Week 6 Video Reviews
Hip to Be Square
Artist's Name:
Huey Lewis and the News was an American pop/rock band who enjoyed a good level of success during the 1980s and 1990s.
Song Title:
"Hip to Be Square"
CD/Album Title
Fore
Year
1986
Record Company
Elektra
Director
Kevin Godley and Lol Creme
Narrative of Video:
The video is a series of various camera shots that seem to flit around rather than change smoothly. When the video begins, the camera stays focused on Huey Lewis but the angle is from the microphone up to his face. The shots alternate between Lewis and the drums for a few minutes and then move up so close to one band member's face that it is focused on the skin. Then, it moves down so that it is evident that it is a person. The scene moves back to Lewis and stays on him. But the camera is in constant motion. At one point, the camera flashes to the inside of Lewis' mouth and back out. The camera then moves in close to a hand on the piano. It moves out to the hand and the keyboard. During the instrumental solo, the camera focuses on the drummer's cymbals. Shots from above below, and inside the cymbals are seen. The camera movements are pulsating. They are very quick and short. At one point, it is from the angle of the drummer's drumsticks. The camera moves out a little and two band members can be seen. One is playing the saxophone. There is a shot of someone's elbow in the mix of fast changes. The video focues on Lewis again with other members of the band visible in the background. The constant camera changes continue throughout the rest of the video.
How the Music and Video Relate:
The video relates the beat of the song well, but the images seem to conflict with the lyrics inasmuch as they are short and choppy and more "high tech" while the lyrics convey the message of being "square" is cool.
Review:
I liked the way the video pulsated with the beat of the song, and how quickly the images changed. The camera moved so quickly and went in so close that at times it was difficult to understand what it was focusing on. There is a bit of humor in the angle of the camera. It reminded me of the distortion seen in a fun house mirror.