Virginia Madsen in Kenny Loggins - I’m Free (Heaven Helps The Man)

I’m Free (Heaven Helps The Man), henceforth referred to as just “I’m Free”, is a 1984 song by Kenny Loggins. The song is most notably known for its appearance in the original Footloose soundtrack for the movie of the same name by those of a certain age.

And, for those lucky enough not to be of a certain age then it would also appear in a little game called Grand Theft Auto V, if you’ve ever heard of it. The song would play as part of the Los Santos Rock Radio station playlist, which also featured Kenny as a DJ.

Although the song was featured on the Footloose soundtrack, the video for the song has very little to do with the film. Which is a bit weird, especially for songs of that time.

The video has Loggins breaking out of prison, he quickly acquires a car and is seen making his getaway with it while looking down at the picture of his (presumed) girlfriend. The lady in the picture is of course one of our very own Virginia Madsen. Or, “Woman” as she is named on the iMDB listing for the music video.

Some daftness occurs in a garage where he is seemingly looking for the object of his affection,the local gang seem to know her location but aren’t keen on giving her up. He finally learns of her location from a rather scrawny looking gentleman, your typical “80’s Geek” who looks somewhat out of place from the rest of the gang members.

Kenny finds the light of his life and we see him sneaking into her bedroom to watch her while he sleeps.Thankfully, on waking she seems happy to see old Kenny and gives him a quick hug before they flee from the police who have somehow managed to work out where he is.

And yeah, the young lovers do their thing – Running across bridges with the sunset behind them, through a town centre holding hands. They briefly pass a cinema which is playing the Footloose film. Kenny seems keen to enter. Virginia, not so much. Again, weird for a song from the soundtrack.

All the while the Prison guards have noticed his daring escape and chaos in the jail ensues. Parents look angry with their daughter, the Police get closer to catching them as they run through buildings onto rooftops. The “80’s Geek” is there again for some reason, people jump off rooftops and escapes are made.