The film features the following tracks:
- The Power of Love by Huey Lewis and the News
- Back to the Future by Alan Silvestri
- Back in Time by Huey Lewis and the News
- Dance With Me Henry by Etta James
- Earth Angel by The Penguins
- Time Bomb by Lindsey Buckingham
- Heaven Is One Step Away by Eric Clapton
- Back to the Future by Alan Silvestri
- Back to the Future Overture by Alan Silvestri
- Night Train by The Penguins
- Johnny B. Goode by Michael J. Fox
There is a clear distinction between the two time periods with the music chosen for this film. For the 1950s, Etta James, Eric Clapton, and the Penguins pieces were chosen and for most of the 1980, Huey Lewis and the News were chosen. Since the 1950s plot revolved around a school dance, the songs for those were a bit slower, and jazzier. In the 1980s, the songs are more upbeat and have a brighter tone rather than mellow tone. This creates a atmosphere for the character to be in that also sets the tone for the scene. In the opening scene of the movie, Power of Love is playing. This is the audition day for Marty’s band, and it was him getting ready for it. The song is in G# Major, which is a very bright key to play in. It matches the energy of the first scene. All of the 1980s songs are in a natural or sharp major key which makes sense for the high energy time of the 80s.
In contrast, the 1950s pieces are more in flat major keys or F major. These were common keys for jazzy songs because it allows for easier comping in the piano or other solo instrument, and they also have a more mellow tone. F major is a very common jazz key signature because it could easily be integrated with other common keys such as Bb Major or D minor. Johnny B. Goode is the only upbeat song in the 50s scene soundtrack. This was saved for the end of the movie when he reunites his parents at the dance.
Earth Angel is a timeless love song about a guy asking a girl to be his. This is the song that is playing when Loraine and George are slow dancing for the first time. This song was chosen for its style and Marvin Berry and his band themselves performed it on screen. It is in a 6/8 time signature so it has a swing feel in two so it was made to be slow danced to.
Earth angel, Earth angel, will you be mine?
My darling dear, love you all the time.
I’m just a fool, a fool in love with you. Earth angel, Earth angel, the one I adore
Love you for ever, and ever more.
I’m just a fool, a fool in love with you. I fell for you, and I knew
The vision of your love’s loveliness.
I hope and I pray, that some day
I’ll be the vision of your hap, happiness. Earth angel, Earth angel, please be mine.
My darling dear, love you all the time.
I’m just a fool, a fool in love with you. I fell for you, and I knew
The vision of your love’s loveliness.
I hope and I pray, that some day
I’ll be the vision, the vision of your happiness. Oh, oh, oh, Earth angel, Earth angel, please be mine.
My darling dear, love you for all time.
I’m just a fool, a fool in love with you.
The overture for this film is in C# Major and in 4/4 time which makes it a very steady and powerful major piece of music. It fits with the theme of saving people and racing the clock because it has a heroic feel to it, and it also has a steady powerful bass line that cuts through the orchestra. It also has a steady allegro temp which pushes the piece forward as it does in the movie’s plot. The music selected compares and contrasts the two time periods and highlights the beginnings of rock music with the Johnny B. Goode song.
