My sister Eileen fell in love with Patrick Swayze in 1987 when she saw Dirty Dancing. Then, I think Eileen saw Dirty Dancing over a dozen times that year. And, she also played the Dirty Dancing soundtrack a few hundred times.
The Ultimate Dirty Dancing soundtrack from 2003 includes all of the songs from the movie. It’s like a Greatest Hits of the Sixties CD. “Be My Baby” by The Rosettes, “Big Girls Don’t Cry” by The Four Seasons, “Do You Love Me” by The Contours, and “Stay” by Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs are just some of the classics from that era.
The song Eileen loved most from the Dirty Dancing soundtrack was “She’s Like the Wind” sung and co-written by Patrick Swayze. In the US, the song went to No. 1 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 2 on Cashbox Top 100. Worldwide, it became a top-10 hit in nine other countries.
Do you remember Dirty Dancing? Do you remember these songs? Any favorites? GRADE: A
Know essentially all the older songs and none of the new ones aside from the biggest hit, “Time of My Life”…never had much desire to see the film, and haven’t. “Time of My Life” not as annoying as the Four Seasons’ song, but close enough.
The darker aspects, as I understand them to arise (I think from the Kathi Maio review collected in her FEMINIST IN THE DARK), such as the abortion scare, definitely gave it some weight, but the commercial campaign that seemed to make it all about a spoiled teen being romancded by a self-involved Lothario of a dance instructor, didn’t scream Go See Me to me at the time.
Deb
I only saw the movie was, and I was pretty much “meh” about it. I like the songs on the soundtrack that ARE from the period of the movie, but the music that was made just for the film, like “Hungry Eyes” or “She’s Like the Wind”, leave me equally “meh”.
Unlike Deb, I don’t find the music “meh,” but at best just run-of-the mill okay.
As for the flick, I never saw it and I can live with that. Also SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER, THE RED SHOES, and most of Fred Astaire. I did see WHITE NIGHTS and was unimpressed. However, I will drop almost anything to watch Gene Kelly.
Swayze’s song was the definition of “meh” IMHO. Nothing comes close to “Be My Baby,” which Brian Wilson considered the best rock & roll song ever. “Love is Strange” and “In the Still Of the Night” (which I forgot was in the movie) would be on my list too.
We watched the movie because we knew the real Catskills scene from that time, though we didn’t go to hotels like that.
Jeff, you and I and some of the other commentators were not in the target audience for DIRTY DANCING. My sister certainly was and she loves it even more today!
The Rosettes would be a good name for a band! I like the Ronettes better, tho! I don’t think I’ve seen this movie all the way through, the eighties being in the dumper for me, musicwise!
I don’t love everything on TCM, but I do hold it in higher regard than nearly any other cable film channel. If we consider Criterion Channel one of those (rather than streaming, and we make a distincttion, they are on similar peaks. A few others, such a Ovation when if first arrived. The early Fox Moviec Channel was in the ballpark…and MHz Worldview in its short run was a contender.
On broadcast, the PBS THeater package in the ’70s, approximately all Criterion Collection items, certainly made an impression on young me.
Or, the other networks. The branding, after all. (Either Alice’s computer or your site decided I meant “banking”…at least as much the province of most other film channels/networks. There was a short-lived one whose name keeps slipping through memory’s grasp…good, on a budget.
Know essentially all the older songs and none of the new ones aside from the biggest hit, “Time of My Life”…never had much desire to see the film, and haven’t. “Time of My Life” not as annoying as the Four Seasons’ song, but close enough.
Todd, part of the charm of DIRTY DANCING was capturing a time and place now long gone.
The darker aspects, as I understand them to arise (I think from the Kathi Maio review collected in her FEMINIST IN THE DARK), such as the abortion scare, definitely gave it some weight, but the commercial campaign that seemed to make it all about a spoiled teen being romancded by a self-involved Lothario of a dance instructor, didn’t scream Go See Me to me at the time.
I only saw the movie was, and I was pretty much “meh” about it. I like the songs on the soundtrack that ARE from the period of the movie, but the music that was made just for the film, like “Hungry Eyes” or “She’s Like the Wind”, leave me equally “meh”.
Deb, the period songs enhance the movie. The more modern songs are just window dressing.
And residuals-colleting.
Or even, collecting.
Unlike Deb, I don’t find the music “meh,” but at best just run-of-the mill okay.
As for the flick, I never saw it and I can live with that. Also SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER, THE RED SHOES, and most of Fred Astaire. I did see WHITE NIGHTS and was unimpressed. However, I will drop almost anything to watch Gene Kelly.
Jerry, Gene Kelly (no relation) stars in one of my favorite films, SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN from 1952 (when I was three years old).
Swayze’s song was the definition of “meh” IMHO. Nothing comes close to “Be My Baby,” which Brian Wilson considered the best rock & roll song ever. “Love is Strange” and “In the Still Of the Night” (which I forgot was in the movie) would be on my list too.
We watched the movie because we knew the real Catskills scene from that time, though we didn’t go to hotels like that.
Jeff, you and I and some of the other commentators were not in the target audience for DIRTY DANCING. My sister certainly was and she loves it even more today!
I remember seeing it on the boardwalk in Rehoboth, DE. And many times since.
Patti, my three sisters collectively have seen DIRTY DANCING more than 100 times.
In a decade of clichéd, by the numbers dance movies, at least it wasn’t the dopiest. That would be a dead heat between FOOTLOOSE and STAYIN’ ALIVE.
I agree, Fred. I thought FOOTLOOSE (though a big hit) was idiotic, and STAYIN’ ALIVE was embarrassingly bad.
Jeff, STAYIN’ ALIVE was the “sequel” to SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER (a much better movie).
Fred, FOOTLOOSE seems to have held up better over the decades. STAYIN’ ALIVE–other than the title song–has slid.
I liked the movie and the dancing. I remember and like most of the songs by name, maybe more hearing them.
Maggie, if I find a copy of the DIRTY DANCING soundtrack I’ll send it to you.
Thanks
The Rosettes would be a good name for a band! I like the Ronettes better, tho! I don’t think I’ve seen this movie all the way through, the eighties being in the dumper for me, musicwise!
Bob, but a big chunk of the music in DIRTY DANCING is from the Sixties!
That part I’d like! As I said, I haven’t seen the whole movie!
Bob, DIRTY DANCING seems to be on Turner Classic Movies every week!
I don’t love everything on TCM, but I do hold it in higher regard than nearly any other cable film channel. If we consider Criterion Channel one of those (rather than streaming, and we make a distincttion, they are on similar peaks. A few others, such a Ovation when if first arrived. The early Fox Moviec Channel was in the ballpark…and MHz Worldview in its short run was a contender.
On broadcast, the PBS THeater package in the ’70s, approximately all Criterion Collection items, certainly made an impression on young me.
Todd, TCM and PBS seem to be holding to a Higher Standard than the Networks.
Or, the other networks. The branding, after all. (Either Alice’s computer or your site decided I meant “banking”…at least as much the province of most other film channels/networks. There was a short-lived one whose name keeps slipping through memory’s grasp…good, on a budget.
Todd, now we have the FCC threatening Jimmy Kimmel and ABC.