Soundtraxx: The JCVD Edition
Jean-Claude Van Damme was born Jean-Claude Camille François Van Varenberg in Brussels, Belgium on October 18, 1960.
In honor of JCVD’s birthday I wanted to throw “The Muscles from Brussels” a party of sorts here on Bulletproof Action and what’s a party without some music?! I invited a few members of the Bulletproof Action family to join me in counting down the best songs featured in Jean-Claude Van Damme’s filmography in the latest edition of Soundtraxx.
Kicking things off is Andrew Babcock, former host of the syndicated Hair Metal Mansion radio show…
Andrew Babcock: The Quest was Van Damme’s on screen return to his fighting tournament roots, so to speak. I’m not saying it topped what he did nearly a decade before, but The Quest has always meant a lot to me. The first Van Damme movie I remember seeing when it was ‘new’. An important part of that was the score and soundtrack. “To the City of Battle” is a piece that captures everything that the movie is perfectly. The atmosphere, the mystique, the journey, the clash of cultures. It’s all there.
Chad Cruise: Sandwiched in between 1993’s Nowhere to Run and 1994’s Timecop was arguably Van Damme’s greatest contribution to the “Creole-Cowboy” genre. Yes, I just made up that term just this minute but it totally fits if you ask me. I can’t think of another movie or character that fits inside this genre but it doesn’t matter when Van Damme’s Chance is so damned cool and has exceptional music like this joint from Graeme Revell. Upon hearing it, I instantly think of Chance making homoerotic jokes and beating the shit out of random thugs on the sidewalk.
Chris the Brain: I feel like “Steal the Night” would have ranked higher if the Internet did not have to go ahead and prove that the Mentos song may actually work better in one of the more light-hearted scenes in Bloodsport. After Helmer and Rawlins catch up with Frank Dux at the hotel lobby and attempt to make Frank return with them to the United States, Frank leads the on a foot chase through the streets of Hong Kong and beyond… Helmer and Rawlins end up in the drink that is Victoria Harbour while Frank bids them adieu as he hops in a rickshaw.
Chad Cruise: I haven’t cried since late 2001 but listening to Stan Bush’s “On My Own” stirs a lot of shit inside me that almost creeps out as manly little tears. I can’t place any of my own emotional baggage with this song but I’ll never get over the feeling of Frank Dux losing his brother in arms and having to take on the undefeated champion Chong Li all on his lonesome. I’m guessing that this won’t be the only time we see “The Human Hit Machine” Stan Bush on this list. Bless his heart.
Chris DePetrillo: With a name like Gen, internet searches to see what became of the band are not an easy thing. What was easy was making sure this one cracked the Top 15. This is a pure 90’s tune, an R&B track that would not be out of place if the DJ was spinning it at your favorite nightclub. Gen’s sound reminds me a lot of U-Krew, an early 90’s group whose big hit “If U Were Mine” is not only one of my favorite old school joints, but was used in the Richard Norton/Bolo Yeung/Britton Lee actioner Ironheart. Is it ominous or intimidating, or as inspiring as some of the other songs on this list? Definitely not, but it’s a jam that will stay stuck in your head long after you’ve watched Double Impact for the 100th time.
Andrew Babcock: Death Warrant is a fairly under the radar entry in Van Damme’s early catalog. What always made it stand out to me was the scene stealing, performance and evil grin of its villain, The Sandman, played perfectly by Patrick Kilpatrick. Many probably forget it also had a memorable “theme song” attached to it as well. Very of the era, but what a clever nod to the movie’s big bad, “Bring me a dream, Burke!”
Matt Spector: There are two things that make a great montage, great action and a banger. And to me honestly, if the music is on point, the action can take a back seat. Luckily, Bloodsport delivers on both fronts. “The Second Day” plays during the second day (genius song title!) of the kumite. Highlights include the crowd waving money around, Chong Li mean mugging anyone who dares to look in his direction and Frank Dux basically putting an end to Pumola’s ability to have children… while doing the splits. Like I said Bloodsport has it all.
Chad Cruise: I knew it! This Stan Bush song from 1989’s Kickboxer contains all of the things one might need for a killer ballad; the hook, the heart, and the lyrics that make you want to pick yourself up out of the mud and push forward. If Taylor Swift can make a gazillion dollars by putting her pussy-ass concerts on in movie theaters then Stan Bush should be worth more than the Rothchild’s. If you did a 23andMe you won’t find all those abusive uncles and drunken grandparents, you’d see songs like “Fight For Love” linking together all of my strands of DNA like a damned fishing net. It almost makes a man wanna cry…
Paul London: When legendary Hong Kong action director Tsui Hark (A Better Tomorrow) began developing his second American film alongside martial arts mega star Jean Claude Van Damme (who started in Hark’s 1st US dud 1997’s Double Team), Hark had a better grasp for what American audiences wanted to see. With the 1998 sleeper Knock Off, Hark would direct JCVD along with his annoying sidekick played by Rob Schneider as business partners (and undercover CIA operatives) in the bustling market of Hong Kong counterfeit fashion who are on the hunt for nano bombs fallen into the wrong hands. Direction and plot notwithstanding, where Hark ultimately succeeds is in landing iconic Los Angeles new wave group SPARKS to create the title song for the films ending credits, “It’s a Knockoff”. Written to support the plot of this underrated JC classic, ‘Knockoff’ would appear on the groups 18th album “Balls” and leaves the audience with an upbeat, friendly sounding and cleverly written song expertly crafted for full Van Dammage. No knock offs here.
Andrew Babcock: In my book, only rivaled by Bloodsport‘s “Fight to Survive”, “No Mercy” is the quintessential, fist-pumping, arena rock anthem that hypes you up so much, that it almost makes you feel like YOU are ready to enter the glamorous world of illegal, underground fighting. Almost.
Paul London: In the 1989 JCVD classic Kickboxer, faithful (I know it’s only 2 films) JC composer Paul Hertzog creates an enriching atmosphere which transports the listener into the hot, humid tropics of Thailand…but did you know, that back in 1939 the local military government changed the name from the original country name of Siam. Fitting, as the opening song to JC’s Muay Thai masterpiece is none other than the Stan Bush performed hit single “Streets of Siam”. Synthesizing beats and pan flutes erupt into a melodious mixture of excitement , intrigue and danger as we follow the Sloan Brothers (Kurt and Eric) arrival into the beautiful land of violence and naked children swimming in the canal. Sure to be stuck in your head for some time after, in “Streets of Siam” Stan Bush delivers with his trusty and raspy voice full of emotion, reminiscing over a warrior’s travels thru the very streets of (former) Siam.
Chris DePetrillo: In an era where rock anthems were a dime a dozen, Stan Bush made it his mission to have one on as many soundtracks as possible. His most famous contribution was “The Touch”, made for the Transformers: The Movie soundtrack, but the man had built such a reputation that it earned him a spot on not one, but two different Jean Claude Van Damme movie soundtracks! We’ll get to Bloodsport in just a little bit, but his appearance on that soundtrack saw him return to provide music for Kickboxer, landing not one, not two, but THREE songs in the film! I’m pretty sure it’s been scientifically proven that adding Stan Bush songs to any movie instantly makes it ten times better, and I’m yet to be proven wrong. Just look at The Wraith for example! Not that Kickboxer needed the help, but “Never Surrender” kicking in after Kurt Sloane has laid waste to Tong Po ends the film on a hard-rocking high note.
Chris the Brain: It was an unexpected surprise that a movie about an underground fight circuit would feature orchestral music. The score composed by John Scott and performed by The Munich Symphony Orchestra adds a great deal of gravitas to Lionheart (aka Wrong Bet, Leon, Full Contact and A.W.O.L.). The most epic track on the Lionheart score in my estimation is “The Wrong Bet”. The music perfectly marries with the action on display in the climatic fight between a less than 100% Leon and the monstrous Atilla. It’s an emotional rollercoaster that hits a painful low when Joshua admits that he bet against his friend Leon and then just climbs from there (with the help of Clement von Franckenstein’s unique slow clap).
Matt Spector: Many people know about JCVD’s early uncredited role in Breakin’ and that dancing history would come in handy in Kickboxer, but this time we get dancing with a bar fight! There is so much to like and the Beau Williams song “Feeling So Good Today” is the perfect title for how I feel when watching. Xian intentionally gets Kurt drunk knowing there will be fight. You just don’t find teachers that care about their students like that anymore. Only JCVD could make that shirt look cool, and those are some well made slacks to handle the splits with that extra bounce. And any scene where someone who has had too much to drink kicks someone right into the drink is the epitome of interesting writing.
Chris DePetrillo: Was there any doubt as to what number one would be? Soundtrack king Stan Bush makes his fifth appearance on this list in the top spot thanks to the theme from Van Damme’s breakout film, Bloodsport. Stan’s motivational lyrics (“my mind is ready, my heart’s on fire; I’m gonna push it over the wire) and the repetitious “Kumite” chants are enough to psych anyone up. Hitting the gym hard after work? Pop this one on and break a sweat. Racing to get the kids to school on time? Stan’s got you covered. Fighting for your life in an underground tournament? This is the song that should accompany all the bloodshed. Stan’s songs never fail to inspire, and the fact that this song can make our hearts pump just a little bit faster nearly 4 decades later is why he belongs at #1.
