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Almost Paradise
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Wikipedia article
"'Almost Paradise... Love Theme from Footloose'" is the title of a duet by singers Mike Reno of Loverboy and Ann Wilson of Heart. It is one of several major hits by singer Eric Carmen and lyrics by Dean Pitchford, another being Carmen's song "Make Me Lose Control".
Reno is best known as the lead singer of the rock band Loverboy, while Wilson is the lead singer of the rock band Heart. Both bands achieved a significant amount of success in the 1980s, and Reno and Wilson were approached to record a duet for the film 'Footloose'.
Background
Officially listed as the "Love Theme from 'Footloose'" on the film's soundtrack, "Almost Paradise" was one of three top 10 hits on the 'Billboard' Hot 100 chart found on the soundtrack; it peaked at No. 7 and spent 13 weeks in the top 40.Whitburn, Joel (1996). 'The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits', 6th Edition (Billboard Publications) An alternate version of the song with a slightly different musical arrangement, which has never been released, is used in the film.
Other hits from this soundtrack include "Footloose" by Kenny Loggins and "Let's Hear It for the Boy" by Deniece Williams, both of which went to No. 1 on the pop chart.Bronson, Fred (2003). 'The Billboard Book of No. 1 Hits', 5th Edition (Billboard Publications) "Almost Paradise" was also a hit on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart in the United States, where it spent one week at No. 1.Hyatt, Wesley (1999). 'The Billboard Book of No. 1 Adult Contemporary Hits' (Billboard Publications) Both singers resumed their respective roles within their bands following this one-off recording.
Chart performance
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Personnel
Movie Version:
* Mike Reno and Ann Wilson vocals
* Chas Sanford electric guitar
* Keith Olsen bass, acoustic guitar
* Bill Cuomo keyboards, synthesizer
* Jerry Peterson saxophone
* Jim Keltner drums
Album Version:
* Mike Reno and Ann Wilson vocals
* Chas Sanford electric guitar
* Keith Olsen bass, acoustic guitar
* Bill Cuomo keyboards, synthesizer
* Jim Keltner drums
Cover versions
* In 1989, Eric Carmen and Merry Clayton released a cover single, which was performed as part of the Dirty Dancing live tour.
* In 1998, the Broadway cast of Footloose performed the song, for the 1998 Broadway musical based on the film.
* In 2011, Victoria Justice and Hunter Hayes performed the song, for the 2011 remake of the original film. Their cover was released on September 22, 2011.
* In 2017, Royce da 5'9, Kxng Crooked, Truth Ali, Iliana Eve, Jonathan Hay, Mike Smith and King Graint all collaborated on "Almost Paradise", a hip-hop interpolation of the original. The song is from 'The Sins of a Father Playlist' compilation and it reached #28 on the Canadian Spotify Charts.
In popular culture
*The use of "Almost Paradise" on the daytime soap opera 'All My Children' was a significant factor in the song's success."August 2, 1986." 'Casey Kasem's American Top 40 - The 80s'. Hst. Casey Kasem. iHeartRadio. KOSF, San Francisco, 2 Aug. 2020. Radio.
*"Almost Paradise" was also used on the daytime serials 'Guiding Light' and 'Santa Barbara'.
*Beginning with the third season, "Almost Paradise" is used as the opening theme song for the reality television show 'Bachelor in Paradise'.
*Actress Jessica Biel performed an impromptu cover of the song's chorus during an appearance on the The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on July 12, 2007.
See also
* List of Hot Adult Contemporary number ones of 1984
References
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