There’s something about 80s music that feels undeniably cinematic if you ask me. Here are four songs that feel like they could set the scene for a film classic.
“Don’t You Want Me” by The Human League
The beginning of this song by The Human League sounds really epic, which is why I feel like it would work well as a movie intro. A big reason for this is likely the LM-1 drum machine that’s used throughout the song. “Don’t You Want Me” was actually the first song to use the device and become a Top 10 hit.
Videos by American Songwriter
Roger Linn, the creator of the drum machine, told Songfacts: “It made me feel very good to hear it used on a hit.”
“You Can Call Me Al” by Paul Simon
This song by Paul Simon is just so fun; it’s hard not to feel that infectious energy when it comes on. In this song, Simon refers to himself as this “Al” character who seems like he’s going through a bit of a midlife crisis.
Simon apparently came up with the name “Al” for this song when he went to a party in New York with his then-wife, Peggy Harper. The person who opened the door didn’t know who they were, so they used the names “Al” and “Betty” instead.
“You Make My Dreams” by Daryl Hall & John Oates
Similar to “You Can Call Me Al”, this Hall and Oates song definitely has a sort of “pump up” feeling to it. Even though this song isn’t one of the duo’s six No. 1 hits, “You Make My Dreams” is still one of their most popular.
“It’s a very unique situation,” Hall told BBC of the track. “It wasn’t a number one record, but what has happened to that song, and the way the world has embraced it, is absolutely astounding.”
“I Think We’re Alone Now” by Tiffany
The beat and buildup of this song make it feel like you’re on the brink of something major, which I feel like sets it up perfectly for the beginning of any story.
Even though most people likely know pop singer Tiffany’s version of this song, it was actually initially recorded by Tommy James and the Shondells in the late 60s. The rock group took the song to a No. 4 spot, while Tiffany brought it all the way to No. 1.
Photo by Paul Natkin/Getty Images
More The List
-
NAZARETH / Die schottische Rockband NAZARETH, 70er Jahre. Musik, Band, Rock, 70er. (Photo by kpa/United Archives via Getty Images) -
Vancouver-based. Chilliwack – from left; Brain MacLeod; Ab Bryant; Skip Layton; Bill Henderson and Jamie Bowers – were described as taking rock 'n' roll where it's goig back in the San Francisco rock explosion of 1967. but they fizzled because they didn't tour to push record sales. They aren't making that mistake again. -
Maurice Gibb, Robin Gibb, Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees in New York City, New York (Photo by Bobby Bank/WireImage) -
Rock music legend Janis Joplin performs at the free Woodstock Music and Art Fair. The festival took place on Max Yasgur's dairy farm, which he rented to event organizers for $75,000. About 450,000 people attended the three day concert, which turned into chaos due to the crowds, heavy rains, and traffic jams. It is nonetheless romantically remembered as a symbol of the liberal spirit of the hippie generation. (Photo by Henry Diltz/Corbis via Getty Images) -
ATLANTIC CITY, NJ – AUGUST 30: Daryl Hall of Hall & Oates performs in concert at Etess Arena on August 30, 2019 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. (Photo by Donald Kravitz/Getty Images) -
LOS ANGELES – MAY 1999: (EDITORS NOTE: THIS IMAGE WAS CREATED USING COLOR INFRARED FILM) American rock band Smash Mouth (L – R) drummer Kevin Coleman, vocalist Steven Harwell, guitarist Greg Camp and bassist Paul De Lisle pose for a May 1999 portrait in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Bob Berg/Getty Images) -
Left to right: Doug Clifford, Tom Fogerty, John Fogerty and Stu Cook of American rock group, Creedence Clearwater Revival, in New York City, 1970. (Photo by PoPsie Randolph/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) -
Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage