Memorable Movies and Theme Songs
When we think of classic movies such as James Bond, Kill Bill, Rocky III, Star Wars, and Breakfast Club the movie and their theme song seem to go hand-in-hand. Some we can sing and some we just think we can sing or hum. Maybe it is a qualification for a movie to become such a classic. Think of how many great movies that you can you think of that have a horrible theme song…not too many.
Is it an 80s thing?
Or maybe it is just that the 80s were such a great time for both movies and music. Being a child from the 80s and early 90s I am quite biased as to which era is the greatest. As much as I love Ace of Base, I think Guns ‘N Roses have a slight advantage.
What do you think are the best theme songs (and their movies) of all time?
My #1 Kenny Loggins - Danger Zone AND Berlin - Take My Breath Away from Top Gun…..did you hear the rumors there might be a Top Gun 2???
August 4th, 2008 at 11:19 am
St Elmo’s Fire always makes me want to don leggings, spray my hair big and go back to the 80’s…
August 4th, 2008 at 11:59 am
I’m not sure that the 80’s were a good decade for movies or music - aside from classics like Raging Bull, Spinal Tap and The Smiths. Your choice of Top Gun & Berlin sum up a largely pitiful 10 years…..
August 4th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
Its a toss up between Duran duran’s ‘View to a Kill’ and the equally catchy Koyaanisqatsi - Philip Glass goes pop…..
August 4th, 2008 at 2:12 pm
Gone were the days of 13-week chart topping smashes such as the themes from The Bodyguard / Robin Hood Prince of Thieves…
Until the mighty Take That came back with the theme tune from Stardust - ok it never hit number 1 due to that pesky Leona Lewis but I think we can all agree it is a classic movie hit of our time
August 4th, 2008 at 5:26 pm
You can’t beat the 1995 classic Empire Records for a good old soundtrack. Amazing!!
August 5th, 2008 at 8:48 am
Kenny Loggin’s Footloose from the film of the same name is timeless; the fact it was nominated for an Oscar in 1985 only serves to confirm it’s greatness (or the lack of decent competition in the category that year!)
August 5th, 2008 at 6:26 pm
‘Eye of the Tiger’ makes me want to don my sweats and run through the streets in man-of-the-people Rocky style. That or shout ‘Aaadrieeennne’ at the top of my voice…
The thought of Top Gun 2 however, makes me feel rather nauseous.
August 5th, 2008 at 6:44 pm
From an electronic perspective the 80’s were pioneering. The Human League, New Order and Kraftwerk (ok thats 70’s aswell) were producing music that unlike the all above mentioned, sounds like it was made yesterday.
August 6th, 2008 at 11:51 am
The Human League were formed in the 80’s (just - 1980) but New Order were simply Joy Division (a 70’s band) re-incarnated and Kraftwerk were 70’s (as you point out). So on that basis how were the 1980’s pioneering?
August 6th, 2008 at 3:14 pm
Bryan Adams - summer of 69
Simple Minds - don’t you forget about me
VAN HALEN - JUMP!
Irene Cara - flashdance
Aha - take on me
TWISTED SISTER - I WANT TO ROCK!!!
Michael Jackson - off the wall, thiller & bad
Madonna - la isla bonita, just like a prayer, material girl, papa don’t preach, express yourself (just for the video)
Blondie - call me
Queen & David Bowie - under pressure
Dire Straights - Romeo & Juliet, money for nothing, brothers in arms
Bon Jovi - livin’ on a prayer
Yes - owner of a lonely heart
Soft Cell - tainted love
Buggles - video killed the radio star
B-52’s - loveshack
Gary Numan - cars
Pink Floyd - the wall
Men without Hats - the safety dance
Katrina and the Waves - walkin’ on sunshine
Nik Kershaw - wouldn’t it be good
PRINCE - PURPLE RAIN!
Men at work - land down under
Buster Poindexter - hot hot hot
What a decade.
August 6th, 2008 at 5:00 pm
New Order had a completely different sound to Joy Division so it’s unfair to compare them.
Human League - its 80’s - fact!
I would also point to the explosion of House & Techno from Chicago & Detroit respectively as key moments in music history!
August 11th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
‘Muriel’s Wedding’ (starring Toni Colette on top form) has a soundtrack almost exclusively by Abba- which seals the deal for me! As Mark Kermode says; love ‘em or hate ‘em, their tunes are indestructable!