As the Oscars are coming up at the end of this month, I thought it might be fun to post some of the Best Original Song Oscar winners (and nominees) for the next four Fridays.
This song is (obviously!) from the 1983 film Flashdance. I was too young for the movie when it came out so saw it when I was probably about 20. It’s not exactly the best movie ever but it’s fun enough and the “splash” scene above is very iconic. And, screw it – I like the dance at the end. I can be girly sometimes!
I just remember that the film was seen as a little “naughty” at the time and, as a reward, my school’s wrestling coach let the boys pick a movie to watch after they won a wrestling (um, tournament? match? game? meet??) when we were about 13/14 and they chose Flashdance. Horny bastards. I don’t want to know what they all did while thinking about Jennifer Beals that night.
As for the song, though, it’s a classic and far better than the movie. It’s one of those occasions where the song made the film and the movie definitely wouldn’t be as well known without it. It was written by Giorgio Moroder (the music) with lyrics by Keith Forsey & Irene Cara. Well of course it’s awesome – Giorgio Moroder was involved! Even Daft Punk think he’s cool enough to devote a whole song to him. (Moroder also won an Oscar for Berlin’s Take My Breath Away from Top Gun – maybe I’ll post that one next week!).
Anyway, here’s a video of the lovely Irene Cara (of Fame fame. HA!) and Keith Forsey accepting the Oscar from Jennifer Beals and a very young Matthew Broderick. By the way – the Fame theme song, sung by Cara, also won the Best Original Song Oscar. Six degrees of Oscars separation!
And then, of course, is the video for Flashdance… What A Feeling. Take your passion! And make it happen! This song is totally stuck in my head now!!! But that’s okay. 🙂
Cinema Parrot Disco 
This song is definitely the best part of the movie.
Hehe. No doubt! 😉 Although, sadly, this movie seems brilliant compared to some of the crap that gets pumped out nowadays.
Excellent song, crappy movie
Great song! Okay movie. Worse shit gets made nowadays. 🙂
sadly that’s very very true ; (
I don’t mind this song at all. I detest Take My Breath Away.
Lol. Awww! I liked Take My Breath Away at the time but it’s not exactly a favorite. At the time I just thought of Tom Cruise & Kelly McGillis licking each other whenever I heard it. 🙂
“I don’t want to know what they all did while thinking about Jennifer Beals that night.”
Come on, Mutey. Yes you do.
Here’s one theory: they all went back home, busted out some whole wheat bread, made some delicious peanut butter, jelly and banana sandwiches, got some glasses of milk and put on the news, searching for ways to become productive, active members of their local community whereby they could reach out to a variety of different people and slowly, one-by-one, make a small difference in a stranger’s life. Because, deep down, these boys knew that, by definition, a stranger is only a person you haven’t tried talking to yet.
Oh. I thought they were all just having a wank. You crack me up, Tom!!! 🙂 😉
No, that’s totally not at all what was going on
Oh. I can’t believe it! All these years, I’ve thought that teenage boys spent most of their time playing with themselves. But they’re actually spending time trying to find a way to create world peace & shit! That’s awesome! 🙂 Although they’re clearly not doing a very good job of that….
Yeah, unfortunately fapping off was quickly discovered and productivity declined at an alarming rate. That’s what caused the Great Depression actually
Fapping off?? Ha! Not heard that one! 🙂
I liked the verses of this song, but to be honest I preferred “Fame”! 😛
You’re right – the verses of Flashdance are really good! I’m not sure which of the two I actually prefer… But I chose this one to post as, shockingly, I’ve never actually watched Fame. 😉 I’m ashamed, especially as I’m obsessed with the 80s & I LOVED the TV show…
I’ve not seen the “Fame” film either (my dad felt the profanity was a bit much for a kid of my age at the time) but like you, it was the TV series which was my gateway to the franchise.
We even had the “Kids From Fame” album! 😮
Lol! That’s funny…. Can’t say I had any Fame albums. 😉 Well, now I don’t feel so bad! Although we should both probably watch the film as fans of the show someday… 😉
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Giorgio is way cool! Stuff like I Feel Love is still hypnotizing to this day. And the Daft Punk tribute rules, I wrote a bit about it here:
https://tangledupinmusic.wordpress.com/2015/05/21/play-this-more-often-part-5/
Agreed. And I LOVE Daft Punk. 🙂 Will check out your link!