A classic: Retards love Huey Lewis

Sean has a framed picture of himself and Mr. Lewis locked in an embrace. At first I thought it was cool that he had met the singer and was lucky enough to snap a photo. Then, as I visited other clients' houses, a pattern started to emerge. Rose, Jennifer, Linnea, Donald (whose names, like everyone else's in this story, have been changed to protect their anonymity) -- each had a picture of him- or herself posing with Huey Lewis or at a Huey concert. Was Huey Lewis the Pied Piper of the developmentally disabled, only with a harmonica instead of a fife? (How else to explain all those sales of Sports?)

Whatever the reason -- the catchy tunes, the goofball charisma, or maybe those slapstick videos -- developmentally disabled people see something significant and tender in Huey Lewis. He makes them happy.

It's obvious. . . listening to Huey Lewis makes you retarded. That's a great article, thanks for posting.

American Psycho is a brutish and nasty read. I disdain its pudgy author as a pretender to the taboo (I think the same of Marilyn Manson). But the novel is remarkably brilliant & insightful in its cultural observations. The best part is that the protagonist is obsessed with music - specifically Genesis (Phil Collins era only), Whitney Houston (described as the most important rhythm & blues artist of the last twenty years), and his favorite is of course Huey Lewis. Every act has an entire chapter dedicated to it, in which the protagonist explains the meaning of every song of every album of the artist in detail. Sort of like the Madonna discussion in Reservoir Dogs, only much worse because his taste in popular music is so obsessive and wretched.

I'm sure you don't come here for the book reports, but if you happen to see the book laying around it's well worth picking up and reading until the part where he explains why Phil Collins is so brilliant in contrast to that no-talent slouch Peter Gabriel.

EDIT: From the abridged version, the screenplay adaptation:

I've been a big Genesis fan ever since the release of their 1980 album, Duke. Before that, I really didn't understand any of their work. Too artsy, too intellectual. It was on Duke where, uh, Phil Collins' presence became more apparent. I think Invisible Touch was the group's undisputed masterpiece. It's an epic meditation on intangibility. At the same time, it deepens and enriches the meaning of the preceding three albums. Christy, take off your robe. Listen to the brilliant ensemble playing of Banks, Collins and Rutherford. You can practically hear every nuance of every instrument. Sabrina, remove your dress. In terms of lyrical craftsmanship, the sheer songwriting, this album hits a new peak of professionalism. Sabrina, why don't you, uh, dance a little. Take the lyrics to Land of Confusion. In this song, Phil Collins addresses the problems of abusive political authority. In Too Deep is the most moving pop song of the 1980s, about monogamy and commitment. The song is extremely uplifting. Their lyrics are as positive and affirmative as, uh, anything I've heard in rock. Christy, get down on your knees so Sabrina can see your asshole. Phil Collins' solo career seems to be more commercial and therefore more satisfying, in a narrower way. Especially songs like In the Air Tonight and, uh, Against All Odds. Sabrina, don't just stare at it, eat it. But I also think Phil Collins works best within the confines of the group, than as a solo artist, and I stress the word artist. This is Sussudio, a great, great song, a personal favorite.

Last edited by lechero (2008-09-24 20:30:36)

GooberMcNutly wrote:

No, what made Huey Lewis was the low-budget '80s music videos. Even ZZ Top had better video.

What happened to Huey? How the fuck did he get so popular anyway? And if San Francisco is so cool, how does that jibe with the fact that both Huey and Jefferson Airplane/Starship/Fucking Disabled Person Courtesy Minivan were from there?

I went to a corporate convention for the pharmaceutical/drugstore industry at Bally's/Paris a few years back, and the blowout dinner party at the end had Huey Lewis and the News playing at it. The buttoned-up pharmacists and their wives and families went apeshit when they played. Just like retards. My then 7 year old son loved them. Huey Lewis is a real crowd pleaser, and I don't think he has ever stopped working since the '80's. I wouldn't pay to see him, but he was pretty damned good.

icangetyouatoe wrote:

sofaking wrote:

I went to a corporate convention for the pharmaceutical/drugstore industry at Bally's/Paris a few years back, and the blowout dinner party at the end had Huey Lewis and the News playing at it. The buttoned-up pharmacists and their wives and families went apeshit when they played. Just like retards. My then 7 year old son loved them. Huey Lewis is a real crowd pleaser, and I don't think he has ever stopped working since the '80's. I wouldn't pay to see him, but he was pretty damned good.

He has a gorgeous house in Ross, a community outside SF in Marin. He obviously must be pretty smart to parlay a very modest amount of talent into a very lucrative career. But Sofa, you gotta tell me, did he play, "I want a new drug" for the pharma people?

Yes, yes he did.

That's why they went apeshit. He opened with it.