The Breakfast Club film made us all think about into which category we fell in high school. For most of us, these categories were the first foray into social classism, how we would develop into adults. And the movie helped us see that, deep inside, we’re all just insecure children hoping for acceptance and friendship. The theme song is a bulletproof anthem of the need to be accepted; mutual acceptance across the board. It solidified my friendship with Jan, turning her from a childhood grade school acquaintance to a dear friend, the sister she is to me today. It reassured my place in the life of my first childhood friend, Linda. It gave me courage to move forward and forge new, lasting friendships with so many others. There is a build-up in the bridge at the end that’s palpable. Lead singer Jim Kerr is urging, commanding them to come on, call his name. It’s definitive of the feelings we awkward weirdos all can relate to. And then, success in the form of a million la’s The Simple Minds’ Don’t You Forget About Me is today’s countdown song for all these reasons, but also because the song just kicks ass. You probably turn it up when you hear it on the radio, too. They even made it relevant again as a romantic ballad in Pitch Perfect, so what’s not to love?
From the historical writing archive. Original date: November 11, 2015. Recovered from local source material; editorial review is still in progress.
