Randy Newman - Simon Smith and the Amazing Dancing Bear

[smaccoll]

This song was actually WRITTEN, not sung, as originally suggested.

Peace x X xx X xxxx X

[crimsonrush]

Randy has often denied any subtext to this song other than 'having a gimmick can gain you access to anywhere'. :)

[wblakesx]

the boy is a a trained animal. people 'love' to laugh at him

[giraffesmakeyoulaugh]

Randy Newman is a super talent flying under the radar! Go Randy!

[arouska]

What I like about Randy Newman is the ability to give his song's subtext. This sounds like a nice jovial song about a boy and his bear but what its really about is an impoverished boy with delusions of grandeur, whether or not there really is a bear is completely irrelevant.

[TheVivvav]

@arouska It is?

I thought it was just about a boy and his bear.

[234sirhc]

How can he sing to the people in the netherlands and have them understand him?

[jjay75]

@234sirhc Its only Americans and British people that can't speak two language.

[Lamkool]

People in the Netherlands pride themselves on the fact that they speak english really well. Most of the population speak it and it is taught in pre school.

[Robogabriel]

I saw this one the muppet show a little while ago and was happy. Then I found out it was a Randy Newman song and wept happily.

[ceresWar]

it's amazing how someone with someone with so little talent can become to popular

[ElArlequin]

@ceresWar It's amazing how you have access to the internet.

[234sirhc]

@ceresWar What's wrong with you!?

[eskimokiss9290]

This song reminds me when i was about 7 and i always asked my mum to put this song on in the car on the way and back from school :)

[grimTales1]

This rocks - I guess I didnt realise Randy Newman wrote it. I'd only heard it on The Muppet Show before.

[234sirhc]

@grimTales1 I heard it on the jim henson memorial video on youtube.

[ConnDevi88]

Scooter did it better

[kavorka999]

Harpers Bizarre did this on their first album "Feelin Groovy", a great version of it. :)

[dicsballer9]

@kavorka999 haha yeah!

[AngelicSakuko]

my dad gave me his album when i was a kid. he's a total genius. when I was in third grade i loved this song and wrote a play about it and my teachers chose to make it into our annual musical. that was pretty fun!

[234sirhc]

@AngelicSakuko On a scale of one to ten how fun was that.

[peterzang]

@AngelicSakuko That is so cool. Great!

[zackhanscom]

@AngelicSakuko again, using words like genius loosely. your dad is a typical douche in love with old music. so fucking what.

[QIsForK12]

@zackhanscom I'm pretty sure he's referring to Newman.

[sofaguard]

alan price version is better

[lekezenman]

It Takes a nerd to be such a PIANO-GENIUS so it seems!

Life is never what it seems...

Check out Alain Volondat too.

Bernard

[MoveOverCasanova]

if Randy Newman is a nerd, then nerd is the highest title around, and all half-cool wannalookwells just a groooooan

[gr5803]

I disagree although many are Stevie Wonder, Elton Jon, Gay but not nerdy

[elz8105]

The best composer of our time

[krzeaz]

A friend and I talked to him briefly as he left an outdoor concert in Ohio years ago

He's very tall, in person.

[shnootre]

Yes - this is his best song. God I love it. thanks for posting this!

[apeshitdig]

Check out Harry Nilsson's version

[n0thank7]

haha... he's written some truly amazing songs but sometimes i wonder if this could be his best