Movie Soundtrack Feature: "Ghostbusters"

Ray Parker Jr. "Ghostbusters"

Here is yet another iconic movie from the 1980s (and remade in 2016). Ghostbusters is the hilariously funny movie about a team who cleans up the streets from the supernatural in New York City. There are few scenes that stand out more than the giant marshmallow terrorizing everyone at the climax of the film. The soundtrack was carried by the theme song that can be difficult to get out of your head once you start singing it. We have the song to thank for two phrases that stick: "Who you gonna call? Ghostbusters!" as well as "I ain't afraid of no ghost!" It peaked at #1 on the Billboard charts and stayed there for three weeks, while also garnering an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song. According to Bruce A. Austin, the song can be "purportedly credited with bringing in an extra $20 million for the film." The music video for the song was also a number one hit on MTV. It finished 1984 as the #9 song of the year, and appeared on both digital charts and ringtone charts when those became popular in the mid 2000s. I hope today's selection doesn't get stuck in your head too long!

If you want to learn more about the soundtrack as well as view the track listing, click here

Lyrics to "Ghostbusters"

Movie Soundtrack Feature: "Danger Zone"

MOVIE SOUNDTRACK FEATURE: "DANGER ZONE"

Kenny Loggins "Danger Zone"

Top Gun is another movie from the 1980s that is beloved by many. "Danger Zone" is a song that almost everyone recognizes, and it is thanks to the movie. The soundtrack to the movie was #1 on Billboard's chart for 5 weeks, and was the best selling soundtrack of 1986. With four songs breaking into Billboard's Top 100 chart that year, it makes sense. "Danger Zone" peaked at #2 on the chart, while "Take My Breath Away" by Berlin made it to #1. "Take My Breath Away" won Best Original Song both at the Academy Awards and Golden Globe Awards. An interesting fact about today's song is that multiple other musical artists were approached to do "Danger Zone." All declined for various reasons, before it was decided that Kenny Loggins would be the one to do it. The song was in the top 15 of seven worldwide charts, and finished at #42 on Billboard's year end chart for 1986. The music video, according to MuchMusic network, was described by the U.S. Navy as "one of the best recruiting tools ever." I can guarantee that most of you have probably felt yourself naturally singing this song when you feel as though you're doing something dangerous. Take the time to step into the "Danger Zone" today.


If you want to learn more about the soundtrack as well as view the track listing, click here


Lyrics to "Danger Zone"

Movie Soundtrack Feature: "Don't You Forget About Me"

MOVIE SOUNDTRACK FEATURE: "DON'T YOU FORGET ABOUT ME"

Simple Minds "Don't You Forget About Me"

One of the most iconic movie endings of the 1980s and possibly all time, "Don't You Forget About Me" plays at the end of The Breakfast Club. When you think of that movie, you think of that ending just as much as the message the movie tries to send. Aside from this song, the rest of the soundtrack is not as well known, and has received negative reviews throughout the years, even though it reached as high as #17 on Billboard's Album chart. However, that doesn't overshadow the success of the song itself.  It reached #1 on Billboard's Hot 100, and has been the bands most successful song in the U.S. to date. There is irony in that fact as, according to Genius, the band recorded this song in roughly three hours and forgot about it, considering it "just another song they recorded for somebody." It is clearly more than that now, and remains etched together with The Breakfast Club for generations to come.


If you want to learn more about the movie, the soundtrack and see the full track list, click here


Lyrics to "Don't You Forget About Me"

February Love Song #24

FEBRUARY LOVE SONG #24

Queen "Crazy Little Thing Called Love"

I'm sure most people would recognize Queen for a few other more famous hits. However, "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" was actually on top of the US charts for a period of time in the early 1980s. According to Genius, it's a tribute to Elvis Presley and the "Rockabilly" era of rock and roll. The chords and the feel of the rhythm certainly reflect that. Based on the lyrics, the narrator of this song has this girl that he has feelings for. He's convinced himself he's just not ready for it yet, "hitchin' a ride on his motorbike until he's ready for it." The title is most appropriate because love is crazy in the sense that it can come out of nowhere and make us do lots of things we may never thought we would. Enjoy this hit track from the 80s!

Lyrics to "Crazy Little Thing Called Love"

February Love Song #6

FEBRUARY LOVE SONG #6

The B-52's "Love Shack"

This is probably one of the most popular songs that came out of the 1980s. One thing that I learned while doing some research for this song is that The B-52's had actually been around for ten years before this hit. They largely were in the underground music scene until then.  A group based out of Athens, GA, the "Love Shack" comes to obviously mean a place for lovers to hang out, but it also was supposed to represent a lot of the places the group performed at. There is no denying that this song came from the 80s based on it's rhythm. It's a really fun song to do karaoke with and just jam out to in general. Who knows, maybe you and your significant other will visit the "Love Shack" in the month of love. Enjoy!

Lyrics to "Love Shack"