Quiz: Name the 80s Movie Based On The Song
Update: Answers Added

Here's a change of pace until we get back into Biden's galloping dementia.

I've started the list with some easy ones, but then they get pretty hard, even a little obscure.

A few movies are such touchstones that I've pulled two songs each from them.

These songs aren't picked based on quality, but just on nostalgia factor and whether or not they make for a good question.

Go through all the songs and get your guesses ready before you go into the comments, because, of course, people will be posting their answers there.

In forty minutes, I will add all the answers to this post. For many, I have a clip of the song in the context of the movie, which is nice.

1. "Take My Breath Away," Berlin. Hint: "On your six." Another hint: "I have tone."

2. "I'm Alright" by Kenny Loggins. Hint: "So I've got that going for me, which is nice."

3. "Holiday Road" by Lindsay Buckingham. Hint: "Moose outside should have told ya."

4. "If You Leave," Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark, or OMD, as all the cool kids like me knew them. Hint: "She thought you were shit, Steff. And deep down you knew she was right."

5. "Underground" by David Bowie. Hint: Mazes & Muppets.

6. "On Our Own," by Bobby Brown. Don't listen too long, he starts name-dropping the movie's title in it! Hint: The Statue of Liberty play. Another hint: Snarky exorcists.

7. "Moondance" by Van Morrison. Hint: Snarl. Growl. Another hint: "What's that star on the wall mean?" This isn't like the others were it's definitely an 80s song, but it was an important song in a big 80s movie.

8. "Makin' It," by David Naughton. Hint: "Is that a bra you're wearing or are you expecting an assassination?" Another hint: "Rudy the Rabbit." Last hint: "It just doesn't matter... It just doesn't matter..."

9. "I Can Dream About You," Dan Hartman. Hint: Plays at the end of the movie, with a fictitious band playing it. Another hint: "The only trouble with beating the shit out of you is that it would be too easy." Another hint: "A rock n' roll fable."

10. "Lunatic Fringe," Red Ryder. Hint: Sweats and cutting weight.

11. "If You Were Here," by Thompson Twins. Hint: "Now I have a place to put my hand!" Another Hint: "I'm not a farmer, I'm a freshman." This a very recognizable piece of music that had no life outside of the movie, except that I happened to own this group's first album, because, as previously stated, I was so cool. I'll be surprised if more than a couple of people get it.

12. "Melt With You" by Modern English. Hint: Romeo and Juliett in Encino (I assume, I've never seen it); early role for one of my favorite actors.

13. "Like to Get to Know You Well," by Howard Jones. Hint: French Camaro repair. Another hint: "Gee, I'm real sorry your mom blew up, Ricky."

14. "Everbody Wants to Rule the World" by Tears for Fears. This is a hard one but I bet you'll kick yourself after you see the answer. Hint: "It would be like lasing a stick of dynamite." Another hint: "Kent, this is GOD. I want you to stop playing with yourself."

15. "New York, New York" by... Queen. I can't link it because all videos would give it away. You can figure it out, though. Hint: "I'm Candy." "Of course you are." Also: "If he winssh the Prizshe, mortal man would shuffer an eternity of darknesshh!"

16. "You're the Best (Around)" by Joe Esposito. Hint: It's used as the song for a training montage. LOL, that's a joke hint -- every third 80s movie had a training montage set to a pop song. Not really much of a clue. Here's a better hint: " STRIKE FIRST. STRIKE HARD. NO MERCY SIR." Also: "Put him in a body bag!"

17. "Everybody Wants Some," by Van Halen. Hint: Mad Burger Science. Another hint: "The K-12." "Go that way, really fast. If something gets in your way... turn."

18. "American Girl" by Tom Petty was used to introduce the main female character, serving as her theme. The movie is an absolute foundational 80s movie. Hint: "If you're here and I'm here, doesn't that make it our time?" Another hint: "The attitude dictates that you don't care whether she comes, stays, lays, or prays. I mean whatever happens, your toes are still tappin'. Now when you got that, then you have the attitude."

19. "Up Where We Belong" by Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warner. Hint: "There's only two things that come out of Oklahoma: Steers and queers."

And now, for my favorite closing song and final helicopter shot of the 80s:

20. "Cheer Down," George Harrison. Hint: Action-adventure. "Diplomatic immunity."

BONUS ROUND FOR THE LADS:

These songs played over nudity, so most male Morons will know them well:

21. "Open Arms" by Journey. It played during the love/sex scene in this cartoon cult classic. Hint: "The Loc-Nar."

22. "Rubberband Man," the Spinners. Hint: Occupational comedy. Another hint: "You're weird, you're a mutant. You're a killer. You're a lean, mean, fightin' machine!" "I'll do it!"

23. The song that's absolutely seared, seared into the memories of all male Morons of a certain age: "Moving In Stereo" by The Cars. If needed, hint: "Those guys are f*gs, man!" And, critically: "Doesn't anyone f*cking knock anymore?"

Answers:

1."Take My Breath Away" was the main love theme of Top Gun, during which the leads pretended to be heterosexual.

2. "I'm Alright" is the main theme of Caddyshack (and it was hard to find a clip that didn't say "Theme from Caddyshack, let me tell you). It's also the gopher's theme in particular.

3. "Holiday Road" is the opening theme and main theme of Vacation, and plays any time they're on the highway.

4. "If You Leave" wasn't the actual title track in Pretty in Pink's soundtrack, but I think it is the more recognizable song. This is the movie's title track.

5. "Underground" is the title song of this Jim Henson movie, Labyrinth.

6. This version of "On Our Own" name-checks the movie, Ghostbusters II, in the opening lines. Note the cameos by famous New Yorkers, including DJT.

7. Moondance plays in the love/sex scene in An American Werewolf In London. I don't think that's going to be on YouTube, so here's a different song playing over a more famous scene. You're just going to take my word for it about Moondance. Though if you remember this actress' very nice nudity, it should all come back to you.

8. "Makin' It" appears as the in-scene music at the dance in Meatballs with Bill Murray.

9. "I Can Dream About You" plays at the end of Streets of Fire.

10. "Lunatic Fringe" was in this high school wrestling Vision Quest, which I never actually saw. Wasn't Linda Fiorentino or someone else hot in it? Answer: Yes.

11. "If You Were Here" plays for the romantic birthday celebration at the end of Sixteen Candles, when she finally gets to spend time with that young Adonis Jake. Sigh.

12. "Melt With You" is the falling-in-love montage song in Valley Girl. It was also prominently featured in the a trailer.

13. "Like to Get to Know You Well" plays through the getting-to-know-you montage with the love interest in Better Off Dead.

14. "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" is the closing song of this nerd power movie, Real Genius.

15. "New York, New York" plays briefly in this abduction scene in Highlander.

16. "You're the Best" is the training montage song for this 1984 film, Karate Kid.

17. "Everybody Wants Some" played in the burger-making scene of Better Off Dead.

18. Here's "American Girl" in context, in Fast Times at Ridgemont High. Note the lyric "She was an American Girl" is timed with the entrance of Jennifer Jason Lee's character.

My friend not_steve_in_hb prefers quoting from the TNT censored edit: "You don't care if she hops, pops, flops or drops, your toes are still tappin."

Also Demone has this great advice for picking up a girl:

Mike Damone: All right, now pay attention. First of all Rat, you never let on how much you like a girl. [standing next to a life size cut out of Deborah Harry in a Record Store] Mike Damone: "Oh, Debbie. Hi." Two, you always call the shots. "Kiss me. You won't regret it." Now three, act like wherever you are, that's the place to be. "Isn't this great?" Four, when ordering food, you find out what she wants, then order for the both of you. It's a classy move. "Now, the lady will have the linguini and white clam sauce, and a Coke with no ice." And five, now this is the most important, Rat. When it comes down to making out, whenever possible, put on side one of Led Zeppelin IV.

I always order my ladies linguini and white clam sauce, and a coke with no ice, whether they want it or not, because, as Damone says, "It's a classy move."

19. "Up Where We Belong" is from An Officer and a Gentleman.

20. "Cheer Down" plays over the dawn helicopter shot that closes Lethal Weapon 2. I love this final shot and song.

Bonus Round:

21. "Open Arms" plays in this cartoon sex scene in Heavy Metal. Unfortunately you don't see cartoon boobies in this clip.

22. "Rubberband Man" played in the strip club where the privates attended (and participated in) the all-girl mud wrestling exhibition in Stripes. Caution, there's near-nudity in this clip.

22. "Moving in Stereo" plays for this highly-replayed and very-paused scene in Fast Times at Ridgemont High.

Here are a few songs I wanted to include, but couldn't write a question that wouldn't give away the answer, or which were just too obvious.

For example, "We Don't Need a Hero" starts off "Out of the ruins, out of the wreckage," which, if you didn't already know, would tell you this is from a Mad Max movie.

And all clips of "Nowhere Fast" note that it's from Streets of Fire.

I tried to find a clip that called Don Felder's "Heavy Metal (Takin' a Ride)" just "Takin' a Ride," to hide what movie it's from, but couldn't find one.

I wanted to Rickroll you with this truly wretched song, but the movie came out in 1991. Also, it just seemed too cruel, even by Hansonian standards.

posted by Disinformation Expert Ace at 01:02 PM

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