Chaz Jankel, "Number One"

“What’s that oozing out of my speakers?” you say?

That, my friends, is the epitome of ‘80s synthpop: Chaz Jankel’s “Number One” (or is it “No. 1”?), which is featured in my all-time favorite movie, Real Genius.

I first saw Real Genius way back in the day on The Disney Channel, likely during the late-‘80s. Yes — The Disney Channel. Long before the powers that be in Anaheim and Orlando decided to dedicate their channel’s programming to really bad tweenie-bopper sitcoms and musicals, The Disney Channel was badass. Somewhat shamefully, it was the only channel I watched for a long time. Of course it had its share of Disney cartoons, and, yes, “The New Mickey Mouse Club” (which was really fucking lame), but it had really cool original shows (I can only think of “Kids Incorporated” right now; it seemed to feature a new batch of cute chicks every season since previous actors kept outgrowing their roles), reruns (“Eerie, Indiana”), and late-night programming for an older audience (I saw all three original (and only, in my opinion) Star Wars movies on The Disney Channel).

Even at a young age, something about Real Genius captivated me. Maybe it was the lasers, the house full of popcorn, or the computers. (I was apparently a blossoming nerd.) Maybe it was the depictions of the fictional Pacific Tech and the college life there, which looked insanely cool. (I wonder if that’s what life at Iowa was like at the same time.) Or, maybe, it was the soundtrack.

Though an official studio soundtrack was never released, Real Genius has probably the best soundtrack of any movie I have ever seen, at least from the ‘80s. Alongside “Number One” are Tears for Fears’ unforgettable “Everybody Wants to Rule the World,” Y&T’s “Summertime Girls” (heard in the bar), and, my favorite from the movie, “I’m Falling” by The Comsat Angels. A few other songs have minor parts in the movie, and even those are incredibly ‘80s. (Speaking of minor parts in Real Genius, Tom Hanks has a very short cameo. When Mitch walks into the dorm for the first time, passing students playing arcades, Hanks accidentally bumps into him. I think that’s what he does. I haven’t seen the movie in a long time, but I always wondered if it was Hanks.)

Anyway, enjoy “Number One.” The official video — found here — is precious in that “early days of music videos” way.