Some of the most memorable movie moments are inextricably linked to the soundtrack of the movies. From Peter Quill’s introduction in The Guardians of the Galaxy while Redbone’s “Come and Get Your Love” plays in the background, to the training montage in Big Hero 6 set to Fall Out Boy’s “Immortals”, iconic soundtracks define iconic movies. The power of a great selection of songs cannot be overestimated, seeing how even bad movies become bearable because of good soundtracks. The art of the soundtrack is a celebrated aspect of filmmaking, and many songwriters have written original songs specifically for movies.

However, while specific song curation makes for special soundtracks, some songs are so catchy and iconic, that they get featured almost always whenever a movie wants to create the vibe ᴀssociated with them. The most common songs in movies and TV shows often reflect the aesthetic and atmospheric landscape of cinema in an era, since they reflect the vibe people want in their movies and shows. But the decade of filmmaking and music that’s the most iconic in terms of cultural footprint and memorable moments is the ’80s, the era of some of the greatest musical hits and renowned movies.

10

Stand By Me (1986)

ᴀssociated With “Stand By Me” By Ben E. King

Rob Reiner’s Stand by Me is one of the greatest coming-of-age movies ever made, and arguably the best Stephen King adaptation. It follows a group of four friends who have heard about the death of a boy their age and want to go see the body. They set out on a hike, not expecting or being able to foresee the misadventures and dangers that await them. What was supposed to be a harmless journey to satisfy their morbid curiosity becomes a vessel for their loss of innocence.

​​​​​While the movie is based on Stephen King’s novella The Body, the тιтle is influenced by the тιтle of “Stand By Me”, the song by Ben E. King. King’s song plays during the credits at the end of the movie, and reflects the theme of friendship that the characters develop over the course of the film. It was even used for promotion, with a music video that featured Ben E. King with actors Wil Wheaton and River Phoenix, both of whom starred in the movie.

9

Dirty Dancing (1987)

ᴀssociated With “(I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life” By Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes

Dazzling viewers with their electric chemistry and skillful dancing, Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey lead one of the most iconic ’80s romantic dramas. Dirty Dancing is remembered most fondly for the iconic dance sequences, especially the lift at the end of the routine that the leads work on for the whole movie. So, it’s no surprise that the film is inextricably linked with the song playing during the dance routine.

The beautiful lyrics and vocals reflect the pᴀssionate romance between the couple, while the energetic music functions as the ideal backdrop to both their enthusiastic dancing and their romantic attachment. “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life” was written and sung specifically for Dirty Dancing, and the mission was successful. Neither can be mentioned without inherently referring to the other. The image of Grey lifted by Swayze in Dirty Dancing‘s ending has been immortalized in people’s minds, much like the song.

8

The Karate Kid (1984)

ᴀssociated With “You’re The Best” By Joe Esposito

While the 2010 remake, featuring Jaden Smith, is one of the worst Jackie Chan movies of the last 15 years, the original The Karate Kid is a great martial arts movie. Equal parts action film and coming-of-age movie, The Karate Kid tells the story of a young boy, Daniel, who befriends a repairman, Mr. Miyagi, who is a martial arts master, and teaches Daniel karate. Daniel is in the crosshairs of a group of boys who learn karate at the Cobra Kai Dojo, and he must become good enough to face and beat them.

Joe Esposito’s power ballad “You’re The Best” went through a rocky journey on its way to rising to prominence as part of a movie soundtrack. Originally meant for Rocky III, it was later replaced by Survivor’s “Eye of the Tiger”, and then pᴀssed on by Flashdance in favor of Michael Sembello’s “Maniac”. Then, John G. Avildsen heard it, and realized that this would be the ideal song to play in the background of the compeтιтion montage in his movie.

7

The Breakfast Club (1985)

ᴀssociated With “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” By Simple Minds

The cinematic landscape of the ’80s is known for its cultural footprint, and John Hughes, as the director of teenage romances and coming-of-age comedies, is one of the people that the ’80s immortalized. He had his hand on the pulse of the teen rom-com scene, although, a lot of his work feels dated today. Even his most famous work, The Breakfast Club, a bonafide ’80s classic that mostly holds up, depicts an unnecessary makeover for a character in one of the most infuriating scenes in movie history.

As sullied as the message of authenticity and solidarity becomes because of its dated elements, it’s impossible to deny that The Breakfast Club evokes emotions of togetherness. The five people forced to spend time during detention come away having changed and with a better appreciation for each other. They have also forged a bond that will likely remain with them for a long time. Simple Minds wrote a song for the ending that sums up the emotions one will experience looking back at the movie while its credits roll. That song now invariably reminds people of the movie.

6

Back To The Future (1985)

ᴀssociated With “The Power Of Love” By Huey Lewis And The News

One of the few major franchises with no bad movies, the Back to the Future trilogy is an iconic piece of ’80s memorabilia. It is a classic tale that gets referenced whenever time travel is discussed, including in Avengers: Endgame. It has left an indelible mark on pop culture, and both Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd belong in the sci-fi movie hall of fame as the slick Marty McFly and his brilliant scientist friend Dr. Emmett Brown, respectively.

Back when the first movie came out, Robert Zemeckis wasn’t yet the famous filmmaker he is today. Back to the Future would put him on the map permanently, though. Along with him, it put Huey Lewis and the News’ “The Power of Love” on the map as well. Interestingly, the band performed two songs for the film, and the other one, “Back in Time”, directly relates more to the movie. However, due to the catchy music and lyrics, especially the memorable hook, “The Power of Love” became more famous and more ᴀssociated with Back to the Future.

5

Do The Right Thing (1989)

ᴀssociated With “Fight The Power” By Public Enemy

Spike Lee has made some of the most relevant films of all time. From biopics like Malcolm X, one of Denzel Washington’s best movie roles as a real person, to poignant dramas like Crooklyn, his filmography is politically charged and addresses systematic racism in all forms. While Malcolm X is his most epic work, Lee’s magnum opus remains his 1989 ensemble drama Do The Right Thing. It follows the residents of Brooklyn on the H๏τtest day of summer, as tensions rise after people clash in their attempt to survive the heat.

The characters’ experiences and their characterization serve as social commentary on the way African American people are treated in America. While there are many memorable scenes and quotable lines in the movie, the opening sequence is arguably its most iconic part. The opening credits appear over a montage of Rosie Perez, in her screen debut, dancing in a dress, a leotard, and a boxing outfit. The song playing in the background, “Fight the Power”, was written and performed by Public Enemy for the movie specifically and is inextricably linked with it.

4

Flashdance (1983)

ᴀssociated With “Flashdance… What a Feeling” By Irene Cara

Jennifer Beals’ down-on-her-luck dancer can’t catch a break in Adrian Lyne’s Flashdance. She feels discouraged by the application process for getting into Pittsburgh Conservatory of Dance and Repertory, but after her partner convinces her, she applies. He uses his connections to get her an audition, which she aces, despite initially not wanting to go because she wants to earn it by herself. It’s dated and simplistic, but as a cheesy ’80s romantic dance movie, it is memorable for Beals’ performance, especially her dancing, and the movie’s music.

Irene Cara sang the iconic song “What a Feeling” which Flashdance opens with during the montage that introduces the city, and also closes with, during Beals’ final audition and celebratory run to her partner. However, Flashdance has one of the best soundtracks, and it’s difficult to pinpoint exactly one song it’s linked with, between Cara’s song, and Michael Sembello’s “Maniac”, which is equally iconic and ᴀssociated with Flashdance.

3

Top Gun (1986)

ᴀssociated With “Take My Breath Away” By Berlin

While there are a few ways in which Tony Scott’s Top Gun has not aged well, it is one of the most iconic movies of the ’80s. Tom Cruise’s slick screen persona as the rebellious pilot, Maverick, is a showstealer. With an equally amazing supporting cast, memorably cheesy ’80s action movie dialogue, some of the best airplane stunts ever, and one of the best-selling soundtracks of all time, Top Gun has mostly stood the test of time for a reason.

The two Kenny Loggins songs, “Playing with the Boys” and “Danger Zone” both play over iconic scenes from the movie. The first plays during the volleyball scene that was recreated in the sequel, and the latter plays during the unforgettable opening sequence. The song “Great Balls of Fire” by Jerry Lee Lewis is also just as linked with the movie as those songs. But the song that’s perhaps most ᴀssociated with Top Gun is Berlin’s “Take My Breath Away”, known to some as the Love Theme from Top Gun.

2

Rocky III (1982)

ᴀssociated With “Eye of the Tiger” By Survivor

Every movie in Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky franchise has an iconic song ᴀssociated with it. Of the best theme songs in the Rocky movies, Bill Conti’s “Gonna Fly Now” from the first movie is easily the best and the most recognizable. However, another song specifically written for a Rocky movie, has become even more famous as a song and keeps getting featured in movies and shows, from Big Hero 6 to Supernatural.

​​​​​​When the director failed to get the rights for Queen’s “Another One Bites the Dust”, which was Stallone’s first choice for Rocky III, the job of writing a song for the movie went to the band Survivor. Their “Eye of the Tiger” plays over the opening sequence of the film, which depicts Rocky’s rise to fame as a boxer and subsequent stardom, simultaneously introducing his latest rival, Clubber Lang, and his rise to boxing fame. The iconic song is immediately recognizable, thanks to the opening chords, and it always invokes this opening montage for anyone who’s seen Rocky III.

1

Footloose (1984)

ᴀssociated With Kenny Loggins’ “Footloose”

Kenny Loggins is no doubt the king of ’80s movie soundtracks. He wrote some of the most iconic tracks on the best-selling movie soundtrack of the decade, Top Gun. But, before that, he created music for Kevin Bacon’s breakout movie, Footloose. Apart from the тιтular song, which is undoubtedly the most iconic song on the soundtrack, he also wrote and performed other songs for the movie.

Bacon plays a dance-loving teenager in a town where music and dancing is illegal. He becomes motivated to introduce people to the art of dance and how much grooving to music functions as an expression of personal freedom. The epitome of this occurs in the final scene, which is a celebration of his character’s triumph. Inspired by him, everyone in town dances in the hall to the тιтle song of the soundtrack.