Tuesday, March 23, 2021

Song of the Day: 'Hello Again' by the Cars


Who remembers this should-be classic Cars video? Co-directed by Andy Warhol and Don Munroe and featuring downtown "it" girl Diane Brill, John Sex (with pet boa constrictor), a young Gina Gershon and Warhol assistant Benjamin Liu in drag (as Ming Vauze) -- and Andy himself as the bartender -- "Hello Again" just might be the most quintessentially mid-80s New York City video of all time! 


This entry from "The Andy Warhol Diaries" confirms it was as big an ordeal for the Pop artist as you would expect -- and that he likely had nothing to do with the actual directing (natch!):

March 29, 1984
It was raining and snowing out and this was the day we had to film all day doing the Cars video for their song “Hello Again” at the Be-Bop Cafe on 8th Street. Benjamin [Liu] came in drag to pick me up for shooting. He was going to be in it, too. 

I had to be a bartender and wear a tux. The crowd of extras looked like the old Factory days -- Benjamin in drag, and a bald-headed mine in a Pierrot outfit, and John Sex with this snake. And then there was Dianne Brill with her big tits and hourglass figure. The Cars were cute. 

They finally got to my part at 8:00 and I had to sing a song but I couldn’t remember the words. And I had to mix a drink while I was doing it, and with my contacts on I couldn’t see the Coke button on the soda dispenser. 

And that meant being face to face with the Cars for a while, and it was hard to talk to them. I didn’t know what to say. I finished at 9:15. One of the kids gave me a ride home.

If anyone knows who the guy with tits as big as Dianne's is, please let get in touch!


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