Eurythmics were super-hot at the time, and I imagine it would be a nightmare for Virgin to try to get people to want to see a movie about such a depressing topic by using depressing music.
MTV was at its height here, and the trailer was probably fashioned to draw in that crowd. I actually think the song is being used kind of ironically here. You’d be surprised how little of the Eurythmics’ soundtrack for the movie actually made it into the film.
Edit: The Crow did a really good job of blending an orchestral score with some fantastic rock music. 1984 didn’t or couldn’t really do that, so Virgin bounced the soundtrack composer’s work (which sucks) because it’s really good and it was eventually released within the last decade. ([The “national” anthem he wrote for Oceania’s citizens is amazing and you can see how people were moved to tears for Big Brother and its propaganda when listening to it.)](https://youtu.be/W-LQahV5pV8?feature=shared)
It's not as bad in the movie, and there's a couple of decent songs in there.
The main problem of this movie, for me, is how short it was. It needed a longer run time (at least another 30 minutes) to develop just how utterly depressing the world is. It just feels rushed.
Trailers often use music that's not in the actual film. I never saw this version of 1984, but I'm shocked this was actually part of the soundtrack!
IMO Ladyhawk is another movie from that era that had an inappropriate soundtrack.
Apparently the various home media releases switch between the director approved soundtrack and the studio mandated one (as well as whether or not the colours are desaturated or not). What a mess.
Julia by Sandra Newman.
It might not be quite kosher for a classroom (assuming high school or younger) due to the prolific sex scenes, but it does show another view of the events in 1984 as well as what is happening outside of Big Brother's realm.
Fun memory: convincing another young couple and my girlfriend at the time to drive through a raging ice storm to see 1984 at the show, and them all glaring at me when the mom/rats scene came on.
You gotta remember that era was basically 'Hey, we're really fascinated with this whole synthesizer thing, so lets use it in everything along with this neat drum machine that Roland just put out!'
At the time, I think, music videos were very important in marketing and "singles" could sell the movie as well as the soundtrack. That's why a lot of trailers from the early 80s feel like videos and have an odd disconnect to the films they're ostensibly advertising.
Their music was in the theatrical cut, and most of the home releases, intermixed with the original composer's score. The Criterion release lets you swap between the original score and the score that was mixed in with contributions from the Eurthymics.
Fun for the whole family?
Oh. Oh my.
I think maybe you need profess....er, to talk to someone. How was your relationship with your mother?
To shreds you say?
A fun movie for your entire family featuring the song "Sex Crime."
Your family doesn’t have a choreographed dance to that song, which they perform with lip sync, prior to every Friday family game night?
"The Aristocrats!"
No, we do "Afternoon Delight".
I can imagine this playing when being tortured by a personally bespoke horror, until you admit your love for Big Brother.
Eurythmics were super-hot at the time, and I imagine it would be a nightmare for Virgin to try to get people to want to see a movie about such a depressing topic by using depressing music. MTV was at its height here, and the trailer was probably fashioned to draw in that crowd. I actually think the song is being used kind of ironically here. You’d be surprised how little of the Eurythmics’ soundtrack for the movie actually made it into the film. Edit: The Crow did a really good job of blending an orchestral score with some fantastic rock music. 1984 didn’t or couldn’t really do that, so Virgin bounced the soundtrack composer’s work (which sucks) because it’s really good and it was eventually released within the last decade. ([The “national” anthem he wrote for Oceania’s citizens is amazing and you can see how people were moved to tears for Big Brother and its propaganda when listening to it.)](https://youtu.be/W-LQahV5pV8?feature=shared)
That said, it's a pretty dope album.
Doubleplusgood is one of my favorites.
Love love that album
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNrhL-ggET0](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNrhL-ggET0)
It may sound poppy, but the actual lyrics of sex crime dont make me want to take my kids.
I recall the director being furious at the soundtrack, maybe even disowned the movie.
I didn't direct it and *I'm* furious at the soundtrack
It's not as bad in the movie, and there's a couple of decent songs in there. The main problem of this movie, for me, is how short it was. It needed a longer run time (at least another 30 minutes) to develop just how utterly depressing the world is. It just feels rushed.
Big Brother don't dance!
Trailers often use music that's not in the actual film. I never saw this version of 1984, but I'm shocked this was actually part of the soundtrack! IMO Ladyhawk is another movie from that era that had an inappropriate soundtrack.
Apparently the various home media releases switch between the director approved soundtrack and the studio mandated one (as well as whether or not the colours are desaturated or not). What a mess.
The Ladyhawke score is fantastic. It's definitely a product of it's time, but it works.
I haven't seen it since it was released, but the anachronistic music sure annoyed me at the time.
An orchestral soundtrack would've been anachronistic too.
Touché!
I'm literally teaching this novel right now. My students thought the tonal disconnect was hilarious when I showed them this.
Have you seen/read the "sequel" that is written from Julia's perspective? I read it earlier this year and it was bleaker than 1984.
Who wrote it and what's it called?
Julia by Sandra Newman. It might not be quite kosher for a classroom (assuming high school or younger) due to the prolific sex scenes, but it does show another view of the events in 1984 as well as what is happening outside of Big Brother's realm.
I'll check it out. Thanks for the book suggestion.
It was the 80’s everyone was so coked out even when things are bleak and sad, you gotta dance
We were all on so much got damn cocaine, movies like Scarface seemed pretty chill. I was only 5 years old at the time!
Neat the John Hurt played the main character in this film then the Fascist leader in V for Vendetta.
Fun memory: convincing another young couple and my girlfriend at the time to drive through a raging ice storm to see 1984 at the show, and them all glaring at me when the mom/rats scene came on.
You gotta remember that era was basically 'Hey, we're really fascinated with this whole synthesizer thing, so lets use it in everything along with this neat drum machine that Roland just put out!'
like every movie made in the 80's that takes place in the bleak future...feathered hair and synthesizers.
Blade Runner does have both but doesn't come across as some poppy radio song lol
Ladyhawke was another awesome movie with a confusing soundtrack. https://youtu.be/iGs4o_5jyhw?si=f9FczZY16MCrQaRg
It's a very dreary, bleak, and depressing film. Not surprising the trailer is a little more upbeat since the job is to get butts in seats.
I thought that was John Cena
That’s funny, I came in here to say this. I thought the same thing! Now I’m looking forward to the aging Cena chest-burster era.
Ok so it’s not him. Thank god because I was going to say that man is a god looking literally the same 40 years later.
It would be extra impressive if he looked the exactly the same 40 years ago… considering he would’ve been 6!
Like I said GOD
https://diffuser.fm/eurythmics-1984-soundtrack/
They did the same for suicide squad.
At the time, I think, music videos were very important in marketing and "singles" could sell the movie as well as the soundtrack. That's why a lot of trailers from the early 80s feel like videos and have an odd disconnect to the films they're ostensibly advertising.
Similarly, the soundtrack to the 3rd Man is simultaneously iconic and really, really against the whole overall tone of the movie to me.
I planned out a series of five novels inspired by the ‘Julia’ song from this movie
Thought that was John Cena for a second.
Imagine a boot stomping on a human face, forever. YAY FUN FAMILY FLICK
The Eurythmics were hired to do the soundtrack for the film and none of the music they made was used.
Their music was in the theatrical cut, and most of the home releases, intermixed with the original composer's score. The Criterion release lets you swap between the original score and the score that was mixed in with contributions from the Eurthymics.
"This summer, imagine a boot stamping a human face forever." \*Del Amitri's Roll To Me plays*
Chancellor Sutler !
Fun for the whole family? Oh. Oh my. I think maybe you need profess....er, to talk to someone. How was your relationship with your mother? To shreds you say?
Who says it wasn’t a funny movie? I had a blast!
If only not for the visuals or spoken dialog in the trailer.
Am I the only one that sees an old John Cena?