Three decades have passed, but Courteney Cox’s dance moves are as fresh as ever. The 59-year-old actress recently took to social media to share her entry in the popular “How would you dance to this song in the ’80s?” trend, and her video is a true blast from the past.
In the clip, Cox initially appears to be awkwardly dancing to Bronski Beat’s “Smalltown Boy,” shaking her head as if something isn’t quite clicking. However, after an abrupt record scratch, the Friends star unzips her jacket, revealing a shirt nearly identical to the one she wore in the iconic music video for Bruce Springsteen’s hit “Dancing in the Dark.”
A Blast from the Past
As the synth-pop track is swapped with the upbeat intro of Springsteen’s Born In The U.S.A. hit, Cox quickly finds her stride, stepping right back into the 1984 music video. Clad in white shirts and blue jeans – a quintessential Springsteen look – the actress and The Boss, now 74, mirror each other’s moves as the track slowly fades out.
The recreation is a true surprise, as Cox had previously admitted that her dancing in the “Dancing in the Dark” music video was “not good.” At the time, the video was her biggest role, as she had only “done two days on a soap opera and a New York telephone ad,” she revealed in a 2017 interview.
An Unlikely Star
Recalling her audition for the Brian De Palma-directed music video, Cox shared that she walked into a room full of dancers and thought, “I don’t think I’m in the right place because I can barely touch my toes.” However, her awkwardness was precisely what the director was looking for – a fan who “couldn’t believe it.”
Soon after, Cox found herself on stage with Springsteen – who thought she was just a fan at the time – at the Minnesota concert where the video was filmed. “I think that’s why I got it,” she said in a 2022 interview. “I think that’s what they wanted, a fan that just couldn’t believe it.”
Proving Her Moves
Despite her initial doubts about her dancing abilities, Cox’s new video proves that she hasn’t missed a beat in three decades. The Scream star effortlessly picks up her ’80s moves, showcasing her enduring talent and the timeless appeal of Springsteen’s iconic hit.