Video Hangover: Huey Lewis & The News - "If This Is It"
Every week, we dig in the archives for videos that we find noteworthy, memorable, or just unbelievably stupid. And then, Jon McMillan breaks 'em down for you. Why Video Hangover? Because when you watch as many videos as we do, you're going to feel it afterwards.
"If This Is It"
Huey Lewis & The News, 1984
Grab your black jeans, slather on the suntan lotion, and fill the tote bag with 80s clichés -- we're going to the beach with Huey Lewis!
If this were a drinking game, we'd all be dead by now
Best 80s beach video ever? Tough call. But clearly Huey and Co. put a lot of effort into getting the scene just right. Two women roll over to reveal ... they've been lying boobs-down on some lucky bastard! Yes! How about a guy playing tennis in a sweater vest ... in the ocean! The News, buried to their necks in the sand? You'd never expect one of them to be smoking a cigarette! And how about that crusty carnival barker biting his hand in disgust? But my favorite is definitely the guy wearing a Santa hat, a pink tie and a speedo. What look is he going for here, exactly? Seasonally ironic business casual? Billy Zabka, male stripper? Oh, and if you think there's not going to be a fake shark fin, you're out of your freaking mind.
We have the news, and it's bad
Come on Huey, did you really need a psychic to tell you that your girlfriend is not that into monogamy? She's getting groped by every guy on the beach, for god's sake! Here's a rule of thumb: If you see your girl heading to a motel room for a quick romp with a pair of dudes dressed like nine-year-old French boys -- and she doesn't invite you to join -- it's over.
We all in the same math class
Of the major causes of the '80s, jock-on-nerd violence was a distant fourth, behind famine in Africa, AIDS, and fake sand shark attacks. But 20 years later, thanks in no small part to progressives like Huey Lewis, this once-fearsome epidemic has become as rare as Smallpox. Thank you, Huey, for not being afraid to depict Jock/Nerd love in all it's messy, conflicted, human glory.
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Posted at 11:12 AM in Video, Video Hangover
Tags: Huey Lewis
One of the greatest songs of the 80's, period. Maybe ever.
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i'm excited for stereogum's new "all-huey lewis, all-the-time" format. it's an idea whose time has come.
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Anyone know if Huey Lewis has a day job?
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I've always loved this video and song. Anyone know if the beach is Santa Cruz?
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was he always old?
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I was surprised to not find this on that forthcoming HL&TN tribute album. But then again, can you improve upon perfection? Nyet...
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Yep, it was filmed in Santa Cruz at the beach and Boardwalk.
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anyone know who the girls name is he breaks up with in the video?
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