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Eighties pop stars united for Gary Barlow ‘Eddie the Eagle’ soundtrack

By Justyn Barnes

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To accompany the forthcoming film on the brave leaps and many falls of the endearingly hapless British ski jumper ‘Eddie The Eagle’, Take That star, and national-treasure-in-waiting Gary Barlow brings together a who’s who of Eighties’ pop stars for an album of new studio recordings and original songs…

The release of Fly (Songs Inspired By The Film Eddie The Eagle) via Universal Music next month is the culmination of a project that began with a phone call from the film’s producer Matthew Vaughn to Barlow back in December 2014.

“He was raving about the next movie he was going to make – the life story of Eddie Edwards,” recalls the Take That singer-songwriter. “When he started reeling off about the script, the actors and, best of all, that he wanted all the music to be faithful to the original decade of the story, the 1980s, I knew I had to be involved. Then after having seen the film I was even more excited. I started to think about how incredible it would be to make a whole album of brand-new songs, with a cast of the legends who started their career in, and defined, the 1980s. Not a pastiche record, but a contemporary record of who all those artists are now, while still keeping the trademark style for which they originally became known around the world.”

Barlow’s vision was of an “iconic supergroup, all on one soundtrack, one album” and a glance down the track listing shows that he did a good job, with brand-new songs by Tony Hadley, Marc Almond, Holly Johnson, Paul Young, Kim Wilde, Andy Bell, Midge Ure, Nik Kershaw, ABC, Go West, Howard Jones and Heaven 17. There’s also a duet, written by Gary Barlow and OMD’s Andy McCluskey sung by stars of the film Taron Egerton (who plays Eddie) and Hugh Jackman (who plays Eddie’s rebellious coach Bronson Perry).

For Barlow, the process of making the record was pure pleasure: “The best part for me was when the tracks started to come in. My email would ping and it would be a demo from Marc Almond; then a question about a lyric from Holly Johnson; a mix query from Kim Wilde. I feel so lucky to have experienced it all. A year on and I’m looking back at one of the most enjoyable and collaborative times in my whole career. Anyone who loves the Eighties, or any of these artists involved, are in for an hour of incredible music.”

SDE readers of a certain vintage will likely remember the unlikely figure of Michael ‘Eddie The Eagle’ Edwards competing at the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics, perched at the top of a vertiginous ski jump, glasses steaming up, before launching himself off the hill, only to finish last in both the 70m and 90m events. The story behind his heroic failure is told in the film Eddie The Eagle (which, incidentally, is directed by Dexter Fletcher, star of legendary late-Eighties British kids’ TV comedy-drama, Press Gang – remember that?).

Fly (Songs Inspired By The Film Eddie The Eagle) is released on 18 March a few weeks after the movie hits cinema screen in the USA (February 26) and a fortnight before the film’s UK opening on, appropriately enough, April Fools’ Day.

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track_listing

  • 1. Ascension – Holly Johnson
  • 2. Eagle Will Fly Again – Howard Jones
  • 3. Out Of The Sky – Marc Almond
  • 4. Moment – Tony Hadley
  • 5. Touching Hearts And Skies – Midge Ure
  • 6. The Sky’s The Limit – Nik Kershaw
  • 7. Living In My Heart – ABC
  • 8. Without Your Love – Kim Wilde
  • 9. Fly – Andy Bell
  • 10. Determination – Go West
  • 11. Pray – Heaven 17
  • 12. People Like You – Paul Young
  • 13. Thrill Me – Taron Egerton, Hugh Jackman
  • 14. Eddie The Eagle Theme – Matthew Margeson

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23 Comments

23 thoughts on “Eighties pop stars united for Gary Barlow ‘Eddie the Eagle’ soundtrack”

  1. Pingback: Fly ‘songtrack’ on limited white vinyl | superdeluxeedition

  2. After a delay with my order, this CD FINALLLLLLY hit my hands on Saturday. Now two days later, first chance to play, and NOT One, dud track, this is ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC. Big Thanks to Gary Barlow. EVERY TRACK whether new, recent, or oldish, still is AWESOME. My favs are: Midge Ure, Holly Johnson, Kim Wilde, Paul Young, Andy Bell.

  5. I’m loving that new Nik Kershaw song very good…I saw Howard Jones in concert this past Sunday 7th February…he said one of his songs is on the soundtrack CD a song called “Eagle Will Fly Again” and the other one “Hero In Your Eyes” which he performed Live but that one is only on in the background of the film not on the soundtrack but he did say the song would appear on his own album towards the end of the year…gorgeous piano chords and melody on this song which is now on YouTube…https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABHPfyuHZwQ

  6. It would be interesting to know which other artists Gary Barlow considered or even if anyone declined!

    If there was more room, it would have been nice to have had new tracks by; Matt Goss, Curiosity Killed The Cat, Johnny Hates Jazz, Alison Moyet and T’Pau.

    For me that would have been an even more perfect collection.

    :-)

  7. Anyone interested in this project might want to pick up a copy of ’80’s recovered’ a similar concept with 80’s heroes covering other artists tracks. the highlight for me is ABC’s version of radioheads ‘high & dry’. it also features the sadly missed Colin Vearncombe singing ‘wicked games’

    1. Holly and Gary Barlow were asked about a possible Eurovision entry during an interview with Ken Bruce a few weeks back.

      Neither appeared to be interested and they indicated, IIRC, that it was now the sort of contest that could kill a career.

  10. Looking forward to the movie + soundtrack.
    Would have been nice though, to have Finland’s skijumping legend Matti Nykänen (and 3-times gold medalwinner in Calgary) included with a song as well.

  13. This CD is great and a very nice surprise!

    The Nik Kershaw track is exceptional, it’s a shame this is an old single from 2012, but this mix is truly amazing and fits the film perfectly!!!!

    It is fantastic to have new tracks from Go West, Holly Johnson AND Howard Jones – all on one CD blimey :-)

    I hope this soundtrack gets some traction as these artists deserve renewed recognition!

    I’m seeing Howard on Sunday – can’t wait!

    :-)

  16. Got chills listening to Holly Johnson’s track–it’s more like what a James Bond theme should sound like, instead of what we got with Spectre (although, I like Sam Smith otherwise).

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