Musical Notes – Back to the Future

Back in Time

By Joseph E. Casanova

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Released in 1985, the Back to the Future franchise grossed nearly $2 billion worldwide, making it one of the greatest sci/fi movie series of all time.

The film elevated Michael J. Fox from TV personality to international celebrity. The Family Ties star played time-traveling teenager Marty McFly, who landed in 1955 with the eccentric Dr. Emmett “Doc” Brown, portrayed by Christopher Lloyd of Taxi fame. 

McFly must find his way back to 1985, but in the meantime, he meets his future parents, skateboards through town, and rocks the high school dance with his rendition of “Johnny B. Goode.” 

San Francisco-based Huey Lewis and the News contributed two songs to the soundtrack, “Back in Time” and the chart-topping “The Power of Love.”  

The sequels hit the big screen in 1989 and 1990, nearly earning as much as the original and receiving similar critical acclaim. 

I finally saw Back to the Future in 1986 when I rented the video tape and a VCR from a local grocery store I worked for at the time. My family didn’t buy one of those contraptions until months later. 

Mom said we didn’t need one because we already had cable. “You watch too much TV as it is!” I explained how she could record her favorite shows since Dad was a big time TV hog. 

Even though I had my degree, I needed my Master’s to figure out the VCR’s instructions. One of my co-workers asked what was so hard to understand. He even quoted a line from the movie.

“C’mon, McFly!” he said. “What’s the problem? Is it because the words are in English?” I ignored that snide remark and the snickering behind my back.

The instructions came in Spanish, French and German, probably making them easier to understand than in plain ol’ English.

After an hour or so, it was movie time. I finally proved, at least to myself anyway, that I was mechanically inclined. Now does anyone remember where I left the keys to the DeLorean?