Randy Newman - Birmingham

[lutherlabs]

Wonderful piano playing

[rockandrollmcdonalds]

this is some good music, i live in b'ham, and i ve lived there my whole life, and this song is the shit

[Constitutionrulz]

@rockandrollmcdonalds Same here. This song is bad ass

[boogiebabe67]

Loved this song when I first heard it way back in '75, still love it today. "Good Ole Boys" is a frank, insightful look at what life was like in the south; I mean, just listen to "Rednecks" and you get the whole picture. Still folks driving around in their F-150's today with the Confederate flag in their rear window.

[RvE15021985]

get em dan!

[KellyTmusically]

decided to try this great song on guitar, go easy on me now randy :)

[nc177954]

HBO Breaking the Huddle

[michel031257]

Love all his songs about american towns - but this one's definetely the best!

[sxrider4700]

love how ppl perceive the state negatively, especially when most have never lived nor stayd here for any amount of time. /ive been many places and Alabama i can honestly say is the only one of them ill ever call home..

[nocajun1981]

@sxrider4700 I live in New Orleans now born and raised. Graduated from Auburn in 2000. Went to Mitchell Lake in 1998 and fell in love w/it. So much I bought a house there.

[diegozulloz]

if I will have a pet, i'll call him Randy.

[crazypianolady]

@diegozulloz I would, but in the UK not many people are called Randy. Partly because 'randy' has sexual connotations!

[poltronafrau]

GET 'EM DAN!

[girlsailor123]

he looks like a more built version of lennon here

[AuburnJunky]

Birmingham is okay, as long as you stay south, or in the middle. Otherwise, you'll get a hole in your shirt quick.

[theHardyMonster]

@AuburnJunky yeahhhhhh i can vouch for that one....stay in rural or its country parts

[dobiegee]

Brilliant as ever.

[kjallesoft]

Newman ,artist or not ,is the typical guy that hides from LIFE , like only belgian cops do. Herrr socilaistic UBERminsh from his secret position of unterminsh...(it's his gamelife is a game ) well well! ,

Newman is inspired and at least brings on songs thatwere worldly recognized as "with sense" The others only rise hell like only glorious bastard want. So it clearly appears, so it IS.

[waylander1978]

As much as I love this song I find it surreal becuase I live near Birmingham in England and it's a total shithole.

[subg88]

@waylander1978

I think he's talking about Birmingham, Alabama, another shit hole...lol.

[airbornes96]

@waylander1978 hes talking about alabama dumbshit

[airbornes96]

@waylander1978 hes talking about birmingham alabama not fruity england alabama best state in the world roll tide

[poltronafrau]

@airbornes96 "best state in the world"

hahahahhahaha.

[GreenDweeb]

I will always and have always argued that "good old boys" is the best album ever written.

[jstb0b]

Red headed lady reaching for an apple... gonna take a bite... uhh, nope nope... she gonna breath on it first... wipes it on her blouse... [pauses] She takes a bite... chews it once... twice... three times... four times... stops... Saliva working... takes a long hard look at ... Five times... oh her Fat ol' husband walkin' over.

Now they walkin' down the road... left foot, right foot, left foot, right foot, left foot

[hrothgleas]

My Uncle once called me 'homely.' I politely corrected him, and said that the correct term was 'unsightly.'

God bless Randy.

[gjc82071]

@hrothgleas "Butt ugly" works good too.

[hrothgleas]

@gjc82071 Now, that's just mean. Do you know 'Old Kentucky Home?'

Sister Sue was short and stout

She didn't grow up she grew out.

Papa says she's plain, but he's just being kind

Mama says she's purty but she's almost blind

And they don't let her out, except at night -

I don't care. I'm all right.

[Kiahsobyk]

Kind of makes you think, doesn't it? What would my life sound like if someone wasn't trying to make any points, wasn't being judgmental or poking fun...what would my life sound like if Randy Newman just delivered the facts in a song?

[GarageDoorMan55]

in my eyes. nobody makes the piano sing the way Randy Newman does, he was one of the biggest reasons i took up piano

[crazypianolady]

@GarageDoorMan55 Aww, that's wonderful. :-) Have you got his book to play his songs?

[GarageDoorMan55]

@crazypianolady no i have only recently taken up piano

[pandamoran]

Hey I have a black dog too but his names not Dan

[58telecaster]

One of top 5 songwriters IMO. Can command the best string sections. sidemen, etc. this country has to offer. He's one the most gifted arrangers EVER. Spent all my life in Alabama for the most part and 'Good Old Boys' came out when I was 16 and it is still one of my favorites. You almost have to be from the south.....pity if you don't get it. Sorry for your mental shortcomings idiotfullstop.

[CJ5m1th]

I'm 17 years old and I live in Birmingham, AL. Although just like anything else, It has its ups and it has its downs. There are not many rednecks, but there are a few. I really want to move to Oklahoma, but I'll probably want to move back though shortly after. haha

Sweet Home Alabama & Roll Tide Roll!

[oralboytoy]

retarded

[blues4life17]

well im from Birmingham, England... but ill just pretend:)

[davepunkrock1]

he should make a song about Birmingham UK

[g0tcadaver]

@davepunkrock1

Yeah but then the song would be sung negatively because England sucks.

[supaufo]

Love it so much...

[Mogggggpiano]

Interesting that Birmingham in England is seen in the same way.

[jam3s996]

@Mogggggpiano it is about birmingham in england he is an english singer

[Mogggggpiano]

@jam3s996 Hahahahah Very Funny!

[Bax2391]

@jam3s996 I think Randy Newman is from Los Angeles and grew up some in New Orleans. Also the song does say "greatest place in Alabam' " and last time I checked there isn't a square yard of soil in the UK called Alabama.

[rverne8]

I guess I am the lone deconstructionist here. Take the words as they come out of the singers mouth, experience them and then, pause. Pause a long time. Do not think you know of a hidden meaning. . there may not BE one! If associations come to mind, fine! There are many that could come to mind! And that is What The Singer intended to happen. End of the song.

[Gatsby999888]

@rverne8 How is that being a "deconstructionist"? You are a literalist.

[MoveOverCasanova]

"you can travel cross this entire land, there ain´t no place like birmingham" -

well, i never was in U.S.A., but knowing newman this can only be meant sarcastically,-

i guess birmingham is just a complete dull spot looking just the same like every

other with absolutely nothing special about it! right?

[hrothgleas]

@MoveOverCasanova Nope, the people there love it as dearly as any homefolks do.

It's like most of his songs, written fro the point of view of a character...

[MoveOverCasanova]

@hrothgleas

i didn´t say they don´t love it!

btw, at last it is always his point of view!

[hrothgleas]

@MoveOverCasanova Exactly. He writes from point of view of character.

[mj35063]

@MoveOverCasanova well Sir as many people think they have knowledge about every subject matter you sir are one of those . Tis better to be thought as a fool than to speak as one. Signed

Birmingham , Alabama USA

[Bubdylan524]

Heh. The irony here is so subverted that it's completely gone. We're left to import our own meanings. If you came to this song without knowing Randy Newman, you'd hear nothing but a brief, eccentric ode to the city of Birmingham. Nice melody, though, like always.

[leecaw]

This song...along with all of the others on Good Old Boys is about the salt of the earth...literally in a sense...low income whites of a southern persuasion that live, breathe, love, and die every day in obscurity

[guymontag1984]

are there videos of other performances from this set? its great to see him rock the sail away glasses. there's gotta be more...

[brevadude]

He meant it as ironic--it's a persona song...taking the persona of a cracker in B'ham, who's a bit oblivious to the racial strife and instead is an apologist for it. Also shows dichotomy of the South (or any place)--people feel pride even if they live in a trouble/complex place (Germans in Germany, Israelis in the West Bank, Irish in Londonderry, etc.).

[Catlovertea4]

Thank you. Best description I've heard yet. Makes the most sense.

I don't like that the clips jump immediately to another song. I just want this, alone. Is there another clip of him doing just this song?

[smck001]

Yes, the song is ironic in the dramatic sense - what is really being sung about is never expressed. Poor show with the 'Londonderry' all the same - the 'Irish' take no pride in that, I can assure you!

[bamadon]

@brevadude

I am inclined to disagree with you. I do not believe there is a "persona of a cracker in B'ham, etc.... " I believe that this song is indeed a tribute to "salt of the earth" types. This song was released in 1974 on the LP "Good Ole Boys", the first track of which includes the song "Rednecks", which is clearly an indictment of sanctimonious "northeners" who point fingers at "southerners" for being racists, while they themselves are just as guilty of racism....

[thekaje2]

@brevadude I'm not sure how I feel about Randy Newman in light of this. Birmingham can still be a great place loved by the people who lived there AND a site of racial conflict simultaneously. If he really meant this as some elaborate ironic commentary on "dumb ignorant rednecks" or "crackers," it really does no one any good. Why sit back and mock an entire group of people for their culture and habits? Is that any better than racism?

[ahomevideoonline]

@thekaje2 Now it is.

I am right

you are wrong

that's that

got it?

okay good.

[biggsaurora]

Some people criticize, "HOW CAN YOU MENTION BIRMINGHAM WITHOUT THE RACIAL TENSIONS!? Civil Rights Movement, Civil Rights Movement!"

I mean, yeah that was a big moment, but to the rest of the world Birmingham was a footnote in history, to Alabamians its more than just small period of time, the living, breathing, working, and dying of normal people there everyday far exceeds to our memory what happened forty something years ago.

[Catlovertea4]

I hear ya. Unfortunately, it is associated with the onset of the Civil Rights Movement. And who can ever get over the images implanted in our brains. And, we lived there 20 years later and the old guys gave my husband a hard time for being married to a "d____ yankee." oh well. I DO remember the folliage and rolling hills only in Birmingham. :)

[Catlovertea4]

Funny, I'm looking for some satire, but maybe I'm missing it. Seems he would not leave out the race riots of the 60s. The hosing down of people as if they're not. Maybe Randy is assuming the song will make you get real about the realities there.

Don't get me wrong, I lived there for a while and do believe it is beautiful indeed. All those rolling hills and lush foliage and lush life... but... well.. this is 2010.

[julianjulianjulian7]

birmingham is mah hometown :) fabulous song

[Tlaxcalianos]

does anyone recall a song by him , for a Bomb , he wanted to drop ??

[Catlovertea4]

@Tlaxcalianos - Yes - It's called, "Political Science" from his "Sail Away" album. Great piece.. too.

[TheAlonzoResistance]

@Tlaxcalianos Political Science.

[jaqmart]

What an artist - so many great songs. He looks handsome here.

[reaperpro]

I'm from Birmingham, I say its a good song.

[mlies0s]

<3 L.ove it.

[ac3san]

hes obviously never been to birmingham in the uk :)

[howdyimme]

birmingham, birmingham, the greatest city in alabama.

[marvy1118]

He's not really blind.

[fushheads]

@marvy1118 As Randy himself says, " You don't gotta be blind to be good at the Piano, but it helps."

-Source needed

[bondman70]

did he to the song in toy story? i think so haven't herd this voice in a while

[nelson4568]

sounds like it....i always thought he was black lol

[spratanpancake]

yea he did

[BananaBreadMakesMe]

0:00 . . . lol @ the camel toe.

[jenka933]

Theas noh plääs läk Bömingheeam!

[Jennirn2u]

I named my black Lab "Dan" strictly because of this song.

[MoveOverCasanova]

what a musician folks - i t all sounds like on the fair, and that´s the intention --

what lies beneath definitely astounds the musician

[2ct2wave]

Randy does a great job with this song, the original was written and preformed by the same guy that first made Dales marinade sauce(his first name was Dale I can't remember his last name). He owned a steak house in Birmingham AL a long time ago.

[Hoboscouts]

no he wrote this

[Hackettman84]

there aint no place like Birmingham England its a shithole lol Never been Birmingham Alabama though it has got to be nicer everything is nice lol

[derhalt1990]

god... if you know the "family guy"-version of andy newman, this is just hilarious :D:D

[ColbyAllison87]

I subscribe to Matt Stone and Trey Parker's evaluation of Family Guy: it sucks.

[derhalt1990]

So what?^^

[MacAndy555666]

...No

[luckyday11]

what you talkin bout? dere aint no place like New Orleans and dats a fakt Jaque!

[whackfoldeediedo]

LUVLEY

[JoshHarmon9043]

there's whiskey in a jar

[professor501]

My band and I play this tune quite often. One of Randy's best from one of his greatest albums!

[collierscourt]

Ain't no ham like Birmingham...great tune

[Hoboscouts]

what is that suppost to mean?

[garygareth]

Go on the randy;) go get emm;)

[jeffreyjennings]

Good Ole Boys......Ridin round Athens GA doin the school thing in '73 but no alligator shoes.......This album kept me alive and well into the 70's...Thank You Randy!!!

Thanks so much Randy!

[lekezenman]

"Earn my living with my hands"...defeitely not to be taken responsable for the bankers world meltdown down we defenitely seem to have to pay for!

Bernard

[AMUploadShow]

watch?v=qLCbP84OeVk

Enjoy :] Best thing since man invented the Cookie =D

[bo31411]

lol look at the shades, who does he think he is, Ray Charles?

[bo31411]

THAT'S RIGHT, I WENT THERE

[castlemedic]

Weak.

[bo31411]

RANDY NUMAN = GOD

[ampm91192]

but you dont spell god, dog

[bo31411]

i no rite?

[peagle1993]

ummmmm hi

[142maj]

good song!!!!!!

[lordwestoff]

this guy is wonderful

i love newman

[angelpenguin13]

lol my last name is newman lol

heehee

[Rugerman205]

Beautiful Song!

Randy Newman has always been so poetic with his songs. 205. Stand Up!

This is a favorite from Mr. Newman....this and I LOVE L.A.

[jaxon049]

Have always loved the lyrics in this song because being Alabama born and raised, I remember going to Birmingham in the 50's. It brings back memories of these days when the smoke from the steel mills covered the city and folks were kinder to one another.

[bapyou]

"My daddy was a barber;

he was a most unsightly man."

LOL

[bapyou]

He doesn't say "pauper", he says barber. The lyrics are printed directly on the sleeve of the LP. I've owned the album for three decades.

You can also look up the lyrics online.

[mute754]

left foot right foot

[greatidear]

'earn my living with my hand', what a wenker

[AUFORU10]

b-ham sucks now

[KittraKittra]

Good gawd almighty... I just can't get enough Randy Newman.

[calepie]

It IS the best Album all time! No.2 is "Super Session: Kooper Blooomfield, Stills"

"Sail Away" not bad either.

[burleigh25]

Good Old Boys - one of the finest albums all time. Newman's a genius.

[jeff236]

kind of strange he would recognize my home town of birmingham no one usually does

were is he from

[falstaffinfection]

LA, stw

[Gwynne66]

He's from New Orleans originally.

[n0thank7]

are you sure you don't have that backwards? i thought it was LA, New Orleans, and then back to La

[Rolltide1993]

BIRMINGHAM GREATEST CITY IN ALABAM

[lapislazuli7]

Thank you :-)

Can you also put up the other songs from this show,

do you have them?

[lestermann]

Ohh sadly I don't!

Some other songs from this show were in youtube some months ago but then they were removed =/

[lapislazuli7]

That's a pity...

I have them on video somewhere. I need to check the image and sound quality. Maybe I can manage to put them on youtube... * Cheers to Randy, whereever he may be! ;-))

[KlopJob]

yeah that would be great! The video quality here is really excellent,it would be interesting to see what else he did on this show

[lapislazuli7]

BTW: Wonder why they were removed! I do not think this show is available on DVD - so what is the point?

(Must be the German programme "Musikladen")

[HK83IE]

get em dan

[MissGabbii]

it feels good to be recognized in a song. YAY! Randy Newman!!!

"Red-headed lady, reaching for an apple."

[carcass42]

So great! Got my tickets to see him last night :)

[villysoerensen]

Randy Newman is defiantly one of our worlds best songwriters who have given inspiration to more then one generation. Randy Newman and people like him is the irrefutable evidence that lot of good things comes from USA : )

[gipsyfrontera]

uno de los grandes...

[shatner85]

He is not singing this song as himself, Alice Brown, he's singing as a character. A guy from Birmingham. All the best.

[BobbyPeru]

LEGEND

[Alicecbrown]

I was bahn and bred in Buminham, alabama. Was Randy Newman?

[Justin47sway]

?????????

[bo31411]

I think he was born in LA, and lived there along with New Orleans.

[luckyjinxer]

wait, Birmingham Alabama??? I live there! HE SAID WHERE I LIVE!!! Jeff cook aughta get that.

[jackfordmac]

Could be Birmingham England, where I live

[luckyjinxer]

he said, "Birmingham, greatest city in Alabam", tuscallusa is a city in alabama, his dogs the meanest in Alabam, i think hes talking about birmingham alabama

[jackfordmac]

I know that, there is no reason it would be England I can pretend though!

[Hoboscouts]

i can pretend that people from england also dont have fucked up teeth and shower also.

[zzbin]

aye the one that isnt famous for ultra racism... ;) i like brum.

[babyjudge11]

yup the one that is famous and known.

[Timmertube75]

There is an extended version where he mentions the Rotunda, Spearmint Rhinos Extreme and the A38 - its my favourite one.

[jackfordmac]

I have it on 45, I'll make an MP3 one day.

[twiki2099]

i love this album i have it on 2 disk remasted edtion

[mugwamp4]

randy at his best "good ol boys" before he was reduced to writing crap hollywood soundtracks

and half baked off broadway shit=Faust

[Malus1400]

I would have rather had more Randy Newman albums, sure, but the soundtrack stuff he's done (Avalon, Ragtime, Toy Story, etc etc ETC) freaking TOWER above other soundtrack music.

[mcg2010]

left foot right foot left foot right foot

[Hoboscouts]

your not sweet

[RATBOY222]

Look at him!

[HeyItsSteve93]

is he blind?

[ChiTownwx]

nope, just wearin sunglasses

[HeyItsSteve93]

o lol, thanks

[gospelkeyboard07]

how do u get the replies to show up under the comment, cuz mine always go to the top like any other comment.

[gospelkeyboard07]

see>

[HeyItsSteve93]

yours showed up under it for me...

[gospelkeyboard07]

yea, ic it takes a while to get down there. urs is up top right now.

[HeyItsSteve93]

ok, thanks

[Regency500]

just the style back then, I had a pair of glasses like those once, can't find em' now.

[HeyItsSteve93]

haha, k thanks

[sidthinker]

what incredible piano work...don't know where he learned to play the arrangements like that with the great bass lines and all but that's as great as the composition and lyrics...he's way out in front.

[Hoboscouts]

the best

[mugwamp4]

where did he learn it ??well it helps when you have good ol uncle Alfred ,very successful hollywood composer

[Hoboscouts]

a lot of his relatives were composers

[FingingMucker]

Its ragtime stride playing - listen to Scott Joplin music especially Swipsey etc.

[Hoboscouts]

you stole it

[jojosixty6]

brulliant performance big man.great to see early randy stuff

[chegeny]

born and raised in New Orleans to a family lost there since the 1700's - Rednecks makes me remember the best and worst of the place - sometimes a little misty-eyed with a drink or two when I get home - thanks Randy and Lestermann. I hate living in the Midwest sometimes - I keep thiking I'll go back home one day.

[deucehig]

haha, watch the mad tv ep with him lol

[bapyou]

"Got a big black dog

his name is Dan

Lives in my backyard in Birmingham

The meanest dog in Alabam'

Get 'em Dan"

Hilarious! Randy rules! Nobody like him! <3

[dlpine]

randy newman ... the soul of the south, and it's modern day storyteller. thanks, lestermann, for sharing.

[Hoboscouts]

thank you very much

[Tedsuzan]

Awesome....Thanks for putting this up; I love this song : )

[sheepie43]

love randy