THEME = movie tunes: ‘Back To The Future’, ‘Batman Forever’ & ‘Beaches’
This week’s edition features songs from 3 fan favorites from 1985, 1995 & 1988.
#1 ‘Back To The Future’
From this 1985 movie, “The Power Of Love” was written specifically for the film. Officially released June 1985, this single gave the band their 1st #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 & their 2nd #1 on the Top Rock Tracks chart; it also reached #6 on the Adult Contemporary chart. Internationally, it claimed #1 in Australia & Canada, while notching in the Top 10 in Ireland (#5), New Zealand (#3), South Africa (#4), England (#9) & Zimbabwe (#7).
FYI: this film was written by Robert Zemeckis & Bob Gale after Gale visited his parents in St Louis MO (after ‘Used Cars’ was released). Reviewing his Dad’s High School yearbooks sparked a curiosity in Gale: would he have been friends with his Dad if they attended school together…!? The film starred Michael J Fox (whose “Family Ties” obligations originally kept him from the star role), Christopher Lloyd (who was cast after 1st choice John Lithgow became unavailable) & Lea Thompson.
#2 ‘Batman Forever’
From this 1995 movie, “Kiss From A Rose”, written by Seal, was 1st released July 1994; it didn’t garner success until after being re-released in 1995 as part of this movie’s soundtrack. Then, it topped the Billboard Hot 100 & Adult Contemporary charts, while also claiming #1 in Australia & reaching the Top 10 of 10 other international charts. For the movie, this song was originally chosen to play over a love scene (featuring Nicole Kidman & Val Kilmer), but was instead used for the end credits.
FYI: this film (based on the DC Comics character Batman) is the 3rd installment of the initial Batman series & stars Val Kilmer, Tommy Lee Jones, Jim Carrey, Nicole Kidman & Chris O’Donnell.
#3 ‘Beaches’
From this 1988 movie, “Wind Beneath My Wings” was written by Jeff Silbar & Larry Henley in 1982. Roger Whittaker was the 1st to record & release this song commercially. Then, Lou Rawls became the 1st to score a major hit with it when his version peaked at #10 on the Adult Contemporary chart in 1983. That same year, Gary Morris released a country version that peaked at #4 on the country charts & won the Song Of The Year award from both the Academy of Country Music & the Country Music Association. Then, Bette Midler’s version for this movie became a worldwide hit, claiming #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 & in Australia. It also reached #2 on the Adult Contemporary chart, #4 in New Zealand & #5 in England. In 1990, it won the Record Of The Year & Song Of The Year Grammy Awards. (My favorite version is still Gary Morris’.)
FYI: this film (adapted by Mary Agnes Donoghue from the Iris Rainer Dart novel of the same name) was directed by Garry Marshall & stars Bette Midler, Barbara Hershey, John Heard, James Read, Spaulding Gray, Lainie Kazan & Hector Elizondo.