The song also turned out to be the biggest seller of the year. Instead, Debbie Harry and Blondie teamed up with Moroder: the result, “Call Me,” provided the perfect introduction to Schrader’s film, the Doctor Who bassline and growly Harry vocals helping bring viewers into a new 1980s of Jerry Bruckheimer-produced excess. “Call Me” – Blondie – “American Gigolo” (1980)Īs with so many of the songs on this list, “ Call Me” might not even exist had someone else not turned down work: electronic legend Giorgio Moroder, who was composing the score for Paul Schrader’s “ American Gigolo,” initially approached Stevie Nicks to write a song for the soundtrack, but contractual issues prevented the Fleetwood Mac star from coming through. The song was a monster hit, the second biggest selling of that year, and even went on to inspire its own film, 1986’s Gary Busey vehicle of the same name. The band delivered: their inspirational “Eye Of The Tiger” will forever be associated with the franchise, even if it’s the most memorable part of the third film (the one that features Mr. When his request to use “Another One Bites The Dust” was turned down by Queen, Sylvester Stallone needed an inspirational theme for the third in his boxing franchise, and turned to relatively little-known rock band Survivor, whose first Top 40 hit “Poor Man’s Son” had caught the writer/director/star’s ear.

“Eye Of The Tiger” – Survivor” – “Rocky III” (1982) It caused friction with another 80s soundtrack idol: Huey Lewis sued over similarities to his track “I Want A New Drug,” the matter eventually being settled out of court). Penned and performed by erstwhile Raydio frontman Ray Parker Jr, it topped the Billboard charts for three weeks, and was nominated for an Oscar (though lost to Stevie Wonder’s “I Just Called To Say I Love You” from “ The Woman In Red“).

“Ghostbusters” – Ray Parker Jr – “Ghostbusters”Įssentially inseparable from the film from which it came (try and look at the logo or DVD cover without hearing a snippet from the song), the theme tune to the fantasy comedy smash is undoubtedly one of the best known theme tunes in cinema history, even if it is (whisper it), a bit naff. Watch, listen, and disagree below, and for more on “Ghostbusters,” check out our retrospective piece from a few years back. The only rule: they had to be songs written specifically for the film, and not released prior to the movie, ruling out cover versions and the like. So, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of “Ghostbusters” and Parker Jr’s song, we’ve trawled through the archives to select 20 of the best, or at least most memorably iconic, theme songs from 1980s movies, because we ain’t afraid of no ghosts.

Songs with magic theme