Tag Archives: Randy Newman

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Song of the Day #1,047: ‘Memo to My Son’ – Randy Newman

In 1972, Randy Newman released Sail Away, his most enduring masterpiece. He’s done some amazing work in the 40 years since, but I can’t say he’s ever topped it.

The title track sets the stage beautifully. Against a majestic piano tune and soaring strings, Newman sings America’s praises from the perspective of a slave trader. “Ain’t no lions or tigers ain’t no mamba snake, just the sweet watermelon and the buckwheat cake.
Everybody is as happy as a man can be. Climb aboard little wog, sail away with me.”

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Song of the Day #1,046: ‘Rosemary’ – Randy Newman

Of the artists I hold most dear, Randy Newman has gotten the least exposure on the blog to date. I’ve featured only three of his songs over the past few years.

I plan to remedy that over the next two weeks.

Initially I planned to do a traditional 5-day theme week on Newman, but in combing through his albums I was struck by how well he conveys such disparate moods and emotions. Deeply felt, earnest love songs sit next to scathing, cynical diatribes and it’s all quintessentially Randy Newman.

So I’ve decided to showcase that range by presenting one week of sensitive Newman followed by a week of acerbic Newman.

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Song of the Day #545: ‘Shame’ – Randy Newman

And now for something completely different. I’ll back off the country for a bit here and turn my attention to a New Orleans jazz man… the fabulous Randy Newman.

Any legitimate list of great songwriters would have to have Randy Newman right up near the top not only for his excellence but for his versatility. This is a man who has written chart-topping pop songs for Dusty Springfield and Three Dog Night, music both fun and touching for children’s movies from Toy Story to The Princess and the Frog, biting satire about religion and politics and incredibly heartfelt love songs. Most songwriters would kill to be able to do just one of those things well.

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Song of the Day #173: ‘A Few Words in Defense of Our Country’ – Randy Newman

newman2Ten Best Songs of 2008 – #9

A full nine years after his last studio album, Randy Newman provided a breath of fresh air in 2008 with his excellent Harps & Angels. Blending his caustic wit and gift for irony with a few very tender moments, he delivered an album even better than 1999’s Bad Love and on par with his great 70s work.

Harps & Angels contains many great songs, but I was most delighted by his summation of the Bush years, ‘A Few Words in Defense of Our Country.’ Having spent the entire Bush administration off the record, so to speak, Newman manages to express his disgust and dismay in a few short minutes.

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Song of the Day #161: ‘Feels Like Home’ – Randy Newman

randynewmanGoing back to yesterday’s thought on simplicity ruling when it comes to love songs, here’s a fabulous love song by Randy Newman, a songwriter known more for caustic irony than wearing his heart on his sleeve. And that’s one reason this song works so well.

The theme here is similar to that of Billy Joel’s early tune ‘You’re My Home’ — the idea that “home” has more to do with the who than the where. I guess it’s a pretty obvious sentiment, but still a sweet one.

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