The Ten Best Power Ballads on an Eighties Movie Soundtrack

10

“Up Where We Belong,” by Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes, from An Officer and a Gentleman

Technically, a love song, yes. But a Cockerishly POWERFUL love song.

9

“Glory of Love,” by Peter Cetera, from The Karate Kid II

Say what you like about The Karate Kid II (it’s terrible, for starters), but this song is grade-A singing-into-the-hairbrush material.

8

“Shooting for the Moon,” by Amy Holland, from Teen Wolf

He scored the winning point in the basketball game! And he wasn’t even a werewolf! This song is a pure happy ending in sonic form. I enjoy this song so much I don’t even notice that an extra in the background drops his trousers when it plays in the film.

7

“Let the River Run,” by Carly Simon, from Working Girl

Total singing-in-the-shower fodder, and that’s the best kind of fodder.

6

“St. Elmo’s Fire (Man in Motion),” by John Parr, from St. Elmo’s Fire

John Parr tries as hard to get a St. Elmo’s reference into his song as the characters do in the film, and makes about as little sense in his effort. God bless them all for trying.

5

“Flashdance—What a Feeling,” by Irene Cara, from Flashdance

The movie that made Hollywood decide to knock out films that look like movie videos, and this is the song that convinced them. The only song to weld and dance to.

4

“Purple Rain,” by Prince, from Purple Rain

I’ve seen this film hundreds of times, and I still have no idea what this song is about.

3

“We Don’t Need Another Hero,” by Tina Turner, from Mad Max Beyond the Thunderdome

TIIIIIINAAAAAAAAA!!!!

2

“Holding Out for a Hero,” by Bonnie Tyler, from Footloose

Nobody does power ballads like Bonnie does power ballads.

1

“Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now,” by Starship, from Mannequin

It is a scientific fact that if you don’t enjoy this song, you have no soul. I’m sorry, but you can’t argue with science.