Week 6 Video Reviews
You Can Call Me Al
Artist's Name:
Paul Simon. Originally part of Simon and Garfunkel, Simon struck out on his own and created another successful career as a solo artist.
Song Title:
"You Can Call Me Al"
CD/Album Title
Graceland
Year
1986
Record Company
Warner Bros
Director
Gary Weis
Narrative of Video:
When the video first begins, the camera focuses on a room containing two empty chairs, a saxophone, an instrument stand, and a trumpet. A moment later, Paul Simon and comedian Chevy Chase are both trying to come through a doorway at the same time to enter the room. The introduction of the song is playing as this action takes place. Once inside, they each take one of the empty seats. They shake hands. As the words of the song begin, Paul Simon begins to sing, but stops and looks perplexed as Chevy Chase takes over lip-syning the words. Simon gets up and leaves the room. The camera stays on Chase, but in the background, Simon can be seen walking by the open doorway carrying a red drum. The camera stays focused on Chevy Chase as he continues to lip-sync the words to the song. A moment later Simon returns and sits down in the other chair. He has a blank expression on his face and is twiddling his thumbs. In the meantime, Chase's facial expressions and body movements are becoming more animated as he continues to lip-sync. Simon stands up again and leaves the room again. The camera returns to Chase who continues to lip-sync. Simon returns and sits down again. On the recording, another voice can be heard singing "If you'll be my bodyguard" in a deep almost monotone sounding voice that alternates with the lead vocal. With a blank expression on his face, Simon begins lip-syncing that part in contrast to Chase's animated lip-syncing of the "lead" vocal. When that part ends, Simon sits quietly as Chase continues. He chimes in again when the voice returns with the words "I can call you Betty/ and Chase takes over again with "and Betty when you call me/ you can call me Al" which is very melodic. The song changes to a picolo solo. Paul Simon takes a picolo from his front jacket pocket and begins to play it. The camera moves out so that both men can be seen. Simon starts rockin out as he plays this small instrument and Chevy Chase makes dancing gestures with his body while he is still seated. The song changes again to an instrumental part that contains quite a few horns. Paul Simon grabs the saxophone and Chevy Chase takes the trumpet. They both stand up and begin playing the instruments as they move in a choreographed dance step. Chevy Chase is very tall and Paul Simon is quite short so the contrast adds even more comedic value to the video. When that part ends and the vocals begin again, Chase takes over again. He is still very animated as he lip-syncs the words. Simon leaves the room carrying the saxophone. He returns a moment later carrying a guitar and the red conga drum. Chase lifts the stand up and moves it over so Simon can put the drum through it. When the part of the song "I can call you Betty" begins again, Simon joins in, otherwise he sits there twiddling his thumbs with a deadpan expression on his face as Chevy Chase continues lip-syncing the rest of the song. Simon stands up to play the conga drum with the guitar on his back. A guitar solo follows the drumming and he flips the guitar around and plays it. The horn instrumental repeats again. This time, Chevy Chase plays the trumpet and Paul Simon continues playing the guitar. They do the same dance moves as they did previously. The camera moves in close on one and the other during this part of the video. Simon lip-syncs to "If you'll be my bodyguard" which alternates with "I can call you Betty" as the music continues. They both turn and move toward the doorway still playing their instruments as the video comes to an end.
How the Music and Video Relate:
The video does an excellent job of portraying the upbeat tempo and light hearted lyrics of this song.
Review:
I think this is a very good video. It is well made and funny. The song is snappy and the contrast between Chevy Chase and Paul Simon in both physical attributes and in expression makes the video very entertaining to watch.