Editor’s Note: The Albumism staff has selected what we believe to be the 100 Greatest Soundtracks of All Time, representing a varied cross-section of films and musical genres. Click “Next Soundtrack” below to explore each soundtrack in the list or for easier navigation, view the full introduction & soundtrack index here.
Footloose
Columbia (1984)
Selected by Justin Chadwick
Though I was just a wee lad of six years old when Footloose arrived in theaters in early 1984, my understanding of what constituted “cool” was evolving by then, which explains why (A) I thought the iconoclastic Ren McCormack (Kevin Bacon) was the coolest dude ever to walk the earth, and (B) I instantly had a huge crush—one of my first ever, along with one Ms. Ciccone and one Ms. Newton-John—on the irreverent Ariel Moore (Lori Singer).
What we, collectively and individually, identify as “cool” evolves over time, doesn’t it? Case in point: Footloose’s accompanying soundtrack. 36 years ago, everyone thought the songs contained therein were the s**t, even Kenny Loggins’ toe-tapper of a theme song. Today, maybe not so much, but the soundtrack remains a welcome reminder of the sounds that reigned supreme as the ‘80s approached its midway point. Thank goodness for the expanded 1998 version which incorporates Quiet Riot’s “Bang Your Head (Metal Health),” John Cougar Mellencamp’s “Hurts So Good,” Foreigner’s “Waiting for a Girl Like You” and Shalamar’s “Dancing in the Sheets,” which were all essential to the film yet glaringly omitted from the original edition.
As Deniece Williams might say, let’s hear it for the Footloose soundtrack.
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