The Randy Newman Writing Style

[ANGULOELMALO]

I come from Spain,and my english isn't as good i could want. Anybody has the transcription of this clip? Thanks!

[LORDEZE7]

LOL. Look up randy newman on MadTV writing the Star Wars song.

[texsora]

He talks a little differently than he sings ^_^

[texsora]

he talks soooo much differently than he sings ^_^

[Argonaut121]

A great artist. First time I saw him was 1971 (I think) at a club in Toronto called Grumbles. Opening act was Jim Croce. Will never forget it.

[happygleason]

Randy, saw you at the fish n chips in santamonica the other day

[lucychinn149]

I adore Randy Newman and think he's brilliant. A little socially awkward, but then, aren't we all?

[draw1951]

I saw him perform the other night. His genius is the ability to transport us through the humorous, touching and always poignant stories. See him if you can.

[IrisMG]

Scottish singer Al Stewart writes complex songs that could be short stories. Randy's right, though, it's not done much, and popular music certainly avoids this style.

[seorasmc7]

The man is a true genius. Keep the songs comin', Randy.

[TheNumber1songwriter]

he's written some tremendous tunes, but I think I like 'sail away' best'

'In Amayaca everywawn is free to take caya of 'is home and 'is family. Yul be as happi as a monkey ina' monkey tree. I's great to be an Amayacan!

[MrMysterion]

Lunch, Oh Lunch

Let's all eat a bunch of lunch

Are you hungry, cuz I'm hungry

Hungry for a big ol juicy lunch

[Hedgecoring]

left foot, right foot.

[nathancroucher90]

Brilliant songwriter. I love this clip.

[redibeaver]

FYI--Randy Newman comes from a long line of composers and of performers. Look up Lionel Newman in Hollywood history. Monsters of music for film. Since he's been writing for Disney/Pixar stories, he's a little more politically correct. Younger days were much more poignant and most of his "best" tunes were from the 60's & 70's.

[ShokaLion]

Randy Newman is excellent. It's amazing how many of his songs, when you play them to people, they say "oh I've heard this before, is this a cover?" not aware that they're listening to the original. Examples would be Simon Smith and his Dancing Bear, Mama Told Me Not to Come, I love LA, just to name a few. Genius bloke.

Oh, and I gotta say I've never heard "vast repertoire" pronounced like that.

[narred98]

He Had A Song In Toy Story Named "You've Got a Friend in Me" Thanks Randy.

[Swidhelm]

@narred98 He did a number of pieces for Toy Story and other stuff for other Pixar Films. It was actually You've got a Friend in Me that got me interested in his music . . . oddly enough :P

[narred98]

@Swidhelm Me Too.

[clean3]

'Short story latitude’ has around for a long time now, largely in the form of folk music or what one might call old time or mountain music, certainly Dylan has been doing this for several decades, ‘Tangled up in Blue’ immediately comes to mind. Admittedly, this form is not seen often in the ‘pop’ world....but then there is only so much you can say in three minutes – this time originates from the length of a jukebox single.

[Skier1017]

Randy is great... my parents raised me well. I think I'm the only 14 year old in my town who knows his music.

[danzig5]

SPACE IS THE PLACE FOR STAR WARS .

[ANONONTHEJEWTUBE]

@danzig5 I love you.

[Untoten123]

He is a genius, don't even understand what "Vast Repertory" means. lol

[jp3sucks]

His song writings are from a 3rd person view, which is why he is so great.

[deelightandbrite]

@jp3sucks and genetics ... look him up. He really is a genius...

[jzerony]

Randy writes for people like me. He's not flowery, he's not fluff - he gets straight to the point and causes you to wince and squirm with his honesty. I like him a lot.

[JohnTaupin]

Great songwriter

[lucorb]

"from me to you" songs can get boring, and it's a shame that a master story teller like randy newman isn't more widely appreciated.

[xvegansxex]

Man, I so wanna speak like that

[MrTheSimple]

Does anyone could put french subtitles please?

[angelpenguin13]

hayy my last name is newman

[confusedcockney]

ohh well

[Kruttkuse]

ah, thought it was penguin..

[txt2k3]

Will Sasso Can show you his style.

[IsrealFloresto]

the first thing i liked about this guy was his voice

[smarfling]

@IsrealFloresto

funny, because that's the first thing i hated

[StoryeTime]

@IsrealFloresto  Same here!!!

[Gongchime]

Classic composer.

[FallenSparrow]

Climb aboard little wog, sail away with me...

[kellysuhan]

lol...too funny but probably accurate. Newman is an aquired taste but then you can' t get enough this genius

[RFIDemocracy]

SatansCreamy

I can guess your age. I hear your zits from hear.

Clearly, you wouldn't recognize talent if it crapped in your coffee

[peaceric]

really cool to hear about his insight into lyrics but it would be interesting to hear him talk about the actual music.

[neildonoghue]

whatever the formula..hell its a glorious 1 :)))

[UltimateSongwriting]

Great insight into the songwriting process! I'm making a series of songwriting videos for my youtube channel, come check them out and see what you think!

[dnedwrds]

It's like another perfect day...

-I LOVE L.A.!

[Russebby]

Newman's the last of a dying breed, the true American lyricist, has something to say and he says it. You could probably put Harry Chapin, Paul Simon, Joni Mitchell, Jimmy Webb, Jim Croce, maybe Jim Steinman in there, in terms of musicians who were writers first. Their pop credentials were accidental. Were Newman a poet instead of a songwriter, you could liken him to Faulkner or Steinbeck, writers who presented a character, flaws and all. Americans don't get tongue-in-cheek anymore.

[loweche6]

Sadly, you're right. Being an American, I have noticed that quite a bit of my friends tend to take it all at face value, and never recognize that when something is so absurd, quite a lot of the time, a person is making a statement about the very thing people accuse them of believing. Just as in theater, and like Randy Newman said in the video, in writing stories, lyricists can wear masks, and create an I out of "them."

[soldanovht]

the guy needs the beating of his life. first class asshole

[gooner4000]

shut up you doughnuts, you havent got a clue the mans a legend go on the Newman your a legend in england

[Mogggpiano]

Newman just oozes irony. His songs are constantly mis..or perhaps reinterpreted. I love this stuff, it takes real bravery to write what just comes out, knowing that many people will be unable to work it out.

[BlaQueRoYalty88]

adamcharney you a beast....lol

[imelroy]

Short stories (not poems) put to music. Odd characters defined by tone and inflection. Irony between the lines. He's kind of a musical version of Flannery O'Connor. The guy is as original as a Hendrix lick. But as real as your brother in law - the one that cant breathe right through his nose. Thank God he couldn't bring himself to write any more junk. Thats a sign of respect for himself and his audience. No pandering...just thoughtful and memorable meanderings.

[SatansCreamyJizz]

imelroy-

LOL! :-)

[mike89broughton]

HEy there rover, come on oooover.

[adamcharney]

'Red headed lady, Reaching for an apple

Gonna take a bite, nope, nope

She gonna breathe on it foist...'

[SatansCreamyJizz]

No offense to him or any fan of his (if that's possible) but this guy blows goats. Not to be rude, but this tool is a completely talentless slab of dog shit and it's beyond the comprehension of anyone with intelligence how it was possible for him to have rounded up so many moron fans to have followed him this long and ensured him some measurable amount of success. Good Lord, what a fucking loser.

Again, no offense to anyone. This guy sucks. I mean, really really sucks.

[gibbogle]

You just revealed your intellectual limitations. Don't take it hard.

[SatansCreamyJizz]

gibbogle-

You have GOT to be kidding me with this reply. That's it? That's your reply? Holy sweet Jesus you are barely worth replying to.

Maybe you should take your own advice of not taking it hard next time your dad comes in your room, you faggot.

[xMorbidArtx]

"Holy sweet Jesus you are barely worth replying to"

You are full of bickering irony and self contradictions. It's really hilarious watching you fail at trolling around. Petty insults, doing the worst possible job at being polite yet VERY rude..man..you gotta love mules like SatansCreamyJizz.

[IsrealFloresto]

this page is full of snobs get bent fuckin asspie

[DIMEOWZALL]

wow how old are you? 13? and coming from a guy whos name is satans creamy jizz.

[SatansCreamyJizz]

DIME-

Ahhh... rather than defend this talentless loser, you go for the boring "how old are you?" bullshit... Sad. You pretty much proved my point, asshole.

And if you're prejudging me on my name, then why did you even bother replying, fag? Cuz you're a fag, that's why! LOL!!

[Butifarra]

Is this hw you get yur kicks? Pretty lame immature name by the way, but I guess it goes well with the type of person whose life is based on commenting videos rudely and inciting irritation in other people. Dont bother replying to me, cos i don´t think i´ll bother writing back. But people like you want the last word, uh. you´l be doing youself a favor, do something more useful with your time, rather than insult talented artists, thus making clear that you´re anything but talented. I rest my case

[SatansCreamyJizz]

Butifarra-

LOL! It's funny watching you struggle to sound intelligent. Very pathetic.

But hey... when you can't defend this loser (which you clearly can't or you would've), then just go for idiotic arguments like user names and that sort of thing.

I think your stupid response clearly shows YOUR stupidity. And now I rest MY case, retard.

[captainmorgan555]

soooo..you never said how old you were dude...are you one of the "short people" Randy Newman sings about?..or are you just an annoying 12 year old?

[SatansCreamyJizz]

CaptainAsshole555-

Why on earth would I answer that absurd question? If I gave a young age, you'd attempt to draw conclusions from that. Same if I gave an old age.

Furthermore, I am far from short, but not liking Randy Newman's zero talent has nothing to do with people's physical height, you idiot.

The bottom line is that you can't DEFEND this dude, so you're trying desperately to determine my age and height to attack (weakly) those facts, rather than formulating a decent defense.

[captainmorgan555]

yeah i really have no idea what we were talking about man haha...i saw my comment..and i guess i was just playing off someone elses comment or somethin...anyway..i dont like Randy Newman haha...his songs are weird..and his voice is kind of annoying..but im sure i commented about you negativly because you said something really stupid, or else i wouldn't have replied to you...anyway dude no hard feelings because i'd rather not keep going on about this stupid youtube arguement..

[SatansCreamyJizz]

captainmorgan-

"but im sure i commented about you negativly because you said something really stupid"

What?! Impossible! I never do that - I'm incapable of saying anything stupid. Hehehe.. :-)

[captainmorgan555]

alrighty then..

[pspurling]

You sound just like one of Randy's "short people" to me too!!!

[rheaub1]

Can you be more specific about your severe attitude? For example, is it his tune-crafting, the lyrics, the range of topics he examines or do you object to something else about him?

Just thought it might be interesting to know....No offence.

[JDK0316191]

Dude, your username, it's a joke within itself. That would be my way of replying to your comment about the great Randy Newman! Dude, seriously, your name is retarded. Your logic sucks! Get bent!

[nucleusanimation]

No offense taken. You have every right to your opinion. One reason why many musicians from numerous genres appreciate Newman, is not because of the tone of his voice or his physical appearance, but because of his caustic lyrics combined with traditional music. In fact, Norwegian black metal bands routinely cite Newman as their biggest influence.

Just out of curiosity, what's on your playlist? In other words, what music/artist doesn't blow goats?

[SatansCreamyJizz]

NucleusAnimation-

Finally a decent response worth replying to. However, I couldn't possibly mention whose on my playing list because even if I mentioned some of your favorites, everyone else on here would see it as an opportunity to pounce without merit. It would be futile.

Let's keep the focus on this guy on this video and the decent point you made about his caustic lyric writing. People say that about Waits too, but he's almost unlistenable too. (watch people pounce now)

[heyeddie451]

Go listen to New Kids On The Block. This guy is a motherfucking GENIUS. He mocks you and you don't even get it.HAHAHA!!!!

[noiseonport]

Newman is by far one of the most talented artist of out times and he definitely deserves more recognition for his work. When I say that I mean in a social way, he's already got the oscars and the golden globes but his work is far more reaching than darkened theaters or tivo'd episodes of Monk.

Am I the only one who gets kind of ticked, but in a funny way, with that family guy episode featuring him?

anyway, he is a rad guy, so very clever.

Im forever a fan.

[augustine430]

America's knocking at your door!

[leirgauk]

love this man

[rheaub1]

Newman's a genius, simple as that. And it's clear from these reviews of his work that his admirers are no dummies. My one quibble: I always felt that some of his songs deserved just a bit more, well, work, to complete them and had he done so, he would have achieved a level of artistry which would be simply astounding. As it is, he's a genius; he just didn't realize on all of his prodigious gifts but that's not a criticism, only an observation.

[0mniron]

I think he is very Bob Dylanesque in that sense. His main point, in my opinion, is to get the message across regardless of the production value, which is a very direct and intimate style - like someone talking to you. I must add though that his harmonic style, and the chords he chooses are very tasteful.

[TheHazeyQ]

Excellent!

[thucy2]

I've always seen Newman as the Flannery O'Connor of songwriting. Maybe someday he'll write one as the narrator of "A Good Man is Hard to Find."

I agree with everyone who praises his brilliance. All through Katrina I kept hearing "Louisiana 1927" in my head. especially the line: "President Coolidge come down on a railroad train..." "President Bush flew by in a big jet plane..." That song always sends chills down my spine. "Six feet of water in the streets of Evangeline..." Stunning.

[Ullprutt]

He is such a genius songwriter. It's not all irony and tounge-in-cheek either. I mean, "In Germany before the war" is among the most chilling, uncomfortable pieces I've heard ever, and yet it's so beautiful. What an artist!

[PianoMelodies]

Great information! Thank you

[neverneverlandearth]

Davy the Fat Boy...LOL..."human kindness is overflowing / and I think it's gonna rain today..."

[tjmpiano]

I have everything he has ever done... from Good Old boys up to the present....

Listen to the humor, the lyric and he ain;t near a half bad piano player as well...

[markdcarter]

Gosh, I heartily recommend getting everything BEFORE Good Old Boys too: so much stunning material there!! (12 Songs is a masterpiece.)

Randy ain't near half-bad as a singer either: an instantly recognizable voice that's engaging in its modesty, character, and charm. Perhaps an acquired taste - like Dylan's or Fagan's - but well worth the patience.

Fats Domino was Newman's idol: this is evident in his style.

[DoowahDiatribe]

I have been a fan for decades also...it's nice to see others who understand and not simply react to a single line out of context...the humor, yes, but the sadness also...and, Randy sometimes adds on a bit of can we fix it? He is the greatest.

[omw4150]

I met him once in the Frisco airport. He was fantastic, friendly, and open. It was so nice to see that in one of my heros.

[joebruno2003]

As much as I admire Randy Newman, and proclaim that he is the greatest American songwriter, to denegrade Sesame Street song writers (Joe Raposo, specifically), I hope was a mistake.

[adamcharney]

I could be misinterpreting what he said, but it sounded like writing songs that aren't 'romantic' are atypical in this genre of music/writing style EXCEPT when refering to the Sesame Street song writers. If that's what he meant, I don't see anything offensive about that.

[freshmansnaredrmr]

i agree with adamcharney, if u listen to it the first time, jus the way he says it sounds belittling, but i dont thihnk he meant that at all listening again.

[urbanverificationist]

Then again, there's MARIE, GUILTY, A WEDDING IN CHEROKEE COUNTY. All some of the most poignant love songs ever penned and all true to Randy's uncompromising wit.

[oneslickjackrabbit]

Our modern day Mark Twain. Keep writing, Randy. We need you more than ever now.

[katiesumner]

I love this man. :)

[ntnfoxworth1]

this man's name is synonomous with unassuming genius