Singin' in the Rain was originally conceived by MGM producer Arthur Freed, the head of the "Freed Unit" responsible for turning out MGM's lavish musicals, as a vehicle for his catalog of songs written with Nacio Herb Brown for previous MGM musical films of the 1929–39 period.[11] Screenwriters Betty Comden and Adolph Green wrote one entirely new song, "Moses Supposes", with music director Roger Edens providing the music (see below).[12] Freed and Brown wrote a new song for the movie, "Make 'Em Laugh".
All songs have lyrics by Freed and music by Brown unless otherwise indicated.[12] Some of the songs, such as "Broadway Rhythm," "You Are My Lucky Star," "Should I?", and especially "Singin' in the Rain" itself, have been featured in numerous films. The films listed below mark the first time each song was presented on screen.
- "Fit as a Fiddle (And Ready for Love)", originally published in 1932 with music by Al Hoffman and Al Goodhart, lyrics by Freed.
- "Temptation" (instrumental only) from Going Hollywood (1933).
- "All I Do Is Dream of You" from Sadie McKee (1934).[12] The arrangement in "Singin' in the Rain" is an up tempo, upbeat, "flapper" version of the song with full instrumentation. In contrast, the "Sadie McKee" version is slower tempo, and appears routinely throughout the film as a love ballad accompanied by a solo ukulele. An instrumental only version with full orchestration is also part of the film's opening and closing theme. An instrumental version was also played on the piano by Chico Marx in the 1935 Marx Brothers film A Night at the Opera.
- "Singin' in the Rain" from The Hollywood Revue of 1929 (1929).[12] Kelly's performance in the song is now considered iconic.[13]
- "Make 'Em Laugh", considered an original song, but bearing a striking resemblance to Cole Porter's "Be a Clown" from another MGM Freed-produced musical, The Pirate (1948).
- "Beautiful Girl Montage" comprising "I've Got a Feelin' You're Foolin'" from Broadway Melody of 1936 (1935),[12] "The Wedding of the Painted Doll" from The Broadway Melody (1929),[12] "Should I?" from Lord Byron of Broadway (1930)[12] and "Beautiful Girl" from Stage Mother (1933)[12]
- "You Were Meant for Me" from The Broadway Melody (1929)[12]
- "You Are My Lucky Star" from Broadway Melody of 1936 (1935)[12]
- "Moses Supposes" (music by Roger Edens, lyrics by Comden and Green), from a 1944 version based on the tongue-twister with the same title.
- "Good Morning" from Babes In Arms (1939)[12]
- "Would You?" from San Francisco (1936)[12]
- "Broadway Melody" composed of "The Broadway Melody" from The Broadway Melody (1929)[12] and "Broadway Rhythm" from Broadway Melody of 1936 (1935).[12] The music for the "Broadway Ballet" section is by Nacio Herb Brown.[14]
