Top Gun Anthem

Last updated
"Top Gun Anthem"
Single by Harold Faltermeyer and Steve Stevens
from the album Top Gun
Released1986 (1986)
Recorded1985
Genre
Length4:12
Label Columbia
Songwriter(s) Harold Faltermeyer
Producer(s) Harold Faltermeyer
Audio
"Top Gun Anthem" on YouTube

"Top Gun Anthem" is an instrumental rock composition and the theme of the Top Gun media franchise, including the original 1986 film Top Gun and its 2022 sequel Maverick . Harold Faltermeyer wrote the music with Steve Stevens playing guitar and Faltermeyer on the keyboard on the recording. In the film, the full song is heard in the film's ending scene.

Contents

Overview

An edited version of the song without the electric guitar is played in the opening sequence set aboard the aircraft carrier deck during launch preparations - the music is set so that after the F-14 Tomcat's engines are on full afterburner and the aircraft subsequently launches from the catapult, it immediately changes to "Danger Zone" by Kenny Loggins. This edited version would re-appear in a similar fashion during the opening scene of Top Gun: Maverick , but with F/A-18 E/F Super Hornets and F-35s replacing the F-14s.

In an interview for Red Bull Academy in 2014, Faltermeyer recalled simultaneously recording keyboard parts for Billy Idol's Whiplash Smile while also composing a melody for a scene in the movie Fletch . Idol passed by the control room on a break and opened the door for a listen. He liked the melody and pumped his fist in the air, saying it was "Top Gun". In a 2022 interview with AXS TV, Stevens said Faltermeyer showed him a Betamax copy of the film's workprint and offered him to record the guitar section of the song. [1]

Achievements

"Top Gun Anthem" won a 1987 Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance.

Music video

The song's music video, directed by Dominic Sena, shows Faltermeyer playing the piano and Stevens on electric guitar in a hangar with naval aircraft. This video was re-released within the 2004 Top Gun Collector's Edition DVD.

Stevens used a Hamer SS signature guitar in the music video but for the recording he used his Charvel San Dimas Glow and a 100-watt Marshall amplifier to record his part. He also used a Boss compressor pedal to add more sustain.[ citation needed ] There is only one guitar track throughout the entire piece, with the exception of the ending.

Availability

The song is available on both the original Top Gun soundtrack album and the expanded edition. A re-recorded version is also available on the soundtrack, Top Gun: Maverick (Music From the Motion Picture) .

Personnel

Other uses

The theme was used in Bollywood movie Darr .

The theme was played on organ as an intro to "Don't Need a Gun" during Billy Idol's Whiplash Smile tour.

A similar tune was found in the 1988 Amiga flight simulator F/A-18 Interceptor .

Rapper T.I. sampled the guitar riff for his song "Big Things Poppin'."

On July 3, 2008, Activision released a free downloadable version of the "Top Gun Anthem" covered by Steve Ouimette for both the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions of Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock . [3]

A remixed version of the song is featured as the official soundtrack for the Top Gun: Maverick DLC in Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown , alongside "Danger Zone".

Charts

Chart performance for "Top Gun Anthem" (Maverick version)
Chart (2022)Peak
position
Hungary (Single Top 40) [4] 11
South Korea Download (Circle) [5] 159
US Rock Digital Song Sales ( Billboard ) [6] 11

Related Research Articles

<i>Top Gun</i> 1986 film directed by Tony Scott

Top Gun is a 1986 American action drama film directed by Tony Scott and produced by Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer, with distribution by Paramount Pictures. The screenplay was written by Jim Cash and Jack Epps Jr., and was inspired by an article titled "Top Guns", written by Ehud Yonay and published in California magazine three years earlier. It stars Tom Cruise as Lieutenant Pete "Maverick" Mitchell, a young naval aviator aboard the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise. He and his radar intercept officer, Lieutenant Nick "Goose" Bradshaw, are given the chance to train at the United States Navy's Fighter Weapons School at Naval Air Station Miramar in San Diego, California. Kelly McGillis, Val Kilmer and Tom Skerritt also appear in supporting roles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kenny Loggins</span> American singer and guitarist

Kenneth Clark Loggins is an American guitarist, singer and songwriter. His early songs were recorded with the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band in 1970, which led to seven albums recorded with Jim Messina as Loggins and Messina from 1972 to 1977. His early soundtrack contributions date back to A Star Is Born in 1976, and he is known as the King of the Movie Soundtrack. As a solo artist, Loggins experienced a string of soundtrack successes, including an Academy Award nomination for "Footloose" in 1985. Finally Home was released in 2013, shortly after Loggins formed the group Blue Sky Riders with Gary Burr and Georgia Middleman. He won a Daytime Emmy Award, two Grammy Awards and was nominated for an Academy Award, a Tony Award and a Golden Globe Award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Take My Breath Away</span> 1986 single by Berlin

"Take My Breath Away" is a song written by Giorgio Moroder and Tom Whitlock for the 1986 film Top Gun, performed by American new wave band Berlin. It won the Academy Award for Best Original Song as well as the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song in 1986.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Stevens</span> American guitarist

Steve Stevens is an American guitarist. He is best known as Billy Idol's guitarist and songwriting collaborator, and for his lead guitar work on the theme to Top Gun – "Top Gun Anthem" – for which he won a Grammy in 1987: Best Pop Instrumental Performance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harold Faltermeyer</span> German musician

Hans Hugo Harold Faltermeier is a German musician, composer and record producer.

<i>Idol Songs: 11 of the Best</i> 1988 greatest hits album by Billy Idol

Idol Songs: 11 of the Best is a greatest hits album by English rock singer Billy Idol, released on 20 June 1988 by Chrysalis Records. It comprises all the singles released from his first three studio albums—Billy Idol, Rebel Yell and Whiplash Smile—as well as the live version of "Mony Mony" and re-recorded Generation X song "Dancing with Myself", both of which appeared on Idol's debut EP Don't Stop. A limited edition of the album contains two extra remixes, and another limited edition contains four extra remixes. The album reached number two on the UK Albums Chart and has been certified platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). In 2003, the album was reissued with a different title and cover as The Essential.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Whitlock</span> American songwriter (1954–2023)

Thomas Ross Whitlock was an American songwriter, best known for co-writing the Academy Award– and Golden Globe–winning song "Take My Breath Away", performed by Berlin from the film Top Gun, with Giorgio Moroder. He wrote another song for the film, "Danger Zone", performed by Kenny Loggins.

<i>Whiplash Smile</i> 1986 studio album by Billy Idol

Whiplash Smile is the third studio album by the English rock singer Billy Idol, released on 20 October 1986 by Chrysalis Records. After his successful studio album Rebel Yell (1983), Idol continued his collaboration with producer Keith Forsey and guitarist Steve Stevens while writing and producing songs for the album. The album utilizes Stevens' characteristic guitar work, dance beats, and synth-heavy production.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Danger Zone (song)</span> 1986 single by Kenny Loggins

"Danger Zone" is a song, with music composed by Giorgio Moroder and lyrics written by Tom Whitlock, which American singer-songwriter Kenny Loggins recorded and released in 1986. The song was one of the hit singles from the soundtrack to the 1986 American film Top Gun, the best-selling soundtrack of 1986, and one of the best-selling of all time. According to Allmusic.com, the album "remains a quintessential artifact of the mid-'80s" and the album's hits "still define the bombastic, melodramatic sound that dominated the pop charts of the era". The song is also featured in the 2022 sequel film Top Gun: Maverick and its soundtrack, using the same original recording.

<i>All Systems Go</i> (Donna Summer album) 1987 studio album by Donna Summer

All Systems Go is the thirteenth studio album by Donna Summer. It was released on September 15, 1987; it would be her final release on Geffen Records, which had been Summer's label since 1980. There were two singles released in the US, "Dinner with Gershwin" and "Only the Fool Survives", although both failed to reach the top 40 of the Hot 100. The title cut, "All Systems Go" was released as single in the UK. The album peaked at number 122 on the US Billboard 200, becoming her lowest charting studio album to date.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">My Own Summer (Shove It)</span> 1997 single by Deftones

"My Own Summer (Shove It)" is a song by American alternative metal band Deftones, released in 1997 by Maverick Records as the first single from their second album Around the Fur. It was Deftones' first charting single, reaching number 29 in the UK Singles Chart. The song also features backing vocals from bassist Chi Cheng, in the chorus. The song has been described as a defining track of the nu metal and alternative metal genres.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mighty Wings</span> 1986 single by Cheap Trick

"Mighty Wings" is a song by American rock band Cheap Trick, which was released in 1986 as the third single from the soundtrack of the film Top Gun. It was written by Harold Faltermeyer and Mark Spiro, and produced by Faltermeyer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Playing with the Boys</span> 1986 single by Kenny Loggins

"Playing with the Boys" is a song by American singer-songwriter Kenny Loggins for the film Top Gun, featured in the beach volleyball scene toward the middle of the film prior to Maverick's dinner date with Charlie. It is available on both the original 1986 Top Gun soundtrack album and the 2000 expanded edition. The song peaked at No. 60 on the Billboard Hot 100. Loggins re-recorded the song in 2021 featuring Butterfly Boucher.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Billy Idol</span> British singer and songwriter

William Michael Albert Broad, known professionally as Billy Idol, is a British singer, songwriter, musician and actor. He also holds United States citizenship. He first achieved fame in the 1970s emerging from the London punk rock scene as the lead singer of the group Generation X. Subsequently, he embarked on a solo career which led to international recognition and made Idol a lead artist during the MTV-driven "Second British Invasion" in the US. The name "Billy Idol" was inspired by a schoolteacher's description of him as "idle".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Heat Is On (Glenn Frey song)</span> 1984 single by Glenn Frey

"The Heat Is On" is a song written by Harold Faltermeyer and Keith Forsey, and recorded by Glenn Frey for the American film Beverly Hills Cop (1984). The song was published as a single and as the sixth track of the album Beverly Hills Cop: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (1984).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">He's the King</span> 1997 single by Bonnie Tyler

"He's the King" is a song recorded by Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler for her twelfth studio album, All in One Voice (1998). It was released in December 1997 by EastWest Records as the lead single of the album. The song was written by German songwriters Harold Faltermeyer and Gernot Rothenbach.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sweet Sixteen (song)</span> 1987 single by Billy Idol

"Sweet Sixteen" is a song by British singer-songwriter Billy Idol, released in 1987 as the third single from his third studio album Whiplash Smile (1986). The song written by Idol and produced by Keith Forsey. "Sweet Sixteen" peaked at No. 20 in the US and No. 17 in the UK. It was also a hit across Europe and beyond.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">When I'm with You (Sparks song)</span> 1980 single by Sparks

When I'm with You is a song released by Los Angeles band Sparks. The song relies on disco and new wave as its two main genres with rock guitars audible throughout the song. The song did not chart on any Billboard charts, but was Sparks’ only Top 40 single in Australia, where it peaked at number 14, whilst it peaked at number 1 in France for six weeks. It is not known who produced this song as Giorgio Moroder produced it alongside Harold Faltermeyer, with the latter claiming to have produced much of the album. Keith Forsey, best known as producer for Billy Idol in the 1980s and then resuming in 2006, and for writing several other works including "Don't You " and "Flashdance... What a Feeling" among others, played drums on the song. The B-side is an instrumental version of "When I'm with You".

<i>Top Gun: Maverick</i> (soundtrack) 2022 soundtrack album by Lorne Balfe, Harold Faltermeyer, Lady Gaga, and Hans Zimmer

Top Gun: Maverick is the soundtrack to the 2022 action film Top Gun: Maverick by Lorne Balfe, Harold Faltermeyer, Lady Gaga, and Hans Zimmer. It consists of the film's score as well as two original songs, "Hold My Hand" by Gaga and "I Ain't Worried" by OneRepublic, which were released as singles prior to the album. The soundtrack contains the song "Danger Zone" by Kenny Loggins, which was also featured in the first film. The soundtrack was released on May 27, 2022, by Interscope Records and Paramount Music through digital and physical formats.

Top Gun is an American action drama multimedia franchise based on the 1983 article "Top Guns" by Ehud Yonay, which was adapted into the eponymous 1986 film, written by Jim Cash and Jack Epps Jr. The original film portrays Tom Cruise as Lieutenant Pete "Maverick" Mitchell, a young naval aviator aboard the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise, who with his radar intercept officer, LTJG Nick "Goose" Bradshaw, are given the chance to train at the US Navy's Fighter Weapons School at Naval Air Station Miramar in San Diego, California.

References

  1. AXS TV (May 29, 2022). Kenny Loggins Reveals How "Danger Zone" from Top Gun Came to Life. YouTube . Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  2. "Harold Faltermeyer's Top Gun Anthem was originally intended for a Chevy Chase comedy, but then Billy Idol got involved". 19 May 2022.
  3. Ludwig Kietzmann (2008-07-01). "Guitar Hero III Getting Free Top Gun Anthem DLC". Joystiq . Retrieved 2008-07-02.
  4. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  5. "Download Chart – Week 27 of 2022". Circle Chart . Retrieved July 7, 2022.
  6. "Lady Gaga Chart History (Rock Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved June 8, 2022.