Yes I've found it! A YouTube treasure that should be buried along with my ex boyfriend (and he's alive). It's "Why," a 1982 sort-of-dance tune by the normally talented Carly Simon from the soundtrack to the failed romantic comedy Soup For One. As she ponders her question-mark-deficient query, Carly's clumsy strutting down the street is uncomfortable enough, but then having everyday zhlubs mouth along to the "la dee dah dee dah" part, in between Carly flirting with them and weirdly eating ice cream, all amounts to VOMIT for one. It all just comes across so cheesy and themeless! It's like they shot only for an hour and then used nothing but the outtakes. There's no way anyone played this thing, even at bars wanting to clear the room come closing time. But at least the clip presents a light-hearted glimpse of the Upper West Side of years past, way before zoning regulations would no doubt forbid such annoyingly whimsical behavior. Otherwise, "why" indeed.
the tune is a little catchy but the vid is shockingly low budget. Isn't Carly rich? She should have kicked in a few smackers so they didn't have to use people off the street.
Videos didnt really start becoming artistic and big budget until around 1983, a la Michael Jackson's "Thriller." and the advent of MTV. (Remember when that channel was only about music videos?) You can tell this video was made before that time because Carly does't suddenly "disappear"--a standard visual device from the halcyon years of this musical medium.
I've been a DJ for over 25 years and I still play this track at my regular gig! You may hate it Michael, but whenever I play it people dance and sing along.
To each his own I guess.
It has a reggae feel and it's unlike anything she's recorded, I kinda like it. It was a nicer time in Manhattan, the Upper West Side was happening, I used to work at Haagen-Dazs the year before this was shot!
Dobson's, Serenade (I worked as a busboy there, crnr. of 79th & Columbus), The Cherry coffee shop, Screaming Mimi's, Ruelle's, Charivari, Wildwood, The Candle, Les Hommes, The Works, bring 'em all back I say!
