Fifty years ago on this date, Disney released one of its greatest films: Mary Poppins. Arguably the best live-action film in the studio's history, the film packed one of the greatest combinations of song (Julie Andrews) and dance (Dick Van Dyke) imaginable. No other live action Disney film features a soundtrack as iconic as that of Mary Poppins—a testament to brothers Robert and Richard Sherman—and it challenges even some of the most celebrated song collections from the studio's animated films as well.
The original film soundtrack featured 16 tracks and Music Times aims to rank them all. We know you'll have some major disagreements so don't be shy. But for now...
16) "I Love to Laugh"
Ed Wynn's appearance as Uncle Albert is certainly a classic...and we have to wonder why. Neither the song, nor the character, really plays into the necessary portions of the plot, and Albert's inability to stop laughing, accompanied by his giggles between every line, creeps us out more than it makes us want to sing along. Sorry.
15) "Sister Suffragette"
Winifred Banks is hardly present during the Mary Poppins book series so the film doesn't require much of her either. Rather than just kill her off like a typical movie about neglected children, Disney quickly explains her absence by exposing her as heavily invested in the women's rights movement. Kudos to her, but this song serves more as a plot device than a singalong.
14) "Pavement Artist"
Although a nice introduction to Van Dyke's Bert, we only need so many songs with a "chim chim cher-ee" theme, and that will come later.
13) "The Perfect Nanny"
This is a children's movie and by all rights should focus on the Banks children. But did we mention that Andrews and Van Dyke coupling? This is a perfectly cute and acceptable setup for the introduction of the title character, but we paid to watch the aforementioned acting talent. Good job with your one headlining track Jane and Michael, now go do something else while we watch the movie.
12) "Step In Time"
This entry deserves a caveat: This list is compiled strictly based on what you can hear on the album, not the combination of film and music. This track is largely instrumental because Bert and his chimney-sweep pals are engaging an iconic tap-dancing routine on a rooftop while the song plays. If the accompanying film portion were taken into consideration, this would be an easy no. 2 (behind "Jolly Holiday," where Bert and Mary dance in an animated hybrid scene).
11) "Stay Awake"
"Stay Awake" is far from the most classic or memorable tunes on the Mary Poppins soundtrack but it's the best chance you'll get to listen to Andrews' vocals a la carte. Somewhat ironic that despite Poppins insisting we stay awake, her voice is lulling us to sleep (in a good way).
10) "Let's Go Fly A Kite"
"Let's Go Fly A Kite" is one of many tracks on this soundtrack that get "iconic" status. It's also the only one that comes across as cheesy. Sure, father George Banks has just learned to embrace the boy within himself but this is hardly the closing number that Mary Poppins deserves. Perhaps it should have brought "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" for another go. Or find a slightly more exciting hobby for George to take up, such as windsurfing.
09) "A British Bank (The Life I Lead)"
Another track from George. Banks, himself a bank employee, is the prototypical film parent whop believes that "tradition, discipline and rules must be" because "without them, chaos" and "moral disintegration" will result. It's humorous exaggeration like this that makes many of the tracks sung by David Tomlinson worthy of a chuckle.
08) "The Life I Lead"
We're on a roll with Tomlinson's songs and we'll keep it rolling. This track comes prior to Poppins' arrival at the Banks household where George is originally detailing what he perceives to be a perfect world. It's full of jokes both subtle (its misogynistic tone directly contradicts "Sister Suffragette," which takes place prior) and less than subtle, such as when he ignores protests that the children are missing as he gives his mission statement about good parenting.
07) "Fidelity Fiduciary Bank"
Mary Poppins was ahead of the Occupy movement in its anti-bank sentiments by about 45 years. This tune wasn't exactly a Tea Party hold-your-cash anthem, but it suggested that paying to feed the birds was absurd when you could help invest in railroads across Africa. In retrospect, the villains don't suggest hedge funds or anything too risky in this bit...in fact it's far more studious advice than anything Poppins teaches during her time onscreen. Oh well. Have fun paying for college kids.
06) "Jolly Holiday"
The closest thing we get to sexual tension between Bert and Mary, Van Dyke spends much of this tune describing the elation that is a day with Mary. Andrews, alas, doesn't get as much time because of hsi screentime but the numerous singing animals that contribute are cute as well. Again, if this list took the onscreen happenings during each song, "Jolly Holiday" would definitely take the top spot.
05) "Chim Chim Cher-ee"
The famous theme is introduced during "Pavement Artist" but gets its full due during the song that bears its title. This slow but charming number occurs during Bert's work as a chimney-sweep, leading into the excellent "Step In Time" bit. The recording of Van Dyke singing solo features the nice touch of percussion that audibly resembles his greatest facet: tap-dancing.
04) "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious"
You could argue that basing a song around one absurdly long, made-up word was lazy songwriting. But it's actually near being the catchiest tune on the soundtrack. It serves as a duet between Andrews and Van Dyke so we get to hear both rattle through the humdinger of a title. The word was added to the Oxford English Dictionary during 1986.
03) "A Man Has Dreams"
If the contest were to name the most poignant track in the soundtrack, "A Man Has Dreams" would easily win, perhaps even in a competition among all Disney soundtracks. The overarching theme of the film of course is to use a (spoiler alert) spoonful of sugar to make the difficulties of life easier, and George mournfully realizes that the child within himself has been caged for too long in the name of running a well-to-do household. The conversational track between Tomlinson and Van Dyke is ultimately touching.
02) "Feed The Birds (Tuppence A Day)"
Another song that breaks from the Broadway musical direction of the rest of the soundtrack, "Feed The Birds" highlights Andrews' pipes while backed by a more traditional vocal ensemble. It makes the story of the woman selling bags of crumbs seem more like a touching example than someone taking advantage of tourists. Enjoy the song in the movie but don't feed the birds in real life. Especially rice.
01) "A Spoonful of Sugar"
Of all the classic tracks in Mary Poppins, none are more classic or more memorable than the mantra "a spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down." While tracks such as "Jolly Holiday" and "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" are certainly fun, "Spoonful" sets the tone and the message that our hero and the film aim to spread. There's a reason why it serves as the leitmotif for Poppins throughout the film. Rumors suggest that the song was written in the last minute as Andrews claimed the film's main song should be more upbeat. Lesson learned: Julie Andrews' word is law.
