Movies had soundtracks long before the Eighties. The Graduate, The Last Picture Show, and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid all had memorable soundtracks, just to mention a few non-musicals.
In the 1980s, however, when movies started targeting younger audiences, the soundtrack became a bigger part of most films.
There were so many great songs featured on numerous soundtracks throughout the decade. It was very difficult to narrow down a subjective list of songs, but for different reasons, these are the most iconic in their own way.
Most iconic songs from 1980s soundtracks
No. 13: "Looking For Love in All The Wrong Places" - Johnny Lee
From Urban Cowboy, 1980
Surely you recall this movie. It was the one where John Travolta traded in his butterfly-collared silk shirts from Saturday Night Fever for a cowboy hat and some cowboy boots. Sounds unlikely, but it is true. Travolta could pull off a country line dance as easily as he could disco.
Some of the movie was filmed in the famous bar Gilley's (owned by the late country star Mickey Gilley), and it co-starred Debra Winger. It was a box office hit at the time, and much of that success was pushed by a soundtrack that spent eight weeks at number one on the country charts.
That soundtrack produced the Johnny Lee single "Looking for Love In All The Wrong Places," which was the number one country song for three weeks and peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100, according to Country Thang Daily. The movie, helped by the popular song, helped push country to a broader audience.
The song was also famously and hilariously parodied by Eddie Murphy on Saturday Night Live, as his character "Buckwheat," changing the words to "Wookin' Pa Nub."
This was an impactful song musically and culturally and deserves a spot as an iconic song from a soundtrack.
No. 12: "Flashdance...What A Feeling" - Irene Cara
From Flashdance, 1983
Who doesn't like a story about a young woman who is a welder by day, and an exotic dancer (NOT stripper) by night, with aspirations of being a ballerina? Come on! The story writes itself.
Who didn't cheer when Jennifer Beal's body double crashed and burned when she finally got an audition for the prestigious dancing school, but then pulled herself up and tried again, winning over the stodgy and stoic judges?
That is exactly the plot of Flashdance, the third highest-grossing movie of 1983, and it was helped along by a terrific soundtrack. "Flashdance...What A Feeling" spent six weeks at number one, won an Oscar and a Golden Globe for Best Original Song, and earned Cara a Grammy
It's hard to have more success than that, both for the movie and the song. The movie made Jennifer Beals a star and the song put a lot of hardware on Cara's mantle.
No. 11: "Up Where We Belong" - Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes
From An Officer and a Gentleman, 1982
This highly successful film earned numerous Oscar and Golden Globe nominations, including wins for Actor in a Supporting Role for Louis Gossett Jr., and another an Oscar and Golden Globe for Best Original song. That song was "Up Where We Belong."
The closing scene of the movie featured Richard Gere, who played a loner of a naval aviator candidate who unexpectedly and reluctantly falls in love with a local factory worker played by Debra Winger. The closing scene shows Gere, whose character has come to his senses, entering the factory, and working his way through the workers and machinery to find WInger. He then scoops her up to carry her away, with Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes emitting this incredible tune.
This scene has been parodied many times, including on The Simpsons, and it deserves all the attention it received. It was a fantastic movie, with a great cast and an iconic song. What more could you ask for?
No. 10: "Fame" - Irene Cara
From Fame, 1980
Although this movie, soundtrack, and song didn't quite as well as Cara's earlier entry, "Fame" is really the better song. While the movie Flashdance was a huge hit, Fame had more modest success.
The song peaked as high as number four on the Billboard charts, and the soundtrack hit as high as number seven. Still, lyrically, "Fame" is easy to sing along with, and who can't relate to the line "I'm gonna live forever" when you look back on your youth? That was everyone's attitude and it's why this song just resonates slightly more than "Flashdance...What a Feeling" did.
Both are good songs, but everyone who remembers both movies will probably gravitate more to this song than the song from Flashdance.
No. 9: "Take My Breath Away" - Berlin
From Top Gun, 1986
The Top Gun soundtrack was incredibly successful, manning the top spot on the Billboard album charts for five non-consecutive weeks. "Take My Breath Away" played a huge part in that success.
The song, by the band Berlin, also hit number one as a single, and while taking home the Oscar and Golden Globe for Best Original Song in 1986.
The haunting ballad was the love theme for the movie and anyone who watched the film will remember the strange blue-lit love scene, with this song playing tenderly in the background.
It was by far the biggest hit in Berlin's history, as it was not only their only number one song, but it was their only top 20 hit. They had seven songs in the Hot 100 and only two in the top 50. It was lightning in a bottle for Berlin, as they are very close to a one-hit wonder. "No More Words" was their only other top 30 song.
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.
No. 6: "In Your Eyes" - Peter Gabriel
From Say Anything, 1989
This is song is famous as being one of the most parodied movie scenes of all time. Who hasn't seen some version of John Cusack holding his boom box over his head outside Ione Skye's bedroom window, trying to earn her forgiveness, while "In Your Eyes" blares from the speakers?
It's for that reason this song is not only on this list but why it is so high. It is an iconic song by way of how often it is parodied. On its own, it only reached as high as 26 on the Billboard chart as a single. It's not even Peter Gabriel's best-selling song. He has two you 10 hits and a number one with "Sledgehammer."
This song, as well as a few others on this list, transcends its chart performance. It has become a part of the pop culture of the eighties. There are few people who have escaped seeing this scene somewhere, even if they didn't know where it was from.
The scene has been parodied in movies like Deadpool 2, and television shows like The Simpsons and The Goldbergs. It is that lasting impression of actor, song, and scene that make this an everlasting visual. The song is not only on the movie soundtrack but also on the soundtrack of our culture.
No. 5: "Ghostbusters" - Ray Parker Jr.
From Ghostbusters, 1984
Few movie theme songs have the staying power as this one. Thanks to a new generation of Ghostbuster movies, a new generation of viewers knows all the words.
It's a catchy upbeat tune that is fun to sing along with and everyone knows the words. There isn't anything much more iconic than that.
Ray Parker Jr., hit it big with this bouncy song. It spent three weeks at number one and was on the Hot 100 charts for nearly half a year - 24 weeks. That is some serious staying power!
Technically, it is not the best song ever written and it didn't win any awards. In the end, it doesn't matter, it is a great song because it made people smile and sing along. That was true 40 years ago, and it is true to today, with another whole generation of music livers. Bustin' makes me feel good, and that is the whole point.
No. 4: 'If You Leave" - Orchestral Manoeuvers in the Dark (OMD)
From Pretty in Pink, 1986
This is another song that didn't set the charts afire as some of the others on this list did, but it has emerged as THE iconic song from an iconic eighties movie. It peaked at number four on the charts, but it carries more weight than most people who've seen the movie.
Legend has it that John Hughes was going to use another OMD song for the iconic final scene in Pretty in Pink, but after the original bombed with test audiences, Hughes had to film a new ending. That new ending needed a new song and OMD lead singer Andy McCluskey came up with "If You Leave" overnight.
Those changes in both the ending and accompanying song are forever ingrained in film and music history. You can't even imagine a different ending to the film or a different song as Molly Ringwald and Andrew McCarthy slowing move on their prom dance floor.
It's a beautifully written song and has a firm place as one of the most iconic songs from an eighties film.
No. 3: "Endless Love" - Diana Ross and Lionel Richie
From Endless Love, 1981
The title track from this early eighties Brooke Shields vehicle is one of the greatest ballads ever. Not counting this song, Diana Ross and Lionel Richie combined for 59 top 100 hits, 23 top 10 hits, and nine number one songs. Surprisingly enough, this was the biggest hit for either artist.
These are two of the biggest names in pop music history and "Endless Love" was the biggest hit for both megastars. It spent an incredible nine weeks at number one- NINE!
This is one of those rare cases where the song's legacy has long outlasted the legacy of the movie. Few people remember the movie Endless Love, but who hasn't heard the song? How many people even know if was the love song from a movie of the same name?
This song also helped Richie launch his solo career after more than a decade as the lead singer for The Commodores. While Ross is more widely known for her career before this song, Richie blossomed as a solo artist after.
Regardless, it is a beautifully written and performed song, and on its successes alone, it deserves this lofty ranking.
No. 2: "Don't You Forget About Me" - Simple Minds
From The Breakfast Club, 1985
From maybe the most nostalgia-driven of all teen eighties movies comes maybe the most nostalgia-driven song from an eighties soundtrack.
Was there ever a song that fit so lyrically with a movie, especially the end of that movie, than "Don't You Forget About Me"? It hardly seems possible.
It was a perfect combination of a film that connected with its audience in a way few films have, and the perfect song that solidified that connection. Regardless of your age, the movie is relevant to teenagers of every generation because in one way or another, it checks all the boxes of the angst teenagers feel.
The song was the icing on the cake. This Simple Minds hit made it all the way to number one. Both the song and film are iconic to the decade, and there is enough realism there is carry over to other decades as well. It is a timeless classic with a song to match.
No. 1: "Purple Rain" - Prince
From Purple Rain, 1984
There have been bigger songs from bigger soundtracks in the eighties. There have been songs that have been much bigger hits. There have been songs more decorated. Heck, the title track isn't even the highest charting song on the soundtrack, and it's for sure not Prince's biggest hit.
Yet, "Purple Rain" endures. It is a powerful guitar-driven ballad of epic proportions. From the aching cry in Prince's voice to the soulful riffs that fill the song, to the heartfelt, gut-wrenching lyrics, this song offers something for everyone.
Unbelievably, this song never hit number one; it peaked at two. "When Doves Cry," on the other hand, sat at number one for five weeks. It is also an incredibly powerful song that very easily could have made this list. Over time, however, "Purple Rain" is the song people remember most. There is just something about it. It was very underappreciated at the time.
Speaking of underappreciated, Prince probably doesn't get the kudos he deserves for how incredible he is with a guitar. If you want some evidence of this statement, what Prince absolutely nails another iconic song, "While My Guitar Gently Weeps."
Prince is just incredible on guitar during "Purple Rain." There are hardly words to define the performance. It is the combination of all the aspects of this song, from the semi-autobiographical nature of the movie to the lyrics and performance of this classic song. It has stood the test of time and is the most iconic song from an eighties soundtrack.