Favorite Song No. 76: ‘The Chase’ by Giorgio Moroder. Who would have thought italo disco’s hottest track would be paired with a sweaty chase through chicken coups? From the soundtrack to the 1978 film Midnight Express, ‘The Chase’ provides a driving electro beat and sparkling synth melody as one man runs from the po and struggles for freedom in a Turkish prison. And… it works! Who doesn’t love sweaty prison disco?

The song secured Giorgio Moroder as the king of synth (with Vangelis a close second) and he went on to make the moody soundtrack for Scarface. Unfortunately, his italo disco sound became more corn-fed over time and he gave us ’80s anthems ‘Flashdance’ and ‘Take my Breath Away.’ But that is kind of awesome too.

Fun fact: 43 days after Midnight Express played at the 1978 Cannes Film Festival, the U.S. and Turkey entered formal negotiations for the exchange of prisoners. Oh, the power of entertainment…