If you were a fan of the original 1984 Footloose starring Kevin Bacon, then I bet you’re clamoring for the upcoming remake which hits theaters October 14th! The film stars newcomer Kenny Wormald, former Dancing with the Stars champion Julianne Hough (Burlesque), Dennis Quaid (Vantage Point), and Andie MacDowell (Groundhog Day).
The storyline of the movie probably won’t surprise viewers, but a lot has changed for dance-centered films in the industry since 1984, especially since Dirty Dancing set a big precedent for the genre only three years later.
To get an early taste of the new Footloose, you better check out the film’s soundtrack, which celebrates a contemporary marriage of country and pop. There’s been a great deal of crossover success for country names like Carrie Underwood, Lady Antebellum, and Taylor Swift to mainstream radio, so this soundtrack will fit right in there. Not to mention Gleek’s everywhere with some country twang will be all over this!
First and foremost, let’s talk about Blake Shelton’s cover of the movie’s catchy theme, “Footloose,” originally recorded by Kenny Loggins. If a pop star like Justin Beiber lent his voice to the track, it would just be silly, but considering that Shelton’s a real country man’s man, I can appreciate the homage and believe that he’s not just singing to plug his own career.
Where’s there’s Blake Shelton, I guess you’d never suspect that there’d be Cee-Lo Green! The fellow coach from The Voice lends his swagger to the bluesy “Walkin’ Blues,” with KWS, calling on legends like Muddy Waters and Chuck Berry. Another great male-helmed track is Jason Freeman’s “Magic In My Home.”
There’s a whole lot of girl power going on here, including a cover of “Let’s Hear It For the Boy,” by Jana Kramer, which was originally recorded as a single for Deniece Williams on the first movie’s soundtrack. This song is likely to get some seriously karaoke play. I haven’t seen the movie yet, but I can just imagine that it’s featured in one of those montages that mixes dancing with seemingly harmless teen-aged fun, not to mention laying the groundwork for a romance between Wormald and Hough’s characters.
Rebellion is a big theme of the movie, and where there‘s rebellion, there‘s always some guitars and leather jackets. Songs like “Little Lovin’” by Lissie and “So Sorry Mama” by Whitney Duncan captured that perfectly for Hough’s daughter-of-a-preacher portrayal of Ariel. My particular favorite song on the whole soundtrack is Ella Mae Brown’s “Holding Out For A Hero,” a strong, yet heartfelt love ballad that balances out the up-tempo-heavy collection of fierce female voices.
Notable contributions also include the Grammy-winning country-rock group, Zac Brown Band with “Where The River Goes,” as well as powerhouse Gretchen Wilson featured with Big & Rich on “Fake ID.” I’ve also heard so much about rising star, Victoria Justice, who sings “Almost Paradise,“ a duet with another up and coming voice, Hunter Hayes.
If you’re not at least talking with a little bit of a twang by this point into the album, then give a listen to “Suicide Eyes” by A Thousand Horses, a rock track with heavy harmonica that gets the hips moving. Just to make sure you get loose when listening to the soundtrack, David Banner’s dance-heavy pop / rap track “Dance The Night Away” featuring Denim, sounds like a mix of all of Rihanna’s latest and greatest radio-friendly hits.
Even though there’s big country influence in these tracks, you can’t have a movie like Footloose without such musical roots to transition the historical return of rebellious teenagers with a dancer in their hearts. My only question is why the film’s leading lady, Hough, did not participate on the soundtrack since she had a successful debut album on Billboard’s country charts back in 2007.
Either way the soundtrack will provide country fans with a refreshing collection of southern style, fiddles, and moving stories of love. Click the video below to listen to Shelton’s theme! The album is available for purchase in stores now!
Rating: 8/10.
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