12 Songs That Define 80's Cinema

This song is the reason I am so stone faced today. Repeated exposure to such shreddingly face-melting guitar licks at such an early age is kind of like catching chicken pox -- Builds up your immunity. However, if you're too old, it could kill you. Proceed with caution.

Muppets really came to power in the 80s and this is one of the most important musical muppet moments. Who better to be the king of all muppet goblins, than David Bowie. There is something incredible about a villain being an awesome musician who can make babies happy and punt muppets around the room and still be a 'bad guy'. It's deep.
"In nine hours and twenty-three minutes... you'll be mine!"

There is nothing about this movie that doesn't feel like a personal interactive experience to the viewer. We were all 'The Karate Kid' at heart in the 80s and this song just pounds that home while reminding us to always try our best because, after all, a man's got to learn to take it.

A lot could be said about this, but it pretty well speaks for itself. That is to say, volleyball is a beloved sport enjoyed by shirtless, sweaty men of all shapes and sizes.

Glamorous pop sensation at his most decadent. an exercise in soft focus and gender ambiguous clothing (or lack therof.) Absolutely era defining.

There is so much 80s about this 80s that it's got me completely 80d. Only one Corey, but plenty of WWF wrestlers (including the late, great Capt. Lou Albano). What would our childhood have been like without a formative document like "The Goonies". The true irony, is that the 'rich stuff' they were looking for was inside of them all along. Oh, and they found some pirate gold too. I highly suggest, if you have time, backing up and watching this entire MTV music video event.

"Welcome to the limit... Take it maybe one step more!" Nothing about this is lame. By definition, there is nothing bland at the limit, at the razors edge... the point of no return... You can tell we're really doubling the stakes here at the brink. Push it!

I bet you thought this would be the Theme song, but haven't we heard enough of that? Instead, the soundtrack cut that brings us into the final act of Ghostbusters. You can't listen to this song without imagining some guys with unlicensed nuclear accelerators on their backs Saving. The. Day.

This song is so much more poignant this year, and of course we had to give props to the namesmith of our blog. I can still feel the triumphant Judd Nelson fist pump every time I hear this song. Whatever happened to the bandana around the ankle look?

As a Detroit native who grew up in the 80s, I could really relate to Axel Foley's trials and tribulations. In many ways, BHC is the story of my life but in even more ways than that, it is not the story of my life.

Anyone see this one coming? It's a known fact that 20% of our readership has done this at one point or another to win back the affections of a lost or stolen girlfriend. How'd that work out for you? This is a clear example of a song defining a scene (and a movie) instead of the other way around.

It's a really great song that ended a great movie that no longer exists.