The song Kevin Bacon pays people not to hear: “Sounds kind of cheap now, doesn’t it?”
Footloose is undeniably the film that solidified Kevin Bacon’s place in the hearts of moviegoers. His portrayal of Ren McCormack, a teenager transplanted from Chicago to a conservative small town where dancing is forbidden, is infused with both charm and angst, capturing the essence of the 1980s. While many brat-pack soundtracks spawned chart-topping hits, Footloose arguably delivered some of the most iconic and infectious tracks of the era.
Given its impact, the film’s titular song, a snare-heavy Kenny Loggins number that underscores the celebratory final sequence, has followed Bacon throughout the years, ever since Footloose served as the springboard for his career.
Of course, Bacon’s career took off in the late 1970s, paving the way for him to become a Hollywood fixture throughout the ‘80s and ‘90s. With a string of memorable performances, including his role in the cult classic Tremors (1990), where he faced off against the subterranean, snake-like monsters known as Graboids, Bacon built an impressive legacy. Yet, despite his enduring success, he remains notably absent from the list of Academy Award nominees—but perhaps those subjected to his adverts for EE can understand why.
For movies or commercials, he is now an actor deeply ingrained in popular culture, epitomised by the infamous “Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon” game, which claims that any randomly chosen actor can be linked to Bacon within six connections through their work.
This level of connectivity shows how prolific and wide-ranging the actor’s career has been. Despite this, the actor doesn’t regard it as necessarily a testament to his work. “I don’t know if I’d call it a compliment,” Bacon once said of the game, saying that the joking feels like it’s about comparing his work to the ‘greats’ and not about him being among them.
This wry approach to his legacy is perhaps why he’s also less keen on having Footloose’s bass-plucking song follow him wherever he goes, going so far as to pay DJs $20 not to play the track at any wedding he attends. “$20 sounds kind of cheap now, doesn’t it?” the actor jokes of his insistence not to be pulled into a recreation of his teenage stardom whenever the song comes on.
However, the song remains intrinsically linked to his work, bringing a smirk to nearly everyone who hears it. Yet, Bacon ensures the track is swiftly silenced whenever he attends a celebration.
“A wedding is the one bloody night the bride and groom get to be the biggest stars,” Bacon explains, justifying his agreement with the DJ. He feels it’s inappropriate for him to become the centre of attention because of a role from 40 years ago. While one could argue that playing the song might bring a smile to the guests — a welcome addition to any wedding — his decision is undeniably admirable.
“When somebody puts that record on,” he notes, referring to the Loggins number, “Whether I want to or not, I’ve turned that [attention],” says the actor, who would also say that he’s going to “pay a lot more than $20” when it comes to his children’s weddings.
He defiantly states: “I guarantee no one will be playing that record”.
