Why The Soundtrack to ‘Beverly Hills Cop’ is The Quintessential Anthem of the Eighties
The eighties were a dramatic era that summoned the very best in entertainment that still captivates and inspires decades later. Artists like Taylor Swift and a slew of others have greatly benefited from the influences of high-tempo beats — mixed in with functional verses that stick to your memory like glue.
It was also a time when movies and the soundtracks that accompanied them were virtually inseparable. The standouts of that winning practice include The Big Chill, Footloose, Dirty Dancing and of course the incomparable Purple Rain. Each of those films featured a collection of hits that are just as relevant and endearing today as they were when they stormed the charts.
It’s been about 33 years since the much-heralded release of Beverly Hills Cop, the action comedy blockbuster that certified comedian and former SNL alum — Eddie Murphy’s movie star status — and as hard as it is to believe that it’s been that long — it’s even harder for me to admit that I was old enough to remember the phenomenal impact both the film and the soundtrack had on the cultural front.
Murphy’s Axel Foley was a charismatic, street-wise cop from Detroit who ends up inhabiting the polished streets of Beverly Hills as he investigates the brutal murder of his friend. Every…
