St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion)

"St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion)"
Single by John Parr
from the album St. Elmo's Fire (soundtrack) and John Parr
B-side	"Treat Me Like an Animal" "Somebody Stole My Thunder" "One Love" (instrumental) "Georgetown"
Released	13 June 1985 [1]
Genre	Rock [2] pop rock [3]
Length	4:08
Label	Atlantic
Songwriter(s)	David Foster John Parr
Producer(s)	David Foster
John Parr singles chronology
"Magical" (1985) "St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion)" (1985) "Love Grammar" (1985)
Music video
"St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion)" on YouTube

"St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion)" is a song by British singer John Parr that is the theme song from the 1985 film St. Elmo's Fire . ^[4] It reached No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart on 7 September 1985, remaining there for two weeks. ^[5] The record peaked at No. 6 in the United Kingdom, Parr's home country. ^[6] The song yielded Parr a Grammy nomination as well. ^[4]

Background and writing

"St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion)" was written by John Parr and David Foster. Foster had been impressed by Parr's song "Naughty Naughty" and invited him to perform the title track for the St. Elmo's Fire film. Originally, another song was chosen which Parr disliked. "That song sounded like Fame II or Flashdance II", Parr later said. "I thought the movie was supposed to have more class than that. It was a regurgitated song, and I didn't really want to sing it." ^[7]

Foster showed Parr a news clip about the Canadian athlete Rick Hansen, who at the time was going around the world in his wheelchair to raise awareness for spinal cord injuries. His journey was called the "Man in Motion Tour". Parr decided to help the campaign by writing words that would fit vaguely with the film, but which directly referenced Hansen's efforts. ^{[8] [9]}

The song was created and edited within 24 hours. ^[10] According to Parr, he and Foster wrote "St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion)" "between 2 and 4 on Friday afternoon". Joel Schumacher, the director of the film, had given Parr rough guidelines for the lyrics. "He wanted a song about determination," Parr recalled. "He wanted a song about kids who are growing up and have to make decisions about what to do with their lives. That's what the movie is about." Parr added, "In the movie, St. Elmo's is a bar. But to me, St. Elmo's Fire is a magical thing glowing in the sky that holds destiny to someone. It's mystical and sacred. It's where paradise lies, like the end of the rainbow." ^[7]

Personnel

• John Parr – guitar, vocals
• David Foster, Steve Porcaro, David Paich – keyboards
• Steve Lukather – guitar
• Carlos Vega – drums
• Jerry Hey – trumpet
• Bill Reichenbach Jr. – trombone
• David Amato, Richard Page – backing vocals

In popular culture

In 2012, John Parr re-recorded the song with new lyrics, dubbed "Tim Tebow's Fire", to honor Tim Tebow of the Denver Broncos. ^[11] Parr stated to Denver FOX affiliate KDVR, "I was inspired by Tim Tebow so I wanted to modify the lyrics...in his honor of the way that he lives his life as being a great example." ^[12]

In 2017, the song was heard in the short film Deadpool: No Good Deed . ^[13]

In 2020–21, during Conan's stint at the Largo Theater, the song was parodied. ^[14]

The song re-entered the UK Singles Chart in 2023 when it was featured on an advert for Virgin Media. ^[15]

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1985–1986) Peak position Australia (Kent Music Report) [16] 4 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) [17] 8 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) [18] 12 Canada Top Singles ( RPM ) [19] 1 Canada Adult Contemporary ( RPM ) [20] 1 Ireland (IRMA) [21] 5 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) [22] 19 Netherlands (Single Top 100) [23] 22 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) [24] 5 Norway (VG-lista) [25] 3 South Africa (Springbok Radio) [26] 2 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) [27] 4 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) [28] 4 UK Singles (OCC) [29] 6 US Billboard Hot 100 [30] 1 US Adult Contemporary ( Billboard ) [31] 16 US Mainstream Rock ( Billboard ) [32] 2 US Cash Box Top 100 1 West Germany (GfK) [33] 6 Zimbabwe (ZIMA) [34] 1 Chart (2024) Peak position Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100) [35] 66

Year-end charts Chart (1985) Rank Australia (Kent Music Report) [36] 57 Belgium (Ultratop) [37] 75 Canada Top Singles (RPM) [38] 14 US Billboard Hot 100 [39] 18 US Cash Box [40] 6 West Germany (Official German Charts) [41] 65 Chart (1986) Rank South Africa (Springbok Radio) [42] 16 All-time charts All-time chart performance for "St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion)" Chart Position US Billboard Hot 100 (1958–2018) [43] 495

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada) [44]	Gold	50,000^
United Kingdom (BPI) [45]	Silver	250,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Country	Date
United States	June 1985
United Kingdom	August 1985

References

1. "The Friday Morning Quarterback Album Report" (PDF). worldradiohistory.com. 7 June 1985. p. 32.
2. Breihan, Tom (23 October 2020). "The Number Ones: John Parr's "St. Elmo's Fire (Man In Motion)". Stereogum . Retrieved 2 August 2023. Musically, "St. Elmo's Fire (Man In Motion)" is also right in that weirdly-satisfying mid-'80s radio-rock zone.
3. Abercrombie, Olivia; Mitchell, Matt (10 March 2024). "The 50 Best Original Songs Written for Films". Paste . Retrieved 11 March 2024.
4. Levy, Glen (11 January 2012). "John Parr Updates the "St. Elmo's Fire" Theme For Tim Tebow" – via newsfeed.time.com.
5. "John Parr; Biography, Music & News". Billboard. Retrieved 30 September 2025.
6. Farrar, Doug (10 January 2012). "John Parr re-records the 'St. Elmo's Fire' theme song with Tebow-centric lyrics". Sports.yahoo.com. Retrieved 28 March 2013.
7. Hunt, Dennis (18 August 1985). "'FIRE' PUTS JOHN PARR ON THE FRONT BURNER". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
8. (12 January 2012)."John Parr Rewrites 'St. Elmo's Fire' As Valentine To Tebow", NPR. Retrieved 8 October 2012.
9. (27 October 2010). "Foster's song struck chord with Johns Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine ", The Province . Retrieved 8 October 2012.
10. Parr, John (10 March 2018), John Parr The One Show Interview, archived from the original on 21 December 2021, retrieved 6 March 2019
11. KDVRDenver (9 January 2012). ""Tim Tebow's Fire" by John Parr". YouTube. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
12. "'St. Elmo's Fire' singer reworks 1980's hit for Tim Tebow". FOX 31 Denver. 9 January 2012. Archived from the original on 17 January 2012. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
13. Wickline, Dan (4 March 2017). "Deadpool: No Good Deed Brings A Basket Of Easter Eggs". Bleeding Cool.
14. "VIDEO: Conan O'Brien's Parody Of 'St. Elmo's Fire' With Rob Gronkowski, Others". SB Nation Boston. 17 January 2012. Archived from the original on 14 May 2023. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
15. "Hang gliding goat returns Doncaster rocker John Parr to charts after 38 years". Doncaster Free Press. 20 July 2023. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
16. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 . St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
17. "John Parr – St Elmo's Fire (Man In Motion)" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
18. "John Parr – St Elmo's Fire (Man In Motion)" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
19. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0573." RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
20. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 9307." RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
21. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – St Elmo's Fire". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
22. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 43, 1985" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
23. "John Parr – St Elmo's Fire (Man In Motion)" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
24. "John Parr – St Elmo's Fire (Man In Motion)". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
25. "John Parr – St Elmo's Fire (Man In Motion)". VG-lista. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
26. "SA Charts 1965–March 1989" . Retrieved 5 September 2018.
27. "John Parr – St Elmo's Fire (Man In Motion)". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
28. "John Parr – St Elmo's Fire (Man In Motion)". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
29. "John Parr: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
30. "John Parr Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
31. "John Parr Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
32. "John Parr Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
33. "Offiziellecharts.de – John Parr – St Elmo's Fire (Man In Motion)" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
34. Kimberley, Chris (2000). Zimbabwe : Zimbabwe Singles Chart Book. Harare.
35. "OLiS – oficjalna lista airplay" (Select week 08.06.2024–14.06.2024.) (in Polish). OLiS . Retrieved 17 June 2024.
36. "Kent Music Report No 599 – 30 December 1985 > National Top 100 Singles for 1985". Kent Music Report . Retrieved 23 January 2023– via Imgur.
37. "Jaaroverzichten 1985" (in Dutch). Ultratop . Retrieved 13 November 2023.
38. "RPM's Top 100 Singles of 1985". RPM . Vol. 43, no. 16. 28 December 1985. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
39. Musicoutfitters.com
40. "Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1985". tropicalglen.com.
41. "Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 1985" (in German). GfK Entertainment . Retrieved 13 November 2023.
42. "Top 20 Hit Singles of 1986" . Retrieved 2 September 2018.
43. "Billboard Hot 100 60th Anniversary Interactive Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
44. "Canadian single certifications – John Parr – St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion)". Music Canada . Retrieved 2 August 2023.
45. "British single certifications – John Parr – St. Elmo's Fire". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 2 August 2023.

External links

• "Zizek and the 80s Movie Song" by Graham Wolfe