The 10 Best Pop Songs In '80s Movies, according to Saint DX

"I started Saint DX because I was looking for the bass sound of that song..."

France native Saint DX is something of an ’80s movie fan, if not just for the retro soundtracks. His recent EP, ‘SDX’, includes a cover of ‘Take My Breath Away’, the song instantly recognisable as the Tom Cruise-conjuring hit from Top Gun.

Singing in both French and English, Aurélien Hamm’s work is also heavily influenced by the soundtrack to 1988 film The Big Blue while, stacked with groove and funk, presents its own unique appeal. Following the release of ‘SDX’, Saint DX pores over the ’80s film OSTs that have made an indelible impression on him.

1. Berlin – ‘Take My Breath Away’ (from Top Gun, 1986)

“I started Saint DX because I was looking for the bass sound of that song. I figured out it was a DX7 so I bought one of them.”

2. Richard Sanderson – ‘Dreams Are My Reality’ (from La Boum, 1980)

“This film made a huge impact on me. I used to watch it with my sisters in the afternoon. I was in love with Sophie Marceau and was dreaming of being that boy to hand her the headphones.”

3. Prince – ‘Purple Rain’ (from Purple Rain, 1984)

“Probably my favourite song ever. I only watched the movie recently, though.”

4. Samuel E. Wright – ‘Under The Sea’ (from The Little Mermaid, 1989)

“I love the French version interpreted by Henri Salvador. Again, a movie I watched with my sisters a lot!”

5. Peter Gabriel – ‘In Your Eyes’ (from Say Anything…, 1989)

“I don’t know this movie but Peter Gabriel is a huge influence for me. A perfect, sensitive crooner.”

6. Huey Lewis and the News – ‘The Power of Love’ (from Back to the Future, 1985)

“This movie and this song are for me the quintessential eighties. Always feels good to re-watch in the winter.”

7. Ray Parker Jr. – ‘Ghostbusters’ (from Ghostbusters, 1984)

“Similar vibe to Back to the Future. Although I was too young the first time I watched it. The scene of the fridge (and the evil world contained in it) started a fridge phobia that fortunately didn’t last too long…”

8. Ryuichi Sakamoto & David Sylvian – ‘Forbidden Colours’ (from Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence, 1983)

“Sakamoto’s instrumental version of the song is the reason I started to learn the piano.”

9. Prince – ‘Batdance’ (from Batman, 1989)

“Batman is my favourite superhero and I grew up watching Tim Burton’s film. Don’t really like this song though :)”

10. Los Lobos – ‘La Bamba’ (from La Bamba, 1987)

“Each time I listen to this song I remember summers as a teenager and all those romances.”

Saint DX’s ‘SDX’ EP is out now via Cracki Records/Because Music – listen here.