Tuesday, April 17, 2012

O is for OMD





Which movie did you like better?

Which song do you like better?



“If you leave, don’t leave now
Please don’t take my heart away
Promise me, just one more night
Then we’ll go our separate ways”*

“If you Leave” by OMD (Orchestral Movers in the Dark) is still in constant rotation on some radio stations alone with “Don’t You Forget about Me” by Simple Minds. Both were on soundtracks to John Hughes movies: “If You Leave” from Pretty in Pink and “Don’t You Forget about Me” from The Breakfast Club. It makes sense that they’re still played. Not only did they define a generation, but the lyrics work well for people my age, and the nostalgia we feel looking back to that time.


While I like both of those songs equally (but if you force me to choose a song, I'll choose the Simple Minds one), I thought The Breakfast Club was a better movie. I was so annoyed when Molly Ringwald didn’t end up with Duckie. All Andrew McCarthy did was squeeze his eyes to make himself cry because it was hard to be torn between his rich parents and his poor girlfriend. Puh-lease.


OMD had a few other good songs. This one is a tribute to and has beautiful shots of Louise Brooks, the 1920s film star:


And if you want some extra nostalgia, here’s Simple Minds with clips from The Breakfast Club:



“We’ve always had time on our sides
Now it’s fading fast
Every second, every moment
We’ve got to, We’ve got to make it last”

- “If You Leave” OMD


32 comments:

  1. I think Breakfast Club the better movie too!! And the Simple Minds song is a total classic!

    I do like your take on Pretty in Pink! LOL!

    Oh but OMD are totally amazing too! And what a name for a band!

    take care
    x

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  2. I've got a mix: Pretty in Pink (Ducky! and Steff! Mmm. Steff.) and Simple Minds. Two of my favorites. (Although, if I'm going with John Hughes, I'd really have to go with Sixteen Candles.) :)

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  3. I loved The Breakfast Club. I only saw it for the first time last year - it was one of those omissions I thought needed rectifying, and I'm so glas I saw it.

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  4. I still watch Pretty in Pink whenever I see it on. I do like both songs, but I like OMD better~

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  5. Neither is my style of music, but I'd say I liked The Breakfast Club better.

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  6. The Breakfast Club! Hands down! Simple Minds! Hands down! I will say that If You Leave is a fantastic song. The lyrics are amazing. :-)

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  7. I didn't see the Breakfast Club until I was older so I don't have that sense of nostalgia... same with Pretty in Pink. But I enjoyed both movies!!

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  8. I have to vote for The Breakfast Club in all categories!

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  9. I havent seen the breakfast club, I think its too late now! Agree on Pretty in Pink Ending, Duckie was the one, how could she be so blind, and that Andrew, in my teenaged opinion, was just too sneaky looking:)

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  10. I recognize some of these songs. Haven't seen The Breakfast Club, though. I should change that.

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  11. Hm I think I liked Pretty in Pink better. Duckie was cute and Molly's character was interesting.

    Song: Def. Don't You Forget About Me

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  12. AH memories!! All John Hughes movies FTW!!!

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  13. Talk about nostalgia
    couldnt say which was my favorite
    song: Dont you forget about me
    over from Ladysknight
    happy a to z

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  14. Such great songs!!! Thanks for the flashback to my teen years. I think Breakfast Club was the better movie too.

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  15. I loved Breakfast Club. Great film. Actually I liked Pretty in Pink, too.

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  16. Um, I don't think I've seen Breakfast Club or Pretty in Pink before. I know, epic fail, right?

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  17. I have to go Breakfast Club. Now I have a hankering to watch it again.

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  18. I haven't seen either. Looks like I should. Comes highly recommended.

    Denise

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  19. Both movies kind of tick me off. Although, at the time I liked Pretty in Pink better (Breakfast Club was too maudlin). And I prefer OMD to Simple Minds.

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  20. I've never seen Pretty in Pink but I love The Breakfast Club. :) Now I want to rewatch it...

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  21. Fun choices! I think I prefer the Simple Minds song :)

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  22. I like the OMD song better, but am a fan of both movies.

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  23. This is an awesome post, Theresa! The Breakfast Club is one of my fave movies. I can watch it over and over again. I sat here smiling through the whole video. And the scene of the kids dancing on the banister is one my daughters and I love to imitate when we're rockin' out! Haha! I love both songs. And don't those lyrics to Don't You Forget About Me hit a nerve! Aw, so true, so very true. It's so funny when we're teens we think time will always be on our side, that we'll never grow old. Then - ZAP! Here I am and I need to make every moment count!

    I forgot to say that I never saw Pretty in Pink. How did I miss that? I'll keep an eye out for it. I also love Sixteen Candles!

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  24. Great songs. I never heard Pandora's Box before.

    I think The Breakfast Club is the better movie.

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  25. I tried to rent the Breakfast Club last weekend...They didn't have it???? Such a bummer. I wanted to watch it with my teenager...Love the music on it....

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  26. OMD, what a blast from the past! I liked their song "All that Glitters." And when I hear "If You Leave" while driving, I keep the station where it is.

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  27. Tough call. I'm going with 'Breakfast Club,' by a narrow margin.

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  28. I used to love OMD until Andy went on rant after rant about how they weren't "new wave" (seriously? does he listen to his own music?) and knocking my other favorite bands, so I finished with them, but I still love the song that Paul sings - Secret.

    My favorite Pretty In Pink song is definitely Left of Center by Suzanne Vega. I'm not a fan of hers, but that song is my theme song! I'd probably also put the New Order song - Shellshock above OMD, and, for that matter, the Smiths - Please Please before it as well!

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  29. I saw them in concert just last year and it's crazy how good his voice still sounds

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  30. I have an OMD greatest hits CD. Awesome! Pretty In Pink vs. Breakfast Club??? That's a tough one. I might have to go with Pretty In Pink because of Andrew McCarthy and James Spader. Molly Ringwald was always just perfect for these films.

    Ana

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