Short People
| "Short People" | ||
|---|---|---|
| Single by Randy Newman | ||
| from the album Little Criminals | ||
| B-side | "Old Man On The Farm" | |
| Released | 1977 | |
| Format | 7" Single | |
| Genre | Rock | |
| Length | 2:54 | |
| Label | Warner Bros. | |
| Writer(s) | Randy Newman | |
| Producer | Lenny Waronker, Russ Titelman | |
| [Bridge vocal by Glenn Frey]
|
||
"Short People" is a song by Randy Newman from his 1977 album Little Criminals. The verses and chorus are lyrically constructed as a pointed attack on the short. The bridge (sung by Glenn Frey), in contrast, states "short people are just the same as you and I." Newman interprets the song to be about "prejudice", as was widely thought, but added that it was "about a lunatic". As with many of his songs, such as "Rednecks", Newman wrote the song from the point of view of a biased narrator. Like Dire Straits' 1985 hit single "Money for Nothing" which used the same lyrical technique, the song was misunderstood by many listeners, who wrongly assumed that it reflected the performer's personal viewpoint.
Newman would later grow to dislike the song and its success, eventually calling it a "bad break", a "novelty record like The Chipmunks", and said it caused him to receive several threats regarding its misinterpreted message.[1] However, it ended up being included in almost every one of his greatest hits albums.[2]
Although Newman had never charted a single before, and his previous album Good Old Boys had been his first to reach the Billboard Top 150, "Short People" soon gained attention as a novelty song. The song consequently became a major hit on radio, staying at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and being only kept from reaching number one by Player's "Baby Come Back" and the Bee Gees's "Stayin' Alive". It follows a basic musical formula, with bass and drums centering on Newman's catchy pop piano line in the key of A.[3] A small brass section and an electric guitar occasionally rise into the mix.
In 1978, legislation was introduced in the state of Maryland to make it illegal to play "Short People" on the radio. Contrary to popular myth, the vote count was short and the bill did not pass.[4]
Appearances in popular culture [edit]
The song was performed by actor James Coco on a 1978 episode of The Muppet Show. A MADtv sketch parodying Newman's songwriting abilities also made references to the song.
In the film Semi-Pro, Will Ferrell sings the song on the bus. It is also featured in the 1994 feature-length adaptation of The Little Rascals, Chipmunks Go to the Movies episode "Funny We Shrunk the Adults" and in the Ally McBeal episode "Boy to the World".
This song is heard on a Toy Story sing-along cassette tape[5] (Newman composed the score to the film).
The song is mistakenly mentioned as one of Michael Scott's favorite Bruce Springsteen songs in US version of the The Office episode "Crime Aid," however, it is comically implied the character of Michael Scott does not realize this is not a Bruce Springsteen song. In 2009, the song was parodied by conservative political satirist Paul Shanklin as "Old People" with Shanklin doing a voice impersonation of American President Barack Obama on the health care reform debate in the United States.
Andrew Hansen, an Australian satirical comedian, also performed this song on the comedy show Good News Week. Initially in the show he disclaimed the lyrics stating that he didn't hate short people—it was Randy Newman's lyrics (a reference to a skit he earlier participated in that questioned the legitimacy of charities for sick children and caused him, and his group The Chaser, to be temporarily suspended from television). Later in the show he performed the song again with his own lyrics referring to Adolf Hitler, Centrelink and popular television personalities including the show's host Paul McDermott.[6]
The Cleveland Show featured the song in the episode "A Short Story and a Tall Tale".
The song was used in a good-humored, self-referential manner by Thomas Quasthoff, the great classical and jazz singer marked with heavy birth defects.
The song appears in an episode of The Simpsons in its 22nd season.
References [edit]
- ^ Zitz, Michael (2003-09-18). "Songwriter Randy Newman hates his 'Short People'". Fredericksburg.com. Retrieved 2012-04-17.
- ^ "Best of Randy Newman: Randy Newman: Music". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2012-04-17.
- ^ [1][dead link]
- ^ "Randy Newman Sells Himself Short". Spinner.com. 2008-09-12. Retrieved 2012-04-17.
- ^ "Disney's Toy Story Sing-alongs". Retrieved 2012-11-21.
- ^ "The Fantastic Leslie—Short People". YouTube. 2011-06-14. Retrieved 2012-04-17.
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