movies/tv

Nostalgic 80s Movie Scores & Soundtracks To Take You Back

Musicnotes

Aug 11, 2023 • 5 min read

There's just something about the 80s: a time of big hair, high fashion, materialism, and "yuppie culture." But if you ask anyone who lived through that decade, it's the music that stands out. The unique sounds of the synthesizer, drum machine, and guitar pedal distortion are unmistakably 80s. This amazing music was brought to life in audience living rooms through the brand-new medium of music videos, but it was the big screen that popularized the 80s movie soundtracks and scores that still have the power to bring us back.

Back to the Future

The amazing Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd anchor this trilogy of beloved time-travel films, but the memorable soundtrack is inextricably linked to Huey Lewis and the News. Huey Lewis penned the songs "Power of Love" and "Back in Time" for the movie. The songs are both so iconic that it only takes a few bars to launch a debate on flux capacitors and the butterfly effect. The soundtrack also includes "Time Bomb Town" by Fleetwood Mac's Lindsey Buckingham and "Heaven is One Step Away" by Eric Clapton. In addition, the 1955 scenes of the movie call for some classic tracks, treating listeners to "Earth Angel" and "Night Train" by Marvin Berry & the Starlighters, plus the Marty McFly version of "Johnny B. Goode."

The Big Chill

This heart-warming ensemble comedy-drama chronicles the gathering of seven college friends at a weekend vacation home in South Carolina after a classmate's funeral. As one of the best 80s movie soundtracks, its music sets the stage for baby boomers to harken back to their childrearing years with classic tunes from the 1960s and 70s, including "Joy to the World" by Three Dog Night, "I Heard it Through the Grapevine" by Marvin Gaye, and "Time of the Season" by the Zombies. The music collection is anchored by the timeless Aretha Franklin track "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman," which never fails to move and inspire.

The Breakfast Club

The Breakfast Club is the quintessential coming-of-age movie that defined the Brat Pack in 1985. Following five students from different cliques interacting against a backdrop of Saturday detention, the movie relies on teenage banter interspersed with deep confessions to move the drama along, but the music is arguably the most memorable part. Who can forget the dance montage set to "We Are Not Alone" by Karla Devito? And, of course, the crown jewel of 80s music soundtracks belongs to this movie: "Don't You (Forget About Me)" by Simple Minds, accompanied by the iconic John Bender fist bump in the freeze frame at the end of the film. Timeless.

Dirty Dancing

One of the most nostalgic of all 80s movie soundtracks, Dirty Dancing takes the audience to Kellerman's family resort in the Catskills, where a young girl called "Baby" (Jennifer Grey) becomes involved with a dance instructor (Patrick Swayze) and learns to step out of the shadows. The romantic, sweeping score by John Leonard Morris sets the stage for the movie's drama. The soundtrack includes a popular trio of 80s songs, including "She's Like the Wind," "Hungry Eyes," and the Oscar-winning "(I've Had) The Time of My Life." The rest of the soundtrack is full of throwback songs like "Love is Strange" by Mickey and Sylvia, "Big Girls Don't Cry" by Frankie Valli, and "In the Still of the Nite" by the Five Satins.

Flashdance

This 1983 movie with an unknown cast was popular but undoubtedly eclipsed by its soundtrack, which MTV helped catapult to sales exceeding 6 million in the U.S. The frenzied Michael Sembello hit "Maniac" had audiences donning shoulder-baring half shirts and leg warmers, while the slow burn of Irene Cara's title track "Flashdance...What a Feeling" led to the singer's second Oscar win for Best Song. The album was such a surprise hit that the initial release of vinyl LPs quickly sold out...an occurrence that is also totally 80s.

Footloose

This film about youth rebellion against censorship in a small Midwestern town hit the sweet spot with audiences in 1984. This classic example of 80s movie soundtracks embodies the teenage desire to "cut loose," including such 80s classics as Kenny Loggins' title track, "Almost Paradise" by Mike Reno and Ann Wilson, "Holding Out for a Hero" by Bonnie Tyler, and "Let's Hear it For the Boy" by Deniece Williams.

Ghostbusters

While Ray Parker Jr.'s popular title theme for this 1984 comedy immortalized the question "who ya gonna call," the eerie score by Elmer Bernstein creates a mysterious and unsettling backdrop for the action of the popular film. Just a few notes recall images of Slimer and Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man, while reminding us not to cross the streams.

Labyrinth

David Bowie's mesmerizing eyes captivated audiences as the all-powerful Jareth, king of the goblins in the cult classic Labyrinth. Audiences fell under his spell along with heroine Sarah, played by a young Jennifer Connelly. Bowie's music took on a whimsical and magical quality to complement the feeling of this film, including such memorable hits as "Underground," "Magic Dance," "and "As the World Falls Down." In addition, Trevor Jones provides some incredible instrumental music in the movie's stunning score, including "Sarah," "Hallucination," and "Into the Labyrinth."

Purple Rain

This iconic example of 80s movie soundtracks is quintessentially Prince. Key to the success of the prophetic film about a young musician's rise to the top, brilliant songs that catapulted Prince to global superstardom includes the sweeping title track, the rock hit "Let's Go Crazy," the edgy and controversial "Darling Nikki," and the epic "When Doves Cry."

Top Gun

When Top Gun's highly anticipated sequel, Top Gun: Maverick, was announced, one of the first questions the producers fielded was, "Will it include the same songs?" The nine-times-platinum soundtrack of the original 1986 film is arguably the most popular of all 80s movie soundtracks, winning the Academy Award and Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song for Berlin's timeless ballad "Take My Breath Away." Kenny Loggins’ "Danger Zone" is so inextricably linked to the action sequences of Top Gun that it is prominently featured in the sequel. The original score also features Harold Faltermeyer's highly recognizable "Top Gun Anthem," which includes a breathtaking guitar solo by legendary Billy Idol’s guitarist Steve Stevens.

Check out Musicnotes for sheet music to these and other 80s movie soundtracks, and take yourself back by learning to play them on your own instrument.

Sources:

https://variety.com/lists/soundtracks-1980s-pop-albums-quintessential/
https://movieweb.com/best-80s-film-scores/?newsletter_popup=1
https://ew.com/movies/the-best-80s-movie-soundtracks/
https://zinginstruments.com/back-to-the-future-soundtrack/
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0085244/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Take_My_Breath_Away#:~:text=%22Take%20My%20Breath%20Away%22%20is,Best%20Original%20Song%20in%201986.
https://moviemusicuk.us/2022/06/07/top-gun-maverick-lorne-balfe-harold-faltermeyer-lady-gaga-and-hans-zimmer/
https://www.history.com/topics/1980s/1980s#:~:text=The%201980s%2C%20often%20remembered%20for,careers%20of%20many%20iconic%20artists.