With the ongoing Ukraine – Russia conflict, warplanes, bomb attacks and shelling, ‘Top Gun’ is one war movie we just cannot forget at this time. While with sympathize with all those who are in Ukraine and hope that everything irons out soon and that Russia pulls out of Ukraine, this fortnight we pick a war movie of the 80s, that we probably have seen once or maybe twice. A film that has action and romance all in one. Who does not remember those moments in the movie with Tom Cruise.

A film that has a super soundtrack, fuelled by the power of hit singles like Kenny Loggins' Danger Zone and Berlin's Take My Breath Away (imagining flying through the air with Tom Cruise), the soundtrack to ‘Top Gun’ was one of the biggest hits of 1986. Not every track is great, or even good, but the one that are, make up for it.

Who can ever forget the guitar solo from Steve Stevens and Harold Faltermeyer’s (he also played the very popular Axel F tune from ‘Beverley Hills Cop’) piano work on the Top Gun theme song. This solo is indeed a masterpiece and perfectly matched the song and music for such a war film than any other in its day. Stevens was truly one of the greatest 80s guitarists, with astonishing skill, wonderful tone and a riff that no one can ever forget.

For a movie that came out in 1986, you'd think that the primary source of its music would be from metal bands, but not just the magnificently triumphant guitar work on the Top Gun Anthem, there’s lots more, like the Latin synth-brass of the Miami Sound Machine featuring Gloria Estefan's Hot Summer nights, Mighty Wings by pop rock band Cheap Trick, Playing with the Boy by Kenny Loggins who also gave us the amazing Footloose. Besides this we could also go for Loverboy’s Heaven in your Eyes. All this makes a classic soundtrack to check out.

The music really forms a key part of this movie along with the superb cast, and cinematography. So the soundtrack just had to get bought, the tracks on the soundtrack are hard to beat for mood.

Some things about the Eighties are worth remembering. ‘Top Gun’ is still a good movie and it still has a killer soundtrack. The ‘Top Gun’ soundtrack was as 80s and the movie was.

Label: Sony

Rating: *****

Reviewed by Verus Ferreira