They don't make'em like this anymore! Neither the song or the clip, it's something magical that only the 1980's could only bring it up and make it timeless, hilariously funny and great to watch even today. Sure, it was a different time, clips meant something back then but this has to be one the best works ever produced. And 30 years later, "Paul Simon: You Can Call Me Al" still impress with its outstanding qualities: simple idea, fast execution and some relevance. Comedy gold act starring Chevy Chase and Paul Simon, with Chase stealing the show from Simon while lip synching the song while Simon is only allowed to repeat the chorus and play several kinds of instruments throughout the video.
The song talks about a man having a midlife crisis asking his values and paths to follow, and the chorus comes from a real incident at a party Simon and his then wife Peggy Harper attended where a foreigner musician kept confusing the couple's name (he became Al and she became Betty). But in this particular case, what you see is more important (but the song is just perfect, with its mixture of rhythms, instruments and that funky bass in one small solo). The video, a concept created by Lorne Michaels, has Chase dubbing the song while Simon seems to play the man described in the song just waiting for his great chance to happen. Chase is hilarious in everything he does here, the minor jazz dance while Paul's singing is just priceless...but the act hits the grand moment when both start a choreography while playing the sax and the trumpet - gotta consider the small set they're in. Truly perfect.
Just to see how important this got: the song was part of Simon's album "Graceland", a landmark in his career and this single was his most successful effort from the solo career, and the album sold big despite the controversy about South Africa. And the partnership between Simon and Chase was good enough to secure another clip a few years later, "Proof" also starring Steve Martin (but that clip doesn't have a page here). Watch it, you won't regret it. 10/10