Footloose (Music from the Motion Picture) [Cut Loose Deluxe Edition]

iTunes Review

When you think of all the catchy tunes that peppered the original soundtrack to 1984’s Footloose, it makes sense for the film’s 2011 remake to include some awesome upgrades. Seeing that the plot still takes place in the badlands of a small town, it makes even more sense to pump these songs through a well-oiled country-pop filter. Blake Shelton stands in for Kenny Loggins on the opening title track, not straying too far from the original blueprint; of course this rendition sounds more Nashville than Santa Barbara. Conversely, country newcomer Ella Mae Bowen kisses new life into Bonnie Tyler’s “Holding Out for a Hero”; her version strips away synthesizers and drum machines for a more organic backbone of traditional wooden instruments, slowed tempos, and layers upon layers of gorgeous vocal melodies. It sounds like most of the Nashville gloss was saved for Jana Kramer’s country-pop remake of Deniece Williams’ “Let’s Hear It for the Boy.” Victoria Justice and Hunter Hayes keep “Almost Paradise” sounding as steamy as Mike Reno and Ann Wilson’s original.