Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)

"Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)"
"Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)"
Single by Christopher Cross
from the album Arthur – The Album
B-side	"Minstrel Gigolo"
Released	August 14, 1981
Recorded	1981
Genre	Pop
Length	3:53
Label	Warner Bros.
Songwriter(s)	Christopher Cross; Burt Bacharach; Carole Bayer Sager; Peter Allen;
Producer(s)	Michael Omartian
Christopher Cross singles chronology
Music video
	"Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)" on YouTube

"Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)" is a song performed and co-written by American singer-songwriter Christopher Cross as the main theme for the 1981 film Arthur, starring Dudley Moore and Liza Minnelli. It was recognized as the year's Best Original Song at both the 54th Academy Awards and 39th Golden Globe Awards.^[2]

A commercial success in the United States, it reached the top of both the Billboard Hot 100 and Hot Adult Contemporary charts in October 1981, remaining at the top of the Hot 100 for three consecutive weeks. The song topped the VG-lista chart in Norway and was a top-ten hit in several other countries.

The song ranked No. 79 among the AFI's 100 Years...100 Songs survey in 2004.

Background

The song was written in collaboration between Cross, pop music composer Burt Bacharach, and Bacharach's frequent writing partner and then-wife Carole Bayer Sager. A fourth writing credit went to Minnelli's ex-husband, Australian songwriter Peter Allen,^[2] a frequent collaborator with Bayer Sager. The line in the chorus "When you get caught between the moon and New York City" was taken from an unreleased song written by Allen and Bayer Sager.^[3] Allen came up with the line while his plane was in a holding pattern during a night arrival at John F. Kennedy International Airport.^[4]

Release

The song "Minstrel Gigolo" served as the record's B-side, having previously backed Cross's debut single, "Ride Like the Wind".

Cross included "Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)" as a bonus track exclusive to cassette and CD versions of his 1983 album Another Page.

Music video

The music video consists of two acts, which are edited together in fade outs. In one, Christopher Cross performs the song with musicians in a recording studio, and the other is the story the song illustrates.

Personnel

Christopher Cross – lead and backing vocals, guitar
Michael Omartian – keyboards, synthesizers, string arrangements
Michael Boddicker – synthesizer programming
Steve Lukather – guitar
Marty Walsh – guitar
David Hungate – bass
Jeff Porcaro – drums
Paulinho da Costa – percussion
Ernie Watts – saxophone

Charts and certifications

Charts

Chart (1981–1982)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)	13
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)^[5]	1
Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[6]	2
Ireland (IRMA)^[7]	7
Italy (FIMI)^[8]	5
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[9]	10
Norway (VG-lista)^[10]	1
South Africa (Springbok SA Top 20)^[11]	7
Spain (AFYVE)^[12]	14
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)^[13]	6
UK Singles (The Official Charts Company)^[2]	7
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)^[14]	1
US Billboard Hot 100^[15]	1
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)^[16]	13

Year-end charts

Year-end chart (1981)	Rank
Italy (FIMI)^[17]	19
US Top Pop Singles (Billboard)^[18]	64
Year-end chart (1982)	Rank
US Top Pop Singles (Billboard)^[19]	98

All-time charts

Chart (1958-2018)	Position
US Billboard Hot 100^[20]	246

Certifications


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)^[21]	Gold	1,000,000^{^}
^{^} Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

↑ Deggans, Eric (1998). "Christopher Cross". In Graff, Gary; Durchholz, Daniel (eds.). MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Detroit: Visible Ink Press. p. 293.
1 2 3 Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 136. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
↑ Bremer, K. (2013-04-26). "Peter Allen". Blue Desert Music. Archived from the original on 2001-07-20. Retrieved 2013-04-30.
↑ "Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do) by Christopher Cross - Songfacts". Archived from the original on 2013-10-15. Retrieved 2017-03-18.
↑ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
↑ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
↑ "Irish Singles Chart – Search for song". Irish Recorded Music Association. Archived from the original on June 9, 2009. Retrieved July 6, 2011.
↑ "Christopher Cross – Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)". Top Digital Download.
↑ "Christopher Cross – Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)". Top 40 Singles.
↑ "Christopher Cross – Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)". VG-lista.
↑ "SA Charts 1965 - 1989 (As presented on Springbok Radio/Radio Orion)". Retrieved February 27, 2018.
↑ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
↑ "Christopher Cross – Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)". Swiss Singles Chart.
↑ "Christopher Cross Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
↑ "Christopher Cross Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
↑ "Christopher Cross Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard.
↑ "Top Annuali Single 1981". Retrieved 29 January 2022.
↑ "Number One Awards – Billboard's 1981 Year-End Charts : Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 93, no. 51. December 26, 1981. p. YE-9. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
↑ "Talent in Action : Top Pop Singles". Billboard. 94 (51): TIA-20. December 25, 1982.
↑ "Billboard Hot 100 60th Anniversary Interactive Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
↑ "Arthur's Theme (The Best You Can Do)". Retrieved December 26, 2023.

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[1] Deggans, Eric (1998). "Christopher Cross". In Graff, Gary; Durchholz, Daniel (eds.). MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Detroit: Visible Ink Press. p. 293.

[British_Hit_Singles_&_Albums-2] 1 2 3 Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 136. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.

[3] Bremer, K. (2013-04-26). "Peter Allen". Blue Desert Music. Archived from the original on 2001-07-20. Retrieved 2013-04-30.

[4] "Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do) by Christopher Cross - Songfacts". Archived from the original on 2013-10-15. Retrieved 2017-03-18.

[5] "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 2012-01-04.

[6] "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 2012-01-04.

[7] "Irish Singles Chart – Search for song". Irish Recorded Music Association. Archived from the original on June 9, 2009. Retrieved July 6, 2011.

[sc_Italy_Christopher_Cross-8] "Christopher Cross – Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)". Top Digital Download.

[sc_New_Zealand_Christopher_Cross-9] "Christopher Cross – Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)". Top 40 Singles.

[sc_Norway_Christopher_Cross-10] "Christopher Cross – Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)". VG-lista.

[11] "SA Charts 1965 - 1989 (As presented on Springbok Radio/Radio Orion)". Retrieved February 27, 2018.

[12] Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.

[sc_Swiss_Christopher_Cross-13] "Christopher Cross – Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)". Swiss Singles Chart.

[sc_Billboardadultcontemporary_Christopher_Cross-14] "Christopher Cross Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.

[sc_Billboardhot100_Christopher_Cross-15] "Christopher Cross Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.

[sc_Billboardmainstreamrock_Christopher_Cross-16] "Christopher Cross Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard.

[17] "Top Annuali Single 1981". Retrieved 29 January 2022.

[18] "Number One Awards – Billboard's 1981 Year-End Charts : Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 93, no. 51. December 26, 1981. p. YE-9. Retrieved 5 April 2020.

[19] "Talent in Action : Top Pop Singles". Billboard. 94 (51): TIA-20. December 25, 1982.

[20] "Billboard Hot 100 60th Anniversary Interactive Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 10 December 2018.

[21] "Arthur's Theme (The Best You Can Do)". Retrieved December 26, 2023.

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