The Terminator The original Terminator theme was written by 80’s synthesizer composer, Brad Fiedel. Even though he composed a lot of movie scores through the 80’s and early 90’s, The Terminator theme was the defining work of his career. The best version of this theme […]

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) is a science fiction film produced and directed by Steven Spielberg. E.T. tells the story of Elliott, a boy who befriends an extraterrestrial who is stranded on Earth. Elliott and his siblings help E.T. return to his home […]

Running Up That Hill If you’re right around my age (or older) you might fondly remember Kate Bush’s 1985 hit, Running Up That Hill. I was in second grade when that came out. Like everything from the 80’s — it’s a reminder of a far […]

Mad World Although written by Tears for Fears, I based my version of Mad World on the stripped down Michael Andrews & Gary Jules performance from 2001’s Donnie Darko. To me, the song is haunting and sort of eerie –as it delves into themes of […]

The NeverEnding Story Stranger Things Season 3 delivered a nostalgic punch with its unexpected inclusion of The NeverEnding Story theme song. The iconic 80s tune was an absolutely delightful throwback to the era. I loved that theme (and movie) when I was a kid. Movies […]

Fields of Gold Fields of Gold has long been one of my favorite songs from Sting. It first appeared on his 4th studio album, Ten Summoner’s Tales (1993). In his book Lyrics By Sting, the singer described the view from his 16th-century Wiltshire manor house, which […]

Don’t Come Around Here No More Very sad news about Tom Petty. He was a favorite of just about everybody. I had the opportunity to see him live a half dozen times since high school, AND just this past June — where he looked and […]

When I was 13, and just learning guitar, my guitar teachers and musical mentors ALL really respected George Michael. (I initially thought that was odd for a bunch of rock musicians.) Specifically, everyone cited Careless Whisper as one of the greatest songs ever written. So, […]

Until the End of the World The Edge is U2’s lead guitarist and keyboardist. He is known for his unique and innovative guitar playing style, which has been praised by critics and fans alike. “Until the End of the World” is a song by U2 […]

Even as a kid, I was made aware by my musical mentors that Prince was a bad dude. When I took guitar lessons in the early 90’s — the guitar shop was filled to the brim with holdover, big-hair rockers — and people obsessed with […]

Human The Human League are an English synth-pop band formed in Sheffield in 1977. The band is known for their innovative use of electronic music and their catchy melodies. The Human League have released nine studio albums, and have had several hit singles, including “Don’t […]