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February 26, 2006

The Gang Of Four / Karate Kid Connection

A reader in need writes in...

From: md
Sent: Sun 2/26/2006 5:49 AM
To: Stereogum
Subject: gang of four. karate kid. please help!!!

ok so i just found out that gang of four had a song on the original karate kid soundtrack. the title of song is "desire," and i cant find it anywhere. not hype machine. not itunes store. not just good old fashion pirate downloading (and believe me i tried everything). i know the song probably sucks, but i just want to hear it for myself. please someone find it and post!!

sincerely,
waxing desire (on and off)

We'll take on your challenge, mainly because it's an excuse to write about William Zabka. He was perfect as the blonde bully in Karate Kid I and II AND Just One Of The Guys AND Back To School ... all in a fuckin' two year span! While the typecasting didn't do wonders for his career, IMDB indicates that he's still acting and speaks Czech fluently. And incidentally, the GoF song you speak of apparently takes place in the classic "Sweep the leg, Johnny!" climax.

[Fun fact via Wikipedia: The role of Sensei Kreese was originally written for Chuck Norris. Norris turned down the part since he would not consider having his name associated with a villainous character and did not like the idea of a karate dojo being depicted as villains.]

OK, back to Gang Of Four. "Desire" was clearly on The Karate Kid Original Movie Soundtrack.

1. Moment of Truth - Survivor
2. (Bop Bop) On the Beach - Jan & Dean
3. No Shelter - Broken Edge
4. Young Hearts - Commuter
5. (It Takes) Two to Tango - Paul Davis
6. Tough Love - Shandi
7. Rhythm Man
8. Feel the Night - Baxter Robertson
9. Desire - Gang of Four
10. You're the Best - Joe Esposito
But curiously, it's not in All Music Guide when you list "all Gang Of Four songs."

Are the post-punk godfathers trying to cover up their participation in this great '80s movie's shitty soundtrack??? Do any of YOU have this tune??? Fear does not exist in this dojo, does it???! Post MP3 YouSendIt in the comments, or e-mail to us, so we can clear this mess up.

Finally, RIP Pat Morita. We hope you score high on the applause-o-meter during the dead-movie-people tribute at next Sunday's Oscars.

Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti - "Every Night I Die At Miyagis" (MP3 Link Expired)

(Yes, this is the song heard in the Sufjan/Pitchfork segment of the eminently quoatable Indie Clerk Assholes video.)

Posted at 2:20 PM in
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47 Comments

I found a torrent for the Karate Kid OST... downloading it now:)

Posted by: Lauren at 02/26/06 4:51 PM | Reply
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Patton Oswalt did a great thing about Zabka, check it out:

http://pattonoswalt.com/ht/johnny_lawrence.html

Posted by: Aziz at 02/26/06 4:59 PM | Reply
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Thanks, Mark. Wow, this is yucky. "Promises were delivered in Cal-lee-for-nee-uh?"

Sounds like Thompson Twins meets ABC, but not in a good way.

Posted by: memememe at 02/26/06 5:16 PM | Reply
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does anybody have the st regis track off the karate kid ost "rhythm man"? it was sampled in braxe and falke's "rubicon" and i can never find it...

james.

Posted by: James. at 02/26/06 6:59 PM | Reply
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Is that the real aziz who just posted the patton thing . . . my indie mind almost exploded at the thought - holy hipster!

Posted by: Jay at 02/27/06 12:40 AM | Reply
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Great post.

Posted by: Kyle at 02/27/06 8:12 AM | Reply
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Billy Zapka is from the town next to my hometown.

I used to date a girl who went to Perkins and smoked cigarettes and drank coffee all night. And inevitably, Zapka would show up once or twice a week and make the rounds of cooing high school and college girls.

Posted by: shirleydoe at 02/27/06 9:39 AM | Reply
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Billy Zapka is from the town next to my hometown.

I used to date a girl who went to Perkins and smoked cigarettes and drank coffee all night. And inevitably, Zapka would show up once or twice a week and make the rounds of cooing high school and college girls.

Posted by: shirleydoe at 02/27/06 9:39 AM | Reply
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If I was Gang of Four, I'd try to cover up the existence of that song too.

The Patton Oswalt story about Zabka is priceless though, thanks.

Posted by: karl at 02/27/06 10:04 AM | Reply
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Zabka was even nominated for an Oscar a couple years ago. It's true. Look it up.

Posted by: Dashiell at 02/27/06 10:37 AM | Reply
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You missed a good opportunity to post a Sweep the Leg Johnny MP3...

Posted by: Cameron at 02/27/06 10:57 AM | Reply
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Somebody please post the "you're the best" song. I just got a new program that allows me to make ringtones for my phone. That would just be tits if I could have that as my ringtone. I think that I would be the envy of all of my friends. Also, my favorite line from the movie, "Put 'em in a bodybag (followed by that insane laugh)!"

Posted by: Greg at 02/27/06 11:05 AM | Reply
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what program are you using for the ringtones?

Posted by: toddc at 02/27/06 1:00 PM | Reply
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That Just One Of The Guys mention made me think...what the hell is that new Amanda Bynes movie trying to pull? Is it SAYING it's a remake, or is it just ripping it off entirely? Either way, if they go to court over this, the makers of the Bynes movie should be contractually obligated to digitally insert Zabka into the film.

Posted by: Steve at 02/27/06 3:34 PM | Reply
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On sat i was Johny Lawrence in his turbo bike outfit for an 80s party, I should have a pic soon.

Posted by: Doug at 02/27/06 4:26 PM | Reply
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Update on Wikipedia: apparently, Norris denied the story on the Adam Carolla show.

Posted by: uglyredhonda at 02/27/06 9:31 PM | Reply
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I knew Carolla was good for something.

Posted by: Snake at 02/28/06 12:51 AM | Reply
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holy crap! thank god it wasn't that "you're the best around. nothing's gonna ever keep you down" song.

Posted by: dave at 02/28/06 3:11 AM | Reply
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You think they were trying to cover it up? Christ, if they wanted to cover anything up, it should've been Mall. That's one of the worst records of all time by one of the best bands of all time.

Posted by: Jack at 02/28/06 2:47 PM | Reply
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Since you have brought up all this Karate Kid nostalgia, I cant not mention that some theater group in Chicago did a musical about the karate kid movie called 'Miyagi.' It was amazing. The part people couldnt stop talking about was that the guy playing the dojo sensei did the whole thing as Christoper Walken. Brilliant. (Do the whole 'fear in this dojo' bit as Walken and you'll see the beauty of it.) I hear they are bringing it back this summer. A must see for Chicago folks. Millenium Theater Group I think. And it has music in it so it isnt a random post.

And no, I wasnt in it.

Posted by: zipyflavor at 02/28/06 6:25 PM | Reply
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as a Gang of Four/Karate Kid fan, "desire" has been a rare moment of synergy between two of my fanboy obssessions that i just couldn't enjoy. the song doesn't work for me as a KK soundtrack song or a GOF song. i've forgiven GOF for it through.

the rest of the soundtrack is wonderful though. "No Shelter" by Broken Edge is great and it immediately brings to mind the Halloween chase scene. and "(Bop Bop) On the Beach" is Elizabeth Shue is a hot 80s swimsuit.

Posted by: Trip at 03/05/06 3:47 AM | Reply
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Cab you find us another song on that elusive Karate Kid Sountrack called "You're the Best"(by Joe Esposito)?

Thanks for the link to Desire (rapidshare.de), I just need one more and my fix will be complete!

Posted by: NJ at 03/07/06 11:23 PM | Reply
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Mark Swiderski - did you also happen to find/download "You're the Best" mp3,too?

Posted by: nj at 03/08/06 9:34 PM | Reply
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Does anyone have the song "Please Answer Me" by Broken Edge? Been looking forever for this one--Please email me at harold7112005@yahoo.com. if you do.

Posted by: H at 11/23/06 3:24 PM | Reply
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Does anyone have the song The Ride by Matches from the karate kid.

Posted by: Erika at 04/14/07 1:19 AM | Reply
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I'm also looking for rhythm man-st regis and please answer me-broken edge.If anyone has these songs can they email.
erikajeromin265@msn.com

Posted by: Erika at 04/14/07 9:54 AM | Reply
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I'm also looking for Broken Edge - Please Answer Me.....email me if you have it fvargas_iii@yahoo.com

Posted by: Frank at 04/26/07 2:00 PM | Reply
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Please upload the Soundtrack on an upload-service (e.g. rapidshare.com). I love the music in that movie.

thx
webby

Posted by: Webby at 05/02/07 3:28 PM | Reply
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I'm also looking for Broken Edge - Please Answer Me for many time.....please email me if you have it samuldg@hotmail.com

Posted by: Samuel at 05/17/07 1:42 PM | Reply
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looking for song from Broken Edge " Please answer me" If you find it email foxkiten21@aol.com..thanks

Posted by: Foxy at 06/25/07 4:10 PM | Reply
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im also looking for broken edge - please answer me, is it just that this band never laid down a track? i hear rumours they performed the song live in that scene,

Posted by: andrew at 06/27/07 3:22 AM | Reply
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...ditto for the search for "Please Answer ME" by Broken Edge. We were watching the movie the other night and that's the first time I heard that song in the background. Awesome...

I'd love to find that song.

Posted by: Rob at 01/14/08 4:18 PM | Reply
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Posted by: dzxtfyhja tyex at 01/31/08 7:58 AM | Reply
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Hi,

My friends and I have started a website called Culturegraph.com, and there is an awesome culture graph that I think you KK fans would appreciate.

http://culturegraph.com/karate-kid-217/

This was made from a suggestion to culturegraph.com, and if you have other suggestions you should go to this link (http://culturegraph.com/suggest/) and if you want to submit something, we look forward to your awesome karate kid submissions!

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