Kevin Bacon returns to Footloose high school celebrating the film's 40th anniversary
It's the result of a student campaign
Last updated 22nd Apr 2024
40 years after the release of the iconic film Footloose in 1984, Kevin Bacon has returned to the high school which featured in the film, following a student campaign.
In the well-known film, Kevin played the lead role of Ren McCormack, who moves from the big city of Chicago, to a small town, where he attempts to overturn the ban on dancing.
In real life, the small town is Payson, Utah, and at the time, many of the town's residents played extras in the film, and have fond memories of it. Now, some 40 years on, after a year-long campaign by the school's students, called #BaconToPayson, Kevin has returned Payson.
Over the past year, the school, and the wider community have gone Footloose-crazy. The school has staged their own Footloose musical, had a Footloose film night, renamed the annual pageant after Kevin Bacon, and held a competition to write an essay to get the Hollywood actor to come to the town.
They have also partnered with Kevin's charity SixDegrees, putting together 5,000 care packages. According to the SixDegrees website: 'SixDegrees is dedicated to creating dialogue, raising awareness, understanding, and empathy around causes that our communities care most about.'
And over the weekend, Kevin joined a team of 700 students and 300 members of the community, to help fill the care packages. He told the students: "You talked me into it. It's great to see that kind of commitment to anything."
He continued: "I also think that it's amazing to see the power that this movie has had to bring people together."
Last month, when Kevin accepted the invitation to visit the town he said: "I have been so impressed with everything that has been going on there with this crazy idea to get me back, so thank you, thank you, and I'm gonna come. I gotta come."
As well as being a popular movie in 1984, the song 'Footloose' by Kenny Loggins was also a huge hit, reaching the Top 10 in the UK when it was released.
Take a look through songs from 1984:
Madonna - 'Like A Virgin'
Madonna is still going strong now, but back in 1984 she was belting out tunes such as 'Like A Virgin'. The song was released as Madonna's lead single from her album of the same name and reached Number 3 in the UK.
Watch the music video on YouTube
Prince - 'Purple Rain'
Prince's 'Purple Rain' was the title track of his album, also released in 1984. The song also featured on the soundtrack of the film of the same name, which starred Prince. Here in the UK it was a Top 10 hit reaching Number 6.
Watch the music video on YouTube
Bruce Springsteen - 'Born in the U.S.A.'
The Boss is still going strong, having announced a new tour due to take place later this year, but back in 1984 he was wowing his fans with 'Born In The U.S.A.'. The song was a hit around the world reaching Number 1 here in the UK and a number of other countries, including his native USA.
Watch the music video on YouTube
Tina Turner - 'Private Dancer'
Tina Turner made 'Private Dancer' famous back in 1984, however it has been covered a few times since. The song was written by Dire Straits' Mark Knopfler, but the band never recorded or released it. The song was a Top 30 hit here in the UK and was also re-released in 2004.
Watch the music video on YouTube
Phil Collins - 'Against All Odds (Take a Look At Me Now)'
Featuring on the soundtrack for the film Against All Odds, Phil Collins' 'Against All Odds (Take a Look At Me Now)' was a huge hit reaching Number 2 in the UK. The song was also covered in later years by Mariah Carey and 2004 X Factor winner Steve Brookstein.
Watch the music video on YouTube
REO Speedwagon - 'Can't Fight This Feeling'
REO Speedwagon's 'Can't Fight This Feeling', first featured on their album 'Wheels Are Turnin'' back in 1984, and reached Number 16 in the UK. The band also performed the song at the 1985 Live Aid concert.
Watch the music video on YouTube
Cyndi Lauper - 'Time After Time'
'Time After Time' was Cyndi Lauper's second single from her debut album 'She's So Unusual', which also featured her hit 'Girls Just Want to Have Fun'. The song won a number of awards following its release including American Video Awards for Best Female Performance and Best Pop Video.
Watch the music video on YouTube
Frankie Goes To Hollywood - 'The Power Of Love'
Released in November 1984 Frankie Goes To Hollywood's 'The Power Of Love' was a big hit, however sadly it only spent one week at Number 1 due to Band Aid's 'Do They Know It's Christmas?' hitting the top spot for several weeks.
Watch the music video on YouTube
Band Aid - 'Do They Know It's Christmas?'
The supergroup Band Aid released 'Do They Know It's Christmas?' just before Christmas 1984 to raise money for the 1983–1985 famine in Ethiopia. On its release the song debuted at Number 1 and stayed there for five weeks. 'Do They Know It's Christmas?' became the fastest-selling song in the UK until 1997.
Watch the music video on YouTube
Wham! - 'Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go'
Released in February 1984, Wham!'s 'Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go' became the duo's first UK and USA Number 1. The original 1984 has been certified Gold in the UK, with its 2006 re-release being certified 2× Platinum.
Watch the music video on YouTube
Bronski Beat - 'Smalltown Boy'
'Smalltown Boy' was Bonski Beat's debut hit, reaching Number 3 in the UK. The song was the start of six Top 20 hits for the band, such as 'Why?' and 'Hit That Perfect Beat'.
Watch the music video on YouTube
Thompson Twins - 'Doctor! Doctor!'
With a Silver certification in the UK, Thompson Twins' 'Doctor! Doctor!' was a Number 3 hit in the UK. The song was the second single from their fourth album 'Into The Gap', following on from 'Hold Me Now'.
Watch the music video on YouTube
Chaka Khan - 'I Feel For You'
Originally written and released by the legendary singer Prince, 'I Feel For You' was later released by Chaka Khan who had huge success with it, taking it to Number 1 in the UK.
Watch the music video on YouTube
Stevie Wonder - 'I Just Called To Say I Love You'
'I Just Called To Say I Love You' is Stevie Wonder's best-selling single to date, and back in 1984 it reached Number 1 across the world, including the UK.
Watch the music video on YouTube
Frankie Goes To Hollywood - 'Relax'
'Relax' was Frankie Goes To Hollywood's debut song, and what a song it was. 'Relax' was a huge hit going to Number 1 in the UK, as well as a number of other countries. The song was also re-issued in 1993, 2001, 2009 and 2014.
Watch the music video on YouTube
Queen - 'I Want To Break Free'
Perhaps one of Queen's most iconic music videos, it saw Freddie Mercury dressed as a woman in a pink top, with bright pink earrings and a black skirt. The video was recreated for the biopic Bohemian Rhapsody.
Watch the music video on YouTube
Prince - 'When Doves Cry'
'When Doves Cry' was the lead single from Prince's album 'Purple Rain' and reached Number 10 in the UK. It was a huge hit, particularly in the USA, where it stayed at Number 1 for five weeks on the Billboard Hot 100.
Watch the music video on YouTube
The Pointer Sisters - 'Automatic'
One of the first releases of 1984, The Pointer Sisters released 'Automatic' in January 1984 and reached Number 2 in the UK. The song featured on the group's album 'Break Out'.
Watch the music video on YouTube
NENA - '99 Red Balloons'
Originally released in German, it was later released in English, which is the version many of us know and love. '99 Red Balloons' reached Number 1 in the UK.
Watch the music video on YouTube
Ray Parker Jr. - 'Ghostbusters'
Featured on the film soundtrack of the same name, 'Ghostbusters' was a Number 2 hit in the UK and stayed there for three weeks.
Watch the music video on YouTube
Black Lace - 'Agadoo'
Still touring to this day, Black Lace still perform their 1984 hit 'Agadoo' which reached Number 2 in the UK. The song went on to become the eighth best-selling single of 1984 here in the UK.
Watch the music video on YouTube
Lionel Richie - 'Hello'
Written and produced by singer Lionel Richie, 'Hello' was certified Gold in the UK and reached Number 1, staying there for six weeks.
Watch the music video on YouTube
George Michael - 'Careless Whisper'
Written by Wham! and released by George Michael, 'Careless Whisper' was featured on the duo's album 'Make It Big', although often credited just to George. The song reached the top spot around the world and was certified 2× Platinum in the UK.
Watch the music video on YouTube
Eurythmics - 'Here Comes The Rain Again'
Released in January 1984, Eurythmics' 'Here Comes The Rain Again' was a Top 10 hit for the duo.
Watch the music video on YouTube
Kenny Loggins - 'Footloose'
Kenny Loggins' 'Footloose' was a huge hit in 1984 following the release of the movie starring Kevin Bacon as Ren McCormack, who moved from the big city of Chicago, to a small town, where he attempted to overturn the ban on dancing. The song reached Number 6 in the UK chart.
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