separate ways by journey movie

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8 Movies and Shows That Played Journey’s Separate Ways (Worlds Apart) Song

Let’s face it, Journey was one of the most prominent bands of the 80s that they top almost all of today’s hit playlist, the biggest one being Don’t Stop Believing (1981).

But as for one of our personal favorites, Separate Ways (Worlds Apart), it peaked on the Billboard Hot 100 charts and spent four weeks as the first on the Top Tracks chart.

8 Movies and TV Shows that Played Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)

As for the movies that played Separate Ways (Worlds Apart), there were a ton. The reason for this is simply because it’s a powerful song that draws a lot of emotion. It’s also very catchy! So here they are. Enjoy!

1. The Simpsons

During season 16, episode 2, All’s Fair in Oven War, Homer had the family’s kitchen remodeled for Marge. She added some dishes to it, which got great reviews, and she was invited by Ned Flanders to enter the Ovenfresh Bakeoff. Although she quickly realized the competition was a lot harder than it looked.

The Separate Ways (Worlds Apart) song played in Homer’s car as a cultural reference before he asked himself to turn it down. The episode won great reviews from numerous critics.

2. The 2017 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

Recorded live on April 7th, 2017 in Cleveland, OH, The 2017 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony honored six new inductees, including ELO, Joan Baez, Journey, Pearl Jam, Tupac Shakur and Yes. Separate Ways (Worlds Apart) was played by Journey.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was established in 1983 in Cleveland, OH and is dedicated to recording the history of some of the best known and most influential bands, produced and musicians as well as other that have in some way greatly influenced the rock and roll industry.

3. TRON: Legacy (2010)

This song was awesome enough to be the opener of Tron: Legacy (2010) as Sam Flynn entered his father’s abandoned arcade. Pretty good opening song for a tech movie we might add. It also played in the background when Daft Punk entered Flynn’s Arcade in a similar manner at the beginning of the official music video “Derezzed.”

4. Yes Man (2008)

The song is best known in Yes Man for playing after Carl (Jim Carrey) escapes from the hospital in a white hospital gown on his nurse friend’s crotch rocket to confess his love for Allison (Zooey Deschanel). The song was meant to symbolize his transition from a No Man to a Yes Man. Fun fact: the song also plays on Carl’s ringtone, mostly when his friends were calling him to hang out (whom he neglected at the beginning of the movie).

5. Cold Case (2004)

In episode 20 of season 1, Greed , the team reopened a 1980’s case of a wealthy corporate stockbroker who set up a Ponzi scheme, which left many of its colleagues broke when it crashed. He was then murdered in an apparent carjacking. The song played when the four friends had to go their separate ways in 1980.

6. The O. C. (2004)

The O.C. TV series is about the troubled but close-knit young group of people living in the wealthy, upper-class neighborhood of Newport Beach, Orange County, CA. In In episode 21 of season 1, The Goodbye Girl , Anna was leaving, Theresa was staying and Seth thought he was the reason why Anna was planning on returning to Pittsburgh.

Ryan also knows he’s why Theresa was staying, but there wasn’t much either of them could do. Caleb was the Rivera’s Man of the Year.

The Separate Song (Worlds Apart) played in the while the two friends were in the car driving down the highway. One of them apparently didn’t like the song while the other almost yelled at him, “Do not insult Journey”.

7. Mystery Science Theater 3000

Abbreviated as MST3K , this cult comedy television series is about experimenting on the human mind when Joel Robinson (Joel Hodgson) was shot into space and forced to watch bad movies. Meanwhile, mad scientist Dr. Clayton Forrester (Trace Beaulieau) and his crony Frank (Frank Conniff) monitor his mind as they encounter various adventures. In episode 20 of season 9, Space Mutiny , Mike and the robots learned the 80s were worse than they thought as they endured the sci-fi movie Space Mutiny (1988).

8. Beavis and Butthead (1993)

In this animated MTV series about two teenage heavy-metal fans who did idiotic things because they’re bored, they thought everything was either “cool” or “sucks”. In episode 16 of season 3, Buff ’N’ Stuff, the pair were so thin they were forced to stay after gym for a personal workout with Coach Buzzcut.

While watching the music video, Beavis and Butthead were commenting on the music video, saying it was “horrible” and “this guy (Steve Perry) sucks”.

About Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)

The song was first written and composed in 1982 during the Escape tour. Just after two weeks of writing the song, they included it in their concerts, including Day on the Green and another at Chicago’s Rosemont Horizon. Both Jonathan Cain and Steve Perry had worked on the song backstage where Steve was working on the bass and he on the guitar, putting together the melody that night and the lyrics the following day. Here’s what Cain commented about the song:

“We wanted to write something rhythmic and still have a strong and haunting melody. We needed a main rhythm to run through the synthesizer and Steve Smith designed that kind of drum beat to let everything breathe. It’s really a throwback to all of our roots and the Motown sound. Steve [Perry] has always listened to a lot of Motown records, songs with a strong chorus approach. Songs that were real urgent sounding, but still had rhythm and melody.”

The Music Video

If you love Journey, you probably love the song and well, hate the music video. We agree they did a pretty poor job as a result of many controversies before its release. Steve Perry , the lead singer and writer of Separate Ways (Worlds Apart) really did not want a choreographed video, saying “We’re performers, we’re entertainers, but we’re not actors…and we were not a very photogenic band.”

Nevertheless, the video has millions of views and thousands of likes, so their overall popularity did make up for a poorly made video.

What Do You Think?

We’d love to hear what you think about the song and the music video! Please let us know in the comments below.

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4 thoughts on “ 8 movies and shows that played journey’s separate ways (worlds apart) song ”.

Steve Perry has such an amazing voice; he is truly gifted. No matter the song or the video, he consistently gave it his all, and the emotion and passion always shown through. So yes, love the song and the video to Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)!

Todo lo que canta Steve Perry tiene magia,su voz es angelical.

This song epitomises what makes 80’s power ballads so good. Perry’s voice complements the songs message and the urgency of the choruses resolution perfectly. I don’t remember Journey much (in Australia) but having picked up on them about 20 years ago, something from them is on every playlist I’ve made. Rock on!

I may be in a very small minority when I say I love the video! In fact I love it so much that when I visited San Francisco in 2001, I visited the pier they shot it on and listened to it on headphones whilst possibly playing air keyboards!

I do concede that some of it does make me cringe though, especially when they sing towards the woman model and to camera. I can imagine how embarrassing that would have been, especially having to do it over and over to get a good take.

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Journey Songs

Has 21 songs in the following movies and tv shows..

Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)

WHERE YOU'VE HEARD IT

Yes Man 2008

Beginning of the movie. Carl's (Jim Carrey) ringtone on his phone. (1:21) Carl races down the streets on his motorbike as he looks for Allison.

The Mitchells vs. The Machines 2021

Tron: Legacy 2010

First song when Sam turns on all the video game machines at the Flynn's game arcade.

GLOW • s1e1 • Pilot 2017

Song during the dream fight sequence.

The Simpsons • s16e2 • All's Fair in Oven War 1989

The O.C. • s1e21 • The Goodbye Girl 2003

Song plays on the car stereo as Ryan and Seth try to get to the airport before Anna's plane leaves.

Beavis and Butt-head • s3e16 • Buff 'N' Stuff 1993

The Party's Over

Grown Ups 2010

Marcus (David Spade) is drinking around the fire while trying to get everyone to do shots with him.

Anyway You Want It

Six Feet Under • s5e7 • The Silence 2001

Kristen tells Claire about her history with Ted.

Wheel in the Sky

Supernatural • s2e3 • Bloodlust 2005

The Sopranos • s2e10 • Bust Out 1999

Carmela engages in flirtation with the house painter, Victor Musto, and they share a kiss in the bathroom.

Future Man • s2e3 • A Wolf in the Torque House 2017

Montage of Wolf and Pump making a wheel.

Only Solutions

The second song played during the ending credits.

Playing as Lora and Alan enter Flynn's arcade (and playing again five minutes later as they discuss breaking into Encom.)

Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby 2006

Ricky falls in love with Susan after her motivational speech

Family Guy • s13e9 • This Little Piggy 1999

The Goldbergs • s2e22 • Dance Party USA 2013

Don't Stop Believin'

Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues 2013

Smallfoot 2018

Song from the first Smallfoot trailer.

Moneyball 2011

Song during opening day. April 1, 2002.

Monster 2003

Lee and Selby are skating at the roller rink and kiss for the first time.

Bedtime Stories 2008

In a bedtime story set in medieval times, Mr. Nottingham declares that Skeeter has the opportunity to run the castle, and everyone rejoices.

The Losers 2010

Jensen (Evans) enters the building pretending to be a bike messenger singing on his ipod. It continues after he knocks out the security guard and tries to run out of the office.

The Wedding Singer 1998

The orchestra plays at Robbie's wedding before he is stood up by Linda

Glee • s1e1 • Pilot 2009

Finn sees Darren hosing down the football field.

Scrubs • s3e2 • My Journey 2001

Sean & Elliot, and J.D. & Turk, finally get together.

MacGyver • s3e9 • Specimen 234 + PAPR + Outbreak 2016

Billy sings along to the car stereo as he and Riley drive through Arizona, then he reveals he had lunch with her father.

The Sopranos • s6e21 • Made in America 1999

Final scene. This song plays on the dukebox

Dispatches from Elsewhere • s1e7 • Cave of Kelpius 2020

Clara appears on stage and sings this song before being interrupted by Peter.

Family Guy • s4e4 • Don't Make Me Over 1999

Saturday Night Live • s43e23 • Tina Fey and Nicki Minaj 1975

Ash vs Evil Dead • s2e9 • Home Again 2015

Glee • s1e22 • Journey 2009

 Will scans the radio in his car and ends on this.

The Heat 2013

They start to get drunk and Ashburn talks about her marriage and being a foster kid.

9-1-1 • s5e2 • Desperate Times 2018

Chimney complains to Bobby about the food options they've been given since the black out which Bobby takes the time to explain why there a need for it during the all-shifts manned station.

Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'

Freaks and Geeks • s1e8 • Girlfriends and Boyfriends 1999

Sam is walking home. He sees Bill and Cindy at Bill's house.

Lovin' Touchin' Squeezin'

Finn and Darren sing while hosing down the yard.

1990's Theme

Playing in the background at Flynn's as a customer plays the Light Cycle game.

Remember Me

Armageddon 1998

Any Way You Want It

Going the Distance 2010

Song at the James Polk reunion. The guys try to get with older ladies.

Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted 2012

High-speed chase around the streets of Monaco

Caddyshack 1980

Plays from the radio in Al's golf bag.

Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City 2021

A police officer is being attacked.

Chuck • s1e1 •  Pilot 2007

Morgan calls during the bomb disarming.

The Big Bang Theory • s2e15 • The Maternal Capacitance 2007

Chuck • s4e19 • Chuck Versus The Muuurder 2007

Brody gets Chuck's message congratulating him.

The Simpsons • s10e10 • Viva Ned Flanders 1989

Better Call Saul • s6e9 • Fun and Games 2015

House M.D. • s8e19 • The C-Word 2004

Wilson watches the video on his laptop.

Stone In Love (GH 2 Version)

Supernatural • s9e7 • Bad Boys 2005

Flashback to Dean asking Robin to the school dance.

Wheel in the Sky (Re-Recorded)

Tony and AJ spend time together on the boat.

Daddy's Home 2 2017

I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry 2007

At the gathering, Chuck and Larry slow dance.

Heavy Metal 1981

Date Movie 2006

The O.C. • s2e8 • The Power Of Love 2003

The song plays in the background as Kirsten walks in on Ryan & Lindsay making out in the pool house.

Cobra Kai • s3e10 • December 19 2018

The Goldbergs • s9e13 • A Peck Of Familial Love 2013

Who's Crying Now

Monsters vs Aliens 2009

Playing on the radio of "gym-nasty"s convertible.

After The Fall

Risky Business 1983

Only the Young

The Low Life 1995

John walks away from Andrew's funeral. Plays into the end credits.

King Richard 2021

Richard leads his family into Florida. They arrive at Rick Macci Tennis Academy.

Separate Ways (Worlds Apart) [Bryce Miller/Alloy Tracks Remix]

Stranger Things • s4e8 • Chapter Eight: Papa 2016

Steve driving with the gang

When You Love a Woman

Daria • s1e4 • Café Disaffecto 1997

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The Influence of "Separate Ways" by Journey in Movies: A Timeless Soundtrack

Music has the incredible power to evoke emotions and enhance storytelling in movies. One iconic song that has left a lasting impact in the realm of cinema is "Separate Ways" by Journey. This article explores the significance of "Separate Ways" in movies, analyzing its usage, impact, and memorable moments it has accompanied on the silver screen. From heartfelt romance to intense action sequences, this timeless soundtrack has weaved its way into the hearts of moviegoers worldwide.

1. The Evolution of "Separate Ways" in Movies:

"Separate Ways" was released by the American rock band Journey in 1983 as part of their album "Frontiers." Over the years, the song has been featured in numerous films, becoming a staple of movie soundtracks across various genres. From its initial appearance in the '80s to its recent use in contemporary cinema, "Separate Ways" has stood the test of time, resonating with audiences through different generations.

2. Romantic Moments:

One of the most notable uses of "Separate Ways" in movies is in romantic scenes. The song's heartfelt lyrics and soaring melodies have added depth and emotion to numerous love stories on the silver screen. Whether it's a bittersweet breakup or a passionate reunion, "Separate Ways" has often accompanied these pivotal moments, leaving a lasting impression on viewers.

Romantic Moments

3. Action and Adventure:

While "Separate Ways" is primarily known for its romantic undertones, it has also found its way into action and adventure films. The energetic rhythm and anthemic chorus of the song have been used to enhance intense action sequences, adding a layer of excitement and adrenaline to the on-screen events. From car chases to epic battles, "Separate Ways" has provided a captivating backdrop to these thrilling cinematic moments.

Action and Adventure

4. Nostalgia and Pop Culture References:

The enduring popularity of "Separate Ways" has led to its inclusion in movies that aim to evoke nostalgia or pay homage to specific eras. The song's association with the '80s has made it a go-to choice for filmmakers looking to recreate the spirit of that decade. It has also been featured in films that celebrate pop culture and embrace the collective memories of a generation, further solidifying its iconic status.

5. Impact on Audience Reception:

The inclusion of "Separate Ways" in movies has had a significant impact on audience reception. The song's familiarity and emotional resonance can evoke powerful memories and create a sense of connection between viewers and the characters on screen. This synergy between music and storytelling enhances the overall cinematic experience, leaving a lasting impression on the audience.

6. Enduring Legacy:

Decades after its release, "Separate Ways" continues to captivate audiences in movies. Its timeless quality and ability to evoke emotion have ensured its place in the cinematic landscape. As new generations discover and connect with this iconic song through film, its legacy only grows stronger, cementing its status as a beloved soundtrack choice.

 "Separate Ways" by Journey has made a significant impact in the world of movies. From romantic moments to action-packed sequences, its powerful melodies and heartfelt lyrics have enhanced storytelling and left an indelible mark on the hearts of moviegoers. As this timeless soundtrack continues to be embraced by filmmakers, its influence will undoubtedly live on, providing future audiences with memorable cinematic experiences for years to come.

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How Journey Ended Up With That ‘Cheeseball’ Video for ‘Separate Ways’

Journey resisted MTV's siren call for a while. They offered throwaway performance clips, and once allowed NFL Films to capture some backstage moments. But they didn't go all in; there were no big sets, no big ideas.

Then they released a promo clip for "Separate Ways," the first single off 1983's Frontiers .

Singer  Steve Perry had specifically been against this kind of choreographed video. "He'd always say, 'We're performers, we're entertainers, but we're not actors,'" keyboardist Jonathan Cain says in I Want My MTV: The Uncensored Story of the Music Video Revolution . "And we were not a very photogenic band. So, we stayed on the sidelines at first."

Eventually, they could no longer resist the growing trend. But the whole process got away from them. Journey ended up having little say in what became a deliriously campy setup in New Orleans by producer John Diaz and the late directer Tom Buckholtz.

Perry tried to push back in their lone pre-shoot meeting, but was brushed off. "Don't worry," Diaz reportedly said . "You're going for the obvious. There're better ways to convey emotion in these things."

The band arrived at the Louisa Street Wharf during Mardi Gras season , only dimly aware of what would be required. The still-unformed concept involved a woman who fell asleep with her headphones on, then dreamed the video. Much of the rest would be improvised on the spot.

Guitarist Neal Schon wasn't sure about any of this, though he eventually learned to appreciate the clip's camp factor. "I like the song, I don't know about the video," he told Huffington Post in 2012. "Well, it was the beginning of the video era. I think we made that video for, like, $5,000. You know, nobody was spending big money on videos, for one."

Cain had his doubts too, but figured this was the way things were going to be in the MTV era. "Visual impact is very important these days," he told The New York Times in 1983. "This is the '80s. We feel we're a band of the future, so we've gotta do well at this. Yet we don't want to be embarrassed out there. There were times this morning when I must admit I felt like I was on 'Celebrity Bowling.'"

There were problems from the first: A blustery wind rolled in from the Mississippi River, and that sent Perry scurrying to his Winnebago for warmth. He'd also brought along Sherrie Swafford, his then-girlfriend, despite a band agreement to leave significant others at home. Swafford was apparently unhappy about the presence of Margaret Oldstead, a local woman who starred in the video.

"Sherrie was like, 'You're really going to have this girl in your video?'" Cain told Huffington Post. "So, Steve was getting pressure from her. And, in the end, I think [Journey manager] Herbie Herbert had to talk to Steve and go, 'Come on, let's just do this. We're down here in New Orleans; we don't have any other ideas. Let's just go do this.'"

Oldstead, a student at nearby Tulane University, was oblivious to the drama surrounding her. She had answered an open audition on a whim. "I was working and paying my way through college, so the [notion] of making money for shooting a video was a godsend," she told Marc Tyler Nobleman in 2013. "It paid $250 a day and I was paid for three days of work. That was a lot of money at the time for a student like me. So, I was now the girl in the Journey video, still clueless."

Suddenly, a large boat arrived from the U.K., ready to dock in New Orleans. "They were mooring the British ship and there's Journey," Buckholtz told the Golden Age of Music Video in 2011. "So, they thought we had organized a big welcome for them. And when the British naval band came out to play for the arrival, they interrupted our video shoot, and all the people on the ship started shouting, 'We want Journey!'"

Then there was a very late night. "What they couldn't understand was why no one ever said 'Last call!'" Oldstead added. "Being a New Orleans girl, I couldn't understand what a last call even was. They explained they were out all night because normal cities close bars and let everyone know that they are closing. But this was New Orleans and Mardi Gras."

Watch Journey's Video for 'Separate Ways'

Things were just as interesting during the filming. At work on a largely autonomous set, Buckholtz was free to experiment. "There was a lot of 'let's try this' or 'let's try that' – a lot of it shot on the fly," he said. "We mostly had to wing it, and back then, CBS Records only sent one person, so there was virtually no supervision."

Many of the clip's most obvious fashion missteps – Oldstead's white leather jacket, Perry's checkerboard sleeveless shirt – could be understood, if not forgiven. Same goes for the band's general lack of self awareness. It was, after all, the early '80s. But for some reason, someone came up on the idea of playing air guitar. And air drums and air bass and air synths.

Adam Dubin, who  co-directed the video for the Beastie Boys ' "(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!)," argued that Journey may have been a victim of poor timing. At this point, there weren't any rules in place.

"Here's a band at their commercial peak, and some idiot decided to film them on a wharf, and – here's the worst part – instead of giving them instruments, let them mime playing imaginary instruments," Dubin says in I Want My MTV . "The director should be shot. And the manager should be shot for allowing his band to be put in this position. But this is my point, there really wasn't a music-video aesthetic yet."

Pressed on who exactly hatched this air-instrument plan, Buckholtz sighed before finally telling Golden Age of Music Video , "That was me."

Cain told I Want My MTV that he's still at a loss to explain any of it. "I will never live down those air keyboards," he added. "No matter what else I've done in my career, sooner or later people find a way to ask me about the 'Separate Ways' video."

Buckholtz, who also helmed clips for Journey's " After the Fall " and " Chain Reaction " during this same whirlwind week, admitted that inexperience played a role in any missteps. In fact, he described himself back then as "a hick director. If I had to do it over again, I wouldn't have done it any different — well, yes I would, but my wife laughs every time it comes on TV. I'd never done one before, and maybe that shows."

Schon acknowledges now that the video for "Separate Ways" is far more infamous than beloved. It became fodder for one of the more memorable segments on MTV's Beavis and Butt-Head (" Is this the Partridge Family? "); there have been countless other jokes since. Schon has found a way to put things in perspective, he told Huffington Post. "Better that way than not ever seeing it at all," Schon argued.

Perry eventually came to the same place. "You gotta love it! We'll be immortalized forever now!" he told Entertainment Weekly in 1994, after watching Beavis and Butt-Head excoriate his band.

"It was just cheeseball, from beginning to end," Cain added. "I can still see Steve Perry at the meeting going, 'No!'" Still, some good came of it all. Perry eventually promised to write the still-angry Swafford a song by way of an apology, and " Oh Sherrie " became a No. 3 solo Billboard hit a year later in 1984.

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Separate Ways (Worlds Apart) by Journey

Songfacts®:

• Journey keyboardist Jonathan Cain and lead vocalist Steve Perry wrote this song on tour during a period when two of the band members were going through painful divorces due to the stresses (and temptations) of life on the road. According to Journey's Time3 compilation, with guitarist Neal Schon and bass player Ross Valory going through painful - and expensive - divorces, Perry and Cain thought there should be some way to dredge something positive out of such circumstances. "There's got to be a more soulful way of looking at this," Perry told his collaborator, Cain. The pair worked out the tune in a hotel room using Cain's little Casio keyboard and the entire band worked up the fresh song the next afternoon at soundcheck, inserting the party-finished song into the program that night. "I think he mumbled his way through half the lyrics," said Cain, "but the audience just came unglued." The song was sitting in the band's pocket long before the beginning of sessions for the next album. Released as the first single off Frontiers , it zoomed up the charts to #8 in March 1983.
• This was used in the TV series The O.C. in Season 1 Episode 21 (2004) when Seth and Ryan are on their way to the airport. It also plays in the first episode of the Netflix series GLOW (2017) in a fantasy scene where the main characters battle it out in the wrestling ring. Other uses of the song include: The Simpsons ("All's Fair in Oven War" - 2004) Cold Case ("Greed" - 2004) Yes Man (2008) TRON: Legacy (2010) >> Suggestion credit : Anthony - Hermosa Beach, CA
• When MTV launched in 1981, the race was on to come up with unusual concepts for music videos. Journey staked their claim with the first ever "air band" video. That's right, the group played pretend instruments for much of the clip. Shot on a wharf in New Orleans, it was directed by Tom Buchholtz, who like many music video directors of the time, came from the world of directing commercials. Journey were dragged kicking and screaming into the video era. They knew MTV exposure was crucial for sales, but hated making the videos and left the concepts up to the directors, which is how they ended up on a wharf playing pretend instruments. In the book I Want My MTV by Craig Marks, we learn that lead singer Steve Perry cut his hair shortly before the shoot, and also that there was some drama on the set. Perry brought his girlfriend to the set - the same girl he sings about in " Oh Sherrie " - and she did not want Steve to have another girl playing his love interest in the video. "Sherrie was jealous and possessive," said Jonathan Cain. "There was a big kicking and screaming session. Sherrie was giving Steve a very bad time about that girl." Years later, Beavis and Butt-Head gave it a good mocking.
• A remix by the composer Bryce Miller was used in the trailer for season 4 of the Netflix series Stranger Things in 2022. This version is surprisingly spooky, with the song's refrain sounding like a classic horror movie theme. The song quickly started trending and entered Billboard's Rock Digital Song Sales chart dated April 23, 2022. An extended version of the remix appears at the end of episode 8, "Papa," which sets the stage for a climatic battle. Steve Perry, a big fan of the show, signed off on the project and got involved after hearing a demo of the remix. It was his idea to do an extended version, which appears on the show's soundtrack. As for the significance of the lyrics, Bobby Gumm of the marketing firm that worked on the remix explained : "The characters, at the end of the third season, did all go their separate ways, and even the ones that are still living in the same town have gone their separate ways a little bit. They're in different cliques and things like that."
• Halestorm's vocalist Lzzy Hale covered this song with Daughtry in January 2023. The video for their version wasn't planned. "I don't think either of us, Lzzy or myself, were actually 'dressed' for a video shoot," said Chris Daughtry. "We were basically just trying to get some b-roll to capture the studio experience of recording this track. But when we got the footage back, it was like, 'Well... This looks way cooler than I expected, so... I guess we have a music video now?' Haha. It was the most low-key, low-pressure video I've ever done."
• More songs from Journey
• More songs about marital problems or divorce
• More songs used in TV shows
• More songs in heavy rotation in the early days of MTV
• More songs used on The Simpsons
• More songs used in Stranger Things
• More songs from 1983
• Lyrics to Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)
• Journey Artistfacts

Comments: 22

• Montana Julian from Missoula, Mt It just seems to me that the thematic element of Separate Ways(Worlds Apart) musically speaking is a classical piece that I just can’t put my thumb on. Something maybe that Beethoven or Mozart might have done. Anyone else with a background in the classical classics hear what I am hearing?
• Seventhmist from 7th Heaven One of the most powerful songs ever made. Pain and anger in abundance, yet delivered with love and a last desperate touch of hope.
• Marc from -, Md First-ever interview with the girl in this video, including what she's doing now (plus never-published set pics): http://noblemania.blogspot.com/2013/07/the-girl-in-video-separate-ways-worlds.html.
• Nick from Ludlow, Ma I saw on another board about the gif of the opening air band part and searched for years who (At the time, I didn't know who anyone for Journey looked like, I'm a teen) so I saw the video and found out it was this song, I was shocked. I can't believe a song this epic was done so bad in a music video).
• Erica from Pensacola, Fl This is one for the mp3, morning workout/run! Love it!
• Jeff from Boston, Ma If your heart doesn't race when you hear this song you are dead inside.
• Jeff from Boston, Ma I agree the Frontiers album overall was bad, but this is a phenomenal song. If you can't relate to what this song is about, someday you will.
• Josep from Dubrovnik, Croatia Whenever this song comes on the radio, my brother punches my arm in rhythm with the guitar riff. Good times!
• Karen from Manchester, Nh I have to agree with most here...horrible video, but easily one of my favorite Journey songs (right up there with "Lovin', Touchin' Squeezin'"). This is one of those, "put the car windows UP, turn the volume UP, and sing along as loud as you can!"
• Jones from San Antonio, Tx It was a pretty dumb music video, but I love the song!!! -Steve Perry ROCKS!!!
• Chris from Meriden, Ct what makes the song great is the keyboard riff
• Ricky from Bountiful, Ut Holy crud, I laughed so hard I cried when I saw the video! But the song is... Epic. My band is working on a cover.
• Tony from Chicago, Il One of my favorite Breakup songs!!!!!!
• Aldrin from Manila, Philippines nice synthesizer sound accompanied by neil schon's deadly guitar riffs...
• Jennifer Harris from Grand Blanc, Mi I love the song and video! both mother and I love Journey.It hasn't been the same without Steve Perry.
• Benny from Chattanooga, Tn This is the song where Journey (my favorite band) officially "jumped the shark" God, Frontiers was so bad........
• Sanafabich from Santiago, Chile yeah, cheezy video but still great! you gotta love the 80's!
• Pete from Toronto, Canada this has got to be one of the cheeziest videos ever made! what was the director thinking http://youtube.com/watch?v=ZbZwAn3qOJU&search=Journey%20Seperate%20Ways
• Sara Mackenzie from Middle Of Nowhere, Fl good song!!!!!!!!!
• Michelle from Anaheim, Ca A long time ago, i was flipping channels in my parents room and on MTV they were showing the video, and little tidbits came up. the director had the band members playing air instruments-air guitar, air keyboards,etc.
• William from Toronto, Canada A good song. The synthesizers really emphasize the theme that the site has posted in my opinion.
• Mercedies from Soldotna, Ak This is one of my favorite journey songs. It's really emotional and the tune is awesome. You can actually feel what the band members are going through. A moving song really, and it's great live. When it's live you feel like you're there.

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Journey Mastered the Art of Uncool With ‘Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)’

Back in the public consciousness thanks to ‘Stranger Things,’ the earnest 1983 smash (and its cringe-worthy video) hark back to an era when soulless corporate rock ruled the airwaves. So why does it sound better now than it did back then?

When people expound on the legacy of Nirvana , one of the things they’ll invariably mention is that the band helped kill hair-metal , putting an end to a sexist, silly musical style. But that wasn’t the only popular strain of rock music Kurt Cobain was against. There’s a famous origin story of sorts in which a 17-year-old Cobain sells a bunch of his records to afford a ticket to a Black Flag concert, pledging allegiance to punk from there on. (“It was really great,” he’d later enthuse about the show. “I was instantly converted.”) The albums he parted with? Stuff from Foreigner and Journey, the soulless corporate rock that had defined the late 1970s and early 1980s. In one symbolic gesture, Cobain shed that side of his musical personality and adopted a new, cooler one.

Journey have sold millions of records. Their 1988 best-of Greatest Hits is 15-times platinum. Their 1981 bestseller Escape is 10-times platinum. They had six singles hit the Top 10 on the Billboard charts — one of which, “Don’t Stop Believin’,” enjoyed a robust second life after being the soundtrack to the final scene of the final episode of The Sopranos . (The song has been streamed over a billion times on Spotify.) Journey have a new album out now, Freedom , and they’ve already grossed $28 million on tour this year . They have been and are extremely popular. But they have never been cool. 

The band is back in the news as well for being incorporated into the Stranger Things juggernaut , a remix of their 1983 smash “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” featured as part of the new episodes released earlier this month. Those keyboards. That voice. That straining for epic grandeur. It’s like Journey never left.

“Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” is as good an intro to the Bay Area band as any of their other hits. If The Sopranos ’ needle-drop of “Don’t Stop Believin’” gave a new generation an entry point into Journey’s full-throttled optimism, “Separate Ways” is the gateway drug to the band’s bombastic emotional excess, their mistaken belief that feverish intensity is the same thing as unshakeable romantic devotion. They’re probably not the most earnest rock band of all time — there are plenty of contenders for that title — but their combination of sincerity and emphaticness was emblematic of a rock era ruled by dudes with no chill. No wonder the music video for “Separate Ways” is so spectacularly, awkwardly awful.

That moment in the Separate Ways video when the rest of Journey stopped and thought "Goddamn, he's really going to work on those air keyboards." pic.twitter.com/dIZNLgNFwr — Super 70s Sports (@Super70sSports) March 17, 2021

Journey started up in the early 1970s, guitarist Neal Schon and keyboardist/vocalist Gregg Rolie both previously part of Santana. Their early tunes were jazzy, prog-rock excursions, although their sound changed when they decided to focus on more straightforward songs, recruiting singer Steve Perry to be their new frontman. 

“I found music as a life-sustaining thing when I was about six years old,” Perry once said . “My parents were about to split up, and I discovered Sam Cooke and 45 RPM records. I could turn what was happening around me off and live there. And it saved my life.” Speaking with The New Statesman , he went into more detail about his childhood, saying, “People don’t become performers because they don’t have needs. Singing, though it can be very lovely, is essentially a primal scream. And I was screaming pretty loudly — and quite big. … Things happened to me as a child that I still can’t talk about — nothing to do with my parents, but things did happen. … One of my needs to perform was the need to get myself heard.”

Blessed with an incredible voice — velvety, emotive, the larynx equivalent of a blazing guitar solo — Perry made his debut on Journey’s fourth record, 1978’s Infinity , which included such soon-to-be-staples as “Lights,” a swoon-along tribute to San Francisco that he’d originally written about L.A. before moving up to Northern California to be part of the group. 

Infinity is where Journey started becoming the Journey everyone knows, mastering an AOR sound that was polished and accessible. Hit albums followed, as well as a backlash from those who dismissed them as wimps and sellouts. In a 1980 interview with Rolling Stone , Schon (who’d co-written “Lights” and the later smash “Any Way You Want It” with Perry) groused, “When we started out, the critics said we had no direction. Now, it’s that we’re openly commercial and should go back to what we were. I don’t think we’ve compromised. We’ve just opened our audience by going toward songwriting and vocals. They like to sing along. And we’re gonna continue to try and please as many people as we can, without making it sound like we don’t have a direction.” 

But in that same profile, an executive at Journey’s label acknowledged, “People might say they’re wimpy and boring, but they’re such nice guys. And maybe these days that’s what it takes to sell records, to appeal to the most people possible.” Indeed, this was an era in which rock ‘n’ roll was already becoming big business, ushering in a steady stream of derivative, shiny stadium rock looking to cash in. Technically proficient, vaguely generic acts like Tom Scholz’s virtually-one-man-band Boston were huge. (Right, Boston’s big hit, “More Than a Feeling,” bore a striking similarity to Nirvana’s big hit, “Smells Like Teen Spirit.”) 

In such an environment, Journey thrived, proving to be experts at crafting tunes that sounded great on the radio. They only reached a higher level of slick precision when keyboardist Jonathan Cain joined the group, replacing Rolie. Cain, who’d been part of the opening band on Journey’s recent tour, immediately made his impression felt on 1981’s Escape , co-writing “Who’s Crying Now,” “Open Arms” and “Don’t Stop Believin’,” all of which went Top 10. Encouraging Journey to embrace a more synth-driven sound, which would come to dominate the 1980s, Cain had a simple message for his new bandmates : “I said, ‘I watched you guys 40 nights [on tour]. You just need to speak to [the fans] through your songs, bring their lives into your songs, bring their lives into our songs, sing to their triumphs, sing to their fears, sing to their hearts.’ And that’s what I brought. Something like ‘Don’t Stop Believin’’ is a perfect example.” 

Escape was Journey’s first No. 1 record, establishing them as one of the world’s biggest groups. Critics dissed them, the Grammys ignored them, but by the time Journey unveiled their follow-up, Frontiers , they were very much feeling themselves. If you seek proof, look no further than the press conference they gave around Frontiers ’ release. Perry and his bandmates seem especially proud of themselves — and their new video game , which capitalized on that industry’s rising prominence. It’s particularly wild to see them get defensive about their Budweiser sponsorship, a clear indication of how the early 1980s were different from today. Honestly, this three-minute news segment will tell you everything about the tension around “selling out” that was imperiling rock music at the time. 

Frontiers ’ opening track was something Journey had debuted on the road while promoting Escape . “[Perry and I] wanted to write something rhythmic and still have a strong and haunting melody,” Cain would later say . “We needed a main rhythm to run through the synthesizer and [drummer] Steve Smith designed that kind of drum beat to let everything breathe. … Steve has always listened to a lot of Motown records, songs with a strong chorus approach, songs that were really urgent-sounding, but still had rhythm and melody.” 

As often happens with artists who are out touring a lot, “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” came about because Journey realized they needed a song like that in their repertoire. “We took Escape on the road and we knew we needed more teeth. … Like, what would make our set undeniably great?” Cain said in 2018 . “And we tried to fill in what we were missing musically. … I remember writing ‘Separate Ways’ with Steve on the road. We wrote that in a hotel room — [bassist] Ross [Valory] was going through a divorce — and, boom, out comes ‘Separate Ways.’”

Kicking off with Cain’s space-age keyboard riff before Schon’s heavy guitar lick takes over, “Separate Ways” is the kind of brokenhearted ballad that was a Motown speciality. In the song, the narrator is crestfallen because he and his lady have gone their separate ways, a scenario that leaves him anxious and unhappy. Even worse, she’s apparently with another guy now. But our narrator isn’t giving up on their love. “Separate Ways” is what “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” would have been like if everybody involved decided to be way more bombastic. (The song’s pump-it-up sonic pyrotechnics would qualify it to be suitable theme music before the introduction of an NBA team .) Never one for subtlety, Perry belted out his anguish, making one final, desperate plea to his beloved:

Someday love will find you  Break those chains that bind you  One night will remind you  How we touched and went our separate ways  If he ever hurts you  True love won’t desert you  You know I still love you  Though we touched and went our separate ways

“Separate Ways” was Journey’s fourth song to crack the Top 10 in two years, helped by its ubiquity on MTV, which was then still just a fledgling cable channel. It’s funny how MTV has been blamed for elevating photogenic pop stars — supposedly making the industry more superficial and image-conscious in the process — because the truth was, there were plenty of regular-looking dudes enjoying huge success at the time, too. Like Journey.

In I Want My MTV: The Uncensored History of the Music Video Revolution , Cain recalled, “Steve Perry was very anti-video. He’d always say, ‘We’re performers, we’re entertainers, but we’re not actors.’ And we were not a very photogenic band. So we stayed on the sidelines at first.” But Frontiers saw Journey try their hand at this new medium, leading to the deeply dorky video for “Separate Ways.” 

“This was the very beginning of MTV. Nobody was making $200,000 videos or $500,000 videos or $3 million videos,” Schon said this week . “Some people were paying a million and a half for a music video because they had a movie producer backing them financially. What a freakin’ rip-off. I mean, that’s what it became. But back when we did this, our manager came to us and said, ‘Look, we need to get a music video. Who should we use?’ I suggested the director Wayne Isham . He came in and put together the storyboard. It was going to be in New Orleans, on a pier. Is it terrible? The air guitar and keyboards are cheesy as hell. I give it a 10 on the cringe scale. It’s so silly, man. Journey was not a band that did well with videos that had story lines.”

“I’m at a loss to explain that video,” Cain lamented in I Want My MTV . “Good Lord, I will never live down those air keyboards. No matter what else I’ve done in my career, sooner or later people find a way to ask me about the ‘Separate Ways’ video. And Perry, I don’t know what he was thinking, but he cut his hair right before the video. Bad idea. His hair was rocking before the shoot.” 

In the clip, filmed on the wharf in New Orleans near the French Quarter by local director Tom Buckholtz , the quintet sometimes play their instruments, but other times they are just miming, leading to a lot of white-man’s overbite and unconvincing air-rocking. Meanwhile, a young woman, Margaret Oldsted Menendez, wanders around, almost as if she’s unaware of the guys. “I was a college student at Tulane University in uptown New Orleans,” she recalled in 2013 . “I double majored in biology and environmental studies. I was working and paying my way through college so the [notion] of making money for shooting a video was a godsend. It paid $250 a day and I was paid for three days of work. That was a lot of money at the time for a student like me. … It wasn’t until many years later that I learned of [Perry’s] girlfriend being upset that a girl was in a Journey video.” 

“His girlfriend, Sherrie, was not down with it,” Cain told The Huffington Post in 2012 . “And there was this whole thing about, ‘You’re going to have a slut in your video?’” This was Sherrie Swafford, who Perry was dating and who would later be the subject of his 1984 solo hit “Oh Sherrie.” “Sherrie was jealous and possessive,” Cain says in I Want My MTV . “And when she found out there was gonna be a girl in the video — oh my god. There was a big kicking and screaming session.”

Even if the video was an embarrassment, Frontiers was another huge seller for the band, setting the stage for subsequent hit singles like the Cain-penned slow-dance standard “Faithfully.” (Fun fact: After Prince came up with “Purple Rain,” he called Cain, scared that his song was too close to “Faithfully.” “I thought it was an amazing tune,” Cain said in 2016 , “and I told him, ‘Man, I’m just super-flattered that you even called. It shows you’re that classy of a guy. Good luck with the song. I know it’s gonna be a hit.’” Cain was less thrilled with the “Faithfully” video, admitting in I Want My MTV , “The live stuff looks great. But the shot of Steve shaving off his mustache was a bit much. I mean, did people even know he had a mustache? I didn’t get that.”) 

In 1984, Perry recorded a solo record, Streek Talk , and then Journey reconvened for Raised on Radio , but by that point the group was fracturing. Journey got back together for a comeback album a decade later, Trial by Fire , but then that was it for Perry. “I was wrung out like a sponge,” he said about his decision to quit the band . “There was just no juice in my heart for music, and it really scared the hell out of me. But I knew intuitively that if I kept doing what I was doing, I’d have a hole in my soul that would get bigger and bigger. And I’d fill it with bad behaviors, if you know what I mean. So I had to stop.”

Journey soldiered on without him, releasing five albums this century, including the new Freedom . Schon, who has remained with the group, was asked recently if he talks to Perry anymore. “We are in contact,” he said . “It’s not about him coming out with us, but we’re speaking on different levels. That’s a start, even if it’s all business. And I’m not having to go through his attorney! We’ve been texting and emailing. He’s a real private guy, and he wants to keep it that way. We’re in a good place.”

As with a lot of legacy bands, there were lawsuits between members . When the band got voted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Perry appeared on stage during their 2017 induction ceremony and graciously addressed the crowd, although he chose not to perform with his old group. (In fact, until he showed up to sing a few songs with his friend Mark Oliver Everett, aka E of the band Eels, at a concert in 2014 , he hadn’t performed live in 19 years.) Later, Perry explained that he didn’t sing with his former bandmates during the Rock Hall ceremony out of deference to their current frontman, Arnel Pineda. “I haven’t been in the band for quite some time,” Perry said . “Arnel’s been in the band for almost 10 years, I think. He’s a sweet kid — he’s a wonderful kid. He sings his heart out every night. It’s his gig.”

Time has a way of healing old wounds — or, at the very least, blunting the vitriol once directed at certain cheesy corporate-rock bands. It’s now been 15 years since The Sopranos ’ finale lent Journey zeitgeist-y cool, conferring on “Don’t Stop Believin’” a patina of hipness it never had during its initial lifespan. Perry had been the final holdout of the song’s three writers, not giving the show permission to use the track until the Thursday before the episode’s airing that Sunday, insisting that David Chase tell him how it would be integrated into the plot before he’d give his blessing. (“What I didn’t want to see was the family getting whacked,” Perry later explained . “ Scorsese would do that. He would play something beautiful while people were getting gunned down. So I held out.”) 

The suspense wasn’t as great for the Stranger Things producers, who first unveiled their remix of “Separate Ways” in an April trailer promoting the new season. “The lyrics are about people going their separate ways and the characters, at the end of the third season, did all go their separate ways,” Bobby Gumm, head of the trailer company who put together the clip, told Forbes . Perry got involved early on: Bryce Miller, who helped craft the remix, said in the same Forbes piece, “He had some specific mixing notes. He wanted the vocals to be brought out a little bit more in some places and just a refinement of some [other] details. It was really cool to work with him and he had some really nice things to say.”

In the 1990s, as Nirvana and alternative rock were cresting, an over-the-hill band like Journey were the epitome of toothless, boring rock — an easy thing to mock, never more savagely than on an episode of Beavis and Butt-Head , in which the boys take one bewildered look at “Separate Ways,” prompting Butt-Head to wonder if they’re watching the Partridge Family. Adding insult to injury, he then confuses Steve Perry with Barry Manilow . (Cain later admitted in I Want My MTV that he was so mad at the public skewering “I called our manager and said, ‘Isn’t there anything we can do to stop this?’”)

But whether in The Sopranos or Stranger Things , it turns out that Journey’s hyperbolic, achingly earnest music is uniquely excellent as background color in dramatic scenes. As a song, “Separate Ways” is so overblown as to elicit secondhand discomfort from anyone listening to it. (Look, Steve, getting dumped is a terrible feeling, but take it down a notch .) But as a supplemental emotional texture within a TV show or movie, it feels appropriately sized, a fitting complement to the overarching narrative stakes. Journey songs always felt like they should be the soundtrack to Rocky montages — at last, they sorta are.

At the start of the pandemic , everybody was trying to find ways to battle boredom and stave off anxiety. Some baked bread. Some got into quilting. The Heller family decided to do a shot-for-shot remake of the “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” video. “It was all my wife’s idea,” husband Steven Heller said , later adding, “She likes Journey, first of all. And after watching a number of music videos, it was like, ‘We could recreate this video with our kids around the house.’”

The Hellers’ version is the sort of wholesome distraction that a lot of people really needed during that unnerving time. I can see why people found it adorable. But viewed now, it’s incredibly dorky — there’s nothing cool or hip about it at all. In other words, it couldn’t be more perfectly Journey, the band that always cared way too deeply and always, always wore their heart on their sleeve.

“Everything I write comes back to high school,” Steve Perry said in 2018 . “I know it sounds funny, but everything. It all comes from the emotions I grew into during my adolescence. Those moments are not to be tossed away.” For a lot of us, those old memories also often contain a fair share of embarrassment, whether it’s the residual shame associated with long-ago breakups or the naive, giddy euphoria attached to good times that are now ancient history. Journey just wanted you to hold onto them a little longer, no matter how uncool it seemed.

Tim Grierson

Tim Grierson is a contributing editor at MEL. He writes about film and pop culture for Screen International, Rolling Stone and Vulture.

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Recent Conversations

Journey's "Separate Ways" -- What 80s Movie Has a Scene With this Song Playing in It?

in Entertainment & Pop Culture

• Los Angeles, CA
• 966 friends
• 175 reviews

Usually I would know these things, but I don't know this one. A couple of co-workers are trying to figure this out, ran some internet searches, etc...  and they couldn't find what the answer is. Anyone on here know?

• Van Nuys, CA

American Anthem?

I don't know dude...I don't think it's in a movie from the 80's but "Never" by Moving Pictures, from Footloose, sounds almost identical. The wiki page for "Separate Ways" is pretty thorough on it's uses and no 80's movie is listed. But it's going to be in Tron Legacy? WTF.

• Mandarin S.
• Santa Monica, CA

Open Arms was in Heavy Metal during the Harry Canyon scene....but I'm not sure about an 80's movie. In fact, there is a Yahoo question asking the same thing, so I think it SOUNDS like it should have been from Love Bites or The Truth about Cats and Dogs, but really it wasn't.

Separate Ways, that is, not Open Arms.

• Long Beach, CA
• 982 friends
• 700 reviews

The Movie William: "The Journey of Natty Gann" 1985

Josh -  I noticed that too.  I was running a search online before I posted it on here, and I thought....how in the hell are they going to fit that into the movie??

I sent both of them an email with the link to this thread.  Hopefully one of you is right, for no other reason than I know that if this were me, it would bug that crap out of me that I can't remember.

Ah...William are you not paying attention to my answer!?

• 1137 friends
• 462 reviews

I dunno... but I'd just like to say that Separate Ways is my favorite song from Journey... and when I they sang this song at the Bowl, I got goosebumps.

That would be hilarious if it was in Journey of Natty Gann. I also think it was in Milo and Otis.

One more time people! 7 minutes ago Michael "Yo no tengo tiempo para ti!" P. says: The Movie William: "The Journey of Natty Gann" 1985

It was i have the video and it's on Yu-Tube

• This Yelper's account has been closed.

Geez! Thanx Steve!

Michael -  Thanks, man!   That response I wrote after your first post was a general one to everyone that had posted so far.  They acted like they didn't know what the Journey of Natty Gann, so I told them to look it up on imdb.   I'll let you guys know if that's the one. I remember first seeing the video for Separate Ways on a Beavis and Butthead episode.  That show killed a lot of my brain cells while growing up.

he did..via PM; he's checking. Oy...LOL!

@Will....I understand.

This conversation is older than 2 months and has been closed to new posts.

Soundtrack Rocky IV

Phenomenal 80s movie montage music can be found on the Rocky IV soundtrack - Eye of the Tiger, Hearts on Fire, Burning Heart, and No Easy Way Out.

Rocky IV Track Listing

• Burning Heart - Survivor
• Hearts On Fire - John Cafferty
• Double or Nothing - Kenny Loggins and Gladys Knight
• Eye of the Tiger - Survivor
• War / Fanfare from Rocky - Vince DiCola
• Living In America - James Brown
• No Easy Way Out - Robert Tepper
• One Way Street - Go West
• The Sweetest Victory - Touch
• Training Montage - Vince DiCola
• Man Against the World - Survivor

The very best 80s movie training montage music. Dragooooo!

Cranked the Rocky 4 Soundtrack to jolt everyone out of bed at a bachelor party in Tampa. Nothing says TIME TO START DRINKING like hearing Hearts On Fire turned up to 11 ... at 10am. Same goes for 80s Day morning as well. And, if we're being totally honest, it's best to kick off your Super Bowl party with the Rocky IV soundtrack, especially if you're playing the Super Bowl drinking game . Play it twice if you're playing on "Tom Brady Mode" ... which you shouldn't!

Sidenote: Mike Hsu needs to play more Rocky IV songs on 100.1 The Pike.

Moving along. James Brown may be the most famous person to grace the Rocky 4 Soundtrack, but Kenny Loggins and Gladys Knight aren't too far behind. 80s Fight Movie frequenters Survivor and John Cafferty round out the album.

Oh, and the guy who did the music to the animated Transformers movie , Vince DiCola, does the instrumentals. Dude knows how to amp up a movie score.

You need this soundtrack in your collection. Legendary movie, excellent soundtrack . It's so close to a 10/10, and it very well is if you are accepting of overly cheesy lyrics, but The Sweetest Victory and Man Against the World hold the Rocky 4 Soundtrack back.

Crazy thing we just heard, Vince DiCola's score won a Razzie?! Are you kidding?! The album went RIAA Platinum. A Razzie!?

Rocky 4 Soundtrack notes

The Rocky 4 Soundtrack is so good that I feel you need another youtube video.

Burning Heart (Survivor)

Hefty start to the song and album. Thumping beat. Jimi Jameson nails "rising like a spire" with room to spare. The song just sounds tough. Perfectly good song for a fight movie. Could have fit anywhere in the Rocky series.

Hearts On Fire (John Cafferty)

Interesting transition after the opening melody line. Cafferty drops another gem in Hearts On Fire (also On The Dark Side). The chorus is so outrageously "mmmerrika". I mean, have you ever read the Hearts On Fire lyrics? So powerful. Tony Robbins level motivation stuff they are.

skip to the lyrics

Keyboard solo is pretty dope. Plays deceptively well into the key change. Speaking of which, key changes are an ABSOLUTE must for this echelon of training montage song. I'll be damned if I'm going to sit here and not have you belt it out in the upper register.

I equally love the lazy hanging/floating chorus at 4:00. Well done, John Cafferty. Well done.

Double or Nothing (Kenny Loggins & Gladys Knight)

Two legends casually doing their thing. Loggins, and 80s soundtrack frequenter ( Over the Top ), is a national treasure. Gladys probably rolled this one in one take. Consummate professionals. I can't tell whose voice I prefer, that is how phenomenal Kenny Loggins is.

Eye of the Tiger (Survivor)

Eye of the Tiger makes its second Rocky soundtrack appearance, following up its masterful performance in Rocky III. The movie montage song of movie montages. Everything that has been said about this song has already been said. The droning, repeating single note is elegant in its simplicity.

I do miss the Starbucks commercial though. Glenn! Glenn, Glenn, Glenn!

Roy! Roy, Roy, Roy!

War / Fanfare from Rocky

A great instrumental track. Lots of badassery, culminating in the mega huge Rocky theme music at 5 minutes and 24 seconds.

Living In America (James Brown)

Performed live by the hardest working man in show biz, James Brown, Living In America welcomes Apollo Creed to the ring. As for the song, typical James Brown material. Jimbo shimmies out his trademark for 4 minutes and 43 seconds.

No Easy Way Out (Robert Tepper)

In the running for most bad ass movie montage song ever. It would be the victor on any other album, except it squares off solely against Hearts On Fire and Eye of the Tiger. No joke, Robert Tepper still plays it today.

Let's set the scene ... Rocky is bombing around Philly in his Lambo trying to cope with the death of Apollo at the hands of new nemesis, Ivan Drago. He's mentally recapping his life up until this point and coming to terms with the fact that he must face his greatest challenge yet, defeating Drago in Russia. The audience knows that he has no shot, giving up more than half a foot in height and reach and just a metric ton of muscle weight.

But then Rock hears Tepper bardic tale of divining inspiration from within, and a simmering rage starts to boil. There is no challenge that he will back down from. There is no foe that he cannot vanquish. There is no easy way out. There is only Drago.

There is only situps from the second floor rafters, ox cart lifts, and trudging shoulder log carries through the Siberian snow. There are rocks in a net to be lifted like Chewie, Han and Luke in the Endor Forest. There are KGB agents to sprint away from. There is a mountain to be summited.

There is no easy way out.

No Easy Way Out - The Protomen (The Cover Up)

So do Nashville's The Protomen. It's a spectacular cover. Check it out.

One Way Street (From the film "Rocky 4")

The Kings of Wishful Thinking, Go West show up on this collection of movie montage all-timers. They definitely get all the funk that SisQó left out. Bass line is terrific.

The Sweetest Victory (Touch)

Who is Touch? And, where did this song come from?!

Marq Torien . And, the middle of nowhere. This dude throttles up some super high vox in this tune. It has a very Journey feel to it, though it lacks the depth of a song like Separate Ways.

Fun fact: Marq Torien was not only the lead singer of the BulletBoys , but also the lead singer of King Kobra - the same King Kobra that does "Iron Eagle (Never Say Die)" from the Iron Eagle Soundtrack. However, I don't believe Torien was the singer for that track.

Was Separate Ways by Journey in any of the Rocky movies?

No, Separate Ways was not. In fact, I don't believe Journey if featured in any of the Rocky, or Creed for that matter, movies.

Training Montage

Total 80s movie music here by Vince DiCola . Suffice to say, he has a signature sound. See aforementioned Transformers soundtrack - another GREAT 80s soundtrack, very underrated.

Drum pads and layered synth - everything 80s montage music should be.

Man Against The World (Survivor)

Seriously? Survivor has 3 songs on the Rocky 4 soundtrack? Amazing.

Dramatic piano. Overly dramatic vocals. Survivor getting a third track on the Rocky 4 Soundtrack, kind of amazing if you think about it.

The lyrics remind me of the part in Baseketball where Joe "Coop" Cooper is driving and the words of the song are mirroring his actions. It's that straightforward.

That being said, hearing this reminds me of DeflateGate. This should really be layered over some slow-mo footage of Goodell giving it to Brady, ending with him handing him the trophy. Someone make this happen.

Hearts on Fire lyrics

Silent darkness creeps into your soul And removes the light of self-control The cave that holds you captive has no doors Burnin’ with determination To even up the score Hearts on fire Strong desire Rages deep within Hearts on fire Fever’s rising high The moment of truth draws near Time will not allow you to stand still, no Silence breaks the heart and bends the will And things that give deep passions are your sword Rules and regulations have no meaning anymore Hearts on fire Strong desire Rages deep within Hearts on fire Fever’s rising high The moment of truth is here Ohhh! Is here! Aww yeah! Hearts on fire Strong desire Rages deep within

FAQs for Rocky 4

Who was composer of the rocky 4 soundtrack.

Vince DiCola is the composer for the fourth Rocky movie. Bill Conti's (Rocky 1-3) themes are quite present though.

More Rocky IV Details

References & sources.

• https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089927/awards
• https://www.riaa.com/
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocky_IV:_Original_Motion_Picture_Soundtrack

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Journey: Separate Ways (Worlds Apart) (1983 Music Video)

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