John Hughes: The Beat Of A Generation

Kids all over America are wondering why their parents have been so sad lately. Well, I'll tell you why because I'm one of those parents. First, Michael Jackson passes away. And now, the man that put our Generation on film, John Hughes, has left us. It's difficult to fathom the sheer enormity of the body of work John Hughes put out in a relatively short amount of time as a screen writer, director, & producer. No one had a better understanding of what it was like to be a teenager in the 1980's than John Hughes.

It was an awkward generation to have grow up in. So many distractions...so little time. Many of us had heard the tales from our parents & grandparents of simpler times, but we knew they screwed those up for us. Radio became portable. TV became cable. Movies became VHS tapes. Free love became AIDS. We were so confused by the expectations put on us by our elders while trying to avoid the traps & pitfalls they set up for us, all we really wanted to do was scream & have a good laugh. That's what John Hughes gave us.

With movies like National Lampoon's Vacation, Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, Pretty In Pink, Weird Science, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Uncle Buck, Home Alone....phew.....!! Damn that guy was busy. All in a decade, one that saw us through the awkward times on on into those even more awkward as we were to find out; parenthood.

Well say now, this isn't a funeral...this is a party!! And...this is a music website so let's strike up the jukebox & see what we can find. Look who's here too! Umm, Howard is that your Chinaman? Oh look, Sam's gotten her boobies! Bueller...? Bueller...? Hail, Marty Moose! Oh look, it's the brain, the athlete, the princess, the basket case, and the criminal. Hello Duckie, Farmer Ted, & you other dorks...careful Jake Ryan's in the next room & he looks pissed. Good to see you all again...let's get this party started:

1. "Twist & Shout" - Ferris Bueller's Vacation. Classic scene where Ferris steals the show at the parade. Loved the "Thriller" dancers. Check this out too....

2. "Don't You Forget About Me" - The Breakfast Club. Classic song from the iconic teen angst movie of all time.

3. "Holiday Road" - National Lampoon's Vacation. A little Lindsay Buckingham for Hanif...thanks for coming. Who's dog leash is that tied to the bumper? Oh. My. God.

4. "If You Leave" - Pretty In Pink. Oh, poor Duckie...how could you do that to him, Andie?

5. "Weird Science" - OK, where else would you hear Oingo Boingo but at a John Hughes party?

Come on in, the dorks are out back...