Huey Lewis: Why does he exist?

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...as a musical entity.

oops (Oops), Wednesday, 3 September 2003 04:27 (twenty years ago) link

its something to do with the power of love,i believe

robin (robin), Wednesday, 3 September 2003 04:30 (twenty years ago) link

because he knows that there is a difference between being a muso and an entertainer.

Mike Taylor (mjt), Thursday, 4 September 2003 22:37 (twenty years ago) link

also, because the heart of rock and roll is still beating.

Mike Taylor (mjt), Thursday, 4 September 2003 22:37 (twenty years ago) link

So do you think he's the last of a breed?

oops (Oops), Thursday, 4 September 2003 22:41 (twenty years ago) link

Who is Huey's contemporary equivalent?

Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 4 September 2003 22:50 (twenty years ago) link

non-musically i know, but i saw huey in the yoghurt aisle of woodlands market (kentfield, ca) about 5 years ago on my lunch break... i almost asked him something smarmy about showing his penis on camera in the robert altman movie based on raymond carver shorts but my co-worker politely asked me to refrain.

his contemporary equivalent would be third eye blind.

gygax! (gygax!), Thursday, 4 September 2003 22:58 (twenty years ago) link

If he didn't exist, we would have to invent him.

hstencil, Thursday, 4 September 2003 22:58 (twenty years ago) link

his contemporary equivalent would be third eye blind.

yeah, but they're already forgotten (yeah, yeah, they have a new album, I know, anyone hear it? I thought not!) Huey managed to become a bit of a decade icon, which Stephen Jenkins (Mr.3EB) did not.

Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 4 September 2003 23:01 (twenty years ago) link

patrick bateman to thread.

gygax! (gygax!), Thursday, 4 September 2003 23:02 (twenty years ago) link

I saw a super groupie on an MTV groupie special once (I believe it was Sweet Connie from We're An American Band by Grand Funk) and she talked about how Hendrix had the largest male member of any of her conquests....until she had Mr. Huey Lewis in the early-80s twilight of her career....So, maybe that's why he exists.

Also, Third Eye Blind didn't have a fraction of the hits Huey did, I mean Sports and Fore! are probably both over 10 million sold, and he basically had hits in the top 10 for what seemed like about 4 years nonstop....

Also, he exists because American Psycho would not have been the same without him.

Matt Helgeson (Matt Helgeson), Thursday, 4 September 2003 23:08 (twenty years ago) link

he makes explicit the musical connection between detroit and cologne

gaz (gaz), Thursday, 4 September 2003 23:18 (twenty years ago) link

Didn't you see "Short Cuts"? Altman needed a guy who was slinging a lot of muscle downstairs and wasn't afraid to whip it out.

Ben Boyer (Ben Boyer), Friday, 5 September 2003 23:42 (twenty years ago) link

nobody reads my posts, have i been calum-ized?

gygax! (gygax!), Friday, 5 September 2003 23:49 (twenty years ago) link

Sorry, gygax. I get incredibly excited when I spot a legitimate chance to mention Huey's Lewis.

Ben Boyer (Ben Boyer), Friday, 5 September 2003 23:55 (twenty years ago) link

Hey, be thankful for Huey Lewis. What would American Psycho have been without him?

Girolamo Savonarola, Saturday, 6 September 2003 00:08 (twenty years ago) link

(Matt Helgeson & Girolamo Savonarola -- are you identical twins? ;)

Was a time I was convinced Huey Lewis existed merely for the news.
If he still exists, he isn't dead yet. Can't be more complicated than that.

t\'\'t (t\'\'t), Saturday, 6 September 2003 00:13 (twenty years ago) link

Some of his lies are true, he believes in love, he's heart and soul, he wants a new drug, etc.

J (Jay), Saturday, 6 September 2003 01:04 (twenty years ago) link

three weeks pass...
a portrait of two greats

gygax! (gygax!), Wednesday, 1 October 2003 00:25 (twenty years ago) link

All of a sudden I sense a plot for the Wesley/Woody comeback film.

Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 1 October 2003 00:28 (twenty years ago) link

wesley played bonds in "the fan" (although you don't need to see it).

gygax! (gygax!), Wednesday, 1 October 2003 00:37 (twenty years ago) link

Good heavens, you're right. This can be the sequel.

Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 1 October 2003 00:39 (twenty years ago) link

Huey Lewis exists to be awesome.

Dan I., Wednesday, 1 October 2003 00:44 (twenty years ago) link

Huey Lewis was the Andrew WK of the 80s.
Go with me on this. I may not be able to explain why. But it's a fact nonetheless.

Lord Custos Omicron (Lord Custos Omicron), Thursday, 2 October 2003 01:28 (twenty years ago) link

Why do you care about his existence?
Nobody else does, or have done for the last 15 years or so...

Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Thursday, 2 October 2003 08:52 (twenty years ago) link

Geir,

Major League Baseball cares, that's who.

gygax! (gygax!), Thursday, 2 October 2003 13:56 (twenty years ago) link

Why do you care about baseball's existance?
Nobody else (at least outside the US) does, or have ever done?

:-)

Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Thursday, 2 October 2003 14:25 (twenty years ago) link

Mod Parent down -1, Troll.

Lord Custos Omicron (Lord Custos Omicron), Thursday, 2 October 2003 15:03 (twenty years ago) link

Why do you care about baseball's existance?
Nobody else (at least outside the US) does, or have ever done?

Japan
Location:
Eastern Asia, island chain between the North Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan, east of the Korean Peninsula
Geographic coordinates:
36 00 N, 138 00 E
Map references:
Asia
Area:
total: 377,835 sq km
note: includes Bonin Islands (Ogasawara-gunto), Daito-shoto, Minami-jima, Okino-tori-shima, Ryukyu Islands (Nansei-shoto), and Volcano Islands (Kazan-retto)
water: 3,091 sq km
land: 374,744 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than California
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
29,751 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM; between 3 NM and 12 NM in the international straits - La Perouse or Soya, Tsugaru, Osumi, and Eastern and Western Channels of the Korea or Tsushima Strait
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
Climate:
varies from tropical in south to cool temperate in north
Terrain:
mostly rugged and mountainous
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Hachiro-gata -4 m
highest point: Fujiyama 3,776 m
Natural resources:
negligible mineral resources, fish
Land use:
arable land: 12%
permanent crops: 1%
other: 87% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
26,790 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
many dormant and some active volcanoes; about 1,500 seismic occurrences (mostly tremors) every year; tsunamis; typhoons
Environment - current issues:
air pollution from power plant emissions results in acid rain; acidification of lakes and reservoirs degrading water quality and threatening aquatic life; Japan is one of the largest consumers of fish and tropical timber, contributing to the depletion of these resources in Asia and elsewhere
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note:
strategic location in northeast Asia

Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Thursday, 2 October 2003 15:09 (twenty years ago) link

Quick thinking, Dom.

Lord Custos Omicron (Lord Custos Omicron), Thursday, 2 October 2003 15:14 (twenty years ago) link

Cuba
Location:
Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, 150 km south of Key West, Florida
Geographic coordinates:
21 30 N, 80 00 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 110,860 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 110,860 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Land boundaries:
total: 29 km
border countries: US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay 29 km
note: Guantanamo Naval Base is leased by the US and thus remains part of Cuba
Coastline:
3,735 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:
tropical; moderated by trade winds; dry season (November to April); rainy season (May to October)
Terrain:
mostly flat to rolling plains, with rugged hills and mountains in the southeast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Pico Turquino 2,005 m
Natural resources:
cobalt, nickel, iron ore, copper, manganese, salt, timber, silica, petroleum, arable land
Land use:
arable land: 33.04%
other: 59.35% (1998 est.)
permanent crops: 7.61%
Irrigated land:
870 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
the east coast is subject to hurricanes from August to October (in general, the country averages about one hurricane every other year); droughts are common
Environment - current issues:
air and water pollution; biodiversity loss; deforestation
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note:
largest country in Caribbean and westernmost island of the Greater Antilles

Sam J. (samjeff), Thursday, 2 October 2003 17:11 (twenty years ago) link

cinniblount (James Blount), Thursday, 2 October 2003 17:15 (twenty years ago) link

cinniblount (James Blount), Thursday, 2 October 2003 17:16 (twenty years ago) link

cinniblount (James Blount), Thursday, 2 October 2003 17:17 (twenty years ago) link

cinniblount (James Blount), Thursday, 2 October 2003 17:20 (twenty years ago) link

cinniblount (James Blount), Thursday, 2 October 2003 17:20 (twenty years ago) link

europe /= the world, geir

cinniblount (James Blount), Thursday, 2 October 2003 17:21 (twenty years ago) link

Actually, I have a lot of respect for Mr. Lewis after seeing his Behind The Music. He came across as a real down-to-earth guy, very humble about his success. After being on the losing side of the business for so long in the 70's he realized the key to his happiness was making the kind of music he wanted to make w/o an eye towards commercial success. Coincedentally that's when he started having commercial success. But he was aware that success is a total crapshoot and didn't suddenly gain a huge ego about his art or start shedding band members to push himself into the spotlight. Instead it seemed like they were able to stay together as a group of guys who enjoyed performing their songs and doing exactly what they would have done for small dollars if they hadn't been an 80's hitmaking machine.

zaxxon25 (zaxxon25), Thursday, 2 October 2003 17:45 (twenty years ago) link

according to baseballreference.com:

# of non-US Baseball Players and country of origin

Dominican Republic (340)
Puerto Rico (206)
Canada (195)
Cuba (148)
Venezuela (144)
Mexico (90)
Panama (43)
Ireland (38)
England (32)
Germany (29)
Japan (23)
Australia (15)
South Korea (8)
...
Norway (3): John "Fragile" Anderson, Art "Psalm 69" Jorgens, Jimmy "Last Splash" Wiggs
...

is that enough melody and rhythm for you, hongro?

gygax! (gygax!), Thursday, 2 October 2003 18:02 (twenty years ago) link

ten years pass...

original question posted here has never been effectively answered.

Daniel, Esq 2, Tuesday, 11 March 2014 01:37 (ten years ago) link

I saw this video again for the first time in 30 years and realized exactly how much I dislike him

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFaXTcR4dtE

set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Tuesday, 11 March 2014 01:42 (ten years ago) link

I saw this video again for the first time in 30 years and realized exactly how much I dislike him

― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Monday, March 10, 2014

why do you hate fun?

Daniel, Esq 2, Tuesday, 11 March 2014 01:45 (ten years ago) link

Go and listen to the Sports album. If that doesn't answer your question, then time to move on.

jetfan, Tuesday, 11 March 2014 01:54 (ten years ago) link

i still dig the songs... i just hate watching him mugging all over the camera always always always

set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Tuesday, 11 March 2014 02:26 (ten years ago) link

the Lemon Demon remix of The Power of Love is freakin' incredible

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1-n3n1tmtU

frogbs, Tuesday, 11 March 2014 02:45 (ten years ago) link

I go back and reread from time to time when I'm having a bad day. It's easily one of the most endearing pieces I've ever read.

http://www.sfweekly.com/2005-08-03/music/a-very-special-concert/

Chantilly Bass, Tuesday, 11 March 2014 03:24 (ten years ago) link

four years pass...

I assume from the picture that he's been cryogenically frozen since then.

E Pluripubis Unum (Old Lunch), Saturday, 19 January 2019 13:41 (five years ago) link

Huey's big dick energy keeps him young

Blues Guitar Solo Heatmap (Free Download) (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Saturday, 19 January 2019 15:15 (five years ago) link

xpost I thought that too and then noticed the ad for Pineapple Express behind him.

For some reason this was very disappointing to me.

cwkiii, Saturday, 19 January 2019 18:39 (five years ago) link

Just heard “back in time” in a Korean grocery store

calstars, Saturday, 19 January 2019 21:42 (five years ago) link

Okay, this '80s revivalism shit really needs to stop.

Le Baton Rose (Turrican), Saturday, 19 January 2019 21:46 (five years ago) link

I think I can answer the original question. I was in kid in the bay area, in the 80s, and my dad grew up in San Francisco. He worked for public transit, and bay-area blue collar boomers LOVED Huey Lewis.

A bay area native, he was the antithesis of the famous San Francisco counter-culture: super hetero, non-rebellious, non-bohemian.

Although NYC's counter-culture is also world-famous, so is its hard-hat culture, of "working Joes" who see themselves as the backbone of the city, keeping everything running. However, there is (or was) a similar culture in San Francisco and around the bay, and their heroes were The Bash Brothers, Journey, and Huey Lewis.

My dad was part of the counter-culture in the 60s, dodging the draft, living on the beach and following The Grateful Dead; but in the 80s, he was driving a bus, throwing newspapers and listening to Huey Lewis and the News.

I don't care for Huey Lewis' records much, except for Heart and Soul, which is a great song with an endearing video. Walk the Moon, eat your heart out!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TdaXhpjHws

3×5, Monday, 21 January 2019 16:21 (five years ago) link

7-8 years ago I got the "Sports" tape stuck in my car and the radio didn't work so I spent effectively an entire summer listening to it, his music is engrained in my soul

frogbs, Monday, 21 January 2019 16:26 (five years ago) link

Same thing happened to me in 1993, except it was Rollins Band. You were lucky.

Johnny Fever, Monday, 21 January 2019 16:54 (five years ago) link

Sports is a perfectly defensible anthem, and although Fore! is a textbook example of a New Jersey I could count on him for a chugga-chugga single through 1991's "It Hit Me Like a Hammer."

Your sweetie-pie-coo-coo I love ya (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 21 January 2019 16:59 (five years ago) link

I unironically love this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CscPTI8fwA

"'I love you, Huey' was the note I read
But there's a strange pair of shoes underneath the bed" is fantastic.

Plinka Trinka Banga Tink (Eliza D.), Tuesday, 22 January 2019 16:30 (five years ago) link


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