I grew up in the 80's, that time when people walked around in weird clothes and even weirder haircuts; when there were a bazillion different musical genres jockeying for dominance of the airwaves (I mean, we hand punk, oi, hardcore, goth, rockabilly, punkabilly, new wave, europop, noise pop, thrash metal; you name it); when most people still bought vinyl records and listened to them until they wore out. I was already a pimply teenaged social outcast when the music of bands like Cactus World News, Wire Train, The Smiths, Social Distortion, Husker Du, and a slew of other acts made up the catalogue of my music collection. Yeah, I'm an 80's kid. And am I glad.
80's music has, after twenty or so odd years, managed to retain its freshness despite what a lot of people might say. Want proof? Well, let's take a look at how some post-80's movies use 80's music to spice up their soundtracks.
1. The Wedding Singer
This early 90's movie starring Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore is set in 1985. Thus, it features music from that period: Elvis Costello and The Attractions ("Everyday I Write The Book"), Kajagoogoo ("Too Shy"), J. Geils Band ("Love Stinks"), and Culture Club ("Do You Really Want To Hurt Me", which, by the way, was hilariously covered ad nauseum by Sandler's onscreen in-house Boy George named, well, George) to name a few.
It seems to me that Sandler had more than a little to do with choosing the songs that went in this romantic comedy as the guy evidently really loves 80's music. (I guess he grew up in the 80's, too) I mean, in his next team up with Barrymore, the soundtrack again screams 80's. Which brings us to the next entry...
2. 50 First Dates
The second Sandler-Barrymore team-up is sweet and funny. Again, it features reggae-fied versions of popular 80's songs. Let's see... there was this Thompson Twins song, the title of which escapes me. And... Darn, I can't remember the other songs in the soundtrack! I'll have to watch the damn thing again to remember them all.
3. Sky High
This Disney-produced movie about a high school for superheroes-in-the-making stars kids who were most probably born around the time the 80's were already drawing to a close. Thus, they probably have no idea about where the hell the songs on the soundtrack came from. At any rate, the songs featured in Sky High were not the original versions but covers of beloved 80's songs: Everybody Wants To Rule The World (originally by Tears For Fears), Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want (originally by The Smiths), and I Melt With You (originally by Modern English) to name a few.
I guess we should be expecting more movies which feature 80's music (either the originals or just covers) in their soundtracks. Why? Because those kids who grew up in the 80's - guys like me - are now the movers in show business today. Hah! That means, we call the shots now! So, when we say we wanna put on a Billy Idol song in the background of a tender and romantic wedding scene, nobody can stop us!
Jeez, does this mean we are now the adults that a lot of 80's teen-oriented movies despised?
80's music has, after twenty or so odd years, managed to retain its freshness despite what a lot of people might say. Want proof? Well, let's take a look at how some post-80's movies use 80's music to spice up their soundtracks.
1. The Wedding Singer
This early 90's movie starring Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore is set in 1985. Thus, it features music from that period: Elvis Costello and The Attractions ("Everyday I Write The Book"), Kajagoogoo ("Too Shy"), J. Geils Band ("Love Stinks"), and Culture Club ("Do You Really Want To Hurt Me", which, by the way, was hilariously covered ad nauseum by Sandler's onscreen in-house Boy George named, well, George) to name a few.
It seems to me that Sandler had more than a little to do with choosing the songs that went in this romantic comedy as the guy evidently really loves 80's music. (I guess he grew up in the 80's, too) I mean, in his next team up with Barrymore, the soundtrack again screams 80's. Which brings us to the next entry...
2. 50 First Dates
The second Sandler-Barrymore team-up is sweet and funny. Again, it features reggae-fied versions of popular 80's songs. Let's see... there was this Thompson Twins song, the title of which escapes me. And... Darn, I can't remember the other songs in the soundtrack! I'll have to watch the damn thing again to remember them all.
3. Sky High
This Disney-produced movie about a high school for superheroes-in-the-making stars kids who were most probably born around the time the 80's were already drawing to a close. Thus, they probably have no idea about where the hell the songs on the soundtrack came from. At any rate, the songs featured in Sky High were not the original versions but covers of beloved 80's songs: Everybody Wants To Rule The World (originally by Tears For Fears), Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want (originally by The Smiths), and I Melt With You (originally by Modern English) to name a few.
I guess we should be expecting more movies which feature 80's music (either the originals or just covers) in their soundtracks. Why? Because those kids who grew up in the 80's - guys like me - are now the movers in show business today. Hah! That means, we call the shots now! So, when we say we wanna put on a Billy Idol song in the background of a tender and romantic wedding scene, nobody can stop us!
Jeez, does this mean we are now the adults that a lot of 80's teen-oriented movies despised?
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