13 most iconic songs from movies in the 1980s
By Joel Wagler
No. 8: "Footloose" - Kenny Loggins
From Footloose, 1984
When choosing from awesome Kenny Loggins soundtrack tunes from eighties movies, there are plenty to choose from. "Footloose", from the famous movie by the same name, gets the nod here because it's Loggins' only number-one song on the Billboard Hot 100.
It beats out other classics like "I'm Alright" and "Nobody's Fool", both top 10 hits from the Caddyshack soundtrack, and "Danger Zone" from the Top Gun soundtrack. The latter reached as high number two on the charts.
The movie is about a young man, played by Kevin Bacon, who moves to a small town where dancing isn't allowed. This is inconceivable to Bacon's character, who leads a bit of a teenager rebellion by putting together a prom.
It's a feel-good film with a terrific soundtrack that spent two months at number one. It included six top 40 hits, three top 10 hits, and two number-one smashes, including the title track and "Let's Hear it for the Boy" by Deniece Williams. Loggins is the king of eighties soundtracks and this one is his best effort.
No. 7: "(I've Had) The Time of My Life" - Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes
From Dirty Dancing, 1987
The movie Dirty Dancing hit theaters in the summer of 1987 and took the country by storm. The nostalgic look at an annual family summer retreat in upstate New York evolves into a coming of age tale staring Patrick Swayze, Jennifer Grey, and the incomparable Jerry Orbach.
The soundtrack, which featured music from the early sixties, also included a few modern songs. It sold over 32 million copies worldwide and is one of the biggest-selling records ever.
The theme song "(I've Had) The Time of My Life" was a number one song, won the Oscar and Golden Globe as Best Original Song, and won Medley and Warnes a Grammy as well.
It was a massive hit, from a hugely popular movie, and a best-selling album, and has become a major part of eighties pop culture.