Movie Music from the '80s: A Playlist by Jana and Erin

It's that time again, the last Thursday of the month, the time that Jana and Erin bring you a playlist that usually has a theme with a twist.  This month, we are talking about songs from '80s movies.  Yep, this playlist is as fun as it sounds.  There are a few obvious choices and a few hidden gems.  Take a look/listen and walk down memory lane with us.  Or, for some of you who weren't born yet, here's a history lesson.

 

Fame (1980) - I Sing the Body Electric by the Cast of Fame - Fun fact: this is also the name of a Walt Whitman poem

 

Urban Cowboy (1980) - Love the World Away by Kenny Rogers - My Texas roots started showing, and this was probably the most difficult soundtrack to choose a favorite song for me.

 

 

9 to 5 (1980) - 9 to 5 by Dolly Parton - We both love Dolly; this was a given.

 

Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982) - Somebody's Baby by Jackson Browne -  The song playing when Stacy is going to lose her virginity to an older man...statutory rape is never good, but this song is.



Easy Money (1983) - Easy Money by Billy Joel - A Rodney Dangerfield movie from the '80s was going to be represented; "I'm Alright" from Caddyshack almost made the list too.

Valley Girl (1983) - I Melt with You by Modern English - A humming sing-a-long is good stuff ... if you don't know what I'm talking about, you need to listen to the song.

Eddie and the Cruisers (1983) - On the Dark Side by John Cafferty - Damn, this song is soooo good.  Damn, the lead actor of this movie was soooo hot. 

Flashdance (1983) - What a Feeling by Irene Cara - This song still gets regular airplay.  That's the testament of a good song.

Footloose (1984) - I'm Free by Kenny Loggins - We had to consult each other for this choice.  Too many songs on the Footloose soundtrack to choose from, but you can't pass up the moment that Ren dances around the factory performing a high bar routine.

Purple Rain (1984) - Jungle Love by The Time - Arguably, the best soundtrack of the '80s (or all-time), but why not a Prince song?  Apparently, Prince doesn't do spotify.

Against All Odds (1984) - Against All Odds by Phil Collins - Pretty sure I've never seen this movie, but this power ballad of song is awesome.

Streets of Fire (1984) - I Can Dream About You by Dan Hartman - The movie was advertised as "A Rock & Roll Fable".  Of course, we are going to have a song from such a movie.

St. Elmo's Fire (1985) - St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion) by John Parr - This song is still in heavy rotation on Australian radio, as it should be.

The Breakfast Club (1985) - Don't You Forget About Me by Simple Minds - The timeless and definitive teen movie from the '80s is represented by a timeless song.

The Goonies (1985) - The Goonies R Good Enough by Cyndi Lauper - Gosh, this lady sure can sing some fun songs.  A fun song for a fun movie.

The Legend of Billie Jean (1985) - Invincible by Pat Benatar - Jana mentioned this song, and Erin sang it for the next 3 days.  Friends, listen to this song.

Vision Quest (1985) - Crazy for You by Madonna - A song from the days that Madonna made entertaining music.

Pretty in Pink (1986) - If You Leave by OMD - The song is a reminder of a classic '80s teen movie moment (the girl runs to the boy at prom leaving her best friend behind); you can't hear this song and not think of that movie scene.

Dirty Dancing (1987) - She's Like the Wind by Patrick Swayze - That's right.  Patrick Swayze sings a song on this soundtrack, and it is wonderful.

The Lost Boys (1987) - Good Times by INXS with Jimmy Barnes - Americans don't know Jimmy Barnes, but Australians sure do.  When the quintessential Australian band teamed with an iconic Aussie voice, they made a fantastic song.

Disorderlies (1987) - Edge of a Broken Heart by Bon Jovi - Duh.  I had a say in this playlist.  Bon Jovi is represented...but y'all, this song is really, really good.  Promise!

Nightmare on Elm Street 3 (1987) - Dream Warriors by Dokken - Duh.  Jana and Erin created this playlist.  Hair bands are represented.  Plus, an '80s teen horror movie needed to be represented.

Say Anything (1989) - In Your Eyes by Peter Gabriel - John Cusack holding a boombox over his head to profess his love for a girl.  Classic '80s moment. 

What song(s) did we miss?  We know there's more because we knowingly left off so many.  Tell us your favorites.

List #11 - 1980s Movies

Rolling Stone magazine makes lists too.  Most often, I don't agree with their lists.  Then again, I don't expect anyone to agree with my lists either.  Mine are personal and totally biased.  RS is supposed to be a reputable magazine with knowledgeable writers and researchers on staff.  That being said, this list of theirs "The 25 Greatest Movies of the 1980s" is the result of a readers' poll.  So, if they got it wrong, blame the ones that took the poll.  I happen to think it's a decent list representing '80s movies.

A friend of mine (who is a fantastic blogger and movie aficionado as well) created her own list.  (see it here)  She posed the question "what's your list look like?".  My list was LONG.  So, I asked her how to cull it.  She told me to think about how the movie made me "feel" after watching it.  Good point.  Also, she talked about the fact if she is willing to watch the movie again and again.  Second good point.  With those two points in mind, here's MY list of The 25 Greatest Movies of the 1980s (in no particular order; that was just asking too much of me):

•  The Outsiders
• Urban Cowboy
• Grease 2 - Yep, don't argue with me about this one.  It is probably the single movie that I've seen the most times in my life.  Give me Stephanie Zinone & Michael Carrington over Sandy & Danny any day! 
•  Fast Times at Ridgemont High
• Pretty in Pink
• Sixteen Candles
• The Breakfast Club
• St Elmo's Fire
• Less Than Zero
• The Lost Boys
• Dead Poet's Society
• Footloose
• Purple Rain
• Dirty Dancing
• E.T.
• The Fox & the Hound - my all-time favorite Disney movie; it still makes me cry.
• The Princess Bride
• The Color Purple
• Steel Magnolias
• Terms of Endearment
• Mask - (don't confuse it with the '90s Jim Carrey crapola; this is the 1985 gem with Cher, Eric Stoltz, and Sam Elliott)
• The Natural
• Field of Dreams
• Rocky IV
• Raiders of the Lost Ark

I look at my list with fond memories.  Even the tearjerkers have a way of making me smile.  As Truvy in Steel Magnolias says: "Laughter through tears is my favorite emotion".

Disagree with my list? - Tell me your faves!