Interesting - 12 Songs that Define 80's Cinema

[cloudy]

I found this interesting, but I'm not sure I agree with all of them...the Karate Kid song, of course, the one from the Breakfast Club, and who could ever forget the earworm that Axel F became. See what you think here. There's videos to remind you if, like me, you could have sworn you'd never heard of some of these.

For those who don't wanna click, here's a list:

1) John Williams - Ewok Celebration and Finale from Return of the Jedi, 1983

2) Peter Gabriel - In Your Eyes from Say Anything, 1989

3) Harold Faltermeyer - Axel F from Beverly Hills Cop, 1984

4) Simple Minds - Don't You Forget About Me, from The Breakfast Club, 1985

5) The Alessi Brothers - Saving the Day, from Ghostbusters, 1984

6) Paul Engemann - Push it to the Limit, from Scarface, 1983

7) Cyndi Lauper - Goonies 'R' Good Enough, from The Goonies, 1985 (I still love that movie )

8) Prince - When Doves Cry, from Purple Rain, 1984

9) Kenny Loggins - Playing With the Boys, from Top Gun, 1986

10) Joe Esposito - You're the Best Around, from The Karate Kid, 1984

11) David Bowie - Dance Magic, from Labyrinth, 1986

12) Extreme - Play With Me, from Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure, 1989

What about you? Any seminal movie songs that bring that pivotal scene instantly to mind?

 

[Xelebes]

What, no Yello - Oh Yeah from Ferris Bueller's Day Off?

 

[cloudy]

What, no Yello - Oh Yeah from Ferris Bueller's Day Off?

Yep, that one should definitely have been on the list. Good call.

 

[lance gt]

John Cafferty & The Beaver Brown Band - On the Dark Side ( Eddie and the Cruisers)

 

[Verdad]

Two composers that can't be missed:

Vangelis (the score for Bladerunner, among others)

Giorgio Moroder ("What a Feeling" from Flashdance, among others)

 

[lance gt]

And of course..

Psychedelic Furs - Pretty in Pink (from the same movie name)

 

[Misty_Morning]

From Caddyshack

I'm Alright by Kenny Loggins

 

[slyc_willie]

Two composers that can't be missed:

Vangelis (the score for Bladerunner, among others)

Giorgio Moroder ("What a Feeling" from Flashdance, among others)

Basil Pouledouris (Conan, Hunt For Red October) and Danny Elfman (Batman).

"Oh Yeah" by Yell-O is a good one, since it was used in so many films in a tight group of years. Ferris and Michael J. Fox' The Secret of My Success are just a couple that come to mind, but there were a few others I'm sure.

"Blaze of Glory," the flagship song from Jon Bon Jovi's soundtrack for Young Guns II. The movie may not have been as good as the first (though I still love Estevez' catch-phrase, "Yoo-hoo! I'll make ya famous.") but the soundtrack was, as we said back then, killer.

"Everybody Wants to Rule the World," Tears For Fears. Played at the end of Real Genius, it nicely sums up the movie (while, some would argue, making a comment about 80s-era materialism and selfishness. but that's a different discussion.)

And still, to this day, I can't hear "Have a Holly, Jolly Christmas" without thinking of the end of Die Hard.

 

[Verdad]

Basil Pouledouris (Conan, Hunt For Red October) and Danny Elfman (Batman).

"Oh Yeah" by Yell-O is a good one, since it was used in so many films in a tight group of years. Ferris and Michael J. Fox' The Secret of My Success are just a couple that come to mind, but there were a few others I'm sure.

"Blaze of Glory," the flagship song from Jon Bon Jovi's soundtrack for Young Guns II. The movie may not have been as good as the first (though I still love Estevez' catch-phrase, "Yoo-hoo! I'll make ya famous.") but the soundtrack was, as we said back then, killer.

"Everybody Wants to Rule the World," Tears For Fears. Played at the end of Real Genius, it nicely sums up the movie (while, some would argue, making a comment about 80s-era materialism and selfishness. but that's a different discussion.)

And still, to this day, I can't hear "Have a Holly, Jolly Christmas" without thinking of the end of Die Hard.

I bow to your superior geekiness in this area.

More embarrassing 80's:

Harold Faltermeyer - Axel F (aka Beverly Hills Cop Theme)

Survivor - Eye of the Tiger (Rocky some part or the other)

ETA: Oops, Axel F was on the original list.

 

[PornGoddess2]

I found this interesting, but I'm not sure I agree with all of them...the Karate Kid song, of course, the one from the Breakfast Club, and who could ever forget the earworm that Axel F became. See what you think here. There's videos to remind you if, like me, you could have sworn you'd never heard of some of these.

For those who don't wanna click, here's a list:

{List snipped. The Horror!}

And that just about sums up what's wrong with 80's cinema.

Can't say much more for '70s or '60s or... for that matter.

 

[TheeGoatPig]

{List snipped. The Horror!}

And that just about sums up what's wrong with 80's cinema.

Can't say much more for '70s or '60s or... for that matter.

And here I am thinking 80s movies were some of the best ever. They don't make them as fun and easily watched as they did back then.

 

[JamesSD]

It seems like for that list they took what they felt were very "80s" movies and created the list from there. When people think of Star Wars they think of the Imperial march, not to much the ewok celebration (also, Jedi is considered the weakest of the original trilogy). As much as I love the Goonies, I'm not sure the theme music is all that seminal. Similarly, they chose the wrong Ghostbusters song... the theme song is far more memorable.

On the other hand, most of the choices are excellent. 2, 4, 9 and 10 especially!

 

[Remec]

I'll have to think about this one.

Naturally, the first things to come to mind are musicals and scenes that have become almost trope-like in their overuse (eg, "Chariots of Fire"), and I will say that "Top Gun" always brings to mind Berlin's "You Take My Breath Away" and the Righteous Brothers.

 

[AngeloMichael]

And still, to this day, I can't hear "Have a Holly, Jolly Christmas" without thinking of the end of Die Hard.

Er...Don't you mean "Let it Snow"?

Otherwise totally agree with "Everybody Wants To Rule The World"

This list is bogus because it doesn't have "Eye of the Tiger" from Rocky III on it. And if I had my way, Every song from Rocky IV would be on it, that film was the quintiessntial representive of 80's movies and it's soundtrack is legendary, plus it ended the cold war!

Look at these gems:
"Eye of the Tiger" (reprise) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12uOWWjtEPM
"Living in America" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Keq7LzYoC0c
"There's No Easy Way Out" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IuueKw1m98
"Burning Heart" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IuueKw1m98
"Training Montage" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8xHjC27YvM
"Hearts On Fire" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oe-MbFhdtL8

 

[cloudy]

Er...Don't you mean "Let it Snow"?

Otherwise totally agree with "Everybody Wants To Rule The World"

This list is bogus because it doesn't have "Eye of the Tiger" from Rocky III on it. And if I had my way, Every song from Rocky IV would be on it, that film was the quintiessntial representive of 80's movies and it's soundtrack is legendary, plus it ended the cold war!

Look at these gems:
"Eye of the Tiger" (reprise) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12uOWWjtEPM
"Living in America" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Keq7LzYoC0c
"There's No Easy Way Out" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IuueKw1m98
"Burning Heart" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IuueKw1m98
"Training Montage" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8xHjC27YvM
"Hearts On Fire" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oe-MbFhdtL8

Other than Eye of the Tiger, those are only seminal if you're a huge fan of the Rocky series. I'd say more people aren't than are.

 

[AngeloMichael]

Other than Eye of the Tiger, those are only seminal if you're a huge fan of the Rocky series. I'd say more people aren't than are.

Which is why I said "if I had my way".

Other choices:
Goodfellas: "Layla" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbwFXngs9Lw
Transformers: The Movie "You've Got the Touch" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkYuK3AKrxc
And the Indiana Jones theme

 

[lance gt]

It seems like for that list they took what they felt were very "80s" movies and created the list from there. When people think of Star Wars they think of the Imperial march, not to much the ewok celebration (also, Jedi is considered the weakest of the original trilogy). As much as I love the Goonies, I'm not sure the theme music is all that seminal. Similarly, they chose the wrong Ghostbusters song... the theme song is far more memorable.
On the other hand, most of the choices are excellent. 2, 4, 9 and 10 especially!

I mean, "Who ya gonna call? GHOSTBUSTERS" exactly James.

 

[oggbashan]

What about the Bond films?

Og

 

[Xmrah23]

Ray Parker Jr. would be pissed lol

 

[AngeloMichael]

What about the Bond films?

Og

In the 80's we had "Octopussy", "Never Say Never", "A View To a Kill", "The Living Daylights", and "Licence to Kill".

I know Duran Duran did "A View To Kill" but I don't think any of the movies had songs memorable enough like ones from other decades like "Goldfinger" and "The Look of Love".