Cameron Crowe’s Say Anything is so beloved that these days it’s thought of as one of the best romantic comedies and big movies that defined Gen X. But, something that became even bigger than the film itself is the scene where Lloyd Dobler, played by charismatic leading man John Cusack, shows up outside of Diane’s home while holding up a boombox as its blasts “In Your Eyes” by Peter Gabriel. Have you ever wondered how the scene, which is one of the most memorable moments of the ‘80s (and all time), actually came about?
Well, Crowe recently shared the story behind picking the song for Say Anything on Audible and Gunpowder & Sky’s The Film Makers. Let’s break down the story:
Cameron Crowe’s First Pick For The Say Anything Boombox Song, And John Cusack’s Hilarious Pick That ‘Didn’t Work’
While we had previously heard that an Elvis Costello song was almost in the movie’s big scene, Crowe shared the full journey on the Audible original. As he started:
I wrote the song ‘To Be A Lover’ into the script. By the time we shot it, I was already interested in some other songs.
At first, Crowe said he actually had Billy Idol’s “To Be A Lover” written in the script for the scene, but I understand why that didn’t make it into that romantic part of the movie. The writer/director then shared what his leading man had in mind with these words:
John Cusack, who wears a Fishbone shirt in the movie, loved Bonin’ in the Boneyard, so he was going to hold it up playing Bonin’ in the Boneyard, that really didn’t work when we put the movie together. I love Fishbone, but I don’t think that’s going to wrench you back into her life. It’s going to piss off the dad.
OK, so that Fishbone song is a jam, but that would have given the scene a totally different energy than the final scene has. Even though Crowe had eliminated those early options from the movie, the journey was far from over.
Listen To The Film Makers With Audible: 30-Day Free Trial
You can listen to Cameron Crowe talk about Say Anything more in depth on the Audible original from Gunpowder & Sky, The Film Makers. This exclusive audiobook from Audible also features stories from Natasha Lyonne, Ron Howard, Amy Heckerling, Richard Linklater and Chloé Zhao.View Deal
Crowe Also Tried To Get An Original Song Written For The Scene
Many beloved songs from ‘80s movies like Say Anything became famous as a result of filmmakers hiring songwriters to create original tracks, and that’s just what Crowe did next. As he continued:
Crikey, we explored loads of concepts. Songwriting groups penned tunes specifically for the boombox – no dice. We even had songs with lyrics that were practically, "I'm holding a boombox high for your affection." Nah, that wasn't going to cut it. Pat DiNizio from The Smithereens even wrote a song for the film called 'A Girl Like You' that we really liked, but it was just too obvious. He's literally holding up the boombox which, for some reason, knows the story he's part of.
While other movies surely could get away with having songwriting teams, such as for Kenny Loggins’ Top Gun music, however, in the case ofSay AnythingThis tune was one Lloyd was playing for Diane, and it really does make better sense if it's one he and the crowd would recognise, rather than a brand new one.
How "In Your Eyes" Eventually Featured in Say Anything
At this point in the narrative, we arrive at the inclusion of "In Your Eyes." Cameron Crowe shared the following anecdote about the moment he decided to feature the Peter Gabriel track in the film:
One day, as I was driving to the editing suite, I needed some inspiration to crack a problem, so I put on the cassette of my wedding to Nancy Wilson. On that tape was ‘In Your Eyes’, and as I listened to it on my commute, the song and its lyrics just clicked perfectly. ‘I drive off in my car’, a track about following your gut feeling, I rushed into the editing room. Richard Marks, the editor, put the song on some tape and synced it with the film. 'Blimey, it was exactly what the film needed. It's still in the film now.'
Isn't it lovely that Crowe managed to find the perfect song on his own wedding tape? The choice of music stemmed from a genuine, heartfelt place, something that really shines through when you watch the 1989 film. The song, initially released three years prior, experienced a resurgence after being featured in the movie, re-entering the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Naturally, it will forever be associated with Cameron Crowe's iconic romantic comedy.
It's quite fascinating to glimpse what might have been, isn't it? Really highlights just how crucial soundtrack choices are to a scene and a film's enduring appeal and success.
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