We’ve been blessed with Footloose for over 40 years now. The dance movie came out on Feb. 17, 1984, and changed the lives of those of us who love to dance, sing, and dress in our finest ‘80s gear. The film follows Chicago native Ren McCormack (Kevin Bacon) after he and his mom move to Bomont, a small town in which dancing is illegal.
The premise is so simple, but that’s what makes it so timeless. Imagine living in a world in which one of the great joys of living is outlawed. Screenwriter Dean Pitchford actually got the idea for Footloose from the true story of a small town in Oklahoma. He collaborated frequently with Kenny Loggins, so when the two of them wrote “Footloose,” it unleashed one of the best musical collaborations of our century.
The music behind Footloose is even more iconic than the choreography, even though it’s considered a “dance movie.” The album topped the US Billboard charts, overtaking Michael Jackson’s Thriller, for 10 weeks. While there aren’t any horrendous songs in Footloose, we’ve compiled the three best and worst songs from the film to celebrate its 40th anniversary.
Best: “Let’s Hear It for the Boy”
Before Sarah Jessica Parker became synonymous with Sex and the City, she played the comedic best friend, Rusty, in Footloose. Rusty’s anthem comes early when she celebrates how much she loves Willard, even though he’s a bit dorky. While we don’t want to celebrate men too much, “Let’s Hear It for the Boy” is a perfect bop to exemplify the innocence of teenage romance … plus, it’s a great karaoke song!
Worst: “Never”
Every song in Footloose was co-written by Dean Pitchford, but some just didn’t quite hit the mark. “Never” is one of the rare Footloose songs that didn’t make it into the staged musical adaptation of 1998, so we’re clearly not the only ones who didn’t love it. Recorded by Australian pop rock band Moving Pictures, “Never” is the famous track playing when Ren runs around an abandoned warehouse. It doesn’t move the plot forward in any way, nor does it teach us anything about any of the characters, making it a useless and repetitive tune.
Best: “I’m Free (Heaven Helps the Man)”
Another Kenny Loggins and Dean Pitchford collaboration, Ren’s big number to inspire the townspeople to dance is one of the best songs of the ‘80s. The song’s catchy tune is easy to dance to while it also lifts the spirit. The lyrics expertly combine the undertone of religion that flows throughout the film by showing how letting loose can bring us closer to a spiritual awakening. Plus, it furthers the plot, making the song both catchy and necessary. It even inspired a song in the staged musical sung by the Reverend called “Heaven Help Me” to mirror both sides of the desire to dance.
Worst: “The Girl Gets Around”
Red Rocker Sammy Hagar recorded this song, which isn’t necessarily bad. It’s just not as memorable or representative of Footloose as most of its other songs. Add in the fact that the lyrics sexualize a teenage girl and it’s actually a pretty icky song. It doesn’t completely demonize women for “knowing what they like” and “getting what they need” but it does suggest that Ariel’s promiscuity makes her fair game for whatever Chuck wants, adding another layer of negativity to the otherwise fun rock melody.
Best: “Holding Out for a Hero”
Some of us might associate Bonnie Tyler’s “Holding Out for a Hero” with Jennifer Saunders’ performance of it as the Fairy Godmother in Shrek 2, but it got its start in Footloose. It incorporates every element of ‘80s music, from synth riffs and electronic drums to dance interludes and cheesy lyrics. While those may not sound like the best ingredients, putting them all together behind Bonnie’s raw vocals make it a song for the ages.
There’s an old rule in musicals that songs should only exist when words can no longer do the work. “Holding Out for a Hero” is exemplary of that. By combining all its different elements, it becomes an emotional peak, proving its existence is warranted.
Worst: “Dancing in the Sheets”
“Dancing in the Sheets” by R&B group Shalamar isn’t a bad song by any means. The problem with it in Footloose is that it’s not doing anything particularly unique or groundbreaking to set it apart from any other ‘80s song. In Footloose, people at the diner can’t help but groove to the beat, but the song’s lyrics bear no importance for this moment. It’s supposed to be irresistible to dance to, but of all the songs in Footloose, it’s not the most danceworthy. And when it comes to Footloose, every song should inspire either mounds of emotion or hot dance moves! But “Dancing in the Sheets” does neither.
