
The 16 Best John Hughes Soundtrack Moments
Let me make something crystal clear before the diehards start in on me: Neither myself nor anyone at Under the Radar is saying that “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” is the best Simple Minds song (everyone knows that’s “Someone Somewhere In Summertime”) or that “If You Leave” is OMD’s finest moment. That’s not what this little write-up is about (see: title of article). But since we’re on the subject, both songs are killer. Yea, yea, yea-we know Simple Minds didn’t write their biggest, most popular, and most recognizable single. Not sure why that matters or takes away from its greatness. And as for “If You Leave,” OMD are proud of it. Paul Humphreys told me himself when I interviewed him in 2013. SO BACK OFF.
Anyway, I realize that nearly a third of this list is made up of soundtrack moments from Planes, Trains & Automobiles. I’m not saying that’s the best John Hughes movie, though I could easily be convinced. Just saying it has some of the best soundtrack moments. That scene near the end when Steve Martin is on the train reflecting on the week he’s had with John Candy? And thinking about his wife and kids? And that Dream Academy song is playing? SHEESH. Note: I’ve included the vocal version of The Dream Academy’s “Power to Believe”; the film uses the instrumental version, which until last year had never been officially released.
Also, some of these tracks were in the movies, but never made it to the official soundtracks. Licensing shit I imagine. But that doesn’t matter anymore, because the Internet and stuff!
I’ve done my best to dig up the actual clips on YouTube, though not every clip is available. Per usual, I’ve also dumped the tunes into a Spotify playlist for ya (except for “Twist & Shout” because there’s no love between The Beatles and Spotify), so between the two formats, we’ve got ya covered.
What are your favorite John Hughes soundtrack moments? We wanna know. Sound off in the comments!
By Kenny S. McGuane
Most Recent
- Under the Radar’s Black Friday Sale 2023 Extended Through Friday – 35% Off Subscriptions (News) —
- Under the Radar’s Black Friday Sale 2023 – 35% Off Subscriptions and 50% Off Back Issues (News) —
- Premiere: The Umbrellas Share New Single “Echoes” (News) — The Umbrellas
- The High Llamas Announce First New Album in Eight Years, Share Video for “Hey Panda” (News) — The High Llamas
- Premiere: Zach Russell Shares New Single “Playing House” (News) — Zach Russell
Comments
Submit your comment
September 26th 2015
7:28pm
offerall not bad better than other..
August 19th 2016
12:08pm
I choose to “Twist and Shout”
April 2nd 2017
10:40pm
I am 51 It takes very much to make me sad. Or to show it. But I lived in the time of Mr. Hughes films was done. My school was nothing like the ones in his movies. Anyway I had it all in the eighties. now I am an old man crippled by age and mellon twisted by drinking when i was young . So , yea a chunk of Mr. H died with him . I will watch some of his movies and just sit there and cry all the way through them . 80’s are gone. Never to return . I want no remakes or sequels . Let perfection lay where it died and shed a tear when you realize how much we lost.
May 4th 2018
11:25am
Update no. 16. Here is the link. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=po2ahzuziEw
August 23rd 2018
1:01pm
I love Thompson Twins
June 9th 2019
11:08am
batam
June 10th 2019
8:48am
sawahlunto
June 20th 2019
4:32pm
The “Everytime You Go Away” cover used in the film was by Blue Room, not Paul Young’s version.
February 17th 2020
8:47am
I choose to “Twist and Shout”
March 23rd 2020
10:59am
Great post !!! Txs.