 10/6: Maxi Priest “Close to You” (BB: 1, BA: 1) 10/19: Janet Jackson “Black Cat” (BB: 1, RR: 1) 10/20: James Ingram “I Don’t Have the Heart” (BB: 1, BA: 2, CB: 1, RR: 1) 11/2: Vanilla Ice “Ice Ice Baby” (BB: 2, BA: 2, CB: 2, RR: 2) 11/10: Mariah Carey “Love Takes Time” (BB: 3, BA: 4, CB: 2, RR: 2) 11/30: Whitney Houston “I’m Your Baby Tonight” (BB: 1, CB: 1, RR: 1) 12/7: Stevie B “Because I Love You (The Postman Song)” (BB: 4, BA: 2, CB: 2, RR: 2) 12/21: Madonna “Justify My Love” (BB: 2, CB: 4, RR: 1) 1991: 1/5: Janet Jackson “Love Will Never Do Without You” (BB: 3, BA: 7, CB: 1, RR: 3) 1/26: Surface “The First Time” (BB: 2, CB: 1, RR: 1) 2/8: Whitney Houston “All the Man That I Need” (BB: 2, CB: 2, RR: 2) 2/9: C + C Music Factory “Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)” (BB: 2, CB: 2) 2/22: Mariah Carey “Someday” (BB: 4, BA: 10, CB: 2, RR: 4) 3/9: Timmy T “One More Try” (BB: 1, CB: 1) 3/22: Gloria Estefan “Coming Out of the Dark” (BB: 2, CB: 2, RR: 1) 3/29: Londonbeat “I’ve Been Thinking About You” (BB: 1, CB: 1, RR: 2) 4/12: Wilson Phillips “You’re in Love” (BB: 1, RR: 1) 4/19: Amy Grant “Baby Baby” (BB: 2, BA: 2, CB: 3, RR: 3) 5/4: Cathy Dennis “Touch Me All Night Long” (BA: 2, RR: 1) 5/11: Roxette “Joyride” (BB: 1, CB: 1) 5/17: Mariah Carey “I Don’t Wanna Cry” (BB: 2, CB: 1, RR: 3) 5/18: Hi-Five “I Like the Way (The Kissing Game)” (BB: 1) 5/18: C + C Music Factory “Here We Go” (CB: 1) 5/25: Rod Stewart “Rhythm of My Heart” (CB: 1) 6/1: Paula Abdul “Rush Rush” (BB: 8, BA: 9, CB: 3, RR: 5) 6/8: Extreme “More Than Words” (BB: 1, CB: 1) 7/12: EMF “Unbelievable” (BB: 1, CB: 2, RR: 1) 7/19: Jesus Jones “Right Here Right Now” (CB: 1, RR: 1) 7/26: Bryan Adams “(Everything I Do) I Do It for You” (BB: 7, BA: 8, CB: 6, RR: 6) 9/6: Paula Abdul “The Promise of a New Day” (BB: 1, CB: 2, RR: 1) 9/13: Color Me Badd “I Adore Mi Amor” (BB: 2, BA: 3, CB: 2, RR: 3) 10/4: Mariah Carey “Emotions” (BB: 4, BA: 4, CB: 2, RR: 3) 10/5: Marky Mark & the Funky Bunch with Loleatta Holloway “Good Vibrations” (BB: 1) 10/25: Karyn White “Romantic” (BB: 1, CB: 2, RR: 2) 11/8: Prince “Cream” (BB: 2, CB: 2, RR: 1) 11/9: Bryan Adams “Can’t Stop This Thing We Started” (CB: 1) 11/15: Michael Bolton “When a Man Loves a Woman” (BB; 3, BA: 3, CB: 2, RR: 3) 11/30: PM Dawn “Set Adrift on Memory Bliss” (BB: 1) 12/6: Boyz II Men “It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday” (CB: 2, RR: 1) 12/7: Michael Jackson “Black or White” (BB: 7, BA: 4 CB: 4, RR: 2) 1992: 1/4: Color Me Badd “All 4 Love” (BB: 1, BA: 4) 1/10: Mariah Carey “Can’t Let Go” (CB: 1, RR: 3) 1/31: Prince “Diamonds and Pearls” (CB: 1, RR: 2) 2/1: George Michael with Elton John “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me” (live) (BB: 1, CB: 1) 2/1: Shanice “I Love Your Smile” (BA: 5, RR: 2) 2/8: Right Said Fred “I’m Too Sexy” (BB: 3) 2/22: Mr. Big “To Be With You” (BB: 3, CB: 5) 2/28: Michael Jackson “Remember the Time” (BA: 2, CB: 1, RR: 3) 3/20: Vanessa Williams “Save the Best for Last” (BB: 5, BA: 8, CB: 3, RR: 4) 4/17: Mariah Carey “Make It Happen” (RR: 2) 4/25: Kris Kross “Jump” (BB: 8, CB: 3) 4/25: Eric Clapton “Tears in Heaven” (CB: 1) 5/1: En Vogue “My Lovin’ (You’re Never Gonna Get It)” (BA: 4, CB: 3, RR: 4) 5/16: Queen “Bohemian Rhapsody” (CB: 1) 5/29: Red Hot Chili Peppers “Under the Bridge” (CB: 1, RR: 2) 6/12: Mariah Carey “I’ll Be There” (live) (BB: 2, BA: 8, CB: 3, RR: 6) 7/4: Sir Mix-A-Lot “Baby Got Back” (BB: 5, CB: 4) 7/24: Madonna “This Used to Be My Playground” (BB: 1, CB: 1, RR: 4) 8/8: TLC “Baby Baby Baby” (BA: 2) 8/15: Boyz II Men “End of the Road” (BB: 13, BA: 13, CB: 10, RR: 6) 8/22: Guns N’ Roses “November Rain” CB: 3) 10/2: Patty Smyth with Don Henley “Sometimes Love Just Ain’t Enough” (RR: 3) 10/23: PM Dawn “I’d Die Without You” (BA: 2, RR: 3) 11/13: The Heights “How Do You Talk to an Angel?” (BB: 2, CB: 2, RR: 2) 11/27: Whitney Houston “I Will Always Love You” (BB: 14, BA: 11, CB: 14, RR: 7) 12/2: Wayne Newton “The Letter” (CB: 1) 1993: 1/29: Madonna “Deeper and Deeper” (RR: 1) 2/5: Peabo Bryson & Regina Belle “A Whole New World” (BB: 4, BA: 4, RR: 3) 2/26: Duran Duran “Ordinary World” (CB: 1, RR: 2) 3/12: Whitney Houston “I’m Every Woman” (CB: 1, RR: 1) 3/13: Snow “Informer” (BB: 7, CB: 2) 3/19: Boy Krazy “That’s What Love Can Do” (RR: 2) 3/20: Whitney Houston “I Have Nothing” (BA: 6, CB: 3, RR: 4) 4/30: Vanessa Williams & Brian McKnight “Love Is” (RR: 1) 5/1: Silk “Freak Me” (BB: 2, BA: 3) 5/1: PM Dawn “Looking Through Patient Eyes” (CB: 3, RR: 2) 5/15: Janet Jackson “That’s the Way Love Goes” (BB: 8, BA: 10, CB: 8, RR: 6) 7/2: SWV (Sisters with Voices) “Weak” (BB: 2, CB: 2, RR: 4) 7/24: UB40 “Can’t Help Falling in Love” (BB: 7, BA: 4, CB: 8, RR: 3) 8/20: Mariah Carey “Dreamlover” (BB: 8, BA: 11, CB: 4, RR: 9) 10/22: Janet Jackson “Again” (BB: 4, BA: 4, CB: 5, RR: 5) 10/23: Billy Joel “The River of Dreams” (CB: 1) 10/30: Xscape “Just Kickin’ It” (CB: 1) 11/6: Meat Loaf “I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That)” (BB: 5, CB: 6) 11/26: Mariah Carey “Hero” (BB: 4, BA: 10, RR: 5) 1994: 1/14: Bryan Adams with Sting & Rod Stewart “All for Love” (BB: 3, CB: 5, RR: 4) 2/11: Ace of Base “The Sign” (BB: 6, BA: 13, CB: 3, RR: 9) 2/12: Celine Dion “The Power of Love” (BB: 4, CB: 3) 2/19: Toni Braxton “Breathe Again” (BA: 1) 4/2: Mariah Carey “Without You” (CB: 1) 4/9: Prince “The Most Beautiful Girl in the World” (CB: 5, RR: 2) 4/9: R. Kelly “Bump N’ Grind” (BB: 4) 4/29: Counting Crows “Mr. Jones” (RR: 3) 5/20: Madonna “I’ll Remember” (RR: 4) 5/21: All-4-One “I Swear” (BB: 11, BA: 9, CB: 6, RR: 2) 7/1: Ace of Base “Don’t Turn Around” (BA: 2, CB: 3, RR: 6) 7/16: Janet Jackson “Any Time, Any Place” (CB: 3) 8/6: Lisa Loeb & Nine Stories “Stay (I Missed You)” (BB: 4, BA: 4, CB: 2, RR: 4) 8/27: Boyz II Men “I’ll Make Love to You” (BB: 14, BA: 12, CB: 13, RR: 4) 10/7: Sheryl Crow “All I Wanna Do” (RR: 6) 11/18: Real McCoy “Another Night” (RR: 4) 12/3: Boyz II Men “On Bended Knee” (BB: 6, BA: 11, CB: 11, RR: 6) 12/17: Ini Kamoze “Here Comes the Hotstepper” (BB: 2) 1995: 1/28: TLC “Creep” (BB: 4) 2/10: Madonna “Take a Bow” (BB: 9, BA: 9, CB: 8, RR: 5) 3/17: Dionne Farris “I Know” (BA: 7, CB: 6, RR: 9) 4/15: Montell Jordan “This Is How We Do It” (BB: 7) 5/19: Blessid Union of Souls “I Believe” (R: 2) 5/27: Boyz II Men “Water Runs Dry” (BA: 1, CB: 5) 6/2: Hootie & the Blowfish “Let Her Cry” (RR: 1) 6/3: Bryan Adams “Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?” (BB: 5, CB: 1) 6/9: The Rembrandts “I’ll Be There for You” (BA: 8, RR: 8) 7/8: TLC “Waterfalls” (BB: 7, CB: 7) 8/4: Seal “Kiss from a Rose” (BB: 1, BA: 10, CB: 1, RR: 8) 9/2: Michael Jackson “You Are Not Alone” (BB: 1, CB: 2) 9/9: Coolio with L.V. “Gangsta’s Paradise” (BB: 3, CB: 3) 9/29: Hootie & the Blowfish “Only Wanna Be with You” (RR: 3) 9/30: Mariah Carey “Fantasy” (BB: 8, BA: 7, CB: 9, RR: 6) 11/25: Whitney Houston “Exhale (Shoop Shoop)” (BB: 1) 12/1: Goo Goo Dolls “Name” (RR: 1) 12/2: Mariah Carey with Boyz II Men “One Sweet Day” (BB: 16, BA: 13, CB: 11, RR: 8) 1996: 2/16: Everything But the Girl “Missing (Todd Terry remix)” (BA: 5, CB: 1, RR: 4) 3/2: Mary J. Blige “Not Gon’ Cry” (CB: 2) 3/15: Tony Rich Project “Nobody Knows” (RR: 2) 3/16: Brandy & LL Cool J “Sittin’ Up in My Room” (CB: 2) 3/23: Celine Dion “Because You Loved Me” (BB: 6, BA: 14, CB: 3, RR: 7) 3/29: Alanis Morissette “Ironic” (RR: 4) 3/30: Mariah Carey “Always Be My Baby” (BB: 2, CB: 5) 5/18: Bone Thugs-N-Harmony “Tha Crossroads” (BB: 8, CB: 7) 6/14: Tracy Chapman “Give Me One Reason” (RR: 2) 6/28: Fugees “Killing Me Softly” (RR: 1) 7/5: Alanis Morissette “You Learn” (RR: 6) 7/13: Toni Braxton “You’re Makin’ Me High” / “Let It Flow” (BB: 1, CB: 6) 7/13: Tupac Shakur (2pac) with K-Ci & JoJo “How Do U Want It” (BB: 2) 7/20: Tupac Shakur (2pac) with Dr. Dre & Roger Troutman “California Love” (BB: 2) 8/3: Los Del Rio “Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix)” (BB: 14, CB: 2) 8/16: Donna Lewis “I Love You Always Forever” (BA: 13, CB: 7, RR: 12) 11/2: Celine Dion “It’s All Coming Back to Me Now” (BA: 2, CB: 2) 11/8: Alanis Morissette “Head Over Feet” (RR: 4) 11/9: Blackstreet with Dr. Dre “No Diggity” (BB: 4, CB: 1) 12/6: No Doubt “Don’t Speak” (BA: 16, RR: 9) 12/7: Toni Braxton “Un-Break My Heart” (BB: 11, BA: 2) 1997: 2/21: The Cardigans “Lovefool” (RR: 6) 2/22: Spice Girls “Wannabe” (BB: 4) 3/22: Puff Daddy with Mase “Can’t Nobody Hold Me Down” (BB: 6) 4/4: Jewel “You Were Meant for Me” (BA: 9, RR: 5) 5/3: The Notorious B.I.G. “Hypnotize” (BB: 3) 5/9: Savage Garden “I Want You” (RR: 1) 5/16: Hanson “Mmmbop” (BB: 4, BA: 4, RR: 9) 6/14: Puff Daddy with Faith Evans & 112 “I’ll Be Missing You” (BB: 11) 7/12: Shawn Colvin “Sunny Came Home” (BA: 4) 7/18: Meredith Brooks “Bitch” (RR: 3) 8/8: Third Eye Blind “Semi-Charmed Life” (BA: 3, RR: 6) 8/9: Will Smith “Men in Black” (BA: 4) 8/30: The Notorious B.I.G. with Puff Daddy & Mase “Mo Money, Mo Problems” (BB: 2) 9/13: Mariah Carey “Honey” (BB: 3) 9/19: Jewel “Foolish Games” (BA: 3, RR: 4) 10/4: Boyz II Men “4 Seasons of Loneliness” (BB: 1) 10/11: Elton John “Candle in the Wind 1997 (Goodbye England’s Rose)” (BB: 14) 10/17: Sugar Ray with Super Cat “Fly” (BA: 6, RR: 6) 11/28: Chumbawamba “Tubthumping” (BA: 9, RR: 6) 1998: 1/17: Savage Garden “Truly Madly Deeply” (BB: 2, BA: 5, RR: 3) 1/31: Celine Dion “My Heart Will Go On” (BB: 2, BA: 10, RR: 9) 1/31: Janet Jackson “Together Again” (BB: 2) 2/14: Usher “Nice & Slow” (BB: 2) 3/14: Will Smith “Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It” (BB: 3) 4/4: K-Ci & JoJo “All My Life” (BB: 3) 4/17: Natalie Imbruglia “Torn” (BA: 11, RR: 11) 4/25: Next “Too Close” (BB: 4) 5/23: Mariah Carey “My All” (BB: 1) 6/6: Brandy & Monica “The Boy Is Mine” (BB: 13) 7/3: Alanis Morissette “Uninvited” (RR: 2) 7/17: Goo Goo Dolls “Iris” (BA: 18, RR: 4) 8/14: Aerosmith “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” (BB: 4, BA: 1, RR: 8) 10/3: Monica “The First Night” (BB: 5) 10/9: Barenaked Ladies “One Week” (BB: 1, RR: 6) 11/14: Lauryn Hill “Doo Wop (That Thing)” (BB: 2) 11/20: Alanis Morissette “Thank U” (RR: 1) 11/27: Third Eye Blind “Jumper” (RR: 1) 11/28: Divine “Lately” (BB: 1) 12/4: Shawn Mullins “Lullaby” (BA: 2, RR: 5) 12/5: R. Kelly & Celine Dion “I’m Your Angel” (BB: 6) 12/26: Brandy “Have You Ever?” (BB: 2, BA: 9) 1999: 1/22: Eagle-Eye Cherry “Save Tonight” (RR: 1) 1/29: Goo Goo Dolls “Slide” (BA: 1, RR: 2) 1/30: Britney Spears “Baby One More Time” (BB: 2, RR: 5) 2/13: Monica “Angel of Mine” (BB: 4, BA: 2) 3/13: Cher “Believe” (BB: 4) 3/19: Sugar Ray “Every Morning” (RR: 7) 3/20: TLC “No Scrubs” (BB: 4, BA: 13) 5/8: Ricky Martin “Livin’ La Vida Loca” (BB: 5, BA: 4, RR: 7) 5/17: Sixpence None the Richer “Kiss Me” (RR: 2) 6/12: Jennifer Lopez “If You Had My Love” (BB: 5) 7/9: Backstreet Boys “I Want It That Way” (BA: 3, RR: 3) 7/17: Destiny’s Child “Bills Bills Bills” (BB: 1) 7/24: Will Smith with Dru Hill & Kool Moe Dee “Wild Wild West” (BB: 1) 7/31: Christina Aguilera “Genie in a Bottle” (BB: 5, BA: 3, RR: 4) 8/7: Smash Mouth “All Star” (BA: 5, RR: 5) 9/4: Enrique Iglesias “Bailamos” (BB: 2) 9/18: TLC “Unpretty” (BB: 3) 10/1: Lou Bega “Mambo No. 5 (A Little Bit of…)” (BA: 6, RR: 5) 10/9: Mariah Carey with Jay-Z “Heartbreaker” (BB: 2) 10/23: Santana with Rob Thomas “Smooth” (BB: 12, BA: 5, RR: 7) 12/18: Brian McKnight “Back at One” (BA: 6) Resources/Related Links: Dave’s Music Database: “USA: #1 Pop Songs, 1890-Present” Dave’s Music Database: “United States: Biggest #1 Songs” Dave’s Music Database: “Top 100 Songs for Each Decade” Stereogum.com: “The Number Ones” (column by Tom Breihan) Joel Whitburn (2016). Billboard Top Pop Singles 1955-2015 Record Research: Menomonee Falls, WI. Pages 1161-1170. Joel Whitburn (2014). Cash Box Pop Hits 1952-1996 Record Research: Menomonee Falls, WI. Pages 514-522. Wikipedia: “List of Billboard Number-One Singles” (1940s – present) Wikipedia: “List of Billboard Hot 100 Airplay/Radio Songs Number-One Singles” (1984 – present) Wikipedia: “List of Radio & Records/Mediabase Number-One Singles” (1973 – present) First posted 4/2/2021; last updated 2/10/2023.

Celine Dion hit #1 with “My Heart Will Go On”

My Heart Will Go On Celine Dion

Writer(s): James Horner/ Will Jennings (see lyrics here) Released: December 8, 1997 First Charted: December 12, 1997 Peak: 12 US, 110 BA, 19 GR, 19 RR, 110 AC, 3 A40, 12 UK, 16 CN, 14 AU, 6 DF (Click for codes to charts.) Sales (in millions): 4.0 US, 1.8 UK, 18.0 world (includes US + UK) Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 366.3 video, 411.03 streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: When Titanic was released in 1997, it was the most expensive film ever made. TB Such an oversized budget needed a larger-than-life voice to soundtrack it and Celine Dion was an obvious choice. True, detractors berated her over-the-top performance style and cheesy sentimentality as overwhelming her undeniably huge talent, but since that was often the same criticism of Titanic director James Cameron, hers was just the right voice to help sink one of the most hyped ships of all time. In actuality, Cameron only wanted instrumental music in the film. FB As Walter Afanasieff, one of the song’s co-producers said, “Cameron didn’t want anything modern in his film…It was a period piece and he wanted to be true to the music of the time.” FB However, when James Horner composed “a melody to die for,” TB lyricist Will Jennings couldn’t resist. The song had a simple structure, but a range which few pop singers could handle. LW Since Horner had a good relationship with Dion, LW he asked her to record it, even though she didn’t like it initially. FB The originally reluctant director was won over. Jennings says that when Horner played the demo over the movie’s finale, “Cameron had to leave the room to compose himself.” FB Understandably, the melodramatic song drew eyerolls from some accusing it of being “overwrought and overblown,” TB but the “money-shot line of ‘Near…far…whereeeeeeeever you are’…[made for] an operatic moment of almost Wagnerian pop.” TB Truth be told, after Leonardo DiCaprio slips from his lover Kate Winslet’s grasp and into his watery grave, most of the audience were scrounging for tissues when the song kicked in as the credits rolled. Resources: FB Fred Bronson (2007). The Billboard Book of Number One Hits (4th edition). Billboard Books: New York, NY. Page 864. LW Alan Lewens (2001). Popular Song – Soundtrack of the Century. Billboard Books: New York, NY. Page 179. TB Thunder Bay Press (2006). Singles: Six Decades of Hot Hits & Classic Cuts. Outline Press Ltd.: San Diego, CA. Page 284. Related Links: First posted 1/7/2015; last updated 7/25/2023.

Titanic soundtrack hit #1

Titanic (soundtrack) James Horner (composer)

Released: November 18, 1997 Peak: 116 US, 13 UK, 111 CN, 111 AU Sales (in millions): 12.0 US, 1.0 UK, 30.0 world (includes US and UK), 36.56 EAS Genre: film score

Tracks: Song Title (date of single release, chart peaks) Click for codes to charts. Never an Absolution Distant Memories Southhampton (3/14/98, 55 BA, 22 AC) Rose Leaving Port Take Her to Sea, Mr. Murdoch Hard to Starboard Unable to Stay, Unwilling to Leave The Sinking Death of Titanic A Promise Kept A Life So Changed An Ocean of Memories My Heart Will Go On (CELINE DION) (12/8/97, 12 BB, 110 BA, 19 GR, 19 RR, 110 AC, 3 A40, 12 UK, 16 CN, 14 AU, 6 DF Hymn to the Sea (JAMES HORNER/ CELINE DION)

Rating: 4.215 out of 5.00 (average of 18 ratings) Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

About the Album: There have certainly been iconic instrumental themes associated with movies in the past – who doesn’t know the mencing thump from Jaws or the majestic sweep of Star Wars? Still, no full-fledged movie score has been more successful than James Horner’s Titanic. Much like “director James Cameron’s 20th-century melodrama,” AZ the soundtack became a commercial juggernaut the likes of which no one had seen before. Horner’s Academy-winning “score is grand, without falling into typical melodrama, and delicately romantic, without being sickly sentimental; it offers genuine emotion and excitement, with the haunting vocals of Norwegian singer Sissel providing a nice counterpoint to Horner’s blend of strings, vocals, orchestras, and synthesizers.” AM “And what can we say about Celine Dion’s My Heart Will Go On; would ‘ubiquitous’ suffice?” AZ The song “may feel a little like an afterthought, especially after experiencing Horners wrenching, affecting score, but its heart is in the right place.” AM The song bears the unique distinction of propelling two albums to the top of the charts. It wasn’t surprising that Dion’s Let’s Talk about Love topped the charts, but “Titanic was the first soundtrack to reach the No. 1 slot on the Billboard charts in two decades.” AZ If that wasn’t enough, the song also pushed both albums to 30 million in sales globally. “Nevertheless, it is Horner’s instrumental work and its whirlwind of emotions that makes the score of Titanic a voyage worth repeating.” AM “Horner’s combination of synths, chorale, and orchestra perfectly underscores the action…It’s a finely honed piece of Hollywood craftsmanship from a composer who has tackled more musically adventuresome projects in his career.” AZ

Reviews: AM AllMusic.com review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine AZ Amazon.com review by Jery McCulley Related DMDB Links: First posted 4/28/2010; last updated 7/17/2025.