From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Short People
Short People
"Short People" In 1978, legislation was introduced in the state of
Maryland to make it illegal to play "Short People" on the
Single by Randy Newman radio. Contrary to popular myth, the bill did not pass. [4]
from the album Little Criminals
B-side "Old Man On The Farm" Appearances in popular culture
Released 1977 The song was performed by actor James Coco on a 1978
episode of The Muppet Show. A MADtv sketch parodying
Format 7" Single
Newman’s songwriting abilities also made references to
Genre Rock/Pop the song.
In the film Semi-Pro, Will Ferrell sings the song on the
Length 2:54
bus. It is also featured in the 1994 feature-length adapta-
Label Warner Bros. tion of The Little Rascals.
Writer(s) Randy Newman This song is heard on a Toy Story sing-along cassette
tape[citation needed] (Newman composed the score to the
Producer Lenny Waronker, Russ Titelman film).
[Bridge vocal by Glenn Frey] The song is mistakenly mentioned as one of Michael
Scott’s favourite Bruce Springsteen songs in US version
of the The Office episode "Crime Aid". It can also be heard
Short People"
"Short People is a song by Randy Newman from his 1977 on the Chipmunks Go to the Movies episode "Funny We
album Little Criminals. The verses and chorus seem to be Shrunk the Adults" and in the Ally McBeal episode "Boy to
a pointed attack on the short. The bridge (sung by Glenn the World".
Frey), in contrast, states "short people are just the same In 2009, the song was parodied by conservative polit-
as you and I." Newman confirms that the song is about ical satirist Paul Shanklin as "Old People" with Shanklin
"prejudice," as was widely thought, but added that it was doing a voice impersonation of American President
"about a lunatic". As with many of his songs, such as Barack Obama on the health care reform debate in the
"Rednecks", Newman wrote the song from the point of United States.
view of a biased narrator. Like Dire Straits’ 1985 hit single Andrew Hansen, an Australian satirical comedian, al-
"Money for Nothing" which used the same lyrical tech- so performed this song on the comedy show Good News
nique, the song was misunderstood by many listeners, Week. Initially in the show he disclaimed the lyrics stat-
who wrongly assumed that it reflected the performer’s ing that he didn’t hate short people - it was Randy New-
personal viewpoint. man’s lyrics (a reference to a skit he earlier participated
Newman would later grow to dislike the song and its in that questioned the legitimacy of charities for sick
success, eventually calling it a "bad break," a "novelty children and caused him, and his group The Chaser, to
record like The Chipmunks", and said it caused him to be temporarily suspended from television). Later in the
receive several threats regarding its misinterpreted mes- show he performed the song again with his own lyrics
sage.[1] However, it would end up being included in al- referring to Adolf Hitler, Centrelink and popular televi-
most every one of his greatest hits albums.[2] sion personalities including the show’s host Paul McDer-
Although Newman had never charted a single before, mott.[5]
and his previous album Good Old Boys had been his first to The Cleveland Show featured the song in the episode
reach the Billboard Top 150, "Short People" soon gained A Short Story and a Tall Tale.
attention as a novelty song. The song consequently be-
came a major hit on radio, staying at number two on
the Billboard Hot 100 and being only kept from reaching References
number one by the Bee Gees’s "Stayin’ Alive". It follows [1] http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2003/
a basic musical formula, with bass and drums centering 092003/09182003/1104253/index_html
on Newman’s catchy pop piano line in the key of A.[3] [2] http://www.amazon.com/Best-Randy-Newman/
A small brass section and an electric guitar occasionally dp/B00005NTQ4
rise into the mix. [3] http://www.sheetmusicdigital.com/pdf/0/1/5/
NESHORTP.png
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Short People
[4] Randy Newman Sells Himself Short [5] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2MpsGnO0Tw
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Short_People"
Categories: 1977 singles, Randy Newman songs, Songs written by Randy Newman
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