Fame was one of my favorite movies growing up. It was funny and serious at the same time.

Fame is a 1980 musical film conceived and produced by David De Silva, directed by Alan parker, and written by Christopher Gore.

The film follows a group of students through their studies at the New York High School of Performing Arts beginning with their audtions all the way to their graduation.  The film is split into sections corresponding to auditions, freshman, sophomore, junior and senior years. 

Irene Cara, one of the main characters of the film, takes time out to sing a song she wrote.

I thought this was one of the most touching moments of the film, where a young girl coming of age in high school sings about fitting into society.

It’s a very simple, sweet song about a path we all walk down at some point in our life.  

Out Here On My Own
by Irene Cara

Out Here On My Own
by Irene Cara

Sometimes I wonder
Where I’ve been
Who I am, do I fit in?
Make-believing is hard alone
Out here, on my own
We’re always proving
Who we are
Always reaching
For that rising star
To guide me far
And shine me home
Out here on my own

When I’m down and feeling blue
I close my eyes so I can be with you
Oh, baby, be strong for me
Baby, belong to me
Help me through
Help me need you

Until the morning sun appears
Making light of all my fears
I dry the tears I’ve never shown
out here on my own

But when I’m down and feeling blue
I close my eyes so I can be with you
Oh, baby, be strong for me
Baby, belong to me
Help me through
Help me need you

Sometimes I wonder
Where I’ve been
Who I am, do I fit in?
I may not win
But I can’t be thrown
Out here on my own
On my own

It was the box office smash Fame, in 1980, which brought Irene to stardom. As Coco Hernandez, she sang both the title song Fame and the film’s second hit single Out There On My Own, resulting in a multi-platinum soundtrack that shot to the top of the charts. She went on to make Academy Award history that year when, for the first time, two songs from one film were nominated in the same category. Additionally, Irene is the only performer ever to sing two Academy Award nominated songs, Fame and Out There On My Own in one evening. It would be Fame that would go on to win the coveted award that year.

I Sing The Body Electric
by Wade Lassister

I Sing The Body Electric
by Wade Lassister

I sing the body electric
I celebrate the me yet to come
I toast to my own reunion
When I become one with the sun

And I’ll look back on Venus
I’ll look back on Mars
And I’ll burn with the fire of ten million stars
And in time
And in time
We will all be stars

I sing the body electric
I glory in the glow of rebirth
Creating my own tomorrow
When I shall embody the earth

And I’ll serenade Venus
I’ll serenade Mars
And I’ll burn with the fire of ten million stars
And in time
And in time
We will all be stars

We are the emperors now
And we are the czars
And in time
And in time
We will all be stars

Fame’s impact, provided largely by Ms. Cara, brought her 1980 Grammy nominations for “Best New Female Artist” and “Best New Pop Artist,” as well as a Golden Globe nomination for “Best Motion Picture Actress in a Musical.” Billboard Magazine named Irene “Top New Single Artist,” while Cashbox awarded her both “Most Promising Female Vocalist” and “Top Female Vocalist.”

Fame – Trailer

Here’s another scene from the movie that I put in for jollies.  It’s the funniest part of the movie. It’s when the kids are auditioning to get into The High School of Performing Arts in New York City.  The girl who is auditioning to get in doesn’t make it – but the boy that she used to accompany her does !  You may need to turn up the volumn on the video. 

Fame – The Auditions

Click here to return to Sans Souci, our poetess hostess with the mostess !

delete reply starfishred wrote on May 13, ’08 super presentation I missed this one as we were just getting settled in Europe this part says how I sometimes feel”When I’m down and feeling blue I close my eyes so I can be with you Oh, baby, be strong for me Baby, belong to me Help me through Help me need you”

delete reply sanssouciblogs wrote on May 13, ’08 It’s so much fun the way you pull the poetry out so many things and then tie it all together. All the senses are fed. Very entertaining! Thanks, sis.

edit delete reply lauritasita wrote on May 13, ’08 Thanks, I love the second poem/song too. Very interesting play on words.

delete reply danceinsilence wrote on May 13, ’08 What a flashback in time … I got such a rush from hearing I Sing the Body Electric once more (actually twice). Thanks for the journey back! 8=)And I’ll burn with the fire of ten million stars And in time And in time We will all be starshttp://danceinsilence.multiply.com/journal/item/318/Poetry_Wednesday_Passion_Of_Life

edit delete reply lauritasita wrote on May 13, ’08 I’m glad you enjoy my flashbacks, Bill ! I Sing the Body Electric is one of my favorites, too ! Thanks.

delete reply poetessgarden wrote on May 13, ’08 you put a lot of effort into this and it shows great job, love the music

edit delete reply lauritasita wrote on May 13, ’08 Thank you for your kind comment, poetessgarden !

delete reply mommyajg wrote on May 13, ’08 I loved Fame, too!! Thanks for the memories!!

edit delete reply lauritasita wrote on May 13, ’08 Your welcome, mommyajg, it was a great movie full of poetic songs

delete reply jayaramanms wrote on May 13, ’08 Irene Cara is a best known singer of movie themes, though she worked as an actress. And I Sing The Body Electric by Wade Lassister is a great song. You have provided twin treats of beautiful and lovely poems. Thank you for sharing them. My contribution is available at – http://jayaramanms.multiply.com/journal/item/163. Pl.see.

edit delete reply lauritasita wrote on May 13, ’08 Thanks, Jay, I’ll be over !

delete reply millimusings wrote on May 13, ’08 The movie was great the singing by irene cara was exhilarating and your post is groovin here for me. Music and good verse just sit so well. We sometimes forget how good the words can be together as a poem or verse only. Thanks so much for you fun comment on my post too.

delete reply rajarishi wrote on May 13, ’08 such a lovely contribution you make every week making the tour most relaxing and creative such a wisdom to visit and encourage an amateur like me is just friendship i thank your modesty in truly going in depth of the words presented by me at my site thank you

delete reply shankarg wrote on May 14, ’08 ur visit is a honor to my page and the blog gets its due pep i find true professionalism over here over the pick of the poetry and the visuals thanks for partiipating such and sharing rich.

edit delete reply lauritasita wrote on May 14, ’08 Thank you all for the kind words. It’s is truely appreciated and encouraging !

delete reply asolotraveler wrote on May 14, ’08 your posts are uniformily well done and most interesting…. though at times, there is just too much to take in at one time… i know the problem – i combat it myself all the time… i am trying to post shorter, more compact entries as they are more reader friendly…. at least i think so – most of us still working have limited time… look at me… all this to simply say WELL DONE LAURITASITA

edit delete reply lauritasita wrote on May 14, ’08, edited on May 14, ’08 Thanks, Brad. I’m glad you like the post, even though I sometimes give you a sensory overload, LOL!!!

delete reply bostonsdandd wrote on May 14, ’08 This is so fun LOL. I remember this movie as one of my favorites also. I love the television show based on the movie, but it didn’t live up to the hype of the movie for me. I watched until it was canceled though ;o).Thanks so much for the time it took to make this happen for us. It really was fun to remember a GREAT movie!

edit delete reply lauritasita wrote on May 14, ’08 Thanks Lori ! I had so much fun putting this together !

delete reply seth360 wrote on May 14, ’08, edited on May 14, ’08 I do remember this movie Lauri,you did a lot of work for this blog and it showsgreat work!… but I’ve come to expect great work from you 🙂

delete reply kwika wrote on May 14, ’08 Wonderful post….it was one of my favourites too; brings back happy memories.

edit delete reply lauritasita wrote on May 14, ’08 Actually, I got into this movie through a guy that I was seeing at the time who was trying to break into acting. He felt that this film really shows the hard work that goes on behind the curtains.

delete reply vghozlan wrote on May 14, ’08 I loved Fame! Did you ever watch the Fame specials?

edit delete reply lauritasita wrote on May 14, ’08 No, I actually never saw the Fame tv specials. Do you mean the tv series ? No. I wasn’t interested because the actors were all different.

delete reply fluffyj wrote on May 14, ’08 I loved this show. Watch the show, reruns, reruns of the reruns…. I loved being in dance and in school. It was awesome! Great memories and wonderful music of the show!

delete reply lonewolfwithin wrote on May 15, ’08 thanks for the memories! i think many (males included) has felt the song “out here on my own”

delete reply debjt1957 wrote on May 15, ’08 great post,, lovely poems, thank you for sharing

edit delete reply lauritasita wrote on May 15, ’08 Hi fluffy ! I loved the movie, but never saw the tv show. Thanks everyone ! I’m so glad this post is bringing back happy memories for you.