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.
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. Erin has 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.
P.S. While you can totally go to iTunes and subscribe (just search podcasts for The Armchair Librarians. Hopefully the cover art has updated by now and it’s actually easy to read), you can also listen to the Armchair Librarians right here on this very blog. This week’s episode contains a very special cohost, my daughter, Erica, and we chat with her about some of her favorite books. Hope you enjoy! And also, this week should be (fingers crossed) the last one with major audio issues. We think, thanks to some help from Stephanie, it’s all fixed.
I love this !!! What a feelin’! I’m alright. In Your Eyes! All are my favorites. Love the line take your passion and make it happen. Happy post to start my day! Music is awesome. Love. Steph’s. Momma
Now I want to go watch all the awesome 80’s movies and make K watch them with me.
I think I’d add Girls Just Want To Have Fun from the movie with the same name, I have made K watch that movie. 🙂
Kelli recently posted…Confess This
I would have a hard time choosing on a lot of these, especially Footloose and Vision Quest. I’d make different choices on a few others. This has been my favorite of this series!
SMD @ Life According to Steph recently posted…Thursday Thoughts on April eve
Goonies was one of my favorite movies and I watched it over and over. I LOVED the Legend of Billie Jean. After seeing it, I dug out one of my old Barbies and gave her a Billie Jean haircut. 🙂 Purple Rain is truly one of the best soundtracks ever and Prince is from Minnesota – so state pride! So many great songs from so many great movies. It makes me sad because it seems like there are fewer great movies these days.
Tanya @ A Mindful Migration recently posted…March Recap: The Things I’m Loving
Eddie Eddie Eddie!!!! Fun fact, when I was younger we used to watch both Eddie Cruiser movies on Thanksgiving night as we put up our Christmas tree. Every. Single. Year. My favorite movie was actually the second one but the songs from both are amazing! I have On the Dark Side, Boardwalk Angel, Runnin Thru the Fire, These Oldies But Goodies, NYC Song, Garden of Eden and Some Like it Hot on my Spotify rock list. Garden of Eden is probably my favorite song followed by NYC song.
Love everything from Dirty Dancing as well!!! And I just adore Breakfast Club!
Nadine recently posted…Confessions
I had the soundtrack to Dirty Dancing when I was younger. The whole soundtrack is good!
Mackenzie recently posted…The New and Improved Random Path
OMG! I love this!!! I’d have to add Let’s Hear It For The Boy from Footloose. And I know I can Dream About You is from an ’80s movie, but I don’t know which one. And then there’s anything from any Madonna movie, Batdance, Take My Breath Away, and Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now. I’m off to listen to this playlist!
(Catching up on reading)
I am impressed you have Streets of Fire represented. But is it that I Can Dream About You was the only radio release? Even if you didn’t want to go with THE song from the movie (Tonight is What is Means to be Young), there’s always Sorcerer.
Also, fun 80s movie trivia – than dancer in the bar in Streets of Fire is the dancer/body double from Flashdance