Patrick Bateman's Love For Huey Lewis And The News

Hey guys, let's dive deep into the twisted world of Patrick Bateman and his peculiar obsession with Huey Lewis and the News. If you've seen American Psycho, you know that Bateman, the ultra-wealthy investment banker, is a complex character with a penchant for designer suits, impeccable grooming, and, of course, the music of Huey Lewis and the News. But why this band? Why does this seemingly shallow man find such profound meaning in their music? Let's unpack it all, shall we?

The Surface Level: Status and Conformity

First off, let's be real, Bateman is all about appearances. Everything in his life is meticulously curated to project an image of success, wealth, and belonging. Huey Lewis and the News, in the 1980s, were the epitome of mainstream success. They were everywhere – on the radio, on MTV, and in the movies. Their music represented a certain aspirational lifestyle, one that Bateman desperately craved to be a part of. The band’s polished, upbeat sound was the soundtrack to the yuppie era, a time of conspicuous consumption and social climbing. By liking Huey Lewis and the News, Bateman wasn't just enjoying the music; he was signaling his membership in an exclusive club, a world of power and privilege. Think about it: listening to Huey Lewis was a status symbol, a way of saying, "I'm one of you." It was a form of conformity, a way to blend in with the crowd of wealthy, successful men he desperately wanted to emulate. The meticulous care he takes in selecting the perfect music, the precise way he describes the band's work, reflects his dedication to maintaining this facade of normalcy and success. This isn't just about liking a band; it's about the performance of liking a band. It's about presenting the right image to the world, a world where the details matter, and where even musical taste can be a tool for social climbing. It's like a finely tailored suit, an expensive watch, or a perfectly manicured lawn – it's all part of the package. His apartment, his business cards, and even his choice of breakfast are meticulously planned to project an image of effortless perfection. Similarly, his musical taste is another layer in this carefully constructed persona.

Bateman's love for Huey Lewis and the News also reflects his need for control. The band’s music is predictable, clean, and perfectly crafted. It doesn't challenge, it doesn't disturb. It's the musical equivalent of his sterile, high-end apartment or his perfectly bland meals. It's safe. It's controlled. And in a world where Bateman feels increasingly out of control, where his sanity is unraveling, the music provides a sense of order and predictability. In his world, chaos and unpredictability threaten to expose the darkness within him. Huey Lewis and the News offer a comforting predictability. The structure of their songs, the familiar melodies, the upbeat rhythms – all of these elements contribute to a sense of order. This predictability becomes a source of comfort, a safe haven from the turmoil within his own mind. He finds solace in the familiar, a place where he can temporarily escape the horrors of his own actions and the anxieties of his existence. He's not just listening to the music; he's using it as a coping mechanism. The music, in a way, is a soundtrack to his meticulously constructed world, a world where everything is in its place and where appearances are everything. This obsession with control is evident in other aspects of his life as well. He is obsessed with his appearance, his possessions, and his routines. The music of Huey Lewis and the News, with its predictable structure and polished production, fits perfectly into this obsession.

Going Deeper: The Irony and Satire

Now, let's get into the layers of the onion, the really interesting stuff. American Psycho is a biting satire of the 1980s, and Bateman's obsession with Huey Lewis and the News is a key part of that satire. The film and the book use the band's music to highlight the shallowness and superficiality of Bateman's world. It's all about the contrast, you see? The music is upbeat, positive, and full of energy, while Bateman's inner world is dark, violent, and utterly devoid of genuine emotion. The irony is, of course, that Bateman’s appreciation of the band is superficial, just like his appreciation for everything else in his life. He doesn't connect with the music on a deep, emotional level; he appreciates it for its aesthetic qualities, for its production value, for its ability to impress. This is where the satire comes in. The movie and the book use the band's music to expose the emptiness at the heart of Bateman's existence. The contrast between the music's cheerful optimism and Bateman's dark actions is jarring, creating a sense of unease and discomfort in the audience. It’s a way of saying, “Look at this guy, obsessed with surface-level things while completely ignoring the moral implications of his actions.” The humor of it comes from the juxtaposition of the banal with the brutal.

The author, Bret Easton Ellis, cleverly uses the music as a tool to reveal Bateman's utter lack of empathy and emotional depth. He focuses on the technical aspects of the music, like the production quality or the specific instruments used, rather than the emotional impact of the songs. This focus on the superficial details is a reflection of Bateman's own superficiality. He's more interested in the brand name of a product or the texture of a fabric than in the genuine human experience. For him, life is a performance, and the music of Huey Lewis and the News is just another prop in his carefully constructed play. Think about the scene where Bateman analyzes the band's work in excruciating detail; it’s both hilarious and chilling. The author makes it clear that Bateman doesn't actually understand or care about the music; he simply uses it to impress and to maintain his carefully constructed facade. The humor is derived from the ridiculousness of the situation, while the underlying darkness highlights the emptiness of his soul.

The Music as a Mask

Let’s be honest, the music of Huey Lewis and the News acts as a mask, hiding the monster within. Bateman is a walking contradiction: a man who enjoys the cheerful sounds of the band while engaging in horrific acts of violence. The music is a veneer, a facade that he uses to conceal his true nature. It provides a sense of normalcy, a way for him to blend in and appear like a regular guy, even as he's planning or carrying out the most unspeakable deeds. He uses the music to distance himself from his actions, to create a sense of detachment. The contrast between the band's upbeat music and Bateman's dark deeds highlights his descent into madness and moral depravity. The band's music creates a disorienting effect, because it juxtaposes the pleasant sound of the band with the horrible violence Bateman carries out in the novel. The use of this musical contrast underscores the novel's satirical intent by highlighting the emptiness, superficiality, and moral bankruptcy of the consumerist culture that Bateman inhabits. The music provides a layer of comfort to his psyche. It's a way for him to create a sense of order in his mind, providing him with a structured pattern he can focus on while doing the horrible acts he does. The band’s music becomes a kind of refuge for him, an escape from his own dark impulses.

The music becomes a part of the everyday routine. For Bateman, everything is a ritual, including his appreciation for Huey Lewis and the News. He listens to the music while getting ready in the morning, while exercising, and even while committing acts of violence. The music is present at almost every pivotal moment in the movie, demonstrating how integrated it is into his life. This integration creates a disturbing effect, highlighting the disconnect between the mundane and the monstrous. The music serves as a backdrop, a soundtrack to his descent into madness. It’s like he's trying to normalize his behavior, to convince himself that he's just like everyone else. The band’s music is a way for him to maintain this false sense of normalcy, to create a world where everything is just fine, even though it's anything but.

The Broader Cultural Significance

Now, let's talk about the bigger picture. Bateman's obsession with Huey Lewis and the News isn’t just a character quirk; it's a commentary on the culture of the 1980s. The band’s music, as we've said, was incredibly popular during this era, and they represented the values of the time: materialism, consumerism, and superficiality. Their music was polished, catchy, and designed to appeal to the masses. It's all about appearances, baby! The author uses the band to expose the emptiness and superficiality of the yuppie culture. The music is a symbol of the superficial values that drive Bateman and his peers. In a world obsessed with material possessions and social status, the music of Huey Lewis and the News becomes a symbol of the superficiality of the time. The band’s music becomes a metaphor for the culture itself – a shiny, polished surface that hides a deep moral void.

The band's music also reflects the pervasive sense of conformity that characterized the 1980s. Everyone wanted to be the same, to fit in, to achieve the same level of success and wealth. The music of Huey Lewis and the News, with its upbeat melodies and catchy lyrics, was the perfect soundtrack for this era of conformity. By choosing this band, Bateman is not just expressing his musical preferences; he’s also signaling his membership in the dominant cultural group. The music reinforces the themes of consumerism, materialism, and the pursuit of status that permeate the novel. The music highlights the cultural obsession with appearances and the pursuit of success. In the book and the movie, Bateman is obsessed with material possessions and social status. The band’s music becomes a metaphor for the superficiality of the time, where everyone is focused on wealth and success at the expense of genuine human connection and moral values.

Conclusion: More Than Just a Band

So, guys, what's the takeaway? Patrick Bateman’s obsession with Huey Lewis and the News is far more than just a musical preference; it's a window into his soul. It’s a tool for social climbing, a mask for his inner darkness, and a satirical commentary on the culture of the 1980s. The band’s music represents status, conformity, and control, all of which are essential to Bateman’s carefully constructed persona. The music highlights the emptiness and superficiality of his world, where appearances are everything, and where genuine emotion is a foreign concept. It’s a reflection of his own inner turmoil and his inability to connect with the world in a meaningful way.

Whether you're a fan of American Psycho, or a casual listener, the next time you hear a Huey Lewis and the News song, remember the dark depths of Patrick Bateman's mind. And who knows, you might just see the music in a whole new light. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go return some videotapes… and maybe listen to some Huey Lewis and the News. Just kidding… or am I?