Hip to Be Square
Encyclopedia
"Hip to Be Square" is a song by Huey Lewis and the News
, written by Bill Gibson, Sean Hopper, and Huey Lewis
, and released in 1986 as the second single from the multi-platinum album, Fore!
. The song features Pro Football Hall of Fame
rs and then-San Francisco 49ers
Joe Montana
and Ronnie Lott
singing backup vocals. The single reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100
. In concert, Huey Lewis now normally sings the song as "(Too) Hip to Be Square", as performed on their live album, Live at 25
.
when the main character, Patrick Bateman, provides a lengthy critique of Huey Lewis and the News' career.
The song was then featured in the film adaptation
during a scene in which Bateman (played by Christian Bale
) gives an abridged version of his critique from the novel to Paul Allen (Jared Leto
):
Immediately afterward, Bateman brutally murders Allen with an axe before casually smoking a cigar. It was originally featured on the accompanying soundtrack, but shortly after it was released, the album was pulled from the shelves and the song was removed before being reissued, but a small number had already been sold. Reports suggested that Huey Lewis had objected to the context in which his song was used in the film and demanded it be removed from the album. In reality, the film's production team had paid for the rights to use the song in the film, but overlooked receiving the rights to include it on the soundtrack. When the soundtrack was released with the song on it, Huey Lewis had it withdrawn, as the soundtrack rights had not been secured.
12-inch single
Huey Lewis and the News
Huey Lewis and the News is an American rock band based in San Francisco, California. They had a run of hit singles during the 1980s and early 1990s, eventually scoring a total of 19 top-ten singles across the Billboard Hot 100, Adult Contemporary and Mainstream Rock charts...
, written by Bill Gibson, Sean Hopper, and Huey Lewis
Huey Lewis
Huey Lewis is an American musician, songwriter and occasional actor.Lewis sings lead and plays harmonica for his band Huey Lewis and the News, in addition to writing or co-writing many of the band's songs...
, and released in 1986 as the second single from the multi-platinum album, Fore!
Fore!
Fore! is the fourth album by American rock band Huey Lewis and the News, released in 1986 . The album hit number one on the Billboard 200 album chart and contained five top-ten Billboard Hot 100 singles, including the number-one hits: "Stuck with You" and "Jacob's Ladder."- Album cover :The wall...
. The song features Pro Football Hall of Fame
Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
rs and then-San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
Joe Montana
Joe Montana
Joseph Clifford "Joe" Montana, Jr. , nicknamed Joe Cool, Golden Joe, The Golden Great and Comeback Joe, is a retired American football player. Montana started his NFL career in 1979 with the San Francisco 49ers, where he played quarterback for the next 14 seasons...
and Ronnie Lott
Ronnie Lott
Ronald Mandel "Ronnie" Lott is a former American football player who starred as a cornerback, free safety, and strong safety in college football and the NFL. He is most well known for his crushing hits on opposing players...
singing backup vocals. The single reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
. In concert, Huey Lewis now normally sings the song as "(Too) Hip to Be Square", as performed on their live album, Live at 25
Live at 25
Live at 25 is a live album by Huey Lewis and the News celebrating the 25 year anniversary since the band's formation in 1980. The performance was recorded December 2004 in the band's home turf of Northern California and was released along with a separate Live at 25 DVD in 2005 by Rhino Records...
.
Appearance in American Psycho
The song is referred to in the novel American PsychoAmerican Psycho
American Psycho is a psychological thriller and satirical novel by Bret Easton Ellis, published in 1991. The story is told in the first person by the protagonist, serial killer and Manhattan businessman Patrick Bateman. The book's graphic violence and sexual content generated a great deal of...
when the main character, Patrick Bateman, provides a lengthy critique of Huey Lewis and the News' career.
The song was then featured in the film adaptation
American Psycho (film)
American Psycho is a 2000 cult thriller film directed by Mary Harron based on Bret Easton Ellis's novel of the same name. Though predominantly a psycho thriller, the film also blends elements of horror, satire, and black comedy...
during a scene in which Bateman (played by Christian Bale
Christian Bale
Christian Charles Philip Bale is an English actor. Best known for his roles in American films, Bale has starred in both big budget Hollywood films and the smaller projects from independent producers and art houses....
) gives an abridged version of his critique from the novel to Paul Allen (Jared Leto
Jared Leto
Jared Joseph Leto is an American actor, director, producer, occasional model and musician. Leto has appeared in both big budget Hollywood films and smaller projects from independent producers and art houses. He rose to prominence for playing Jordan Catalano in the teenage drama My So-Called Life...
):
Immediately afterward, Bateman brutally murders Allen with an axe before casually smoking a cigar. It was originally featured on the accompanying soundtrack, but shortly after it was released, the album was pulled from the shelves and the song was removed before being reissued, but a small number had already been sold. Reports suggested that Huey Lewis had objected to the context in which his song was used in the film and demanded it be removed from the album. In reality, the film's production team had paid for the rights to use the song in the film, but overlooked receiving the rights to include it on the soundtrack. When the soundtrack was released with the song on it, Huey Lewis had it withdrawn, as the soundtrack rights had not been secured.
Appearances
- The song was adapted on Sesame StreetSesame StreetSesame Street has undergone significant changes in its history. According to writer Michael Davis, by the mid-1970s the show had become "an American institution". The cast and crew expanded during this time, including the hiring of women in the crew and additional minorities in the cast. The...
in a song entitled "It's Hip to Be a Square", whose first verse was designed to teach kids the different shapes, and the second verse celebrates diversity.
Track listing
7-inch single- "Hip to Be Square"
- "Some of My Lies Are True" (Remix)
12-inch single
- Remixed by Shep PettiboneShep PettiboneRobert E. Pettibone, Jr. is a record producer, remixer, songwriter and club DJ, one of the most prolific of the 1980s. His earliest work known to the public was for one of New York City's top disco/dance radio stations, WRKS 98.7 "Kiss" FM, and later as remixer/producer for the disco label Salsoul...
- "Hip to Be Square" (Dance remix) – 6:05
- "Hip to Be Square" (Dub mix) – 5:11
Charts
| Chart (1986) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia ARIA Charts | 17 |
| Canadian Singles Chart | 14 |
| Dutch Singles Chart | 28 |
| Irish Singles Chart | 29 |
| New Zealand Singles Chart | 9 |
| UK Singles Chart | 41 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 3 |
| U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary Tracks | 20 |
| U.S. Billboard Album Rock Tracks | 1 |
See also
- List of number-one mainstream rock hits (United States)