The new Footloose hits theaters today, a remake of the 1984 hit starring Kevin Bacon (and Lori Singer!) that this ’80s kid can’t help but conclude was wholly unnecessary, sight unseen. But the revamp has received some surprisingly positive reviews — Entertainment Weekly calls it “thoroughly winning,” giving it an A- — so maybe I’m just being a grumpy 30-something who would prefer that Hollywood not mess with his memories.
Footloose was the first “adult” film I saw in a real movie theater. No, not that kind of adult film, but rather the first flick I was taken to that wasn’t targeted to the primary-school set. Besides the popcorn and candy, the movie was a real treat for me, as I was already a huge musichead. Months before I saw Footloose that summer, I was intimately familiar with the soundtrack, comprised solely of original songs co-written by established tunesmith Dean Pitchford, who’d also penned the screenplay. Though the characters didn’t break out into song, those nine tracks were woven into the film’s story, basically making Footloose a big-screen musical, a genre Hollywood hadn’t had at the top of its docket for years.
The Footloose soundtrack hit #1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart, spending 10 weeks at the top. Six of its nine songs were released as singles, all reaching the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100: “Footloose” (Kenny Loggins, 3 weeks at #1), “Holding Out For A Hero” (Bonnie Tyler, a shockingly low #34), “Dancing In The Sheets” (Shalamar, #17), “Let’s Hear It For The Boy” (Deniece Williams, 2 weeks at #1), “Almost Paradise” (Mike Reno and Ann Wilson, #7), and “I’m Free (Heaven Helps The Man)” (Kenny Loggins, #22).
Five of these classic songs are featured in some way in the new Footloose, with synths and drum machines replaced by a countryfied feel (and artist roster). One can only assume that the folks behind the revamp think that country is the only genre kids in the sticks listen to these days. Among the four original tunes cut loose from the update, “I’m Free (Heaven Helps The Man)” is most egregiously missing. They killed Kenny Loggins’ second soundtrack contribution. You bastards!
The music video for “I’m Free” has absolutely zero to do with Footloose, which might be indicative of the single’s disappointing chart performance. Or the fact that no one, even back in 1984, would buy Kenny Loggins as a man on the run from the law. His leather jacket is pretty sweet, though:
Purchase Kenny Loggins – “I’m Free (Heaven Helps The Man)” via iTunes.
