John Carney has a thing for the underdog. You saw it in Once with the guy fixing vacuum cleaners and again in Begin Again. But honestly, nothing hits quite as hard as the moment Conor Lalor finds his voice in the 2016 cult classic Sing Street. It’s 1985 in Dublin. Everything is gray. The recession is biting, the Church is overbearing, and the fashion is, well, experimental. Then comes Drive It Like You Stole It.
It’s not just a song. It’s a pivot point.
If you’ve seen the movie, you know the scene. It’s a "Back to the Future" inspired daydream where everything goes right. The girl stays. The bully does a backflip. The parents stop fighting. It’s a Technicolor burst of 80s synth-pop joy that somehow feels more authentic than the actual 1980s.
The Genius Behind the 80s Sound
Most "period piece" music feels like a parody. You get the cheesy synths, the gated reverb on the drums, and a singer trying way too hard to sound like Simon Le Bon. Drive It Like You Stole It dodges that trap because it was written by Gary Clark, the frontman of the 80s band Danny Wilson.
Clark actually lived it. He didn't have to research the era; he just had to remember it.
The track is built on a foundation of Hall & Oates soul mixed with the shimmering pop sensibility of The Cars. It’s got that "I Can't Go For That" shuffle but with an Irish chip on its shoulder. The bassline is driving, relentless, and—dare I say—iconic. When Ferdia Walsh-Peelo sings about "no brakes, one gear," he isn't just talking about a car. He's talking about the terrifying momentum of being fifteen and realizing you might actually be good at something.
Why the "Prom" Scene Matters More Than You Think
In the film, the song accompanies a music video shoot that devolves into a fantasy sequence. It’s Conor’s internal world spilling out onto a gymnasium floor.
Here’s the thing about that scene: it’s heartbreaking.
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Because we know it’s not real. We see the "perfect" version of Conor’s life—his brother Brendan (played by the brilliant Jack Reynor) is clean-cut and happy, his parents are dancing together instead of screaming, and Raphina is actually there. By the time the song ends and we’re back in the cold, damp reality of a Dublin schoolyard, the contrast is devastating.
Sing Street understands that music is an escape. Sometimes it’s the only escape.
The lyrics are basically a manifesto for anyone who feels stuck. "This is your life, you can go anywhere / You gotta grab the wheel and own it." It’s simple. Maybe a little cliché on paper. But in the context of a kid trying to escape a dead-end town by forming a band to impress a girl with cool hair? It’s Shakespearian.
The Hall & Oates Influence
You can’t talk about Drive It Like You Stole It without mentioning Daryl Hall and John Oates. The "Maneater" DNA is all over this track.
John Carney specifically told the songwriters he wanted something that felt like it could have been a Top 40 hit in 1985. It needed to be catchy enough to justify Conor’s sudden confidence but raw enough to believe a group of teenagers wrote it.
- The drum machine intro is a direct nod to the minimalist pop of the era.
- The brass hits are punchy, not overproduced.
- The backing vocals have that distinct "multi-tracked" shimmer.
It actually reached #1 on some "best original song" lists that year, though the Oscars famously snubbed it. Big mistake. Huge.
The Brother Factor: Brendan's Legacy
While Conor is the one singing, the song belongs to Brendan.
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Brendan is the "jet engine" that never took off. He’s the one who feeds Conor the records—Joe Jackson, The Cure, Spandau Ballet. He’s the one who tells him that "rock and roll is a risk. You risk being ridiculed."
When Conor performs Drive It Like You Stole It, he is living out Brendan’s thwarted dreams. The song is the culmination of those late-night sessions in a smoke-filled bedroom listening to vinyl. It’s the moment the student surpasses the teacher, and it’s arguably the most emotional arc in a movie that is ostensibly about a high school band.
The Impact on Modern Soundtrack Culture
The success of the Sing Street soundtrack, and this song in particular, changed how directors approach original music in film.
We’ve seen a shift away from "incidental" music toward songs that act as narrative engines. Think about how The Greatest Showman or Hamilton use modern production to tell period stories. Sing Street did it first, and frankly, did it better because it kept the stakes grounded in reality.
The song has lived on long after the movie left theaters. It’s a staple on "Feel Good" Spotify playlists. It’s been covered by dozens of indie bands. It even spawned a Broadway musical.
Why?
Because the sentiment is universal. Everyone has felt like they were stuck in neutral. Everyone has wanted to just put their foot down and see what happens if they don't stop.
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Real-World Takeaways for Your Creative Life
If you're a creator, there is actually a lot to learn from the way this song was written and utilized in the film. It wasn't just "good music." It was the right music for the right moment.
- Specific beats generic. The song isn't about "being free." It's about a very specific feeling of 80s rebellion. When you're making something, lean into the specific details of your influences.
- Contrast is your friend. The reason the song hits so hard is that the rest of Conor’s life is so bleak. If the whole movie was happy, the song would be forgettable.
- Collaboration is key. Gary Clark brought the 80s expertise, John Carney brought the directorial vision, and the young actors brought the raw energy.
How to Lean Into the Sing Street Mindset
You don’t need to be a 15-year-old in Dublin to adopt the philosophy of the track.
Start by identifying the "brakes" in your own life. Are you holding back because you're afraid of looking stupid? In the movie, the band looks ridiculous half the time—Conor wears makeup that looks like he got into a fight with a box of crayons. But he does it anyway.
The lesson of Drive It Like You Stole It is that "happy-sad" is the most potent human emotion. You can be grieving a lost life or a broken home while still making something that makes people want to dance.
Find your "jet engine." Whether it's a mentor, a sibling, or a specific album that changed your life, use that fuel. Stop waiting for the perfect weather or the perfect car. Just take the wheel. If you're going to fail, fail at 100 miles per hour.
Go back and watch the music video sequence again. Watch the way the camera moves, the way the colors pop, and the way the music builds. Then go do something that scares you.
Don't just listen to the music—apply the logic. Whether you're starting a business, writing a book, or just trying to get through a rough week, treat your life like you're in the middle of that 80s daydream. Own the momentum. Forget the destination for a second and just focus on the speed.
That’s how you actually "drive it." No brakes. One gear.
Next Steps:
- Listen to the full soundtrack: Check out "Up" and "A Beautiful Sea" to see the progression of the band's sound from post-punk to synth-pop.
- Watch the making-of featurettes: Search for Gary Clark’s interviews on how he captured the 1985 Dublin sound using vintage equipment.
- Analyze the lyrics: Look at the bridge of the song for the most potent advice on overcoming paralysis by analysis.