"(I've Had) The Time Of My Life" Wins Original Song: 1988 Oscars

Liza Minnelli and Dudley Moore presenting Franke Previte, John DeNicola and Donald Markowitz the Oscar® for Best Original Song for "(I've Had) The Time Of My Life" from "Dirty Dancing" at the 60th Annual Academy Awards® in 1988.

[@manuelorozco7760]

I've Had The Time of My Life is one reason why Dirty Dancing is perhaps one of the most awesome movies from the 80's! Well deserved

[@jeffersonborges9932]

The 80's were the best in this category. Some winners that decade: ''Up Where We Belong'', ''Flashdance What A Feeling'', ''Take My Breath Away'', ''I Just Called to Say I Love You'', ''Say You, Say Me'', and ''(I've Had) The Time Of My Life''. All songs that defined the 80's!

[@c0mf0rta61ynum6]

There was also "Under the Sea" in '89, which was a major impact on how the rest of the Disney Renaissance would play out.

[@vivianebarroslima]

One of the best songs of movies history.

[@manuelorozco7760]

I just saw Dirty Dancing for the first time this past summer and I agree.

[@wellingtamacedo4450]

Perfect song for a perfect movie. He deserved the prize!

[@elainesnow326]

Fun fact: Franke Previte was the lead singer of “Frankie & the Knockouts” that had a big hit in the early 1980s “sweetheart” which I just loved. Glad he advanced his career & got an Oscar. Seems like a nice guy.

[@jimmichaud8487]

Dirty Dancing was such a phenomenon in its time. People seem to forget. The movie packed 'em in, the soundtrack stayed at the top of the albums chart for weeks and weeks and copies were sold by the truckload. But this was to be its only Oscar.

[@michaelhall7663]

At least it was recognized they definitely deserved it! Definitely the most iconic theme of the 80s.

[@joewhitehead3]

I’ve heard “Nothing’s gonna stop is now” on the radio several times, but I never knew it was an Oscar nominee

[@dobazajr]

It's Diane Warren's first Oscar nomination and the rest is history.

[@jamesdugas571]

So many number 1s and never won an Oscar

[@markelijio6012]

To make matters worse, Diane Warren has finally won an honorary Oscar.

[@ViolaXZ]

Great and well-deserved winner but I'd add more names to this nomination: A-ha's The Living Daylights and Madonna's Who's That Girl (or at least The Look of Love)

[@MyJustin316]

ViolaXZ Dont forget Randy Newman's Something Special from Overboard Siedah Garrett's Everchanging Times from Baby Boom Night Ranger's The Secret of My Success from The Secret of My Success Public Enemy's Bring the Noise from Less Than Zero

[@markelijio6012]

Those six great songs from these films were honored ASCAP, MTV Music, Movie Music and Grammy Award Nominations.

[@jeffswim]

One of my favorite songs of ALL TIME! I'm so glad I finally got to see this win.

[@sanebear68]

What a competitive year for Best Original Song 1987 was! And while "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" by Starship was a terrific song, I highly doubt it had a serious chance of taking home the award for Mannequin. The two top contenders for the award going into the show were the mega-hit "(I've Had) The Time of My Life" and the lesser-known but equally meaningful "Storybook Love".

[@hollywoodmkx]

As funny as it is, and I loved “Mannequin,” hearing “Oscar” and “Mannequin” in the same sentence is just odd lol

[@moaningpheromones]

Well deserved. What a feel good party song. Whoever arranged all the musical parts and put it together is a genius. Why can't everything be this good?

[@alucard624]

There was actually some really good songs in that group.

[@lizf2400]

Love the song so much

[@suzanasieczkowskamendesFsieczk]

Perfect song for a perfect movie. He deserved the prize! i always forget Nothing's gonna stop us now is an oscar nominee song

[@willd4731]

This is one of the greatest moments in a or history. Who would have thunk it. Frankie & The knockouts knocked it out of the park.

[@pepsiguy52883]

Wow so many good songs that year

[@rauuqysukbdl9756]

One of the best songs ever! i always forget Nothing's gonna stop us now is an oscar nominee song

[@victorguayaquil37]

2013 y es mi cancion favorita the time of my life

[@eddjoey]

i always forget Nothing's gonna stop us now is an oscar nominee song

[@mrparadisemrblissparadise8499]

MEMORABLE OSCAR MOMENTS!! :) UOOH! :)

[@marilynjanettquispemedrano3303]

I Love song😍

[@tammyjej]

This should’ve at least been nominated: “Simply Meant To Be” from Blind Date. Music and lyrics by Henry Mancini, George Merrill and Shannon Rubicam

[@LowescC]

love her..

[@mikaylachapman9036]

"Storybook Love" from the Princess Bride was actually co-written by Mark Knopfler, lead guitarist and frontman of Dire Straits. In fact, Knopfler wrote the film's entire soundtrack. How the heck was he not even credited?

[@markelijio6012]

How he was not credited? Simple. He didn't co-wrote the song although he was fired several times from Rob Reiner's Oscar nominated "The Princess Bride" at Disney. Instead he went back to folk music as lead guitarist/frontman of Dire Straits which he felt more confident than ever before. He did better on PBS' long running program "Austin City Limits" (1975-present) as one of the special guest contributors with Pat Benatar, Neil Giraldo, Liona Boyd, Susanna Hoffs, Julian Bream, Jeff Beck and more.

[@shimmeringfairydust3275]

Frankie of Frankie & the Knockouts! Always loved their song "Sweetheart"!

[@wearitlikeadiva]

Franke (of Franke and the Knockouts) wrote this song (with some of the music provided by the other two guys) and recorded a version with the Knockouts (it’s on KZbin) but the producers used Bill and Jennifer to do the duet. Franke wasn’t happy (I don’t blame him). So he said he wanted the publishing rights. It worked out because he won an Oscar, Golden Globe and gets 6 figures in royalties per year (up to 600K still) from this song. They filmed the last dance scene first, and went through 149 songs and the cast and producers hated all of them. Then Franke got a call from an ex producer and said to write a song for the last dance sequence because they had submitted 149 songs and didn’t like any. Franke’s was the 150th song submitted and they loved it, especially Patrick Swayze. It was Franke’s version and voice that they filmed the dance sequence to in the movie and the voice Patrick heard while filming the sequence and when you see him mouthing “time of my life” it was Franke’s voice he was singing to. Patrick they hated the movie until they heard Franke’s song. Patrick said it “made the movie” and thanked Franke and now Franke raises money for Pancreatic cancer. Franke also wrote Hungry Eyes and recorded that with the Knockouts and the producers had Eric Carmen sing it! Franke’s version was better. It’s also on KZbin. He said he got over them not using his original versions as it worked out ok but Franke’s vocals were so underrated. He is fantastic and can still sing at 77.

[@leonardoj_silva]

Merecidíssimo,a música mais impolgante e emocionante já feita para o cinema!👏

[@Sami-ArtAus]

This is an AMAZING duet, Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes are an awesome duo. Jennifer is one of the greatest female vocalists ever. Sadly, despite atleast 3 Oscar nominations for Best Original Song, it seems she was deemed "not attractive enough", and never truly achieved the recognition she deserved. Jennifer WAS beautiful, true class, no pretense, a role model for all female singers. This song always makes me cry, even when I'm not watching the film. Most deserved oscar win for best original song EVER. I wish more people knew about this amazing singer, beyond Dirty Dancing.

[@bvg83]

I don’t even know if this category still exists maybe because of a lack of good movies with great soundtracks like those times ⭐️⭐️

[@manuelorozco7760]

The last winner that satisfied me was Remember Me from Coco

[@jeffreykare]

Please upload Top Gun, Little Mermaid, Beauty & the Beast, Evita, & The Motorcycle Diaries winning in this category!

[@justindb18]

Julian was really into dirty dancing

[@deborahr9188]

If the amazing duo of singers weren't executed the song, Bill Medley and Jennifer Warmes, maybe the song wouldn't be the winner. Any of these gentlemen remembered to mention the excellent singers' work.

[@siesies000]

❣️❣️❣️

[@Scottwilkie18]

R I p Dudley spin Moore

[@Wendlinger]

Is this SHRINE AUDITORIUM?

[@MyJustin316]

here are a list of songs that were not nominated for an oscar at the 60th academy awards in 1988 honoring the best movies in 1987: A-ha's The Living Daylights from The Living Daylights Madonna's Who's That Girl and The Look Of Love From Whos That Girl Randy Newman's Something Special from Overboard Siedah Garrett's Everchanging Times from Baby Boom Night Ranger's The Secret of My Success from The Secret of My Success Public Enemy's Bring the Noise from Less Than Zero

[@markelijio6012]

Touche, you got me there!

[@MyJustin316]

oh "Cry Little Sister" from The Lost Boys how could i forget? that shouldve been nominated too i dont about 'La Bamba' From 'La Bamba and what about 'Restless Heart' from 'The Running Man'? 'Lethal Weapon' from 'Lethal Weapon'? 'Simply Meant To Be' from 'Blind Date'? 'Citizens on Patrol' and "Let's Go to Heaven in My Car" from Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol? ''Daddy's Girl' from 3 Men and a Baby? and Sun Sun Sun Sun Sun from Back To The Beach? and City Of Crime From Dragnet?

[@markelijio6012]

Those of them were receiving ASCAP, Grammy, Saturn and Movie Music Award Nominations for their peers.

[@Cunninghamily]

1:11

[@Andres-qq9br]

"Nothing gonna stop us now" should have won

[@TheRealBirdmann]

That thing you do

[@theresabollman8061]

I thought Jennifer Warnes wrote that,

[@patricialabbe1416]

No, she just sang it with Bill Medley of the Righteous Brothers.

[@theresabollman8061]

@@patricialabbe1416 Ok, thanks for the reply.

[@patricialabbe1416]

@@theresabollman8061 U r welcome. They won a Grammy for their duet. He kept refusing offers to do it because he'd promised his wife he'd be home for the birth of their baby. Warnes said she'd only do it with him. Solution: Baby was born, they made the song for the movie and it's a wonderful pairing of voices. There's a video of it performed on Top of the Pops.

[@theresabollman8061]

@@patricialabbe1416 Yes, I have heard it and totally enjoyed it...I somehow got the wrong idea that Jennifer wrote that song. I do love her voice blended with his, it's a great song.

[@wearitlikeadiva]

No Franke Previte wrote it. The other two guys provided some background music. Franke’s original version is on KZbin he did with Franke and The Knockouts. The producers decided to use Bill and Jennifer to do the duet instead of Franke’s version but the dance scene was filmed to Franke singing. Patrick Swayze said he loved Franke’s version the best.

[@Lommy9999]

Ha why is Sally Kirkland standing up to shake their hands?

[@OmadRecordscom]

She was also nominated from the same film company. Vestron pictures

[@markelijio6012]

@@OmadRecordscom Because she's giving thanks to the Academy Award winning songwriting team behind "Dirty Dancing" - that's why.

[@OmadRecordscom]

Of which i am one of them. Sally kirkland was there as a nominee also from the same vestron pictures as we were

[@bowler8]

Poor Dud

[@markelijio6012]

Uh-Oh!

[@Berguer]

Let's be honest. The soundtrack is the ONLY good thing about this pathetic movie lol

[@manuelorozco7760]

There is also the love story between Johnny and Baby

[@josephanderson7679]

Horrible song. Makes me sick when I hear it

[@markelijio6012]

Well, I understand how you feel. Some songs have such a tender loving care to sing along. But it's a weird thing like some people don't have a choice. By now, we all have lots of wonderful choices. Like songs to sing with duets and vocalists. In 1992, after failing as a solo artist when Grammy Award nominee Paulette Carlson finally returned to her roots as both opera singer and vocalist on "World in Union" for Sony Music Entertainment. Performed by Grammy Award winner Dame Kiri Te Kanawa. One of the most celebrated songs in the 1992-1993 season.