Being a teenager in the 80’s had many perks. Rap, video games, New Wave, break dancing, boom boxes, MTV, cassette tapes… the list could take up an entire post but one of the best perks of being a teen in the 80’s was John Hughes films.

I heard about the news of John Hughes death yesterday via twitter. I quickly put this up:

RIP John Hughes. It’s hard to count the chapters he contributed to the Big Pop Culture Book of our lives. http://bit.ly/15Iwqf   — @suzannehih

In honor of John Hughes here are 5 of my favorite films that made being a teen in the 80’s so cool.

1. The Breakfast Club

This Hughes film probably packs the biggest pop cultural impact punch. While searching for a homage or parody video of the movie The Breakfast Club  I came across a dance club named after the film. Inspired by retro coolness this party place in New Jersey is called The Breakfast Club. Sounds like a blast to me.

Check it out if you’re in the area and let me know how it is. Click here to visit their fun website.

2. Weird Science

Oingo Boingo was a favorite band of mine back in the 80’s. When my friends and I found out they did the theme song to the movie Weird Science we were even more excited to rush into the theater.

3. Sixteen Candles

“The Brat Pack gets bunnied. The 1984 coming of age film, Sixteen Candles, starring Molly Ringwald, Michael Schoeffling John Cusack, and Anthony Michael Hall, gets the bunny treatment. Three words: Long Duk Dong.”
— Minisode Network

4. Ferris Beuller’s Day Off

Just like most of the films above, this isn’t the first time I’ve mentioned Ferris Beuller’s Day Off. I don’t think I go a week without seeing a reference or quote from this film on some form of social media. How many times have you seen a Facebook update ending with “Bueller? …Bueller? …Bueller?” or “Anyone? Anyone?”

The Ferris Beuller’s Day Off soundtrack had a great mix of music. One song, Oh Yeah, by the Swiss electronica duo Yello was also used in commercials, TV shows and other films. They’re coming out with a new album in October 2009.

Visit Yello’s official site by clicking here. Oh Yeah!

5. Pretty in Pink

John Hughes had a way of taking the worst part of our teenage drama and making it interesting on screen. Pretty in Pink is considered another “Brat Pack” movie. This one was less about getting into teenage trouble and more about teenage love.

He’s crazy about her, she’s crazy about him, and he’s just crazy . —tagline from Pretty in Pink

Pretty in Pink was written by John Hughes but directed by Howard Deutch.

The Psychedelic Furs did the theme song. Here they are in a more recent performance of Pretty in Pink.

What were your favorite John Hughes films?

Click here to get the High School Reunion Collection from Universal Studios.

Yesterday, the kiddo had all our meals planned out from her Disney Magic Kitchen Cookbook.

For breakfast we had French toast Tarzan style with bananas baked inside. She gave the concoction one opposable thumb up and I think I’d rather have some HIH waffles instead. The Pizza Planet Cheesy Calzones and the Be Cool Peppermint Parfaits were yummy but by dinner time the book was back in the cabinet and take-out magically appeared on our table.

I still have my favorite cookbook from 1978, Meals of Many Lands. I loved searching for new recipes and thinking that every French kid had fruit & cream for breakfast. I was jealous of the children in Russia for having my favorite dish in the book, Tomato Cucumber Salad. American kids had Oven Fried Chicken, Green Beans & Apple Crisp on the menu which I found quite boring. Guacamole Salad in Mexico and Coffee Tortoni in Italy sounded much more exciting.

Meals of Many Lands from 1978

It’s fun looking at the cookbook now with the cute drawings, and riddles like:

On the hill sits a green house,
In the green house sits a white house,
In the white house sits a red house,
In the red house are a lot of little
black and white men.

I remember finding great joy in cookbooks but it was  even more fun making recipes that my favorite pop culture characters made. I don’t know how many times I drank Milk & Pepsi in honor of Laverne De Fazio on Laverne & Shirley.

Even as a teen I was making Cap’n Crunch and Pixy Stix sandwich’s inspired by the basket case in The Breakfast Club. Speaking of Cap’n Crunch, I was searching for a cool commercial to embed here and found one starring that famous Pirates of the Caribbean pirate Marty, a.k.a. Martin Klebba the accomplished actor. Check it out on his official site by clicking here.

For retro Cap’n Crunch commercials featuring the great voice actor Daws Butler, watch this:

Whatever you do don’t snort Pixy Stix like so many YouTube videos demonstrate. You can have the same effect by viewing this:

Do you still have any childhood cookbooks? Any pop culture inspired recipes you recall making? In the words of Bender, “What about you?”

Alright so I might be dating myself AGAIN, but it’s true, I was a teen in the decade of decadence. Here we are in 2009 and I’ve seen more than a few actors from the 80′s in the media this week.

From Molly Ringwald on ABC’s The Secret Life of the American Teenager, and Marisa Tomei promoting her new film The Wrestler, I find myself humming the theme song to It’s a Different World and singing Don’t You Forget about Me by Simple Minds.

So here they are:

My 5 Fave 80’s Flicks

1. Ferris Beuller’s Day Off (1986)

The ultimate ditch day! Who knew Ferris would grow up and marry the girl on Square Pegs?

If you still find yourself chanting SAVE FERRIS, you might want to buy a t-shirt here.

2. The Highlander (1986)

There can be only one!

This statement is not only the key idea to the storyline but it’s also true. While the first movie is a classic with unique cinematography, amazing performances by Christopher Lambert and Sean Connery, it also boasts a killer soundtrack by Queen.

Unfortunately, I didn’t think the Highlander films that came out after the 1986 version were as legendary. I did enjoy The Highlander television series but it can’t be compared to the distinctiveness of the first film.

3. Back to the Future (1985)

Sci-Fi meets Comedy with a blast to the past and then back to the future again. With all the rockabilly Stray Cats music I was listening to at the time it was great fun being transported to 1955. Everyone wanted a time traveling DeLorean after watching this retro flick.

The official BTTF news site  gives you a daily jolt of about 1.21 jigowatts and you can rent out the DeLorean if you’re interested.

4. The Outsiders (1983)

After reading the novel by S.E. Hinton, I was hooked on the storyline and fell in love with the film. Not to mention crushing over every hot young actor involved. Ironically, I didn’t think Ponyboy was golden. It was scrawny little Johnny that stole my heart.

Like so many teen girls romanticizing The Greasers on the big screen, I could recite at will at least 3-4 lines from the film:

“When I stepped out into the bright sunlight, from the darkness of the movie house, I had only two things on my mind: Paul Newman, and a ride home.”—Ponyboy

“I hope I never see Dallas Winston again. If I do I’d… probably fall in love with him.” —Cherry

“Let’s do it for Johnny man! We’ll do it for Johnny!”—Dallas

5. The Breakfast Club (1985)

This John Hughes classic is the movie I can watch over and over again. Like so many teens in the 1980’s this was the film that spoke directly to our teenage angst, intensity, issues, and triumphs.

The day in the life of 5 teens, The Criminal, The Princess, The Brain, The Athlete, and The Basket Case. Which one were you in high school?

About a year ago, I was searching MySpace for new music and luckily I found Mary C. I’ve been grooving to her music ever since, rocking with the beats and rolling to the vibe of her melodic voice. The best of soul, R&B and pop are harmonized with her unique style. As a songwriter she taps into urban pop, while her sultry voice brings a soulful sound to her catchy lyrics.

At a young age Mary started writing, singing and made her film debut in The Breakfast Club alongside her brother Anthony Michael Hall, playing the sister to Brian Johnson, aka The Brain. Their mother was cast as Brian’s mom. These days she performs to sold out shows throughout New York City and she’s putting the final touches on her upcoming album “UnExpected.”

I wanted to find out more about this talented singer and songwriter. Here is my interview with Mary C.

HIH:  When did you decide being a vocalist was the path for you?

Mary C:  I grew up around music my whole life. My mother is a Jazz recording artist- Mercedes Hall.
My mom had me singing scales at the age of 5- from there I went on writing my own songs, playing Piano and singing!

HIH: You’re a native New Yorker and you play to sold out clubs like Joe’s Pub, and The Bitter End. You also performed at the ING New York City Marathon to a crowd of over 40,000 runners and participants. Do you have to perform differently in an intimate setting compared to such a massive crowd?

Mary C: I love playing intimate sets- you really get to connect with your audience that way. Because I’m a songwriter, it’s important for me to really have my lyrics reach each person in the audience. And I love to see in the moment reactions & responses from my performances.

HIH: Your mother Mercedes Hall is a jazz singer, and vocal coach. How has she influenced your singing career?

Mary C:  My mom really layed down the foundation of musicianship for me. She exposed me to all genres of music at a young age. Which has been an integral part of my growth as a singer/songwriter.

HIH:   You were a little girl when your older brother Anthony Michael Hall was having such success with all the John Hughes films like The Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles, and Weird Science. What was it like growing up with a famous teen brother?

Mary C: My parents did a great job of keeping BALANCE in our house. For both my brother and myself. So even when Michael was in a hit movie- he was still responsible for taking out the trash!

HIH: I love visiting your MySpace page and grooving to all your profile tunes but is there a place I can buy an album or mp3′s?

Mary C: Currently I’m finishing up the recording and mastering of my debut penned album, ‘UnExpected’. I’m hoping to have it out by the fall. But keep checking back on my Myspace page for more details! I also post new songs monthly!

HIH: What are some of your favorite recording artists past and present?

Mary C: There are sooo many! And because I’m truly inspired by all types of music, it’s beyond difficult to just name a few. But I’ll do my best! Christina Aguliera – for her amazing vocal range and control. Joss Stone for breathing new life into an ‘old’ sound. The Roots- for bringing LIVE Hip Hop to the fore front & showing that Hip Hop can have musicality. James Brown- for the soul! Prince- for the PURE funk and forward thinking of music. I love risk takers… and of course my mom, Jazz singer Mercedes Hall – her vocal phrasing is untouchable!

HIH: Do you have any other passions besides music?

Mary C: I love to write. I grew up writing in my music journal. Not only songs, but stories, poetry.
I’m a HUGE Movie lover. I grew up around the film business- so that’s always been an interest of mine.

HIH: I read that you are also a songwriter. How many of your songs do you write?

Mary C: I write all of my songs- I sometimes collaborate with other songwriters which can be a cool experience too. You get a different perspective on a lyric or an idea. The blending of two worlds musically can be great if it clicks! But for the most part, I write alone.

HIH: What are your influences besides R&B and Jazz?

Mary C: Anything SOULFUL I’m influenced by. And that’s not just rooted from ‘R&B and Jazz’. Although that’s where a good portion of my influence is from. I’m also influenced by Funk, Hip Hop, Classical, Folk (love Jack Johnson!) and even some country. Country music has some of the best songwriting you will hear!

HIH: You live in New York but where else do you like to perform?

Mary C: My base is definately in NY. I’m a true NYC girl! But I do try and extend my reach- it’s all about sharing the music as widely as you can! So, if anyone wants me to perform in your town or city… LET US KNOW!! :)

“Why You Blamin Me”

www.myspace.com/marycmusic