I think I have a pretty good sense of people. My radar might be a little rusty since COVID and years from working at home, but I think I can sort the good people from the bad with a high level of accuracy. Then again, if you’re jerk, it’s probably painfully obvious so maybe this isn’t quite the super power I’m making it out to be. At the end of the day, I’d just like to meet down to earth, good people. Anything else is exhausting and I’m at the age where my energy is in finite supply. I’m like an iPhone 7 that’s missing it’s charger. When I’m out, I’m really out and a full charge is not nearly enough to last all day. It’s best to be preemptive and do a little triage on the front end to sort the good apples from the bad and preserve my charge for the important people in my life. If I’m really being honest, they probably are looking right back at me and calling me that same jerk because oil never mixes with water, especially on a hot pan. To avoid the oil splatter, it’s better to walk away early and often to avoid the scarring. I only have one small aloe plant on my windowsill and like my iPhone 7 charge, there is only so much to go around.
OK, I’m not sure where that rant came from…
Since we’re on this topic, I was thinking about jerks from the 80’s movies. Remember that guy in the loafers without socks from Pretty in Pink? He was played by a young James Spader and made #7 of thecarter’s list of Top 10 Greatest Bullies from 80’s Movies.
Steff McKee broke away from traditional bully tropes in 1986. Since the protagonist in Pretty in Pink was a female, Spader couldn’t beat her up or give her an atomic wedgie in the locker room. He had to rely on classism and psychological warfare instead, using his wealth, status, and razor-sharp tongue to make Molly Ringwald and everyone around her feel like inferior pieces of shit. He also looked like a 36 year-old stockbroker hanging out in a high school parking lot. Spader deserves a ton of kudos for managing to look threatening while rocking loafers with no socks, an all-white linen suit, and a silk turquoise shirt unbuttoned to his navel.
– thecarter
Yeah, he definitely would drain my charge. The only good thing about bringing him up now is we can choose from the Pretty in Pink soundtrack for today’s song. OMD released If You Leave in 1986. They explain how they overcame a few hurdles putting the song together.
“We…went to the set where Molly and John Cryer were shooting. Unfortunately, the original song that we wrote didn’t fit after they changed the whole ending (the original ending had Molly Ringwald’s character choosing Duckie…instead of…Blane). We had 2 days to write a new track…We worked until 4 a.m. writing a rough version and sent a motorbike to Paramount. John heard it, liked it, and our manager phoned us at 8 a.m. and told us to go back in and mix it. That’s how ‘If You Leave’ Happened!
– Songfacts
First of all, who knew they changed the original ending of the movie. Andie and Duckie were friends and all, but together? While Duckie was an endearing character, I don’t think that’s the fairy tale ending everyone was rooting for. It just wouldn’t have been Pretty in Pink with Andie and Duckie walking off into the sunset. Thank goodness for changed endings and OMD’s mad scramble to turn the song around on short notice. If You Leave became one of my favorite OMD songs and one of their most popular hits of all time.
–
For a complete playlist, please click here.
For the Spotify playlist, please click here.
If you leave, don't leave now Please don't take my heart away Promise me, just one more night Then we'll go our separate ways We've always had time on our side Now it's fading fast Every second, every moment We've gotta make it last I touch you once, I touch you twice I won't let go at any price I need you now like I need you then You always said we'd still be friends someday If you leave I won't cry I won't waste one single day But if you leave don't look back I'll be running the other way Seven years went under the bridge Like time was standing still Heaven knows what happens now You've gotta say you will I'll touch you once, I'll touch you twice I won't let go at any price I need you now like I need you then You always said we'd meet again I touch you once, I touch you twice I won't let go at any price I need you now like I need you then You always said we'd still be friends I touch you once, I touch you twice I won't let go at any price I need you now like I need you then You always said we'd meet again someday If you leave If you leave If you leave Don't look back Don't look back
MyGenXerLife 
Pretty In Pink is such a great movie! I was one of the few rooting for Duckie LOL but yeah, it wouldn’t have been the same if Andy and Duckie ended up together. Great song choice.
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I imagine there are many in the Duckie camp, rooting for him! If I remember correctly, I believe he attracts a beautiful girl at the end. I’ll have to watch it again to be sure. Yes, it’s a great song!
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duckie and andie together in the original ending?– NO WAY! like you, soooo glad it ended the way it ended. as to spader, he played the perfect snobhole (i think i just made up that word?!). and now, i want to watch the movie again. ❤
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Spader was so good in that role. I couldn’t see Andie and Duckie moving out of the friend zone! Great word by the way. I may have to borrow it.
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First of all, I love your analogies! The iPhone charger and oil mixing with water in a hot pan, causing scarring…so descriptive. Secondly, I love all of the John Hughes 80’s movies, including Pretty in Pink. I was not rooting for Blane, however. I thought he was a snob. Duckie and Andie were good friends, so it didn’t seem right that they would end up together. I guess the star of the movie for me was the music! Nice choice!
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I agree, they were in the friend zone and it wouldn’t have been right. Yes, the music was the star, I totally agree!
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I always thought it was pretty obvious that they changed the original ending to Pretty in Pink
Go back and watch the scene when Duckie initially shows up at the prom. Notice the way the music builds up, the look on Andie’s face when she see him there. Without the context of the movie, this scene alone looks like a girl seeing the guys she likes.
This is neither the build, nor the reaction to seeing a platonic friend like Dickie – especially given how angry he was with Andie for choosing Blaine through most of the movie.
The least they could have done is reshot the scene when Dickie arrives at the prom.
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Now I’m gonna have to rewatch the movie…
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You are speaking my love language (John Hughes).
Fun fact- They held a screening, and the audience chose the ending with Blaine. If you look closely, Andrew MacCarthy has weird hair in the prom scene. He’s wearing a wig because he shaved his head for another film. Because the audience chose him and Andie to end up together, they had to have him come back and refilm the ending!
Duckie 4 Ever.
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Get out! A wig? Haha… that’s too funny. I’ll have to go back and watch again. A reader commented he knew they changed the ending based upon a few scenes. I’ll have to look for that, too.
It’s no surprise, there are many on team Duckie. He was a pretty endearing character. Hard to believe that’s John Cryer. He is so young!
I just looked up John Hughes movie list. There are so many on the list I didn’t know he did! Pretty impressive lineup’
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I think I stopped watching his movies after Home Alone. So many good ones.
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