Don't You (Forget About Me)

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"Don't You (Forget About Me)" is a 1985 pop song performed by Scottish rock band Simple Minds. The song is best known for being played during the opening and closing credits of the John Hughes film The Breakfast Club. It was written and composed by producer Keith Forsey and Steve Schiff, a guitarist and songwriter from the Nina Hagen band.

Video Don't You (Forget About Me)

Recording history

Forsey asked Cy Curnin from The Fixx, Bryan Ferry and Billy Idol to record the song, but all three declined; Idol did later perform a cover of it on his 2001 compilation album Greatest Hits. Schiff then suggested Forsey ask Simple Minds who, after refusing as well, agreed under the encouragement of their label, A&M. According to frontman Jim Kerr, the band was reluctant to record the song as they felt they should only record their own material, relenting after persuasion from Kerr's wife at the time, Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders, and a phone call from Forsey in which he expressed his admiration for the band. According to one account, the band "rearranged and recorded 'Don't You (Forget About Me)' in three hours in a north London studio and promptly forgot about it."

Continuing the rock direction recently taken on Sparkle in the Rain but also glancing back at their melodic synthpop past, it caught the band at their commercial peak and, propelled by the success of The Breakfast Club, became a #1 hit in the U.S. and around the world. It is also the band's only #1 hit on the U.S. Top Rock Tracks chart, staying atop for three weeks. While only reaching #7 in the UK, it stayed on the charts from 1985 to 1987, one of the longest time spans for any single in the history of the chart.

The song did not appear on the band's subsequent album Once Upon a Time, but it did appear on the 1992 best-of Glittering Prize 81/92. It soon became a fixture of the band's live sets - with an extended audience participation section during its inclusion on the 2015 tour to promote the band's Big Music album.

Two versions were created for release. A short version, 4:23 in duration, appeared on the single and the original motion picture soundtrack album of The Breakfast Club. A longer version, 6:32 in duration, was released as a 12" single. This version contains longer breakdowns and drum fills, a second appearance of the bridge and a longer ending.

John Leland from Spin wrote that "'Don't You Forget About Me,' a romantic and melancholy dance track, therefore cuts ice both in the living room and on the dance floor."

Maps Don't You (Forget About Me)

Music video

The music video, directed by Daniel Kleinman, takes place on a dancing floor in a dark room with a chandelier, a rocking horse, and television sets displaying scenes from The Breakfast Club. The video on YouTube had been viewed over 89 million times as of December 11, 2017.

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Charts and certifications

Don't You (Forget About Me) | Glee [HD FULL STUDIO] - YouTube

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Notable appearances in other media

This song played in a State Farm Insurance Company televison commercial, in the context of a soup kitchen, supporting the insurance company's Neighborhood of Good movement. Sung by Willis Earl Beal, it debuted in January 2018.
This song played on the British television soap EastEnders on 30th May 1985, on 4th July 1985, on 8th August 1985, and on 9th August 2013.
This song played in the episode of the American animated comedy series Futurama on 11th March 2001.
This song played in the episode of the American medical comedy series Scrubs on 10th April 2003.
This song played in an episode of the American comedy series 30 Rock on 4th December 2008.
This song played in an episode of the British television soap Hollyoaks on 22nd May 2009.
This song played in an episode of the British chat show Loose Women on 15th July 2009.
This song played in an episode of the American teen drama series Friday Night Lights on 16th December 2009.
This song played in the American comedy film Easy A in 2010.
This song played in an episode of the American crime drama series Cold Case on 2nd May 2010.
The song plays a significant part of Pitch Perfect, with both The Breakfast Club reference and the finale song.
This song played in an episode of the American television series The Handmaid's Tale on 26th April 2017.
This song played in "San Junipero", an episode in the third season of the Netflix series "Black Mirror"
A short part of this song played by a violin is noticeable in the background of Season 1, Episode 10 of Young Sheldon when Sheldon is having dinner at the house of "Flora" and "Elliot" on January 4th, 2018.
This song played during the montage at the end of the Regular Show episode Fuzzy Dice.