This week’s music video is one of my all-time favorites and, hands down, my favorite 80s song. If you look at my iTunes most listened-to songs, “The Boys of Summer” does battle with Depeche Mode’s “People Are People” and The Police’s “King of Pain” for the top spot.
“The Boys of Summer” is performed by former Eagles drummer Don Henley. The soft rock, melancholy tune was the lead single from his second solo album, “Building the Perfect Beast.” The 1984 LP was a big hit upon release and spawned a second hit, “All She Wants to do is Dance.”
The video for “The Boys of Summer” made a big splash and received heavy airplay on MTV, introducing Henley’s unique rock sound to a new generation of fans. The clip was directed by Jean-Baptiste Mondino, who also directed Madonna’s “Open Your Heart” video in 1986. The clip has a French new wave influence, shot in stark black and white with Don Henley riding around the beach in the back of a pickup truck. It perfectly visualizes the haunting melody and influenced many future music videos. And it even won the Video of the Year trophy at the 1985 MTV Music Video Music Awards, back when that show was respectable and worth something.
Watch the Music Video below and let me know your thoughts in the comments.