As Time Goes By

“As Time Goes By” is a jazz song written by Herman Hupfeld in 1931. It became famous when it was featured in the 1942 Warner Bros. film Casablanca performed by Dooley Wilson as Sam. The song was voted No. 2 on the AFI’s 100 Years…100 Songs special, commemorating the best songs in film (only surpassed by “Over the Rainbow” by Judy Garland). The song has since become the signature tune of Warner Bros. and used as such in the production logos at the beginning of many Warner Bros. films since January 16, 1998 with Fallen as part of the 75th anniversary opening montage before the feature presentation trailers for the movie theatre chains and the main 75th anniversary on-screen logo, as well as the closing logos to most Warner Bros. Television Studios shows since fall 2003 with Two and a Half Men, and preexisting shows also switching over from a previous theme that had been used since 1994. It was also the title and theme song of the 1990s British romantic comedy series As Time Goes By. The song was also covered by Nancy Sinatra, Harry Nilsson, Jimmy Durante and Bryan Ferry. National Public Radio included it in its “NPR 100”, a 1999 list of the most important American musical works of the 20th century as compiled by NPR’s music editors. The song is a popular reflection of nostalgia and often used in films and series reflecting this feeling.