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Footloose (song)
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Wikipedia article
{{Infobox song
| name = Footloose
| cover = KennyLooginsFootlooseSingle.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Standard artwork '(7-inch single pictured)'
| type = single
| artist = Kenny Loggins
| album = Footloose: Original Soundtrack of the Paramount Motion Picture
| B-side = Swear Your Love
| released = January 11, 1984
| recorded = 1983
| studio =
| venue =
| genre =
| length =
| label = Columbia
| writer =
| producer =
| prev_title = Welcome to Heartlight
| prev_year = 1983
| next_title = I'm Free (Heaven Helps the Man)
| next_year = 1984
}}
"'Footloose'" is a song co-written and recorded by American singer-songwriter Kenny Loggins. It was released in January 1984 as the first of two singles by Loggins from the 1984 film of the same name (the other one being "I'm Free (Heaven Helps the Man)"). The song spent three weeks at number one, March 31April 14, 1984, on the US 'Billboard' Hot 100, becoming Loggins' only chart-topper, and was the first of two number-one hits from the film. 'Billboard' ranked it at the No. 4 song for 1984.Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1984
The song was very well received, and is the most recognizable song recorded by Loggins. When the American Film Institute released its 'AFI's 100 Years...100 Songs', "Footloose" reached the 96th position. The song was covered by country music artist Blake Shelton for the 2011 remake of the 1984 film.
It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song at the 1985 ceremony, losing to Stevie Wonder's "I Just Called to Say I Love You" from 'The Woman in Red'.
The single version is slightly shorter in length compared to the album version. It begins with a soloed guitar track instead of a drum intro, and features more prominent backing vocals in the mix, particularly towards the end of the song.
In 2018, it was selected for preservation in the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or artistically significant."
Music video
The music video for "Footloose" was directed by Brian Grant. It uses the single version and features several scenes from the film, in particular the warehouse where Kevin Bacon's character performs an unorchestrated dance routine (which was actually performed to a different song in the film itself).
Personnel
* Kenny Loggins lead vocals
* Neil Larsen keyboards
* Steve Wood keyboards, background vocals
* Buzz Feiten guitar
* Nathan East bass guitar
* Michael Boddicker synth bass, percussion
* Tris Imboden drums
* Paulinho da Costa percussion
* Marilyn Dorman and Rick Washington background vocalists
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
All-time charts
Certifications
Blake Shelton version
Blake Shelton covered the song for the 2011 remake of the film. Shelton's version also appears on the film's soundtrack. It charted at number 63 on the US 'Billboard' Hot Country Songs chart in November 2011. A music video for Shelton's version of the song, directed by Shaun Silva, premiered in October 2011.
Music video
The video opens with Blake Shelton driving a pickup truck into a drive-in theater screening the 2011 remake of the 1984 movie wherein the manager and ticket seller tells him that the film was only about to start. He then enters the compound where his band awaits him while the theater patrons watch the film and take notice of him. Shelton and his band begin to perform the song and the theater patrons join in dancing while scenes from the film are played. The music video was filmed in early 2011 at the Hi-Way 50 Drive In theater located in Lewisburg, Tennessee.Personnel
*Blake Shelton vocalsChart performance
Certifications
Other cover versions
VeggieTales performed this song in 'Bob and Larry Sing the 80's'. Also, Chord Overstreet and Kevin McHale performed this in 'Glee' (season 4).
See also
*List of 'Billboard' Hot 100 number-one singles of 1984
References
Buy Footloose (song) now from Amazon
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