Top Gun: Encyclopedia II - Top Gun - Music

Top Gun - Music

The Top Gun soundtrack is one of the most popular soundtracks to date, and some say that it captured the heart of the 1980s with its music.

Harold Faltermeyer, who previously worked with both Jerry Bruckheimer and Don Simpson on the film Flashdance and Beverly Hills Cop was sent the script of Top Gun by Bruckheimer before filming even had even started. A dinner with Bruckheimer and Simpson after Faltermeyer had read the script prompted Faltermeyer to exclaim he had already finished the Top Gun anthem, which in part was true. Simpson who stopped eating made arrangements for it to be herd that night, to which Faltermeyer explained that he had the ideas on paper but it was not recorded, but to his dismay, Simpson was convinced that he would hear the Top Gun anthem that night. Faltermeyer hastily left dinner and retreated to his studio where he invited a guitar player over to complete the song in a timely fashion. At 1:00am, both Simpson and Bruckheimer accompanied by Tom Cruise were treated to what would be the Top Gun Anthem, to which they were thrilled about after hearing it.

Kenny Loggins who was present at one of the screenings for composers and singers was at first intimidated by the full theatre of competition he was surrounded by. Loggins hatched a plan to pick a smaller scene, one that might not be to popular, thinking he would have a better chance this way, Loggins chose the volleyball scene. Together with producer Peter Wolf, the two attempted to capture the playful spirit of the scene, which was a release from the pressure of naval aviating; the pair produced the song Playing with the Boys. Loggins would soon learn that the artist who was intended to sing one song for the film had dropped out and that they needed an artist to fill the empty space, Loggins inquired if it was 'up tempo', remembering he needed a song that was up tempo for his upcoming concert, he agreed. Loggins, already having Playing with the Boys under his belt, would complete Danger Zone within a few days.

Giorgio Moroder, music producer for Top Gun, who had written Danger Zone was impressed with the complete Loggins product. Moroder, who originally had two pieces turned away by the producers, then went away to write a piece for the beginning sequence. After learning that his Ferrari mechanic, Tom Whitlock, had an interest in song-writing, the pair collaborated on the Top Gun album, together, writing Danger Zone and Take My Breath Away. Moroder, who at the time was producing a single song for band Berlin, happened to mention the song Take My Breath Away, to which Terri Nunn of Berlin enthusiastically agreed to record, despite some band members not being fond of recording work which was not their own. The song would later win numerous awards, sending Berlin to international acclaim.

After the release of Loggins' Danger Zone, sales of the album exploded, selling 7 million in the United States alone.

It has been one soundtrack that has held a strong position in sales, and it will continue to do so as the soundtrack has become a very recognizable collection of music.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Music", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki