Danger Zone

Album: Top Gun Soundtrack (1986)
Charted: 45 2
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "Danger Zone" was featured in the action scenes of the 1986 movie Top Gun, starring Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer. The film was a blockbuster and generational touchstone, and this song is intertwined with it, even though the movie title never shows up in the lyric. For many, the song still triggers a rush of adrenaline from the opening lines:

    Revvin' up your engine
    Listen to her howlin' roar


    After the movie came out, the US Navy flying program got a wave of applicants looking to be the next Top Gun.
  • This was written by Giorgio Moroder and Tom Whitlock, who also wrote "Take My Breath Away" for the movie. A year later, they wrote "Meet Me Half Way," which Loggins recorded for the arm wrestling movie Over The Top.
  • Loggins was a movie soundtrack mainstay in the '80s, and had a #1 hit with the theme song to the movie Footloose two years earlier. Asked in 2007 about performing these soundtrack songs in concerts, Loggins said of "Danger Zone," "It's a good rock 'n' roll song, but I don't think it holds up that well."
  • By the time Top Gun producer Jerry Bruckheimer tasked the songwriters to write the theme, 300 songs had been tested against various scenes from the movie and rejected. They needed something catchy and exciting for the opening sequence, and they needed it fast. Whitlock told Rediscover The '80s how the song came together: "'Danger Zone' came from the track that Giorgio cooked up for the opening carrier deck scenes. I wrote the lyrics and Joe Pizzulo sang the demo and they flew it against those opening scenes and it worked. In retrospect, I may have been a bit too clever (or obvious) with all of the allusions but it was fun nevertheless. As with most of the stuff we did in those days, everything was conceived and executed under pressure. Giorgio wrote a track and melody. Richie [Zito], Arthur [Barrow] and Brian [Reeves] recorded it and by the next day we were cutting a demo vocal with Joe."
  • It took a bit longer to actually find someone to sing the tune because Columbia Records, who were releasing the soundtrack, wanted an artist from the label to perform it. It bounced around to Toto, Bryan Adams, REO Speedwagon, and Corey Hart, and Starship before it landed at Kenny Loggins. Mickey Thomas of Starship said the band loved the song but were uneasy about the movie's pro-military theme, which was allegedly the same reason Adams turned down the gig.

    Loggins, who also wrote and sang "Playing With the Boys" for the volleyball scene, immediately agreed to do "Danger Zone" when he learned it was an up-tempo number. "I'd been writing nothing but ballads and I needed a rocker for my show," he told Professor of Rock. "In those days, if the movie didn't hit, no one would ever hear it anyway. But if it did hit, then you had a hit record, so it made sense to me to just go for it. So I committed to it having never heard the song."
  • While Loggins added his own touches to the tune, including some lyrics and chord changes, he wasn't credited as a songwriter. The singer told Rock Music History he was left off the roster so Moroder and Whitlock could meet an eligibility requirement for an Academy Award category. "Giorgio and Tom had written most of the songs for Top Gun, just the two of them, and there's a particular category in the Academies for songs, and if you have like six songs, you can be eligible for this Academy Award, provided it's the same writers," he explained. ("Take My Breath Away" ended up taking Best Original Song in 1986.) Loggins agreed to take a cut of the publishing instead, but that deal got screwed up when Moroder sold his publishing, and Loggins has spent years trying to get his due.
  • Loggins said he channeled Tina Turner on the song's title lyric. "I think that's why I ended up singing DaaangAH zone," he explained on the movie's DVD commentary.
  • In 1997, "Danger Zone" was used in a popular Nissan commercial that debuted during the Super Bowl. In the spot, which parodies Top Gun, pigeon try to poop on freshly washed cars, but the vehicles prove too nimble.
  • Dann Huff of the band Giant played lead guitar on the track.
  • The song is used as a running gag throughout the animated series Archer, which follows a group of dysfunctional secret agents. The lead character, Sterling Archer, often references it to annoy his love interest, Lana Kane. In the 2014 episode "Baby Shower," he even recruits Loggins to perform at Lana's baby shower, where he ends up performing a country version of the Top Gun tune with the agency's secretary-turned-singer, Cherlene. Said Loggins: "I didn't believe that they could turn 'Danger Zone' into a country song, which makes it even funnier, because that's the last song of my repertoire that you'd expect to be turned into a country song."
  • This was used in the 2018 Family Guy episode "Veteran Guy," when Peter and his friends are forced to join the Coast Guard after they get caught impersonating military veterans. Loggins guest-starred in the episode. The song also showed up in the 2015 episode "Peter, Chris & Brian."
  • This was also used in these TV shows:

    Suits ("Bad Man" - 2018)
    DC's Legends Of Tomorrow ("Compromised" - 2016)
    It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia ("Ass Kickers United: Mac and Charlie Join a Cult" - 2015)
    Playing House ("Celebrate Me Scones" - 2015)
    How I Met Your Mother ("The Slutty Pumpkin" - 2005)
    The Simpsons ("Eight Misbehavin'" - 1999)

    And these movies:

    17 Again (2009)
    Sex Drive (2008)
    Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay (2008)
    Boob (1999)
  • "Danger Zone" also features in the 2022 sequel, Top Gun: Maverick, and appears on that soundtrack as well. The movie was in the works for years and details were kept secret, but Loggins spilled the beans long before it was released that "Danger Zone" would be used in the film, reassuring fans of the original who know that you can't do a Top Gun movie without it.

    The Maverick soundtrack includes two new songs: "Hold My Hand" by Lady Gaga and "I Ain't Worried" by OneRepublic.

Comments: 31

  • Mav from CockpitTo those saying this is about a car, it clear is not.

    It was written for Top Gun, and is about the F-14. Before takeoff you're "revving up the engine", the "metal under tension" is the nose gear attached to the catapult, "touch and go" is a reference to training flights, "spreading out her wings" is the F-14 spreading the wings for takeoff, "jumping off the deck" is the launch from the carrier.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn this day in 1986 {July 20th} "Danger Zone" by Kenny Loggins peaked at #2 {for 1 week} on Billboard's Top 100 chart, for the week it was at #2, the #1 record for that week was "Sledgehammer" by Peter Gabriel...
    "Danger Zone" peaked at #7 on the Canadian RPM Singles chart...
    Between 1977 and 1991 the Everett, Washington native had twenty-one records on the Top 100 chart, five made the Top 10 with one reaching #1, "Footloose", for three weeks in March of 1984...
    Two of his twenty-one charted records were duets, one with Stevie Nicks and one with Steve Perry...
    As one-half of the duo, Loggins and Messina, he charted ten more times on the Top 100...
    Kenneth Clark Loggins celebrated his 73rd six months ago on January 7, 2021...
    And from the 'For What It's Worth' department, the remainder of Billboard's Top 10 on July 20th, 1986:
    At #3. "Invisible Touch" by Genesis
    #4. "Nasty" by Janet Jackson
    #5. "Glory of Love" by Peter Cetera
    #6. "Papa Don't Preach" by Madonna
    #7. "Love Touch" by Rod Stewart
    #8. "Mad About You" by Belinda Carlisle
    #9. "Holding Back The Years" by Simply Red
    #10. 'Modern Woman" by Billy Joel
  • Jacob from TexasFun fact: if you start this song at the start of takeoff, the chorus of the song will start when you take off of the ground
  • Allan from P GSo many people associate this street racing song with jet fighters,the key words that associate it with street racing are the words revving,and red light
  • Jennifer from TampaI remember my late husband Steve telling me about the time he was standing next to his jet at the 1985 MacDill Air Fest. A woman came up to him and said, "They let old guys like you fly?!?". Mind you, he was 35 at the time. He just looked at her and said, "You know how to read, right? You see that name on the tail, it matches what's on my suit... Let me tell you a little secret, Tom Cruise was only faking it. I do it for real!". He couldn't help but laugh as she stormed off. It's still one of my favorite stories he shared with me. To Dragon/Steve, yes, I still love you and think about you everyday.
  • Seventhmist from 7th Heaven"Danger zone" became such a catchphrase for the title character in "Archer" that Loggins finally made an appearance on the show.
  • Scott from UkHaha, Top Gun was voted one of the gayest films of the 80's. I've nothing against gays at all, nothing. But it's hilarious that a film trying to be so macho turned out so comical. It should be a comedy. It's pathetic, poorly acted, scripted, homo-erotic twaddle. The best 'actors' in the film were fighter jets. It's possibly one of, if not the most abysmal movie ever to be put on film.
  • Kym from Hagerstown, MdJust saw in the Blu-Ray commentary that Toto was originally slated to perform this song but they backed out and Harold Faltemayer approached Kenny Loggins to sing this one too. He agreed since it was an upbeat song and said he took a Tina Turner-like approach to the song.
  • Leon from Waterbury, CtWhat a great guilty pleasure song, ha!
  • Wyatt from Winthrop, Wai belive it is one of the best songs of all time
  • Wyatt from Winthrop, Wai disagree, i think it is one of the best aulbums,movies, and songs of all time and i am srry you feel it is bad
  • Josh from Broadalbin, NyThe Guitar Master Dann Huff was the one who did the guitar work on this masterpiece.
  • Jeff from Austin, TxKenny Loggins' Beard ROOOOOOOOOOOCCCCCKKKKKKKS!!!!
  • Griff from Columbia, ScThis Movie is used in the 2008 Movie Harold & Kumar escape from Guantanamo Bay.
  • Sara from Silver Spring, MdThey use this in a lot of things: one of the Chipmunk cartoons, a GEICO caveman commerical, Super Mario Brothers... Six Flags once used it for one of the Great America rides but they couldn't partly because the song was not owned by Warner Brothers (Top Gun was made by Paramount)
  • Sara from Silver Spring, MdThis was used in the Disney Channel TV series Kids Incorporated which featured youngsters (including future Black Eyed Peas member Stacy
    'Fergie Ferguson' singing the song) Fergie's character sang this with a bunch of kids while at some construction site. Several other Loggins songs were on that show but not as good as the original. Who cares about Top Gun? Loggins rules!
  • Scott from Ferny Hills, AustraliaThis song was originally intended to be performed on the soundtrack by Toto.
  • Liquid Len from Ottawa, CanadaThis song is so bad, it was used by US forces to drive Noriega out of the Vatican in the late 80s.
  • Marx from Brisbane, AustraliaI saw a thing on Mirama last night and it talked about this movie when it was filmed. They talked to the actual Top Gun instructors that the directors got the stories they used in the movie from. They said that Tom Cruise was really cocky around the set, so they flew him at 6 G's to shut him up and he filled up 3 bags of puke haha.
  • V from Indianapolis, InThis song was actually written about a car, corvette i believe.
  • Johnny from Brooklyn, NyThis is when Kenny Loggins decided that folk songs weren't in style and decided to rock! The movie was so good that you forget how bad the songs are, I guess that's how Loggins managed to sneak this one in. One thing I'll give Kenny credit for, he sure knew how to convince movie execs that he could "rock".
  • Nathan from From The Country Of, Canadapart of the reason why top gun could play music through the entire movie and you wouldn't even notice, its that good
  • Ched from Charleston, ScIt's not a cliche if you're the first to do it. ;D
  • Rob from Vancouver, CanadaCheck out the far superior "Top Buns".
  • Sarah from Ottawa, CanadaTop Gun: The movie I wish every one would shut up about...LOL, just kidding!
  • Alex from San Diego, CaTop Gun: quite possibly the best movie of all time.
  • Adam from Lawrencetown, CanadaI heart Top Gun
  • Wilfred from Melbourne, Australia"ash, Charleston, WV": Could not agree more.
  • Melissa from Irvine, CaTop Gun: quite possibly the most under-rated "album" of all time.
  • Ash from Charleston, WvTop Gun: quite possibly the most over-rated movie of all time.
  • Paul from Greenwood, ScToo much Kenny on the silver screen. Too many cliches in this one. Tried too hard.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Barney Hoskyns Explores The Forgotten History Of Woodstock, New York

Barney Hoskyns Explores The Forgotten History Of Woodstock, New YorkSong Writing

Our chat with Barney Hoskyns, who covers the wild years of Woodstock - the town, not the festival - in his book Small Town Talk.

Robert DeLeo of Stone Temple Pilots

Robert DeLeo of Stone Temple PilotsSongwriter Interviews

Stone Temple Pilots bass player Robert DeLeo names the songs that have most connected with fans and tells the stories behind tracks from their Tiny Music album.

Song Cities

Song CitiesMusic Quiz

Nirvana, Billy Joel and Bruce Springsteen are among those who wrote songs with cities that show up in this quiz.

Movie Stars In Music Videos

Movie Stars In Music VideosSong Writing

Johnny Depp, Angelina Jolie, Mila Kunis and John Malkovich are just a few of the film stars who have moonlighted in music videos.

John Kay of Steppenwolf

John Kay of SteppenwolfSongwriter Interviews

Steppenwolf frontman John Kay talks about "Magic Carpet Ride," "Born To Be Wild," and what he values more than awards and accolades.

Paul Stanley of Kiss, Soul Station

Paul Stanley of Kiss, Soul StationSongwriter Interviews

Paul Stanley on his soul music project, the Kiss songs with the biggest soul influence, and the non-make-up era of the band.