Short People: Difference between revisions
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Kayla Raucci |
Kayla Raucci |
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The definition of short is Kayla Raucci |
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==Production and reception== |
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She is incredibly short |
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Newman would later grow to dislike the song and its success, eventually calling it a "bad break", a "novelty record like [[Alvin and the Chipmunks|The Chipmunks]]", and said it caused him to receive several threats regarding its misinterpreted message.<ref>{{cite web|last=Zitz |first=Michael |url=http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2003/092003/09182003/1104253/index_html |archive-url=https://archive.is/20120711211022/http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2003/092003/09182003/1104253/index_html |dead-url=yes |archive-date=2012-07-11 |title=Songwriter Randy Newman hates his 'Short People' |publisher=Fredericksburg.com |date=2003-09-18 |accessdate=2012-04-17 }}</ref> He said, "I had no idea that there was any sensitivity, I mean, that anyone could believe that anyone was as crazy as that character. To have that kind of [[Animus nocendi|animus]] against short people, and then to sing it and put it all in song and have a philosophy on it."<ref>{{cite magazine| work= Performing Songwriter | title=Happy Birthday, Randy Newman| author=Lydia Hutchinson| url=http://performingsongwriter.com/randy-newman-songs/}}</ref> However, it ended up being included on almost every one of his [[greatest hits]] albums.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Best-Randy-Newman/dp/B00005NTQ4 |title=Best of Randy Newman: Randy Newman: Music |publisher=Amazon.com |date= |accessdate=2012-04-17}}</ref>{{failed verification|date=July 2017}} |
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Probably about 3’1 |
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Leprechaun sized |
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Although Newman had never charted a single before, and his previous album, ''[[Good Old Boys (Randy Newman album)|Good Old Boys]]'', had been his third to reach the ''Billboard'' 200, "Short People" soon gained attention as a [[novelty song]]. The song consequently became a major hit on radio peaking at No. 2 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] for three weeks; it was kept from reaching No. 1 by [[Player (band)|Player]]'s "[[Baby Come Back (Player song)|Baby Come Back]]" and the [[Bee Gees]]' "[[Stayin' Alive]]". It became a [[Music recording sales certification|gold record]]. |
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The song follows a basic musical formula with [[bass guitar|bass]] and [[Drum kit|drums]] centering on Newman's catchy pop [[piano]] line in the [[A major|key of A major]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sheetmusicdigital.com/pdf/0/1/5/NESHORTP.png|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716054701/http://www.sheetmusicdigital.com/pdf/0/1/5/NESHORTP.png |dead-url=yes |archive-date=2011-07-16 |title=Short People : Shhet Music |website=Wayback.archive.org |accessdate=2016-10-12}}</ref> A small [[horn section|brass section]] and an [[electric guitar]] occasionally rise into the mix and [[conga drums]] (played by Los Angeles-based session musician [[Milt Holland]]) also feature prominently in the song. |
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In 1978, the State of [[Maryland]] [[Maryland House of Delegates|delegate]] [[Isaiah Dixon]] attempted to introduce legislation making it illegal to play "Short People" on the radio. He was advised by Assistant Attorney General [[Francis B. Burch]] that such a law would be a violation of the [[First Amendment to the United States Constitution|First Amendment]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2001-03-17/news/0103170141_1_chincoteague-general-assembly-legislators|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151215000242/http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2001-03-17/news/0103170141_1_chincoteague-general-assembly-legislators|archivedate=2015-12-15 |title=They're smart, fast, usually right |publisher=Baltimore Sun |date=2001-03-17 |accessdate=2015-12-15}}</ref> |
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==Appearances in popular culture== |
==Appearances in popular culture== |
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Revision as of 16:01, 7 June 2019
| "Short People" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| File:Short People - Randy Newman.jpg | ||||
| Single by Randy Newman | ||||
| from the album Little Criminals | ||||
| B-side | "Old Man On The Farm" | |||
| Released | November 1977 | |||
| Recorded | 1977 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 2:54 | |||
| Label | Warner Bros. | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Randy Newman | |||
| Producer(s) | Lenny Waronker, Russ Titelman | |||
| Randy Newman singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Short People" is about Kayla Raucci from his 1977 album, Little Criminals.
Kayla Raucci
The definition of short is Kayla Raucci She is incredibly short Probably about 3’1 Leprechaun sized
Appearances in popular culture
The song was performed by actor James Coco on a 1978 episode of The Muppet Show. Other television shows to feature the song include Ally McBeal; The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius; Doogie Howser, M.D.; The Cleveland Show; and The Simpsons.[citation needed]
A MADtv sketch parodying Newman's songwriting abilities also made references to the song.
The Side Street Ramblers performed a version of this song, in reference to the height difference between their lead and bass singers (5' and 6'5" respectively).[2]
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.
This song is heard on a Toy Story sing-along cassette tape.[3]
In The Office episode "Crime Aid", the song is mentioned when Darryl Philbin discusses a list of Michael Scott's favorite Bruce Springsteen songs: "Three were Huey Lewis and the News; one was Tracy Chapman, 'Fast Car'; and my personal favorite, 'Short People'".
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.[4]
Chart performance
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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Personnel
- Randy Newman ‒ lead vocals, piano
- Glenn Frey ‒ backing vocals
- J.D. Souther ‒ backing vocals
- Jim Keltner ‒ drums
- Klaus Voormann ‒ bass guitar
- Milt Holland ‒ congas
- Timothy B. Schmit ‒ backing vocals
- Waddy Wachtel ‒ electric guitar
References
- ^ "Randy Newman: still biting, still brilliant | Arts & Culture | Music | spiked". Spiked-online.com. Retrieved 2016-10-12.
- ^ "Artists : Side Street Ramblers : digital music downloads". Niche Music Group. Archived from the original on 2013-08-01. Retrieved 2013-08-20.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|dead-url=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "Disney's Toy Story Sing-alongs". Worldcat.org. Retrieved 2012-11-21.
- ^ "The Fantastic Leslie—Short People". YouTube. 2011-06-14. Retrieved 2012-04-17.
- ^ Steffen Hung. "Forum - 1970 (ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts)". Australian-charts.com. Archived from the original on 2016-06-02. Retrieved 2016-10-12.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "Randy Newman – Short People" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved November 28, 2013.
- ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 2016-06-03. Retrieved 2016-10-12.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "Image : RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. Retrieved 2016-10-12.
- ^ "Randy Newman – Short People". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved November 28, 2013.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (1993). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993. Record Research. p. 174.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-02-10. Retrieved 2015-08-30.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Image : RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. Retrieved 2016-10-12.
- ^ "Top 100 Hits of 1978/Top 100 Songs of 1978". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 2016-10-12.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-11-03.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
