2. You're The Best - The Karate Kid
Montage Type: Character Working Their Way Through A Competition Some songs were written specifically to have been used for montage purposes, and "You're The Best" from The Karate Kid is, without a doubt, one of the most montage-ready music compostions ever recorded by a human being. In fact, the entire soundtrack to this '80s gem sounds like it's been made up of songs designed entirely for montage use, though "You're The Best" rightly takes its place as one of the all-time greatest montage tunes. The Karate Kid tells the story of a young dorky kid named Daniel who decides to take karate lessons from an elderly Japanese man so he can stand up for himself against a flurry of snivelling bullies. The centre piece of the movie comes in the form of a karate competition, in which Daniel faces off against said bullies, because that's how kids solved their problems in the '80s. What we get: a badass montage backed by singer Joe Esposito, who somehow channels the tough territory of "karate competition" into a 3-minute power anthem. The first thing you'll notice about this artful composition is that Daniel goes up against several opponents who he would have no chance against in real life. It's clear that the actor playing Daniel has no actual karate skills, whereas his opponents looks like they've been hired because they actually know how to fight. And yet you can't argue with Joe Esposito. You can't argue with a song named "You're The Best." You can't argue with that hot teen Elizabeth Shue. There is so much '80s here it's intoxicating to the senses. Breathe it in. Breathe it in.