List time again: Favorite movie songs

After a weekend of overdosing on Jazz Singer and Purple Rain on cable (imagine the combination of tunes swirling in my head), I'm left with this perplexing question: What was the ultimate movie song of the '80s?

Could it be Survivor's Eye of the Tiger? Maybe On The Dark Side from Eddie and the Cruisers? Or my dark horse to win the top spot -- Rick Springfield's Love Somebody from Hard to Hold.

So here's the drill. Help me compile the ultimate list of great movie songs from the '80s. The top candidates will be original songs written for the movie in which it appears. It should conjure up visions of the movie from the second you hear the song come on the radio or iPod. No extra points for songs that have the same title as the movie. And of course, it should kick a little arse.

I'll compile the list and reveal the final Top 10 list during our podcast featuring Survivor. And a complete list will run here on the blog. Here are some real contenders.

Great movie songs of the 80s

[Photo from Purple Rain]

Comments

[Grace Saunders]

I like the soundtracks for Ghostbusters, Purple Rain, The Running Man, Vision Quest, Short Circuit, Dirty Dancing.

My God... The 80s - can't be beaten when it comes down to quality movies + tunes. <3 it to bits. :)

[Miguel]

I just remember two songs from the dreadful Nine 1/2 Weeks:

-"Slave To Love"-Bryan Ferry
-"You Can Leave Your Hat On"-Joe Cocker

[Christine End]

Totally late in posting this, but I just watched Do the Right Thing again last night... Fight the Power by Public Enemy over and over. I can't hear that song without thinking of this Spike Lee classic.

[Melissa]

OK, I've got a confession. I watched The Last American Virgin today for the first time. The soundtrack was awesome. I don't think I can hear "Just Once" ever again without thinking about poor Gary.

[specialkness]

Big Chill... great soundtrack BUT the songs were all oldies, songs from another era. Great songs but not from the 80s

[CaliforniaGirl]

Hey! How about "The Big Chill" album? I know it isn't a song or songs uniquely written for a movie but...I defy you to find anyone who saw that movie in their 20's or 30's who doesn't relate to that movie big time. I would vote for that for an 80's flick with soundtrack.

If that doesn't count, then I'd go w/ "I'm Alright" or "Time of My Life".

[specialkness]

Number one for me would be any of Kenny Loggins' songs. They all immediately bring the movie to mind and who doesn't love Kenny?
Don't You Forget About me by Simple Minds
Weird Science by Oingo Boingo (heck why don't I just say anything that Oingo Boingo did for a movie)
Pretty in Pink by the Psychedelic Furs
If You Leave by OMD
Eye of the Tiger but Survivor (not my favorite song, not even on my iPod but Rocky running up the steps instantly comes to mind when I hear this song so it fits the category)

and of course any of the others that I already mentioned

[PeggyAnn]

off the top of my head:

"Let's Hear it for the Boy" - Deniece Williams - Footloose

"I la-la-la Love You" Pat Travers - Valley Girl

I'll go along with:
"Somebody's Baby" - Jackson Browne &
"Love Somebody" Hard to Hold

and anything from Valley Girl!

[Alyfox]

Spearsie (Spearsy? Spear-Z?), can everyone on here at LEAST agree on one thing? That the podcast acknowledges that Kenny Loggins be named the King of 80's Movie Tunes, with at least a shout-out to John Williams as Overlord on the Musical Score front? With the INDY trilogy, EMPIRE/JEDI, E.T. and countless others, he's gotta be worth a mention.
Here's my Top 5:
1) Power of Love / Huey Lewis & The News / Back to the Future
2) Footloose / Kenny Loggins / Footloose
3) Maniac / Michael Sembello / Flashdance
4) Danger Zone / Kenny Loggins / Top Gun
5) Don't You Forget About Me / Simple Minds / Breakfast Club

All big hits, all good songs, all instantly recall a movie montage.

P.S.: It is with a sad and heavy heart that I do not include GHOSTBUSTERS on this list, due to the whole lawsuit with Huey Lewis & the News. If any one wants the whole skinny, warts and all, let me know or ask Master Spears to give it a look-see.

See you all in the 80's,
-Alyfox

[Brad]

Special category, movei songs that are better than the movie they are in:

Nobody's Fool - Kenny Loggins

Special category, movie songs that were plagiarized from Huey Lewis songs:

Ghostbusters - Ray Parker Jr.

[Miguel]

You mentioning Don`t You Forget About Me made me remember the John Hughes movies.
Here go a couple more:

-Weird Science-Oingo Boingo
-Wild Sex(In The Working Class)-Oingo Boingo
-Pretty in Pink-The Psychedelic Furs

[Spears]

Just off the top of my head, right now I'd have to learn toward these songs being at or near the top (right now, in no particular order)...

- Don't You Forget About Me

- I'm Alright

- If You Leave

- Love Somebody

- Power of Love

- Eye of the Tiger

[Timmy D]

I am sort of new to this blog, but I have some obscure choices from some of my favorites.
1. One Way Love - E.G. Daly - Better off dead
2. She's Like The Wind - Patrick Swayze - Dirty Dancing
3. Time Of My Life - Jennifer Warnes and Bill Medley - Dirty Dancing
4. Thief Of Hearts - Mellissa Manchester - Thief Of Hearts
5. Love In The Shadows - E.G. Daly - Thief of Hearts

[Miguel]

Here`s some of my favourites.

-"People are Strange"-Echo & The Bunnymen (Lost Boys)
-"Together in Electric Dreams"-Giorgio Moroder,Phil Oakey ( Electric Dreams)
-"Everybody Needs Somebody to Love"-The Blues Brothers (The Blues Brothers)
-"Every Sperm is Sacred"-Monty Python (The Meaning of Life)
-"Pe@is Song"-Monty Python (The Meaning of Life)

-"Up Where We Belong"-Joe Cocker,Jennifer Warnes (An Officer and a Gentleman)
-"Footloose"-Kenny Loggins (Footloose)
-"The Time of my Life"-Bill Medley, Jennifer Warnes (Dirty Dancing)
-"Axel F"-Harold Faltermeyer (Beverly Hills Cop)

[Dennis]

oh, forgot...
OMD - If You Leave
crappy cut/paste by myself here...

[Dennis]

Psychedelic Furs - Pretty In Pink
Modern English - I Melt With You
Furniture - Brilliant Mind
Depeche Mode - But Not Tonight
Phil Oakey+Giorgio Moroder - Together In Electric Dreams

[Ellen R]

1. Love Somebody (Rick Springfield)
in Hard to Hold
2. Fame (Irene Carra)
3. So Far, So Good (Sheena Easton)
in About Last Night

[Jimmy Mack]

Got to go with two popular songs...
1) In Your Eyes - Peter Gabriel
2) Against All Odds - Phil Collins

Hate to go with the all Genesis lineup, but the songs touch me deeply. As a guy, I cannot admit to ever crying, but they both brought me as close as I ever want to come again.

[sparky]

Couldn't let a list go by without putting my two favorites on there:

Winner Takes it All - Sammy Hagar (Over the Top)
Secret of My Success - Night Ranger (Secret of My Success)

[Marissa]

wow, long list, but I know a couple of the songs I suggested weren't written for the movie they were in. It's not a mandatory qualification, or so I thought. I guess I should have clarified.

[Realoverture]

One more I thought of:

"Shakedown" by Bob Seger - from one of the Beverly Hills Cops movies

[Realoverture]

Already mentioned:

Prince's "When Doves Cry"

And how about:

Irene Cara's "Fame"
Madonna's "Get Into The Groove"
Jan Bovier's "Feel the Heat" (from the Stallone Cobra movie)

[Douglas Arthur]

that is why I didn't say it was a classic!

[Bassnote]

Love Devo's "Dr. Detroit", but not so much the movie.

[Douglas Arthur]

as long as we go obscure here, how about the Swedish language version of Devo's Baby Doll they recorded for the Cusack/Robbins classic Tapeheads? Classic scene from a classic 80's movie. Or perhaps the theme Devo did for the Dan Aykroyd star vehicle Dr. Detroit??

[Douglas Arthur]

Leave it to Bassnote to swoop in and drop nuggets o' goodness. I will double up a vote for Bowie's Cat People. The version on Let's Dance is superior to the single version from the movie...too much Giorgio Moroder overproduction (though that did wonders for Sigue Sigue Sputnik).

[Lauri J]

"Love Somebody" by Rick Springfield from HARD TO HOLD - my very favorite!

"Power of Love" by Huey Lewis from BACK TO THE FUTURE

"Desperate Lives" by Rick Springfield (a sad one) from movie of same name about drugs...

"Footloose" by Kenny Loggins from movie of same name

and oh did I mention "Love Somebody" - I love that song!

[chase]

Spears, if you include anything from Karate Kid Two ... ack ... I'm personally coming to Florida to Sweep the Leg.

[Lolly]

Love Somebody - Rick Springfield!
Crazy For You - Madonna
A Million Miles Away - Plimsouls
Eaten By The Monster Of Love - Sparks
Don't You Forget About Me- Simple Minds
Footloose - Kenny Loggins
I'm Alright - Kenny Loggins
One Vision - Queen
Almost Paradise - Mike Reno & Ann Wilson
Cruel Summer - Bananarama
On The Dark Side - John Cafferty & the Beaver Brown Band
Goonies 'R' Good Enough - Cyndi Lauper
Let's Go Crazy - Prince
Eye Of The Tiger - Survivor
Danger Zone - Kenny Loggins

[Melissa]

Neverending Story by Limahl oops, darn, John beat me to that one.

Mighty Wings by Cheap Trick
Love Somebody by Rick Springfield
Wierd Science by Oingo Boingo
We Don't Need Another Hero by Tina Turner

[Rock Fields]

Man, can't get to the blog until after work and all the songs you liked are already spoken for.

Everybody Wants To Rule The World - Real Genius
Somebody's Baby - Fast Times at Ridgemont High
I'm All Right - Caddy Shack
One Vision - Iron Eagle
The whole soundtrack from Highlander

There are others but I think that is enough for now.

[John Hays]

1.Don't You Forget About Me (Simple Minds) The Breakfast Club
2.Power of Love (Huey Lewis & The News) Back to the Future
3. Footloose (Kenny Loggins) Footloose
4. Danger Zone (Kenny Loggins) Top Gun
5. In Your Eyes (Peter Gabriel) Say Anything
6. Eye of the Tiger (Survivor) Rocky II
7. View to a Kill (Duran Duran) View to a Kill
8. Axel F (Harold Faltermeyer) Beverly Hills Cop
9. Ghostbusters (Ray Parker Jr) Ghostbusters
10. I'm Alright (Kenny Loggins) Caddyshack

Honorable Mention:
1. Secret of My Success (Night Ranger) Secret of My Success
2. You're the Best Around (Joe Esposito) Karate Kid
3. Meet Me Half Way (Kenny Loggins) Over the Top
4. The Goonies 'R' Good Enough (Cyndi Lauper) The Goonies
5. Holdin Out for a Hero (Bonnie Tyler) Short Circuit 2
6. The Neverending Story (Limahl) The Neverending Story
7. Cruel Summer (Bananarama) Karate Kid
8. Loved By the Sun (Tangerine Dream) Legend
9. Stand By Me (Ben E King) Stand By Me
10. Take My Breath Away (Berlin) Top Gun

[Bassnote]

Okay, I will give my top 5, but I must say why I won't include some songs. "In Your Eyes" was not written for the movie Say Anything. The song came out in 1986, the movie came out in 1989. "Hazy Shade of Winter" is a cover of a Simon & Garfunkle song, so it doesn't qualify as original. "Old Time Rock and Roll" is a 70s song. And as much as I love the song "Good Times" by INXS & Jimmy Barnes, it too is a remake. Now my top 5:

1) If Anybody Had a Heart - John Waite (About Last Night) I just love this song.
2) I'm Alright - Kenny Loggins (Caddyshack) Who doesn't want to dance when this song comes on?
3) To Live And Die In L.A. - Wang Chung - Best soundtrack ever.
4) Axel F - Harold Faltermeyer (Beverly Hills Cop) Most recognizable theme ever.
5) Don't You (Forget About Me) - Simple Minds - The Senior year theme song.

[John Hays]

Wow! Combining some of my favorite things! Movies, Music, and 80's!

Before I attempt a list, here are a couple oldies that instantly port me to 80's movies:

Mess Around - Ray Charles, Planes, Trains, and Automobiles
Danke Shoen - Wayne Newton, Ferris Bueller's Day Off

[I Was A Teenage Duranie]

Oh, wait -- make Love Somebody -- Rick Springfield -- Hard to Hold my co-25. I owned that soundtrack and wore that cassette out!

[I Was A Teenage Duranie]

1. If You Leave -- OMD -- Pretty in Pink
2. In Your Eyes -- Peter Gabriel -- Say Anything
3. Purple Rain -- Prince & the Revolution -- Purple Rain
4. Don't You Forget About Me -- Simple Minds -- Breakfast Club
5. I'm Alright -- Kenny Loggins -- Caddyshack
6. Love Theme from St. Elmo's Fire -- David Foster (It was prom theme my senior year, and the Andrew McCarthy/Ally Sheedy shower scene is one of my all-time favorites.)
7. When Doves Cry -- Prince & the Revolution -- Purple Rain
8. Jungle Love -- Morris Day & the Time -- Purple Rain
9. Somebody's Baby -- Jackson Browne -- Fast Times at Ridgemont High
10. Danger Zone -- Kenny Loggins -- Top Gun
11. Footloose -- Kenny Loggins -- Footloose
12. Let's Hear It for the Boy -- Deniece Williams -- Footloose
13. Take My Breath Away -- Berlin -- Top Gun
14. Old Time Rock and Roll -- Bob Seger -- Risky Business
15. Against All Odds -- Phil Collins -- Against All Odds
16. Separate Lives -- White Nights
17. Up Where We Belong -- Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes -- An Officer and a Gentleman
18. Let's Go Crazy -- Prince & the Revolution -- Purple Rain
19. What a Feeling -- Irene Cara -- Flashdance
20. Endless Love -- Lionel Richie and Diana Ross -- Endless Love
21. Maniac -- Flashdance
22. I Can't Drive 55 -- Sammy Hagar -- Footloose
23. Almost Paradise -- Mike Reno and Ann Wilson -- Footloose
24. Kiss -- Prince -- Under a Cherry Moon/Parade
25. A View to a Kill -- Duran Duran -- A View to a Kill

[Ray]

My Top 25 (I apologize in advance for typos)

1. "In Your Eyes"
-- Peter Gabriel (Say Anything)
2. "Eye Of The Tiger"
-- Survivor (Rocky III)
3. "Don't You (Forget About Me)"
-- Simple Minds (The Breakfast Club)
4. "Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now)"
-- Phil Collins (Against All Odds)
5. "The Power of Love"
-- Huey Lewis & The News (Back to the Future)
6. "Axel F"
-- Harold Faltermeyer (Beverly Hills Cop)
7. "Purple Rain"
-- Prince (Purple Rain)
8. "Man in Motion"
-- John Parr (St. Elmo's Fire)
9. "Weird Science"
-- Oingo Boingo (Weird Science)
10. "Pretty in Pink"
-- The Psychedlic Furs (Pretty In Pink)
11. "Footloose"
-- Kenny Loggins (Footloose)
12. "I'm Alright"
-- Kenny Loggins (Caddyshack)
13. "Ghostbusters"
-- Ray Parker Jr. (Ghostbusters)
14. "Hazy Shade of Winter"
-- The Bangles (Less Than Zero)
15. "I Can Dream About You"
-- Dan Hartman (Streets Of Fire)
16. "Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)"
-- Christopher Cross (Arthur)
17. "We Don't Need Another Hero"
-- Tina Turner (Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome)
18. "Cruel Summer"
-- Bananarama (The Karate Kid)
19. "To Live And Die In L.A."
-- Wang Chung (To Live And Die In L.A.)
20. "It Might Be You"
-- Stephen Bishop (Tootsie)
21. "View to a Kill"
-- Duran Duran (View To A Kill)
22. "Glory Of Love"
-- Peter Cetera (Karate Kid II)
23. "Somebody's Baby"
-- Jackson Browne (Fast Times at Ridgemont High)
24. "What a Feeling"
-- Irene Cara (Flashdance)
25. "On The Dark Side"
-- John Cafferty (Eddie & The Cruisers)

[Deena]

I agree with Sarah Hall! All the way...

[Vegasgirlfriend]

Haunted When The Minutes Drag by Love and Rockets from She's Having a Baby

Ok, this is kinda cheating,but:

Bela Lugosi's Dead by Bauhaus from The Hunger

Bassnote - love the semi-obscure Bowie tunes - have Absolute Beginners and Cat People soundtracks on CD!

[Kevy Metal]

Spearsy sez: "Everyone can feel to suggest songs already suggested. Multiple nominations will land the song higher in the ranking."

On that note:
Simple Minds - "Don't You Forget About Me"
Duran Duran - "View to a Kill"
a-ha - "Living Daylights"
Phil Collins - "Against All Odds"
OMD - "If You Leave"
Jackson Browne - "Somebody's Baby"
Kenny Loggins - "I'm Free"

and one more obscure suggestion:
Tommy Tutone's "Teen Angel Eyes" from the tragically OOP "Last American Virgin Soundtrack". It plays over the end credits of the movie. A classic Tutone song (if there is such a thing).

[michelle]

Before I lose a signal on the train- St. Elmo's Fire by David Foster, Woman's Work on She's Having a Baby, and Holiday Road on Nat'l Lampoon's Vacation.

[Spears]

Everyone can feel to suggest songs already suggested. Multiple nominations will land the song higher in the ranking.

And feel free to offer your own personal top 5 or top 10 list. Those songs will get added weight as well.

[Bassnote]

What Does It Take - Honeymoon Suite (One Crazy Summer)
Skankin' To The Beat - Fishbone (Say Anything)
Fright Night - J. Geils Band (Fright Night)
One Of The Living - Tina Turner (Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome)
Underground - David Bowie (Labyrinth)
Absolute Beginners - David Bowie (Absolute Beginners)
Cat People (Putting Out Fire) - David Bowie (Cat People)
Weird Science - Oingo Boingo (Weird Science)
Stand In The Fire - Mickey Thomas (Youngblood)

[Neil]

I would go with "Pablo Picasso" by Burning Sensations for the Repo Man Soundtrack. I also like "Beat City" by The Flowerpot Men. I missed the posting yesterday about Survivor but this lady I work with said she ran into a few of the members at some Casino in Joliet. Of course she had no clue who they were and thought the band Survivor was some how connected with the TV show.

[Kevy Metal]

Scratch that, The Blues Brothers song is a cover.

[Kevy Metal]

Abiding by the "written for the movie" rule here's some suggestions, a few of which already mentioned:

John Parr - "Man in Motion" (St. Elmo's Fire)
Prince - "When Doves Cry" (Purple Rain)
Prince - "Kiss" (Under the Cherry Moon)
INXS and Jimmy Barnes - "Good Times" (The Lost Boys)
New Order - "Shellshock" (Pretty in Pink)
David Bowie - "This Is Not America" (Falcon ans the Snowman)
The Blues Brothers - "Everybody Needs Somebody To Love" (The Blues Brothers)

The Dude abides.

[spicoli]

"Waffle Stomp" Joe Walsh (Fast Times at Ridgmont High). Judge Reinhold in a Pirate Suit, Nancy Wilson, the fish and chips.
"Watch I Love Lucy, do the Watusi"
"So what Jefferson was saying . . ."

Oh, good times.

[Ray]

Some great suggestions already, so I'm stretching on a couple of my songs.

"We Don't Need Another Hero" -- Tina Turner (Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome)
"Kokomo" -- Beach Boys (Cocktail)
"Good Times" -- INXS & Jimmy Barnes (Lost Boys)
"Coming Around Again" -- Carly Simon
"When the Going Gets Tough" -- Billy Ocean (Jewel Of The Nile)
"Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)" -- Christopher Cross (Arthur)
"It Might Be You" -- Stephen Bishop (Tootsie)
"Love Touch" -- Rod Stewart (Legal Eagles)
"Neutron Dance" -- The Pointer Sisters (Beverly Hills Cop)
"Up Where We Belong" -- Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes (An Officer and a Gentleman)
"Hazy Shade of Winter" -- The Bangles (Less Than Zero)
"For Your Eyes Only" -- Sheena Easton (For Your Eyes Only)
"Who's Johnny" -- El DeBarge (Short Circuit)
"All Time High" -- Rita Coolidge (Octopussy)
"The Secret Of My Success" -- Night Ranger (Secret Of My Success)
"Would I Lie To You" -- The Eurythmics (One Crazy Summer)

Honorable Mentions (80s Movies; Not 80s Songs)
- - - - - - -
"Old Time Rock and Roll" -- Bob Seger (Risky Business)
"Stand By Me" -- Bee E. King (Stand By Me)
"Wonderful World" -- Louis Armstrong (Good Morning Vietnam)
[All Songs] -- The Big Chill Soundtrack
"Twist and Shout" -- Beatles (Ferris Buellers Day Off)

Was that terrible Neil Diamond song "Heartlight" on the E.T. soundtrack?

[80sfan]

I couldn't agree more with Love Somebody being toward the top of the list.

Some other favorites on my own personal list.

Queen - One Vision
Bangles - Hazy Shade of Winter
Prince - Batadance
Yello - Oh Yeah
INXS & Jimmy Barnes - Good Times
Anne Wilson & Robin Zander - Surrender to Me
John Waite - Change
Bonnie Tyler - Holding out for a Hero
Big Pig - I Can't Break Away

[Dan]

Here's a few I haven't seen listed yet:

In Your Eyes ~ Peter Gabriel from Say Anything.

Back in Time
Power of Love

Both from Back to the Future. And Power of Love was a #1 hit.