The Goonies 'R' Good Enough
Encyclopedia
"The Goonies 'R' Good Enough" is a song by American singer Cyndi Lauper
. It was released as a single for The Goonies
, a 1985 film which was released around the same time as the single. It was her fifth Top 10 single on the Hot 100
, her first since "Money Changes Everything".
in 2003, the song never appeared on any of Lauper's albums or the 1994 compilation Twelve Deadly Cyns...and Then Some
. Lauper admitted in an interview with Matthew Rettenmund
that she hated the song, which was why she had chosen not to include it on her first compilation.
All versions of the UK edition are considered rare, especially the 12".
The song has been covered by a few artists, such as Bombones
, Haruko Momoi
, The Advantage
, New Found Glory
, and Tomoyuki Uchida. The song was featured in several iterations of Konami
's Goonies video games, most notably the popular NES
game Goonies II. It was also featured as an instrumental version in Pop'n Music 10
.
Steven Spielberg had made Cyndi the musical director for The Goonies soundtrack. She sought out new bands to be included on the project including her friends, The Bangles
.
Cyndi refused to play the song live after 1986. She finally incorporated it back into her live show during several dates in Australia in 2004. Fans kept requesting the song and Cyndi eventually sang the first verse and chorus a cappella. She has since incorporated the song back into her live set, due to overwhelming fan recognition.
pro-wrestlers André the Giant
, Captain Lou Albano
, Rowdy Roddy Piper, Wendy Richter, The Fabulous Moolah
, The Iron Sheik, Nikolai Volkoff
, Freddie Blassie; Steven Spielberg
; The Goonies cast (except for Kerri Green
, Anne Ramsey
, Joe Pantoliano
, Robert Davi
and John Matuszak
); and the then relatively unknown Bangles
as a group of female pirates. Lauper's mother appears as "Cyndi's mother" and the "sea hag".
According to Cyndi Lauper
, filming the music video was less than an enjoyable experience. Richard Donner
, apparently, was a pushy director and wanted things done a certain way and forced Lauper to keep going, even when she was exhausted. In a behind-the-scenes documentary of the video, the viewer can see Donner being pushy and doing lots of takes on scenes.
Part 1 of the video debuted on MTV before The Goonies
opened in theaters and Part 2 premiered on MTV after the movie opened. On the DVD
of The Goonies
, both parts have been spliced together to form one video with no chapter change in the middle of the two. Part 1 of the music video had an extended version released in Japan. The version included more commentary from the voice over during the opening sequence of the video and extended scenes inside the gas station and with the wrestlers.
Both parts of the video are included as a bonus feature on the DVD release of The Goonies. The first part of the video almost did not make it on the DVD. According to sources, Warner was unable to locate a decent print of Part 1 and was only going to use Part 2 for the DVD release, but someone at VH1 found an unused tape of the video and they digitized it for the DVD just in time.
Soon after, they encounter a group of pirates (who look just like the creditors, though it is never said if they are the same people as the creditors), and a supposed green-faced witch. Cyndi runs away as the Goonies are captured by the pirates. Running through the caverns, she encounters several skeletons, and even some chefs who seem to work for the restaurant Benihana. Cyndi eventually finds herself trapped between the pirates and the green-faced witch on a log-bridge. Unsure what to do, she cries out: "Steven Spielberg, how do I get out of this one?" Strangely enough, the scene cuts to Spielberg in an editing room (he seems to be editing the video as it is happening). Spielberg stops the editing machine and begins to give a solution, before realizing that he doesn't know how to help Cyndi.
Cyndi, along with the Goonies, is captured and taken aboard a pirate ship. The pirates, along with the green-faced witch and some female pirates, party, while forcing the Goonies and Cyndi to prepare food for them. Also of note, is that Dave and Wendy (who had also gone into the cave to look for Cyndi) have also been captured (how they were captured is unknown), and tied to the mast of the ship. Eventually, Cyndi, Dave, Wendy, and the Goonies break free, and after finding some treasure on the ship, toss some of it to the pirates, who fight amongst themselves for it. After subduing the green-faced witch, the Goonies escape from the ship along with Cyndi and her friends, giving her the remaining treasure that they found.
Cyndi, along with Dave and Wendy, return through the cavern entrance in the gas station, armed with the extra treasure in hopes of appeasing the creditors. Despite all the treasure she offers, they still refuse. Cyndi then whistles, and in a cloud of smoke, Andre the Giant appears, and chases the creditors off. The family then celebrates their good fortune as the story draws to a close.
!Country
!Certification
!Sales
|-
|Japan
|align="center"|Platinum
|align="center"|42,920
|-
|Canada
|align="center"|Gold
|align="center"|10,000
|-
|}
Cyndi Lauper
Cynthia Ann Stephanie "Cyndi" Lauper is an American singer, songwriter, actress and LGBT rights activist. She achieved success in the mid-1980s with the release of the album She's So Unusual and became the first female singer to have four top-five singles released from one album...
. It was released as a single for The Goonies
The Goonies
The Goonies is a 1985 American adventure-comedy film directed by Richard Donner. The screenplay was written by Chris Columbus from a story by executive producer Steven Spielberg. The premise surrounds a band of pre-teens who live in the "Goon Docks" neighborhood of Astoria, Oregon hoping to save...
, a 1985 film which was released around the same time as the single. It was her fifth Top 10 single on the Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, her first since "Money Changes Everything".
A rarity
Before its inclusion on The Essential Cyndi LauperThe Essential Cyndi Lauper
The Essential Cyndi Lauper is a compilation by American pop icon Cyndi Lauper. It was released as part of Sony BMG's The Essential series in 2003....
in 2003, the song never appeared on any of Lauper's albums or the 1994 compilation Twelve Deadly Cyns...and Then Some
Twelve Deadly Cyns...and Then Some
Twelve Deadly Cyns...and Then Some is musician Cyndi Lauper's greatest hits CD, released in 1994. The album sold over 6 million copies worldwide.-Album information:In the United States the album has 14 tracks...
. Lauper admitted in an interview with Matthew Rettenmund
Matthew Rettenmund
Matthew Rettenmund is the author of the novels Boy Culture and Blind Items: A Story, as well as the non-fiction books Encyclopedia Madonnica, Totally Awesome '80s, and Hilary Duff: All Access...
that she hated the song, which was why she had chosen not to include it on her first compilation.
All versions of the UK edition are considered rare, especially the 12".
The song has been covered by a few artists, such as Bombones
Bombones
Spanish pop band formed by Juan Azagra vocals and guitar, Francisco Barroso guitar, Isidro Lucuix bass, Carlos Moreno keyboard and synthesizers and Miguel Ángel Campos drums.- History :...
, Haruko Momoi
Haruko Momoi
is a Japanese voice actress and singer/songwriter. She was born in Tokyo, Japan and is affectionately referred to as 'Halko' by her fans, a nickname she gave herself which is inspired by HAL 9000, the onboard computer of the Discovery in 2001: A Space Odyssey....
, The Advantage
The Advantage
The Advantage is an American rock band from Sacramento, California that formed in 1998 and specializes in doing covers of music from old NES games...
, New Found Glory
New Found Glory
New Found Glory is an American rock band from Coral Springs, Florida. Formed in the summer of 1997, founding members were lead vocalist Jordan Pundik, guitarists Chad Gilbert and Steve Klein, bassist Ian Grushka and drummer Joe Marino...
, and Tomoyuki Uchida. The song was featured in several iterations of Konami
Konami
is a Japanese leading developer and publisher of numerous popular and strong-selling toys, trading cards, anime, tokusatsu, slot machines, arcade cabinets and video games...
's Goonies video games, most notably the popular NES
Nes
-Localities:In Norway:* Nes, Akershus, a municipality in the county of Akershus in Norway* Nes, Buskerud, a municipality in the county of Buskerud in Norway* Nes, Hedmark, a former municipality in the county of Hedmark in Norway...
game Goonies II. It was also featured as an instrumental version in Pop'n Music 10
Pop'n Music
, commonly abbreviated as Pop'n, PM or PNM, is a music video game in the Bemani series made by the Konami Corporation. This game is known for its bright colors, upbeat songs, and cartoon character graphics...
.
Steven Spielberg had made Cyndi the musical director for The Goonies soundtrack. She sought out new bands to be included on the project including her friends, The Bangles
The Bangles
The Bangles are an American all-female band that originated in the early 1980s, scoring several hit singles during the decade.-Formation and early years :...
.
Cyndi refused to play the song live after 1986. She finally incorporated it back into her live show during several dates in Australia in 2004. Fans kept requesting the song and Cyndi eventually sang the first verse and chorus a cappella. She has since incorporated the song back into her live set, due to overwhelming fan recognition.
Music video
There was also a two-part video shot for this song featuring World Wrestling FederationWorld Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
pro-wrestlers André the Giant
André the Giant
André René Roussimoff , best known as André the Giant, was a French professional wrestler and actor. His best remembered acting role was that of Fezzik, the giant in the film The Princess Bride...
, Captain Lou Albano
Lou Albano
Louis Vincent "Captain Lou" Albano was an Italian-American professional wrestler, manager and actor. He was active as a professional wrestler from 1953 until 1969, then he became a manager, until 1995....
, Rowdy Roddy Piper, Wendy Richter, The Fabulous Moolah
The Fabulous Moolah
Mary Lillian Ellison , better known by her ring name The Fabulous Moolah, was an American female professional wrestler. She began her career working with promoter Billy Wolfe and his wife, wrestler and trainer Mildred Burke, as well as working alongside professional wrestler "Nature Boy" Buddy...
, The Iron Sheik, Nikolai Volkoff
Nikolai Volkoff
Josip Nikolai Peruzović , better known by his ring name of Nikolai Volkoff, is a professional wrestler who is best known for his performances for the World Wrestling Federation...
, Freddie Blassie; Steven Spielberg
Steven Spielberg
Steven Allan Spielberg KBE is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, video game designer, and studio entrepreneur. In a career of more than four decades, Spielberg's films have covered many themes and genres. Spielberg's early science-fiction and adventure films were seen as an...
; The Goonies cast (except for Kerri Green
Kerri Green
Kerri Lee Green is an American actress.Green was born in Fort Lee, New Jersey. She grew up in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey and attended Pascack Hills High School in Montvale, New Jersey....
, Anne Ramsey
Anne Ramsey
Anne Ramsey was an American stage, television, and film actress. She is probably most famous for her roles as Mama Fratelli in The Goonies and as Mrs...
, Joe Pantoliano
Joe Pantoliano
Joseph Peter "Joe" Pantoliano is an American film and television actor. He played the character of Ralph Cifaretto on The Sopranos, Bob Keane in La Bamba, Cypher in The Matrix, Teddy in Memento, Francis Fratelli in The Goonies, Guido "the Killer Pimp" in Risky Business, and Jennifer Tilly's...
, Robert Davi
Robert Davi
Robert John Davi is an American actor and singer. He has played such roles as Vietnam veteran and Special Agent Johnson in Die Hard, the villainous Jake Fratelli in The Goonies, and Al Torres in Showgirls...
and John Matuszak
John Matuszak
John Daniel "Tooz" Matuszak was an American football defensive lineman in the National Football League who later became an actor. He was the first draft pick of 1973 and played most of his career with the Oakland Raiders until he retired after winning his second Super Bowl in 1981...
); and the then relatively unknown Bangles
The Bangles
The Bangles are an American all-female band that originated in the early 1980s, scoring several hit singles during the decade.-Formation and early years :...
as a group of female pirates. Lauper's mother appears as "Cyndi's mother" and the "sea hag".
According to Cyndi Lauper
Cyndi Lauper
Cynthia Ann Stephanie "Cyndi" Lauper is an American singer, songwriter, actress and LGBT rights activist. She achieved success in the mid-1980s with the release of the album She's So Unusual and became the first female singer to have four top-five singles released from one album...
, filming the music video was less than an enjoyable experience. Richard Donner
Richard Donner
Richard Donner is an American film director, film producer, and comic book writer.The production company The Donners' Company is owned by Donner and his wife, producer Lauren Shuler Donner. After directing the horror film The Omen, Donner became famous for the hailed creation of the first modern...
, apparently, was a pushy director and wanted things done a certain way and forced Lauper to keep going, even when she was exhausted. In a behind-the-scenes documentary of the video, the viewer can see Donner being pushy and doing lots of takes on scenes.
Part 1 of the video debuted on MTV before The Goonies
The Goonies
The Goonies is a 1985 American adventure-comedy film directed by Richard Donner. The screenplay was written by Chris Columbus from a story by executive producer Steven Spielberg. The premise surrounds a band of pre-teens who live in the "Goon Docks" neighborhood of Astoria, Oregon hoping to save...
opened in theaters and Part 2 premiered on MTV after the movie opened. On the DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
of The Goonies
The Goonies
The Goonies is a 1985 American adventure-comedy film directed by Richard Donner. The screenplay was written by Chris Columbus from a story by executive producer Steven Spielberg. The premise surrounds a band of pre-teens who live in the "Goon Docks" neighborhood of Astoria, Oregon hoping to save...
, both parts have been spliced together to form one video with no chapter change in the middle of the two. Part 1 of the music video had an extended version released in Japan. The version included more commentary from the voice over during the opening sequence of the video and extended scenes inside the gas station and with the wrestlers.
Both parts of the video are included as a bonus feature on the DVD release of The Goonies. The first part of the video almost did not make it on the DVD. According to sources, Warner was unable to locate a decent print of Part 1 and was only going to use Part 2 for the DVD release, but someone at VH1 found an unused tape of the video and they digitized it for the DVD just in time.
Plot
Cyndi Lauper's character, referred to only as Cyndi, works at her parents' gas station, along with her friends Dave and Wendy. Cyndi's Mom is baking cookies for gas station customers, and Wendy operates a vegetable stand outside the station. A group of creditors shows up to evict them and take over the station. While they argue with Mom and Pop, an old woman shows up and closes down Wendy's vegetable stand, putting in a Benihana-like set-up in its place. While packing, Cyndi removes a picture from the wall, which reveals the entrance to an underground cavern. Searching through the cave, Cyndi finds a treasure map, and then encounters the Goonies (minus the character of Andy), who also have a copy of the map.Soon after, they encounter a group of pirates (who look just like the creditors, though it is never said if they are the same people as the creditors), and a supposed green-faced witch. Cyndi runs away as the Goonies are captured by the pirates. Running through the caverns, she encounters several skeletons, and even some chefs who seem to work for the restaurant Benihana. Cyndi eventually finds herself trapped between the pirates and the green-faced witch on a log-bridge. Unsure what to do, she cries out: "Steven Spielberg, how do I get out of this one?" Strangely enough, the scene cuts to Spielberg in an editing room (he seems to be editing the video as it is happening). Spielberg stops the editing machine and begins to give a solution, before realizing that he doesn't know how to help Cyndi.
Cyndi, along with the Goonies, is captured and taken aboard a pirate ship. The pirates, along with the green-faced witch and some female pirates, party, while forcing the Goonies and Cyndi to prepare food for them. Also of note, is that Dave and Wendy (who had also gone into the cave to look for Cyndi) have also been captured (how they were captured is unknown), and tied to the mast of the ship. Eventually, Cyndi, Dave, Wendy, and the Goonies break free, and after finding some treasure on the ship, toss some of it to the pirates, who fight amongst themselves for it. After subduing the green-faced witch, the Goonies escape from the ship along with Cyndi and her friends, giving her the remaining treasure that they found.
Cyndi, along with Dave and Wendy, return through the cavern entrance in the gas station, armed with the extra treasure in hopes of appeasing the creditors. Despite all the treasure she offers, they still refuse. Cyndi then whistles, and in a cloud of smoke, Andre the Giant appears, and chases the creditors off. The family then celebrates their good fortune as the story draws to a close.
Charts
| Chart (1985) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian ARIA Singles Chart ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... |
8 |
| Canadian Singles Chart Canadian Singles Chart The Canadian Singles Chart is currently compiled by the U.S.-based music sales tracking company, Nielsen SoundScan . The chart is compiled every Wednesday, and is published by Jam! Canoe on Thursdays.... |
5 |
| German Singles Chart Media Control Charts The official music charts in Germany are gathered and published by the company Media Control GfK International on behalf of Bundesverband Musikindustrie... |
49 |
| Italian Singles Chart | 24 |
| Japanese Oricon Oricon , established in 1999, is the holding company at the head of a Japanese corporate group that supplies statistics and information on music and the music industry in Japan. It started as , which was founded by Sōkō Koike in November 1967 and became known for its music charts. Oricon Inc... International Singles Chart |
1 |
| Japanese Oricon Singles Chart | 42 |
| New Zealand RIANZ Singles Chart Recording Industry Association of New Zealand The Recording Industry Association of New Zealand is a non-profit trade association of record producers, distributors and recording artists who sell music in New Zealand... |
22 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
10 |
| US Cash Box Top 100 Singles | 25 |
Certifications
{| class="wikitable"!Country
!Certification
!Sales
|-
|Japan
|align="center"|Platinum
|align="center"|42,920
|-
|Canada
|align="center"|Gold
|align="center"|10,000
|-
|}
Official versions and track listings
- Album Version
- Dance Re-Mix
- Dub Version
- Single Version
- Hot Tracks Ultimix by Bradley D. Hinkle (Found on 4-8 of the Hot Tracks series)