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American Film Institute To Name Top 100 Film Songs of All Time


11-19-03 Keavin
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The American Film Institute is asking members of the Hollywood community to select the top 100 songs in film history. Voters will be able to choose from a field of 400 songs, or add their own, for the list which will follow up previous AFI lists, "100 Years, 100 Movies," "100 Years, 100 Stars" and "100 Years, 100 Heroes & Villains." So of course this installment has been dubbed "100 Years, 100 Songs". 

As the name suggests, the songs making up the list will cover tunes that appeared in movies over the past 100 years. The finally tally of 100 will be announced during a televised special next June. Eminem will battle it out with Bing Crosby and Judy Garland for inclusion on the list. 

But the name is also misleading. The first film to feature sound was the 1927�s Al Jolson classic "The Jazz Singer."  Two songs from that film are included on the ballot. 

Songs from Madonna, Renee Zellweger and Catherine Zeta-Jones will also be voted on. But Bing Crosby leads the pool with 12 nominations followed by Judy Garland who has 9. 

AFI sent out ballots to 15,000 actors, directors, writers, and critics who will vote for the top 100 out the 400 songs listed. The voters can also submit up to five write-in candidates.  .