MovieChat Forums > Running on Empty (1988) Discussion > Listening to 'Lucky Star' in 1988

Listening to 'Lucky Star' in 1988

posted 19 years ago by Joel_S
11 replies | jump to latest

Hey I grew up in the 80s. I was around 12 and 13 years old in 1988. If someone played Madonna's "Lucky Star" from 1984, kids would have been embarrased because the song was some years out of date. But in this movie the kids start whooping and hollerin' and get up and start dancing like it is a current hit song. Kids were just as fickle back then as they are today, perhaps even a bit more considering how fashions and styles changed so drastically from the early 80s to the mid 80s and then to the late 80s.

That was not reality to have kids think "Lucky Star" was cool in 1988. But this movie was actually MADE in 1988, not made today and set in 1988. So I don't understand it. I just had to throw this thought out and see if anyone agrees with me.

[–] three-amigos 19 years ago

Madonna can be thankful that Running on Empty reminded people of "Lucky Star" and how cool it still was compared to her recent acting performance in "Who's that Girl?"

And for some reason the producers of ROE didn't put "True Blue" in thier movie.

I suppose they could have played a Debbie Gibson song to be "cool and current" with you 13 year olds. Out of the Blue? Or would you have prefered Tiffany? You know unlike Madonna and Tiffany, Debbie actually wrote her own songs and played piano. Not the greatest ice skater though.

And believe it or not Joel, I bet people, even 12 year olds, will still be listening to Madonna in 2008. It doesn't make her great. But she'll still be there, acting, singing, writing children's books,doing something in public to be talked about. And usually, as was stated indirectly by River in the movie, "you can dance to it"

[–] PopeJaimie 19 years ago

I dunno, recently in my english class someone started playing "bye bye bye" by nsync, and pretty much the entire class was singin' and boppin' along, more out of self-mockery than actual enjoyment of the song.

But in the movie, it seems that a lot of the class really DOES enjoy "lucky star," so maybe it's something different. Still, it's a possible explanation.

[–] Jessica1977 19 years ago

Yeah the kids in your English class probably sang along with that 1999 NSYNC song more out of self-mockery and embarassment rather then truly enjoying the song. I was around in 1988 as well, and I agree that "Lucky Star" would not have been seen as so cool at the time by image conscious kids. As mentioned it was 4 years out of date. It would have been a bit more effective if they used a 1987 or 1988 song for that scene. I think the filmmakers just didn't care about this, and the actors likely didn't either or didn't want to speak up about it. With the exception of River Phoenix (who was a real teenager at the time), I bet everyone else in that class was in their 20s.

[–] becki8238 19 years ago

Maybe it was just the fact that they were in class where all the music played is generally classical and such so the popular artist being played, reguardless of the song, was cool? I dunno.

[–] 19 years ago

[deleted]

[–] MaureenGoldsmith 19 years ago

I completely agree with becki and mobius. I was in choir from 8-12 grades (until 1986). Hell, we were thrilled if we got a Beatles song!

[–] PopeJaimie 19 years ago

As well you should have been, the Beatles f^(kin rock.

[–] SamJane723 19 years ago

I loved my music class in primary school. (in the mid 90's) We used to sing loads of different songs, ranging from The Beatles and The Who to Madonna and more recent songs like Take That. We had the best music teacher ever and I thank him and also my family for my eclectic taste in music.

Love + Peace
Sam x

River will flow through my heart always...
This road will never end...

[–] BoSoxRule 18 years ago

What Take That song? "Back For Good"?

[–] highschoolkiller 9 years ago

suppose they could have played a Debbie Gibson song to be "cool and current" with you 13 year olds. Out of the Blue? Or would you have prefered Tiffany? You know unlike Madonna and Tiffany, Debbie actually wrote her own songs and played piano. Not the greatest ice skater though. "

I know its an old post but madonna also writes her own songs. she also wrote Lucky star.

I hated Jaws, it had too much shark, and dont get me started about King Kong, waaay too much gorilla

[–] Jes' Sayin' (6349) 2 days ago

Using songs costs money. This was probably one they could get at not too great an expense.