At a recent film festival, actor Kevin Bacon shared a personal discomfort that arises whenever the song "Footloose" is played at weddings.
Kevin Bacon, at SXSW, discussed the unexpected impact of "Footloose" on his life, particularly at weddings, the Independent reported.
Kevin Bacon was at the SXSW film festival for a career retrospective, focusing on numerous aspects of his enduring fame. The 1984 hit movie "Footloose" brought him significant recognition, playing the role of Ren, a rebellious teen who loves to dance.
"Footloose" was more than just a film for Bacon; it was a career-defining moment that catapulted him into the limelight. However, this fame came with its own set of challenges, as the actor explained during his talk.
The fame led Bacon to navigate unexpected situations, like being featured in teen magazines, which felt odd given his self-perception. He elaborated on the complexities of being viewed differently from how he views himself.
One particular challenge has persisted over the years: the song "Footloose" being played at weddings. Bacon expressed that while he loves the song and is proud of the movie, the experience turns uncomfortable when it becomes the center of attention at wedding parties.
"My worst nightmare is to be at a wedding and the DJ puts on the music... They always start out being about the bride, and then there’s alcohol involved. And by about 10:30, the song comes on, and suddenly the wedding becomes about me getting out and dancing," Bacon recounted.
According to Bacon, the atmosphere changes dramatically when the song plays, with guests circling him and clapping, likening it to being a "trained monkey." This spectacle disrupts the event's focus, shifting it from the celebratory couple to himself.
"Footloose" was not initially scripted as a dance-centric movie, which was a surprise for Bacon, who was not a trained dancer. This aspect brought its own set of challenges during filming, highlighted by a script that simply mentioned a dance-driven outburst without further detail.
Bacon shared that he has only viewed "Footloose" three or four times. Interestingly, his children, Travis and Sosie, have not watched the movie at all, a fact that he finds quite bewildering.
The paradox of the actor's relationship with "Footloose" underscores a greater narrative about the impact of iconic roles on an actor’s personal life and public interactions.
Reflecting on the broader implications of fame, Bacon admitted that achieving his dream came with unexpected oddities. "It's what I wanted, I have no one to blame but myself. It was my dream to have all those things. But until you have that, you don’t realize there’s something kind of strange about it," he pondered aloud.
Despite the challenges, Bacon remains grateful for the opportunities his career has afforded him, emphasizing his pride in the work he has done, especially in "Footloose."
As Bacon moves forward, engaging in new projects like his series "The Bondsman" on Prime Video, his experience with "Footloose" at weddings remains a vivid example of how fame intersects uniquely with personal moments. The actor’s plea to DJs is a call for consideration, hoping to keep wedding celebrations focused on the newlyweds rather than on celebrity guests.
