One of the most popular songs from the 80's comes from OMD. "If You Leave" is featured in the final scene of Pretty in Pink and OMD wrote the song specifically for it.
Andy McCluskey of OMD said they were asked by the director, John Hughes, to be part of the movie and were invited to the set where Molly Ringwald and John Cryer were shooting. The original song they wrote didn't fit because the ending of the movie was changed. The original ending had Molly Ringwald's character choosing Duckie instead of Blane. McCluskey said they had two days to make the necessary changes and worked until 4 a.m. writing a rough version. A motorbike was sent to deliver it to Paramount so once John Hughes gave his approval OMD was told to go back in the studio and mix it.
Being in Pretty in Pink helped make "If You Leave" the biggest hit for OMD in America. They also had songs chart here with "So In Love," "(Forever) Live and Die" and "Dreaming," but those are more popular in their native England. McCluskey has said that many of us see OMD as a one ht wonder even though they have other hits. "If You Leave" is obviously the big one and what's funny is that many of their European fans aren't fond of the song. We are at Sunny 98.1!
