Soundtraxx: The Rocky Edition
Maybe it is the scene where Burt Young’s Paulie throws the turkey his sister Adrian (Talia Shire) spent her day preparing right out the window in 1976’s Rocky… Maybe it is the fact that seeing Rocky IV in the theater on Thanksgiving Day in 1985 is still one of my fondest movie memories… Whatever the reason, I always associate Thanksgiving with the Rocky movie franchise. A franchise that has given fans many memorable moments, characters and music.
Today on this day of giving thanks I have gathered together with my extended Bulletproof Action family and friend of the site/move music enthusiast Ian Garriott to give thanks to the music of Rocky and countdown our Top 10 favorite Rocky songs…
Todd Gaines: One of the key ingredients to an awesome 80s action movie is a training montage scene. Rocky IV does one better with two training montage scenes and an actual song called “Training Montage” by Vince DiCola. If that ain’t ‘80s awesomeness, then what is?
Chris DePetrillo: “I like to kick the funky funky new style” exclaimed Rob Base on this track from the Rocky V soundtrack, and this was definitely something funky and new when compared to the Rocky music that preceded it. Though the Rocky V soundtrack got even less love than the film itself did, I thought that shying away from the rock anthems in favor of a more urban tone was a better fit for a film that featured Rocky Balboa returning to the rough streets of Philly. Rob Base knows how to spit a rhyme that makes you want to move, and though “I Wanna Rock” may not get the love that other entries on this list do, it’s guaranteed to get your blood pumping.
Ian Garriott: The song “Take You Back” by Valentine, helps build the atmosphere of the down on their luck inner streets of Philadelphia in 1975. When this song starts, we meet Rocky alone on the street just walking, more like bouncing home from a fight. Even though he hurts, this song captures the relaxed go easy personality of Rocky. The first act of the movie is paved by this simple piece of music. It is pure cool.
Chris the Brain: Music can elevate the drama and impact of any scene and the beautiful orchestration that is Bill Conti’s “Going the Distance” does just that. Whether you are talking about the ultimate underdog Rocky Balboa in the fight of his life with the reigning champion of the world in the 1976 original or its use in the 1979 sequel for the intense training that Rocky goes into after the love of his life Adrian comes out of her coma and tells him there’s one thing she wants him to do for her… WIN!
Matt Spector: “Burning Heart” is a great song that doesn’t require interpretation. The lyrics literally spell out the Cold War battle between “East versus West.” That just happens to be the whole basis for Rocky IV! “Burning Heart” plays as Rocky and team make their way to the Soviet Union and their primitive training camp. While not as popular “Eye of the Tiger” for Survivor, at least when I hear “Burning Heart” I don’t think of the Gary Busey/Yaphet Kotto movie.
Chad Cruise: I just love it when songs have lyrics which are LITERALLY what the character is going through at that moment. “There’s no easy way out. There’s no shortcut home.” It’s like Rocky was driving around listening to a Tony Robbins self-help tape made just for him. The song also succeeds in totally kicking ass and I don’t mean just in the way it sounds. I dare you to watch the music video from this song with Robert Tepper looking like the guy who just might take your 17 year old sister out on a date only to end up sleeping with your Mom as well. What a legend.
Todd Gaines: First, a quick James Brown update…Yes, he is still dead. Yes, he still hasn’t been buried in his tomb. But, we have a cool pizza place in town named Soul City Pizza, in honor of the Godfather of Soul, Mr James Brown.
Feel good yet? I’m sure Apollo felt great going to the ring to fight Drago. Hell, every time I watch Rocky IV I have hope for a different ending to this match. “Living in America” is classic fuckin’ James Brown at his most soulful.
Chad Cruise: I’ve tried writing this short bit while listening to “Hearts of Fire” in the background three different times. Each time, I wound up doing burpees in the middle of the living room and cranking out a dozen pullups in the hallway doorframe. That’s the power of this song. It fills your ears with joyous rockin’ tunes while delivering a syringe full of victory to the heart. That’s why Rocky was ultimately the champion that he was; his heart. His determination to win was always greater than any combination of hurdles in his way.
Chris the Brain: Perhaps the most iconic song on this list, the moment you hear the horns in Bill Conti’s “Gonna Fly Now” you think Rocky Balboa and can visualize The Italian Stallion scaling the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. As powerful as it is inspirational, “Gonna Fly Now” puts the character of Rocky Balboa in the rarified air of such characters as James Bond, Superman, Darth Vader and Indiana Jones.
Chris DePetrillo: What can be said about “Eye of the Tiger” that hasn’t already been said over the past 40 years? This song, made especially for Rocky III at the request of Sylvester Stallone himself, went on to become one of the biggest songs of the 80’s; from the guitar chords to the powerful vocals of Survivor lead singer Dave Bickler, everything about “Eye of the Tiger” makes us feel like we can overcome any challenge. Bad day at the office? Cue up “Eye of the Tiger”. In the gym trying to lose those extra pounds you put on during the holidays? Sweat it out to this song. Even pro wrestling superstar Hulk Hogan, who appeared in Rocky III as Thunderlips, adopted the song as his entrance theme for several years. “Eye of the Tiger” is a hero’s anthem, and it’s not just the song Stallone wanted for his film, it’s the song that Rocky Balboa deserved.
sad news ; https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/18/movies/burt-young-dead.html