Remember when movies had theme songs? I’m not just talking about music-filled movies that generated hit soundtrack albums—Footloose, Urban Cowboy, Flashdance and the like. ---I’m talking about a time when it wasn’t uncommon for producers to find a popular recording artist, hand them a movie title, and say, “Give me a song that has this title.” Sometimes the songs themselves became hits, and sometimes not, but the movies were actually generating new music in those days. In the 21^st century, it’s no wonder that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Science has considered dropping the Best Original Song Oscar category for some years.

Join me now on a trip to that decade where your favorite artists were all over movie soundtracks. Can you identify the band or singer who provided the title track?

Level 1

a) Ghostbusters (1984)

b) Weird Science (1985)

c) Against All Odds (1984)

d) 9 to 5 (1980)

Level 2

a) St. Elmo’s Fire (1985)

b) Endless Love (1981)

c) The Living Daylights (1987)

d) A View to a Kill (1985)

Level 3

a) Nothing in Common (1986)

b) The NeverEnding Story (1984)

c) Romancing the Stone (1984)

d) The Secret of My Success (1987)

Answers:

Level 1: a) Ray Parker Jr.; b) Oingo Boingo; c) Phil Collins; d) Dolly Parton

Level 2: a) John Parr; b) Lionel Richie & Diana Ross; c) a-ha; d) Duran Duran

Level 3: a) Thompson Twins; b) Limahl; c) Eddy Grant; d) Night Ranger