The music videos from "Heartbeat City" were from MTV's golden age as well as the height of the Cars' popularity. They used the lastest in technology and created some of the most ingenious and elaborate videos of the 80's. You can't have an 80's video collection without including classics like "You Might Think" and "Magic". This was also the year the Cars took eight of their best and newest videos and put them into an album, the Heartbeart City video album.
"You Might Think" is by far the Cars' masterpiece, being one of the most popular Cars songs of all time, as well as one of the most advanced videos ever made. Directed by Jeff Stein, combined blue screen technology and computer animation to create one surrealistic image after another.
The video features model Susan Gallagher as the girl Ric is constantly trying to impress as he appears everywhere as a hanger, a lipstick, a fly, and a clock, not to mention looking for her through a periscope in her bathtub and stepping into her prom picture. In the meantime, the rest of the band appears playing on a bar of soap and in the medicine cabinet. The story finally closes with Ric as the fly splattering onto the screen to spell out the words "The End," making it an appropriate ending video for the "Heartbeat City" video album. "You Might Think" became an instant classic after receiving the highest honor at MTV's first annual music awards: "Video of the Year." Other prestigious awards followed including first prize at the International Music Video Festival. Probably the only Cars video shown anymore on VH-1, it's a standard on 80's-themed specials.
The Cars' next video, "Magic" was directed by Briton Tim Pope, and has become a summtertime classic. In it, the Cars give a pool party for bunch of crazy characters who seem to be followers of Ric who plays a faith healer who can walk on water. As they all try to catch a glimpse of him and hope that some of his powers will rub off on them, Ric makes his way out ito the middle of the pool and when they try to follow, they all fall in. During filming, Ric admitted, "It was a bit hard to walk upon that water. I thought I was going to fall in." Complete with a longer beginning than VH-1 ever showed, "Magic" is another classic on the "Heartbeat City" video album.
"Hello Again," The Cars next video, was their strangest, being directed by modern artist, Andy Warhol. Best known for his "Campbell's Soup Cans" and "Coca-Cola Bottles," Andy was asked to direct a Cars video by Ric Ocasek who then asked Andy which video he wanted to work on. He chose "Hello Again," which became a video that is a work of modern art with an image different from any other Cars video. Everything about the video was weird. The word "hello" was seen everywhere - on earrings, a plate of Jell-O, and people (don't ask where!). It was filmed in the Be-Bop Cafe where Andy played the bartender and the place was filled with unusual people, both men and women, and even a snake named Delilah! The Cars pop in and out of scenes including showing Ric as a switchboard operator.
Andy Warhol's famous short film, "The Kiss" is even interpreted in the background, this version (featuring Ben getting very intimate with his co-star) using the camera as more of a participant than just a bystander. This fit right in with the material in the reedited version of "Hello Again" which was only available on the "Heartbeat City" video album, containing footage that not even MTV could show (well, at least not back then) as well as other images including a bouncing tire. MTV also produced a documentary on the making of "Hello Again" which can be found at the end of the video album.
Mentions of this video can be found in the recently-published collection, "The Andy Warhol Diaries," edited by Pat Hackett, copyright 1991. Several other entries also refer to Ric Ocasek dating from 1980 through 1986. Subjects include Andy's first meeting with Ric and Ric's relationship with Paulina Porizkova at the time.
The video for "Drive," created an ever deeper, darker image that the already emotional song. It was directed by Timothy Hutton, and took place in a mental institution with Ric's now-wife, Paulina Porizkova, going insane. Ben sings and narrates the story while Paulina goes through several mood swings including one brought on by an argumant with Ric who playes her lover. Not actually heard in the video, VH-1's Pop-Up Video revealed the improvised dialog between Ric and Paulina. Ric: "Why did you say it in front of me?" Paulina: "Because they hollared at me, that's why!" Ric: "Don't worry if that's wrong." Paulina: "I didn't mean it!" "Drive" can be found on the "Heartbeat City" video album.
"Heartbeat City"
The video for the title track, which wasn't actually a single, isn't a true video either. The footage is taken from an actual Cars concert, which gives you a good idea of what it was like to attend one of their shows during the Heartbeat City tour.
The last video from "Heartbeat City" was an elegant and sad love ballad entitled "Why Can't I Have You?" It's a lovely video is extremely rare and can most likely only be seen on the "Heartbeat City" video album. Seen through blue and gray shadows, Ric stands off to the side, and as he sings, the woman he loves dances out of his life. In one scene, she steps on a pink rose, snapping it in half at the same moment Ric sings, "You're breaking my heart in two." The overall concept of this video tells the story of being in love with someone who doesnt love you back, and leaving you asking why. The atmosphere becomes even more mysterious as the rest of The Cars are seen through an oval window, almost appearing to play in slow motion.
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