Kenny Loggins recorded a new version of 'Danger Zone' that wasn't used in Top Gun: Maverick
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If you've already seen Top Gun: Maverick, the opening sequence might've made you do a double take and check that you were in the right theater. That's because the intro to the film is exactly the same as the original 1986 movie, including the use of hit song, Kenny Loggins' "Danger Zone."
But the song was almost a little different. Loggins tells EW he put a new spin on the famous track for the sequel. "I did re-record 'Danger Zone' to make a 5.0 version that would wrap around the audience," he says. "But Tom Cruise really wanted to conjure up the original version, the original feeling. So in the long run, it turned out to be the old track coming back."
Director Joseph Kosinki previously told EW that was a deliberate choice to reassure the audience they were in good hands. "I wanted that first few minutes to just tell you, this is a Top Gun movie, we love it as much you do," he said. "From there, our story goes in a very different direction, but I wanted the first few minutes to let the audience know: Don't worry, we love it too, this is going to be a Top Gun movie."
Loggins himself only found out about a month ago that his song was being utilized in the same place in the new film as it had been in 1986.
"When I met Tom Cruise on Jimmy Kimmel Live! about six years ago, I knew he had the property at that point," Loggins remembers. "I said, 'So, tell me, is "Danger Zone" in or out?' And he said, 'It wouldn't be Top Gun without "Danger Zone."' He stayed true to his word. When we first talked about it, they were thinking it might go in a scene in the middle of the movie or somewhere near the end where he comes to the rescue. Instead, Tom opted to use it at the beginning of the movie so that it really conjures up the energy and excitement of the original Top Gun."
Paramount Pictures; Inset: Bryan Steffy/Getty Images
Loggins wasn't even supposed to record "Danger Zone" in the first place. He'd written "Playing With the Boys" specifically for the film's iconic volleyball sequence when he got the call to put his own spin on the track that has become something of a theme song for Top Gun.
Originally composed by Giorgio Moroder, with lyrics by Tom Whitlock, "Danger Zone" was considered for several other artists before producers went to Loggins. "In the process of recording 'Playing With the Boys,' I got a message that Giorgio needed me to come in and help finish the tune up," Loggins explains. "One thing led to another — I sat with Tom Whitlock and made some changes to the chords and a little bit of melody changes, a little bit of words here and there."
Loggins deferred receiving any writing credit to ensure that Moroder and Whitlock could get the Oscar nomination for Best Original Song (they did end up winning that year, but for Top Gun's love ballad, "Take My Breath Away").
"But then I got a call that he needed a singer," Loggins adds. "I was writing ballads mostly, and I needed something up-tempo for my show. I had not yet heard it until I got together with Tom and we worked on that. Then the next day I was in the studio, singing it with Giorgio."
Loggins notes that the writing-recording experience was different from other songs he's done for movies, including the title track from Footloose and "I'm Alright" from Caddyshack. In this case, he was more the singer than the architect of the song. Still, he says, writing for film is radically different than writing for an album, because you're writing to story and character rather than simply speaking from the heart.
Even though Loggins' new version of "Danger Zone" didn't make the final cut, he loves the way his iconic track is used in the film. "It really does capture that vibe from the very first time [I saw it], 36 years ago," he marvels.
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