“Almost Paradise” is a classic 1980s power ballad performed by Mike Reno, lead singer of Loverboy, and Ann Wilson, lead vocalist of Heart. The duet was recorded for the soundtrack of the 1984 film Footloose, and it became one of the most iconic love songs of the decade.
The song was written by Eric Carmen (of Raspberries fame) and Dean Pitchford, who also co-wrote the rest of the Footloose soundtrack. Released as a single in March 1984 with “Strike Zone” by Loverboy on the B-side, “Almost Paradise” captured the emotional core of the film’s romantic subplot, serving as the love theme for the characters played by Kevin Bacon and Lori Singer.
“Almost Paradise” is a slow-building, emotionally rich ballad that features sweeping synthesizers, dramatic piano lines, and soaring vocal performances from both Reno and Wilson. The chemistry between their voices adds to the song’s intensity, blending tenderness with passionate delivery. It begins softly and gradually builds to a climactic chorus, typical of 1980s romantic duets.
The song expresses the feeling of finding deep, unexpected love—“almost paradise”—in a world full of uncertainty. The title reflects the idea that the love shared between the two people in the song is near-perfect, a refuge from the chaos around them.
“Almost Paradise” was a major hit, peaking at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100, and became one of the standout tracks from the multi-platinum Footloose soundtrack, which also featured hits like Kenny Loggins’ “Footloose” and Deniece Williams’ “Let’s Hear It for the Boy.” The song received heavy radio play and has remained a staple at weddings, proms, and soft rock playlists ever since.
Beyond its chart success, “Almost Paradise” helped solidify both Ann Wilson and Mike Reno as versatile vocalists capable of delivering emotionally resonant performances outside of their rock band contexts. It also contributed to the 1980s trend of movie soundtracks producing chart-topping love duets, alongside songs like “Up Where We Belong” and “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life.”