Top Ten Songs from ‘The Sound of Music’ + Vote for yours

We received the sad news this week that actress Charmian Carr, who played Liesl in the iconic musical The Sound of Music, died due to complications from a rare form of dementia. She was 73.

I had a huge crush on the Liesl character (I mean, just look at that photo) and Carr’s passing got me all nostalgic about the film. The Sound of Music was released in 1965 and was based on an eponymous 1959 Rodgers and Hammerstein which itself was partly based on The Story of the Trapp Family Singers by Maria von Trapp. The film stars the timeless Julie Andrews as governess Maria and Christopher Plummer as retired Austrian naval officer Captain von Trapp.

The Sound of Music won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director, and held the record for highest grossing film of all time for five years. Personally it is one of my favorite films of all time and I have lost count the number of times I have watched the beautiful and touching musical drama. So in honour of Carr and the movie I will be counting down my ten favorite songs from The Sound of Music. Here we go:

#10 Climb Ev’ry Mountain

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EoCPuhhE6dw

Mother Abbess certainly had some pipes on her and could belt out an inspirational tune. A pleasant song but the least memorable of the lot.

#9 Maria

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-VRyQprlu8

Not to to be confused with There’s Something About Mary we return to the abbey for this jaunty tune by the nuns and about how unique the protagonist Maria is. It really comes in handy if you want to charm/tease/annoy someone you know named Maria.

#8 The Lonely Goatherd

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaD9Ozdthg8

It’s yodeling time everyone! This fun and whimsical little ditty with its dancing puppets is a pure delight.

#7 Something good

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNdl-HIkDqQ

It was not all kittens and rainbows in The Sound of Music songs but we also had this deep, intimate, touching romantic duet by Maria and the Captain. And they be making it happen. Hello! They definitely did something good with this one.

#6 The Sound of Music

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AePRD1Ud3Lw

The movie’s theme song and the image of Maria singing in the hills is some of the most iconic in all of cinema. It is a big, grand and majestic tune and makes full use of Andrews’ masterful vocal talents. It would be higher on the list but I cannot remember the words past the first two to three lines. #feelshame

#5 Sixteen going on seventeen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwK_WOXjfc0

We had this coming of age tune twice in the film; first with Liesl and telegram boy/aspiring Nazi soldier getting all romantic and later as a cautionary tale between Maria and Liesl. Listen to Maria and don’t rush to grow up ladies.

#4 My favorite things

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IagRZBvLtw

How do you get a bunch of kids calm during a storm? Why you sing a wonderfully whimsically tune about all of your favourite things. It is fun and charming and sweet and unforgettable. What are my favourite things? Come on people. Let’s keep it professional.

#3 Do-re-mi

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLm07s8fnzM

Best music teacher ever! After the kids got all dolled up in their curtain play clothes and head out for fun and adventure Maria teaches them how to sing with the basic do-re-mi. A warning though – this wonderful little earworm is very difficult to dislodge.

#2 Edelweiss

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMuTDdWXbNo

This song by the Captain (still making it happen) goes straight for the heart and then plucks those strings one by one.

The tribute to the white flower found in the Alps was so beautiful that some people thought it was the Austrian anthem. Spoiler alert – it’s not. The song is still great though.

#1 So Long, farewell

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxjwb5cXTI0

We end this list with a goodbye and this wonderful ensemble piece that is equal parts whimsy, touching and heartwarming. We have it during the light party scene and then a more melancholy version at the concert before fleeing from the Nazis. And the song is also great for making a dramatic and musical exit.

So are you a fan of The Sound of Music? Which is your favourite song? Feel free to comment below and if you enjoyed this post you can share with your peeps. Sharing is caring. 

For more performers that we lost recently you can check out my tribute to Gene Wilder here and my tribute to R2-D2 actor Kenny Baker here. And for more movie nostalgia you can check back redmangoreviews for new posts Monday to Saturday and follow me on Twitter @suprememango012 for updates.

Julien got your back like a chiropractor. l8rs