FEATURE:
Needle Drops and Scores to Settle
Scene Five: Don’t You (Forget About Me): The Breakfast Club (1985)
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THIS time around…
I am including one of the most iconic soundtracks of the 1980s. The Breakfast Club soundtrack accompanied the hit John Hughes film. The film was released in February 1985. Hughes sadly died in 2009, though films like this have endured. Responsible for shaping the teen genre in film and creating these coming-of-age classics, I wanted to spend time with the soundtrack of The Breakfast Club. There are some that say the soundtrack is only really good because of Simple Minds’ Don’t You (Forget About Me), and the rest is disposable. I would strongly disagree. Each song on the album plays its part and is strong. Together, this soundtrack definitely stands the test of time. I would advise people to watch the film before hearing the soundtrack. I want to start out with a feature from Medium and their take on this symphony of teen rebellion. Magical and evocative music that still sounds impactful forty years later:
“In the hallowed halls of ’80s cinema, one film stands out as the quintessential coming-of-age masterpiece — “The Breakfast Club.” While John Hughes’ iconic teen drama captured the essence of high school life, it’s the film’s soundtrack that truly elevated it to legendary status. Let’s take a trip down memory lane and explore why “The Breakfast Club” soundtrack remains a timeless symphony of teen rebellion and musical magic that continues to captivate audiences decades later.
The Power of Simple Minds
The opening strains of “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” by Simple Minds are etched into the minds of anyone who has ever experienced the tumultuous journey of adolescence. This anthemic track, which plays during the film’s unforgettable closing scene, became synonymous with the film and encapsulates the struggles and triumphs of the teenage experience.
Dancing with Tears in My Eyes
The eclectic mix of genres on the soundtrack mirrors the diverse personalities of the film’s characters. From the upbeat and rebellious “We Are Not Alone” by Karla DeVito to the emotionally charged “Dancing with Tears in My Eyes” by Ultravox, each track captures a different facet of teenage emotion, creating a sonic landscape that resonates with viewers on a visceral level.
Iconic Instrumentals
Beyond the vocal tracks, the soundtrack boasts unforgettable instrumentals that enhance the film’s emotional depth. The haunting melody of “Wang Chung” and the synth-driven rhythms of Keith Forsey’s “Love Theme” contribute to the overall atmospheric brilliance of the soundtrack, transporting listeners back to the nostalgic era of big hair, neon lights, and adolescent yearning.
Synthesizing the ’80s Vibe
“The Breakfast Club” soundtrack doesn’t just encapsulate the essence of the film; it encapsulates the spirit of the entire ’80s era. With tracks like “Fire in the Twilight” by Wang Chung and “I’m the Dude” by Keith Forsey, the soundtrack becomes a time capsule, allowing listeners to relive the vibrancy and rebellious energy of the decade.
Impact on Pop Culture
Decades after its release, the “Breakfast Club” soundtrack has left an indelible mark on popular culture. Its songs have been featured in numerous films, TV shows, and commercials, proving that the emotional resonance and cultural relevance of this musical masterpiece are everlasting.
“The Breakfast Club” soundtrack is more than just a collection of songs; it’s a cultural touchstone that continues to define the essence of teenage rebellion and self-discovery. From the anthemic call of Simple Minds to the synth-driven beats of Wang Chung, each track weaves together to create a sonic tapestry that transcends generations. As we revisit the halls of Shermer High School through the music that fueled the iconic film, we rediscover the enduring power of “The Breakfast Club” soundtrack — a musical journey that will forever hold a special place in the hearts of rebels, misfits, and dreamers alike”.
Without doubt one of the best film soundtracks of the '80s, I feel that young audiences and listeners can connect with it. This definitive snapshot of the teen music of the mid-'80s, at a time now when coming-of-age films are rarer and different in tone, I think there is something special and distinct about The Breakfast Club. However, the soundtrack and John Hughes has influenced everyone from M83, The 1975, and Neon Indian. I am moving to this feature that talks about the influence and legacy of The Breakfast Club’s soundtrack:
“As the 1970s came to a close, pop music found itself at a crossroads, Power rock bands like AC/DC and Led Zeppelin had ruled the back end of the decade, inspiring a generation of cartoon-ish imitators that would produce the Hair Metal of the 80s. But meanwhile, the start of a new movement was bubbling under the end of the late 70s, a generation was growing up on the angst and melancholy romanticism of bands like Joy Division and The Cure. This new sound would set the template for what would become the New Wave music of the 80s. This new musical movement would come to envelop and define the youth culture of the era.
It should perhaps then be no surprise that young audiences were rejecting the simplistic archetypes and false emotion of the bubblegum high school movies of the time. This was until John Hughes. Drawing upon inspiration from the pop culture of the time and his own childhood in the suburbs of Chicago, Hughes approached the emotions of adolescence with a sincerity unseen at the time. All the angst, melancholy, and romance that had defined the pop music of the era was brought to the forefront in the films of influential director.
With The Breakfast Club, Hughes made his definitive statement as a filmmaker. The Breakfast Club took the social and film archetypes of the time and thoroughly dismantled them, finding the real human drama and heart that underlined them. The film is a perfect embodiment of the spirit of the New Wave movement, capturing the romance, energy, and instant nostalgia of the music of the era.
Also, while the film’s soundtrack might actually be short on pop music, it still provides one of the most recognizable musical moments in cinema history: the enduring image of Judd Nelson’s alienated rebel raising his fist in air in pure joy at finding romance and human connection as Simple Minds’ soaring synthpop anthem “Don’t You” soundtracks the film’s closing. The song became a defining hit of the New Wave movement and perfectly echoed the spirit of the film.
What few could have predicted, however, is just how enduring The Breakfast Club‘s relationship with music would be. Just as the film was influenced by the music of it’s time, the raw emotions and angst of young adulthood that the film brought to the cultural forefront would continue to inspire music over the next 30 years. Artists like M83, Twin Shadow, The 1975, Neon Indian, and Washed Out have all cited influence from the inseparable relationship between New Wave and the John Hughes films of the era. Albums like M83’s Saturdays = Youth even play out like extended love letters to the Brat Pack films, with their embrace of everything from the themes and music to even the imagery of those films”.
The soundtrack does have its detractors. However, in 2022, Variety ranked The Breakfast Club (alongside a couple of other John Hughes soundtracks) fourth in the list of the quintessential film soundtracks of the 1980s. In 2023, Entertainment Weekly ranked The Breakfast Club Soundtrack thirteenth, when they discussed the best soundtracks of the '80s. This is what they said: “What happens when five students from different cliques get Saturday detention in the suburbs of Chicago in 1985? Just a plethora of catchy songs, quippy dialogue, and layers upon layers of teenage confessionals. In John Hughes' Brat Pack classic The Breakfast Club, Karla Devito's "We Are Not Alone" serves as the killer tune that gets the gang out of their seats for a library dance montage. However, we all know the true crown jewel of this soundtrack, "Don't You (Forget About Me)'' by Simple Minds, which bookends the film and will forever be tied to John Bender's triumphant fist pump in its final frame — and we wouldn't have it any other way”. I am going to finish off with this feature from The Film Experience:
“Like the best high school films, The Breakfast Club exists somewhere between painful reality and gilded fantasy. Its anthem is similarly accessible but hyper-produced, filled with relatable feeling but kind of untouchable in its chilly groove - it’s consumable but truthful product, so naturally we eat it up like the candy it is even as it affects us deeply. The world isn’t real (detention for bringing a gun to school, instant makeovers, etc.) but the emotion is. And when you are this age, the emotion is everything.
The song begins in a burst of bottled rage and has the rhythm of an adolescent tantrum, making it a fitful match to the group therapy session we’re watching. It feels like something written by this group both in response to one another and the social strata that forces them into these prescribed roles. If the unfolding day serves to undermine the hierarchy by revealing their individuality, then the song reminds them that there’s no going back from showing one’s full self or from the seeing. “As you walk on by...” the ghost of what was shared remains.
But does the song’s questioning of the future reveal the closing commeraderie as bullshit or does it play with the tension of the uncertain future of their new bond? The lyrics ruminate on profound but transient connections and the weight of social promises, complicating what still feels dangerously close to a improbably transformative ending. Maybe we’re not led to believe they will all stay besties, but the film certainly dances toward assuredness. Call it youthful optimism or steered by foolish feeling, but this tension is one of the things the film and its song get wholeheartedly right about the high school experience.
However there is something triumphant in the “la-la la-la” chorus as Judd Hirsch throws a first in the air, a certain battle won no matter what happens on Monday. For one brief moment, in this forced oasis away from their outside pressures, they actually were seen”.
If you have not heard the soundtrack for The Breakfast Club, then I have put the soundtrack below. I would urge you to go and watch the 1985 film, as it is a fantastic watch. Even though there are some teen films influenced by it today, you don’t see as many as you would like. Simple Minds, Wang Chung and Joyce Kennedy help make The Breakfast Club’s soundtrack one of the defining moments of the 1980s. Take some time out today and…
GIVE it a play.