If you are a fan of the film or anything 80s...buy this CD!
The soundtrack to the Adam Sandler/Drew Barrymore 80s retro romantic comedy "The Wedding Singer," proved to be a surprise smash hit when it was released in early 1998. So popular was the soundtrack, in fact, a second volume was released later that year.
Set in 1985, anyone vaguely familiar with 80s pop-culture knows that the film is at times off by a couple of years when it goofs on 80s styles, music and fashion. Some of the targets that were featured in this film, (i.e., Flock of Seagulls hair-style, Boy George, etc) were yesterday's news by 1985. That really doesn't matter though, as "The Wedding Singer" is still an awesome movie that's hysterical and a lot of fun.
Like the film, the soundtrack is off by a couple of years as well. Most of the hits on this CD were popular in the early 80s, a few years before the "The Wedding Singer" is set. But that doesn't really matter either, as "The Wedding Singer" soundtracks are two of the best 80s compilations ever assembled.
Focusing mostly on new wave and pop standards, "The Wedding Singer" soundtracks offer a grab-bag of hits, from the decade's most essential artists, one-hit-wonders, and the novelty acts in between.
Volume one starts out with a cover of the Buggles "Video Killed the Radio Star" performed by the 90s alt-pop band The Presidents of the United States of America. While it may seem odd to start off an 80s soundtrack with a 90s artist, covering a song from the 70s, it actually works just fine. It makes the soundtrack appear fresh and spices up the album a little, setting "The Wedding Singer" soundtrack apart from a million other 80s comps. The Culture Club's reggae flavored "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" is one of those songs that I'm embarrassed to admit I like...but I do. Another reggae flavored smash, the Police's "Every Little Thing She Does is Magic," is magic. The Smith's "How Soon is Now?" and the Psychedelic Furs "Love My Way" offer two off-beat, alternative classics. If I was a little embarrassed to admit I liked "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me," I'm a lot more embarrassed to admit that I like the Thomson Twins "Hold Me Now," but I just can't help myself. Elvis Costello's enchanting "Everyday I Write the Book" follows nicely. One artist that managed to blend metal and new wave brilliantly was Billy Idol, and his classic "White Wedding" gives the soundtrack a little shot of adrenalin. David Bowie's "China Girl" is rather dark, yet danceable, and totally irresistible. New Order's club staple "Blue Monday" never gets old, no matter how many times I hear it. "Pass the Dutchie" by Musical Youth has never really done anything for me. I find it to be just flat out annoying. That said, I usually don't skip over it either, as it has some kind of alluring quality. Adam Sandler's original composition "Somebody Kill Me" is a lot of fun and is definitely something someone can relate to if they're broken hearted. "Rapper's Delight," featuring a bizarre intro rap by the elderly Ellen Dow (as seen in the film) is hilarious and never gets old. The actual song, performed by Sugerhill Gang is great, and is a perfect closer to the soundtrack.
I own a bunch of 80s compilation albums and the "Wedding Singer" soundtracks, volumes one and two, I rank as the very best. First, the flow of the albums are great, as all the songs just sort of fit together perfectly. Second, there isn't a bad song among the bunch. Even the "bad" songs, like the Thompson Twins "Hold Me Now," on this volume, are good. Some of these 80s comps you see are filled with top 40 standards that are just bad, as in, like...bad. Third, the inclusion of some novelties--a song by The Presidents of the United States, a Sandler original, dialogue from the film, ("Have you Written Anything Lately") and the Ellen Dow track, make this compilation unique and not just another soundtrack or another 80s hits compilation.
If you are a fan of the movie "The Wedding Singer" or anything 80s, both this soundtrack and the second volume are highly recommended.
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