My John Hughes Tribute

One of my favorite parts of last night's Oscar telecast was the John Hughes tribute. I had forgotten how many great movies he had written and/or directed. The Vacation movies, Sixteen Candles, Home Alone, The Breakfast Club, Ferrie Bueller's Day Off and many more! The movies were great...and so were the songs featured in them. Here is my list of the best songs featured in John Hughes films. Let me know if you agree or disagree and which ones I missed.

10. The Beatles "Twist & Shout" from Ferris Bueller's Day Off: I know, it's the Beatles, how could it be #10. It's a great song and the scene in the parade was great, but it's not your protypical John Hughes song, so I made it #10.

9. Yello "Oh Yeah" from Ferris Bueller's Day Off: Another great song...and perfect for how it was used in the movie, but to be honest, it's not one that I can listen to over and over.

8. Psychedlic Furs "Pretty In Pink": Now this is a John Hughes song, even lthough it was not written for the film. It was actually recorded five years earlier, but it was a great choice to use it as the title of the movie.

7. Echo & the Bunnymen "Bring On the Dancing Horses" from "Pretty In Pink": Pretty In Pink is not my favorite John Hughes movie, but it is one of my favorites of all-time...and this is one of the best songs on it. If you've never heard it, google it or look it up on ITunes.

6 & 5. "Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want" (performed by The Smiths in "Pretty In Pink" and by The Dream Academy in "Ferrie Bueller's Day Off): To me, this song never gets old...and I love both of these versions.

4. Simple Minds "Don't You (Forget About Me)" from "The Breakfast Club": This is the only song on this list that actually became a bonafide number one record. Everytime I hear it, I can still picture the final scene of the movie.

3. OMD "If You Leave" from "Pretty In Pink": Along with the Dream Academy, OMD was one of John Hughes' favorites bands to feature in his movies and this song was their most popular. If you like it, you should definitely check out their greatest hits.

2. Thompson Twins "If You Were Here" from "Sixteen Candles": This is the song that plays at the end of the movie when Samantha and Jake kiss for the first time and believe it or not, it was never a hit song. That being said, I bet almost every one in their 20's, 30's and 40's know it and love it.

1. Lindsey Buckingham "Holiday Road" from "National Lampoon's Vacation": Here's another song that wasn't really a hit, but when you hear it, you definitely know it. It fits this hilarious movie perfectly.


So there is my list. Now let me know what I got right...and what I got wrong. (I'm sure I missed a few great songs). Reply below or email me at dave@wpst.com.