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Totally 80s: the Greed Decade goes pop
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What would a John Hughes teen comedy be without a shimmering Brit ballad to accompany two unlikely lovebirds’ budding romance? The Chicago-based chronicler of under-twentydom easily could have his own college course in soundtrack bliss, whether it be Sixteen Candles’ sweet birthday-cake kiss between Molly Ringwald and Michael Schoeffling to the Thompson Twins’ “If You Were Here,” the post-prom finale smooch between Molly Ringwald and Andrew McCarthy in Pretty in Pink (OMD’s “If You Leave”), or the parking-lot embrace between (yep!) Molly Ringwald and Judd Nelson in The Breakfast Club (Simple Minds, “Don’t You Forget About Me”). But don’t you forget about the non-ballads: Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’s infamous bom-bom chicka-chicka (a.k.a. Yello’s “Oh Yeah” ) and Weird Science’s well, “Weird Science” (by Oingo Boingo, featuring the future film-composing maestro Danny Elfman) among them.
A much rougher, scrappier version of teen life was depicted in 1983’s Valley Girl — and introduced not only a then-18-year-old Nicolas Cage, but a hostof new-wave hits, including Josie Cotton’s controversial “Johnny AreYou Queer” and the Plimsouls’ “A Million Miles Away.” 1982’s Fast Times at Ridgemont High,meanwhile, tapped a more suburban SoCal rock vibe, with tracks fromJackson Browne, Stevie Nicks, and various members of the Eagles.
And did you think we’d forget two of the decade’s biggest hit generators? Dancer-with-a-dream classics Footloose and Flashdance not only captured the youthquake zeitgeist of the time but offered a spring-loaded soundtrack to express it to. Whether it be each film’s indelible title song (by Kenny Loggins and Irene Cara, respectively), the former’s defiant “Holding Out for a Hero” (Bonnie Tyler) or the latter’s urgent, dizzying “Maniac” (Michael Sembello), both weren’t just a conduit for hit songs, but testaments to the power of music to transcend limiting situations (hick town with McCarthy-era dancing rules, working-class Steeltown roots).
For reference: Jackson Browne, “Somebody’s Baby”; Simple Minds, “Don’t You Forget About Me”; Shandi, “He’s a Dream”; Deniece Williams, “Let’s Hear it for the Boy”; The Psychedelic Furs, “Love My Way.”
Extra credit viewing: Some Kind of Wonderful, St. Elmo’s Fire, Say Anything (John Cusack + Peter Gabriel + boom box = teen swoons 4ever)
For discussion: Footloose, Flashdance, Top Gun, Dirty Dancing … the choices are endless, but is there one definitive soundtrack that captures the decade?
Class is dismissed. Your homework? Check out some of the tracks listed above. And come back tomorrow, when we look at the best teen-film soundtracks of the 1990s.
More on coming-of-age film soundtracks from EW University:
At the Hop:Mid-Century Nostalgia
Closerto Groovy: Cruising into the ’70s
The1990s: Rocking Out in the Irony Age
TheIndie Aughties: “This song will change your life”
HappyAnachronisms: These soundtracks mix classic and contemporary hits
Final exam:Test your knowledge of teen angst anthems
Comments (1-13) of 13 Add your comment
For a young guy during the 80’s does anything illicit a more pleasurable vision than hearing “Living in Stereo” by The Cars.
In reference to my last post, I meant to type “Moving in Stereo”
Where’s ‘Purple Rain’? The high point of ‘80 funk.
Cocktail, Real Genius, The Lost Boys, License to Drive, The Goonies.
As far as I can tell, most classic 80s coming of age movies have classic 80s coming of age soundtracks. Except Heathers, for some reason.
What about Last American Virgin?! U2, Police, The Cars, Lionel…
You pretty much just hit EVERY single one of my favorite movies. I actually believe when I think back to my teenage years, they have a soundtrack….hehehe
Actually my personal favorite soundtrack with 80’s songs did not come from the 80’s it came from 1997- Grosse Pointe Blanke. The soundtrack was so awesome that it had a sequel.
What about the slew of movies in the ’90s and 2000s looking back on the ’80s with total fondness, and then portraying the decade to the stereotypical max? You should have looked at those soundtracks too, and maybe why they have ended up in such cliche territory.
My favorite coming-of-age soundtrack with great 80’s music is the British film Starter for Ten (2007). The film stars James McAvoy, Rebecca Hall, and Alice Eve. It is a British take on John Hughes films like “Pretty in Pink” and the “Breakfast Club”. A working-class Brisith student (McAvoy) attend a posh university and has to choose between a rich girl (Eve) and the campus activist (Hall). It sort of flew under the radar. “Love My Way”, The Hurting”, “Pictures of You”, and “Situation” are some of the tracks in the film. I have the DVD and the soundtrack. Both are available at Amazon.com. Check it out if you like 80’s music.
What about “Flash Dance?” lol She’s a ‘manic” on the floor. Irene Cara ring a bell? the 80’s have too many great soundtracks. that’s the problem. imo tim hear my podcast at:http://tvtimepodcast.com.
I almost had a heart attack when I thought you wrote a whole article on music in coming-of-age ’80s movies and DIDN’T mention “In Your Eyes” in ‘Say Anything…’ Still though, that tiny mention…come on…SO iconic! And I’m definitely a fan of John Parr’s “Man in Motion” from ‘St. Elmo’s Fire.’ Solid ’80s tune right there.
Adding to the list..Purple Rain, Flashdance, Rock N Roll High School, and Krush Groove (The soundtrack that made me fall in love with hip hop)
For me…”Purple Rain”…and to represent Hip Hop-”Brown Sugar” and “Krush Groovin”.