Top 10 Songs in 80's Movies and Television

In the 1980's, integrating pop songs into movies or television was huge.  These iconic songs sometimes became bigger hits than the movies they were in.  With the advent of MTV in the 80’s, music videos often included scenes from the movies they were featured in.  Here then, are Mechalawyer's picks for Top 10 Songs from film in the 80's:

10. "Every Time You Go Away" Paul Young - Planes,Trains and Automobiles (1987)

In John Hughes' Planes, Trains and Automobiles, John Candy's Del Griffith and Steve Martin's Neal Page go on the travel trip from hell trying to get home for the Thanksgiving holiday.  It's not until the very end of the movie that Neal realizes that Del does not have a home and that his wife has actually passed on years ago.  With a stirring instrumental intro, Paul Young's "Every Time You Go Away" creates the perfect backdrop for the heartfelt ending and family reunion.  A clip of the ending scene with music is here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfPjAUoPoTU

9. "Man in Motion" John Parr - St. Elmo’s Fire (1985)

In Joel Schumacher's St. Elmo's Fire, the Brat Pack graduates from college and deals with being young adults.  Judd Nelson, Emilio Estevez, Demi Moore, Ally Sheedy, Andrew McCarthy, Mare Winningham, and Rob Lowe are the best of pals and John Parr's Man in Motion sets the scene as they walk into their local Georgetown bar and hangout St. Elmo's Fire:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kp28s-X_uN8

8. "A View to a Kill" Duran Duran - A View to a Kill (1985)

Roger Moore returned for the last time as James Bond 007 in 1985's A View to a Kill.  While the movie was not one of highest-grossing or critically-acclaimed Bonds, Duran Duran's title song of the same name was the only Bond song to reach number one on the US Billboard Hot 100.  A View to a Kill was, of course, featured in the trademark Bond opening:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWVbVT3igdw

In addition to the opening sequence, Duran Duran also featured the movie's Eifel Tower action sequence in its music video for the song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fp4CR2HcHLQ

7. "The Promise" When in Rome - Napoleon Dynamite (2004)

Not a movie from the 1980's but one that celebrates it and one of the great retro 80's movies out there.  From Napoleon's moon boots, to tupperware sales, to checking out a thrift store sai, this movie is replete with 80's nostalgia.  At the end of the movie, Napoleon meets Deb at the tetherball court and states "I caught you a delicious bass.  You wanna play me" at which point Deb nods and When in Rome's The Promise (1988) comes on.  A perfect ending for this awkward pair:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azSxYbFovWo

6. "What's on Your Mind (Pure Energy)" Information Society - Star Trek episode “Errand of Mercy” (1967) but in continuous reruns throughout the 1980's and beyond

Although Star Trek's original series was from the 1960's, 1980's reruns made sure that it was still a part of the current culture.  So much so, in fact, that in 1988, synth-pop group Information Society released What's on Your Mind (Pure Energy) which sampled Mr. Spock's quote of "Pure Energy" from the episode "Errand of Mercy" as part of its main track.  The original quote from "Errand of Mercy" is here at 1:29:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvDAHmQ1_tw

And Information Society's music video using "Pure Energy" is here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijAYN9zVnwg

5. "West End Girls" Pet Shop Boys - Moonlighting episode “Sleep Talkin’ Guy” 1986)

In Moonlighting, Bruce Willis' David Addison visits a night club with the Pet Shop Boys' "West End Girls" playing.  The night club is a great time capsule of the 1980's as poofy shoulders and big hair abound:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7zf7-OG4pI

4. "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" Tears for Fears - Real Genius (1985)

Like several of the songs on this list, Tears for Fears' "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" is another example of a song that is more popular than the movie it was in.  Real Genius (1985) featured a young Val Kilmer who was about to cement his place as an 80's icon with his portrayal of Iceman in the following year's Top Gun (1986).  This song was the perfect crowd-pleaser for Real Genius' finale and popcorn explosion scene:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1FMJdqqLiM

3. "Don't Dream It's Over" Crowded House - Miami Vice episode “Rock and a Hard Place” (1988)

Ahhh Miami Vice.  Does anything ooze 80's more than white suits and a white Ferrari Testarossa?  Crockett and Tubbs were the epitomy of cool and in this episode, that factor is multiplied by 10 with Sheena Easton as a guest star.  Their slick Miami backdrop was only enhanced by songs like this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAsr-NaaSRc

2. "If You Leave" OMD - Pretty in Pink (1986)

John Hughes wrote Pretty in Pink and if you went to high school in the 1980's, there was a pretty good chance that this movie was the template for your prom.  Who can forget that final scene where Molly Ringwald's Andie and Jon Cryer's Duckie (who is possibly the first archetypal "friend-zoned" guy) bravely confront James Spader's snobby Steff and Andrew McCarthy's Blane finally summons the courage to stand up to his clique's leader.  OMD's "If You Leave" was and remains the ultimate 80's prom theme song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMHoTke5Q6E

1. "Don't You (Forget About Me)" Simple Minds - Breakfast Club (1985)

It seems only fitting that the number one entry on this list combines the quintessential 1980's movie, with the quintessential 80's song, and the quintessential 80's director.  John Hughes wrote, produced, and directed the Breakfast Club and ended it with the perfect message and song in "Don't You (Forget About Me)."  The final scene where new-found friends from one day of detention create new bonds is perfectly framed in this song: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3CUh8v7MNo