Re-watching "Back the the Future"

[Recursion]

This struck me, in the process:

Huey Lewis & the News's "Power of Love" doesn't just sound dated, it sounds absurdly dated. Like, embarrassing.

The Penguins' "Earth Angel" sounds absolutely timeless. There's a lot of music in BTTF1, but those two songs anchor it.

Zemeckis has a really good ear for music, and I assume he knew what was happening in American music in 1985, viz:

Rain Dogs by Tom Waits
Psychocandy by Jesus and Mary Chain
Songs From the Big Chair by Tears For Fears
The Head on the Door by the Cure
Brothers in Arms by Dire Straits
Fables of the Reconstruction by REM
Rum, Sodomy, & the Lash by the Pogues
Hounds of Love by Kate Bush

All of those albums came out the year "Back to the Future" was released, and I'd imagine he knew that. He picked possibly the least memorable song of the year. I have to think that was intentional.

I'd really like to see a trilogy remake where a Millennial McFly flits among 2015, 1985, and 2045, with Doc as the exact same post-punk mad scientist.

[davidpdx]

1. I think a remake of Back to the Future would be a huge mistake

I doubt Zemeckis would participate if something like that were green lit. Remakes very rarely do better than the original.

It is amazing how close the whole series came to not evening happening given they cast that other guy since MJF wasn't available. If they had not been able to get Fox, I believe the first movie would have been a dud and we never would have seen the second and third ones.

[NewJeffCT]

2. Back to the Future

came out in 1985, meaning it likely was filmed in 1984. Huey Lewis was very popular in the few years leading up to 1985 with a huge album in 1983 with Sports. Other than REM and Dire Straits, the other albums you listed aren't as "mainstream" as Lewis. And, I don't think REM nor Dire Straits were "huge" in 1984. I'm not a fan of Lewis' music, but there is no denying how popular he was in 1983 and 1984.

[cemaphonic]

3. Yeah, I was thinking that the main reason the song sounds dated,

is because Huey Lewis had a long string of huge hits in the mid-80s, and lots of other bands copied their sound.

And as a longtime REM fan, and 80s MTV kid, can confirm - REM started to make inroads to mainstream popularity with "Document" (1987), and hit it big with "Green" the next year. They were pretty obscure in 84.

I'm also having a really hard time picturing any song of of "Rain Dogs" or "Swordfishtrombone" fitting the mood of that movie at all, and those are two of my favorite albums ever.

[Frank Cannon]

8. Their early work was a little too new wave, for my tastes.

But when Sports came out in '83, I think they really came into their own, commercially and artistically. The whole album has a clear, crisp sound, and a new sheen of consummate professionalism that really gives the songs a big boost. Huey's been compared to Elvis Costello, but I think he has a far more bitter, cynical sense of humor.

[cemaphonic]

9. I knew that had to be coming down the pike in this thread

I call and raise:

[Frank Cannon]

10. Someone had to do it!

Thanks for that. Your clip is evidence that although someone might be dated, they're still completely awesome.

[cemaphonic]

12. Yeah, that clip is so amazingly meta

Also,it's kinda freaky how Weird Al never seems to age.

I heard Huey Lewis interviewed on the radio a couple of years ago. He was a lot funnier and more interesting than his 80s persona let on.

[LiberalArkie]

13. That is just so very good.

[NobodyHere]

4. For the songs that anchor the film

I think you forgot Johnny B Good

ETA: I think Alan Sylvestri's work should at least be mentioned as well.

[OakCliffDem]

5. Did you catch the 9-11 prediction in " Back to the Future " ?

[callous taoboy]

7. That's out there. Thanks.

[Ino]

11. Whoa, that gave me chills! (nt)

[LiberalArkie]

14. That is indeed strange.

[jakeXT]

6. I'm afraid you're just too darn loud .... next please

[mike dub]

15. Great movie!

And speaking of music, Recursion, while I was listening to an '80's music CD on my ride to work last week, I noticed an obscure thing about Marty's audition (his group was The Pinheads) for the dance audition: I think keyboard chords of "I Want a New Drug" can be heard in the foley as the band warms up and preps to start playing their version of The Power of Love for their audition. I recognized the chords from the movie as I was listening to the original radio release of I Want a New Drug on my ride to work. Wondering if Huey Lewis gave Robert Zemekis and the studio access to the studio tracks of The News' studio album at the time (Sports ?) and they dropped some keyboard riffs into the movie's foley/ background sound.

On edit: listening to the audition scene from YouTube posted by JakeXT--- those keyboard chords also work in The Power of Love. Lol!