For every beginning there is an end. After weeks of intense competition (find a complete draw
here), we have finally arrived at the
Championship of ATRL March Madness. Dozens of contenders have fallen short along the way, leaving only two iconic ballads from Hollywood's Golden Age to face off for the title of the
gold standard Best Original Song.
#1 "Over the Rainbow", from 1939's
The Wizard of Oz, was one of the category's earliest winners, for Harold Arlen and Kip Yarburg. A lilting dreamer's ode to that better life we wish to escape to, it
captured the hearts of millions and became a standard of American culture, inspiring
countless covers and earning the top spot on AFI's
list of the greatest movie songs. It also helped make Judy Garland the
ultimate gay icon, capturing the melancholy mix of tragedy and hope that would define her life and a deeply closeted time. After nearly sweeping its earliest opponents, "Over the Rainbow" has faced successfully tighter showdowns in each subsequent round. Can it pull out
one more win when it matters most?
Two decades later, 1961's
Breakfast at Tiffany's gave us
#1 "Moon River". The woozy, yearning romantic serenade brought immediate acclaim for Henry Mancini and Johnny Mercer, who also
won the Grammys for Record of the Year and Song of the Year. But its produced an equally lasting legacy; a singer's favorite that has been
reworked and reimagined for decades — by everyone from
Aretha Franklin to
the Killers, and even one
Judy Garland — it finished at the #4 on the AFI movie music list. Though a strong contender with a top seeding, "Moon River" faced some close calls throughout the tournament. Can it
overcome its beloved rival to the take the crown?
As always, in the match-up below, please pick the song whose
way you're going—the one that takes you
where the clouds are far behind you. Happy voting!
CHAMPIONSHIP
