Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Top 20 Movie Songs of the 80's

My inner 80's child always reads the blog Stuck in the 80's, produced via Tampa Bay.com.

Full disclosure - I went to the Tampa Bay area annually from 1969 to 1975 and 1980 to 1986. I returned for visits in 1989 and 1995. The Yankees hold spring training down there, and the one golf resort in the world that I care about playing at (Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club) is in that region. So that helps my love of this particular blog.

I'll get back to that region one day. But I'm way off the beaten path now.

Back on topic - you've got to know that if I'm posting the top 20 movie songs of the 1980's (as the title imples), then there's some love for a bar band out of the San Francisco area...and you'd be right! You've just won a free flux capacitor.

Behold the top 20, and review their list here:
20. To Live And Die In L.A. - Wang Chung (To Live and Die in L.A.)
19. Slave To Love - Bryan Ferry (9 1/2 Weeks)
18. Jungle Love - Morris Day & the Time (Purple Rain)
17. Together In Electric Dreams - Philip Oakey & Georgio Moroder (Electric Dreams)
16. Love Somebody - Rick Springfield (Hard to Hold)
15. Million Miles Away - The Plimsouls (Valley Girl)
14. Somebody's Baby - Jackson Browne (Fast Times at Ridgemont High)
13. Fame - Irene Cara (Fame)
12. Hazy Shade of Winter - The Bangles (Less Than Zero)
11. Man in Motion - John Parr (St. Elmo's Fire)
10. I Melt with You - Modern English (Valley Girl)
9. Danger Zone - Kenny Loggins (Top Gun)
8. Purple Rain - Prince & the Revolution (Purple Rain)
7. Footloose - Kenny Loggins (Footloose)
6. If You Leave - OMD (Pretty in Pink)
5. I'm Alright - Kenny Loggins (Caddyshack)
4. Power of Love - Huey Lewis & The News (Back to the Future)
3. Eye of the Tiger - Survivor (Rocky III)
2. In Your Eyes - Peter Gabriel (Say Anything)
1. Don't You Forget About Me - Simple Minds (The Breakfast Club)

Overall? Not bad. Now I can't not comment on a few things:
- "Fame", "Man in Motion", and "Eye of the Tiger" are either crazy-overplayed or just a cliche. I hear "Fame" or "Flashdance (What a Feeling)" and I have to avoid any violent urges.
- I prefer "Lets Go Crazy" to "Purple Rain" but it could have been "When doves Cry." Thankfully, it wasn't.
- I tend to think that "Don't You (Forget About Me)" is probably the ultimate 80's movie song (with maybe "Footloose" not far behind).
- I'm pleased with "Power of Love" at number four. I think it's iconic and it was nominated for an Academy Award (why did you people vote for Lionel Richie's painful "Say You Say Me"? WHY?)

OK, have at it. I'll expect the flood of comments to begin by the time the 1.21 gigawatts kick in.

4 comments:

Sean G. Kilkelly said...

How about Burnin' Down the House by Talking Heads which was from Revenge of the Nerds?

Sean G. Kilkelly said...

I'm just sayin...

Vintage Richmond said...

Hmmmnnn, no Pretty in Pink?

And I would choose Moving in Stereo from Fast Times at Ridgemont High. Aaaahhhh Phoebe Cates..........

Rob Adams said...

Good point on "Pretty in Pink." Both versions are good.