Much of the modern confusion surrounding the question of who sings the theme song stems from an algorithmic quirk in digital search engines and streaming services. Pop culture actually hosts two radically different, wildly successful theme songs tied to the proper name "Arthur."
In 1981, soft-rock legend Christopher Cross released "Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)", co-written alongside Burt Bacharach, Carole Bayer Sager, and Peter Allen. That track served as the official soundtrack to the live-action Hollywood comedy film Arthur, starring Dudley Moore and Liza Minnelli. It reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and took home the Academy Award for Best Original Song. Its melancholic refrain about getting caught between the moon and New York City belongs to a completely different creative universe than the Elwood City library.
When internet users search for the "Arthur theme song" without specifying the animated PBS Kids program, search engine indices frequently present Christopher Cross alongside Ziggy Marley. Furthermore, casual listeners unaware of reggae lineage sometimes assume Bob Marley recorded the track, overlooking that Bob Marley passed away in May 1981, a full fifteen years before Arthur premiered on public television.
