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