This is an automated archive.

The original was posted on /r/movies by /u/Decado7 on 2023-08-31 10:08:44+00:00.

I love this movie. I grew up with Transformers as a kid (i’m just about to ding 49 irl) and one of the highlights of my youth was this particular IP.

Much of it culiminated with the iconic 1986 movie. Sadly, the live action movies for me at least, never came close to understanding what made this cartoon so amazing.

For me it was all about the characters. The cartoon series was quite simplistic initially but as the storylines played out, so too did the characters develop. While many of them went down the ‘made to become a sellable toy path’, Transformers is rich in some of the most classic characters anywhere. I mean, can you get a character more iconic than Optimus Prime?

For the record I always had two favourites - Sideswipe & Prowl from the Autobots, and Megatron himself if i had to pick a Decepticon - but picking favourites is always opening up a big old can of worms and when Megatron was reformed into Galvatron - well i didnt think there could be a character as badassly charismatic as Megs, but oh yeah.

But today, I want to highlight the movie soundtrack that accompanied the classic 1986 movie. If you’ve never listened to this, it’s here:

The movie for me encapsulated what I love most about the classic heroes journey, and this was perfectly played out by Hot Rod’s transition to Rodimus Prime. But what sealed the deal here was the soundtrack. From Stan Bush’s amazing The Touch (which linked Rodimus to Prime), to his other track Dare, to 80s glam rock bangers like Spectre General’s Nothin’s Gonna Stand in Our Way and Hunger.

Weird Al’s Dare to Be Stupid couldn’t have been more perfect for the nutbag Junkicons with the loveable Wreck-Gar at the helm, and those guitars that kick in from Lion’s version of the Transformers title track - Holy F.

But as much as I love this bloody soundtrack, I want to draw your attention to some of these internet gems you may not have been aware of.

Firstly - the Cybertronic Spree, a group of Transformers superfans in legit cardboard costumes, belting out the best songs from the movie soundtrack:

My favourite is Instruments of Destruction; - that absolute banger when Megatron ripped the Autobot shuttle a new one, and slew some of our favourite characters - including Ratchet (RIP), Brawn (RIP) and Prowl (WEEP). This cover of that song though - please watch it to the end, that finale!

Their take on Nothin’s Gonna Stand in Our Way comes a close second:

And finally - digging even deeper into the archives, behold this live version of Dare from Transformers convention Botcon, way back in 1997. Witness Stan Bush’s Dare live, but more, wait till you hear Vince DiCola’s supporting music direct from the movie, through his keyboard into those lucky ear canals:

Please enjoy!

If you have something similar to share, please do. All love for the movie and its soundtrack accepted.

Also - given we were sharing, who was your favourite transformer(s) and bonus, why?