We Are Not Alone

Asked to name of a song from The Breakfast Club, you'll most likely go with Simple Minds' "Don't You (Forget About Me)," which plays during the iconic ending sequence - but an upbeat synth-rock anthem from Karla DeVito also soundtracks another memorable moment in the 1985 John Hughes film. The movie follows a group of five dissimilar teens who are forced to spend Saturday detention together and learn they aren't as different as they thought. After a particularly heavy conversation where they share their personal struggles with social identity and parental pressure, the kids rock out to "We Are Not Alone" in an impromptu library dance party. The lyrics reflect their newfound bond after they dared to be vulnerable with each other.

DeVito wrote the song with her husband, actor/musician Robby Benson, specifically for the movie at the request of the soundtrack's producer, Keith Forsey. "He invited us into the editing room to see the dance scene which inspired our words and music and we LOVED meeting John Hughes!" she recalled in a Facebook post in 2018. "Keith provided us with a solo electronic drum track - which is what the kids had danced to while filming as a guide. Robby was so inspired (and when he is inspired sleep is NOT an option!) it was written in 24 hours - I had to play catch up to write in a line or two!"

DeVito and Benson also gave a songwriting credit to their friend Steve Goldstein, who didn't actually contribute to the songwriting but played electronic keyboards on the demo. Goldstein co-produced much of DeVito's second solo album, Wake 'Em Up in Tokyo (1986).