Short People

Last updated

"Short People"
"Short People" by Randy Newman (1977 UK cover).jpg
UK cover
Single by Randy Newman
from the album Little Criminals
B-side "Old Man on the Farm"
ReleasedNovember 1977
Recorded1977
Genre Novelty rock [1]
Length2:54
Label Warner Bros.
Songwriter(s) Randy Newman
Producer(s) Lenny Waronker, Russ Titelman
Randy Newman singles chronology
"Birmingham"
(1974)		"Short People"
(1977)		"The Blues"
(1982)
Official video
"Short People" on YouTube

"Short People" is a song by Randy Newman from his 1977 album, Little Criminals . With lyrics demeaning to short people, the song was intended by Newman to be a satire about prejudice more broadly. [2] As with many of his songs such as "Rednecks", Newman wrote the song from the point of view of a biased narrator.

Contents

Production and reception

The song follows a basic musical formula with bass and drums centering on Newman's catchy pop piano line in the key of A major. [3] A small 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.

Although Newman had never charted a single before, and his preceding album, Good Old Boys , had been the first to reach the Top 150 on Billboard’s Pop Albums chart, "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 for three weeks; it was kept from reaching No. 1 by Player's "Baby Come Back" and the Bee Gees' "Stayin' Alive". It became a gold record.

Newman would later grow to dislike the song and its success, eventually calling it a "bad break", a "novelty record like The Chipmunks", and said it caused him to receive several threats regarding its misinterpreted message. [4] 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 against short people, and then to sing it and put it all in song and have a philosophy on it." [5] However, it ended up being included on almost every one of his greatest hits albums. [6] [ failed verification ]

Record World said the single was "one of the funniest of any year." [7]

In 1978, Maryland State Delegate Isaiah Dixon attempted to introduce legislation making it illegal to play "Short People" on the radio. He was advised by Maryland Attorney General Bill Burch that such a law would be a violation of the First Amendment. [8]

Chart performance

Sales and certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA) [19] Gold1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Personnel

Musicians

Technical

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Little Criminals</i> 1977 studio album by Randy Newman

Little Criminals is the fifth studio album by American singer-songwriter Randy Newman. Like most of Newman's work, the album eschews traditional pop-music themes in favor of musical story-telling, often featuring quirky characters and cynical views. The first song on the album – "Short People" – became a hit single in its own right. The album itself peaked at #9 on the US Billboard 200 chart, Newman's highest-charting album to date.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You Are the Sunshine of My Life</span> 1973 single by Stevie Wonder

"You Are the Sunshine of My Life" is a 1973 single released by Stevie Wonder. The song became Wonder's third number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and his first number-one on the Easy Listening chart. It won Wonder a Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance, and was nominated for both Record of the Year and Song of the Year. This song was the second single released from the 1972 album entitled Talking Book, which stayed at number one on the R&B albums chart for three weeks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Border Song</span> 1970 single by Elton John

"Border Song" is a song by Elton John with music by John and lyrics by Bernie Taupin. The song initially appeared on the 1970 album Elton John, and was released in the spring of 1970 as the LP's first single. After failing to chart in the UK, it was released in North America a few months later. It met with more success there, especially in Canada, where it peaked at No. 34. The appearance of "Border Song" on the Canadian charts was John's first chart appearance in any country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">My Life (Billy Joel song)</span> 1978 single by Billy Joel

"My Life" is a song by Billy Joel that first appeared on his 1978 album 52nd Street. A single version was released in the fall of 1978 and reached No. 2 on the U.S. adult contemporary chart. Early the next year, it peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Free Ride (song)</span> 1973 single by Edgar Winter

"Free Ride" is a song written by Dan Hartman and performed by the Edgar Winter Group from their 1972 album They Only Come Out at Night, produced by Rick Derringer. The single was a top 15 U.S. hit in 1973, reaching number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 10 on Cash Box. In Canada, it peaked at number 8.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">With a Little Luck</span> 1978 single by Wings

"With a Little Luck" is a single by the band Wings from their 1978 album London Town. It reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in May 1978.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Goodnight Tonight</span> 1979 single by Wings

"Goodnight Tonight" is a song by the British–American rock band Wings. Written and produced by Paul McCartney, it was released as a non-album single on 23 March 1979 by Parlophone in the UK and Columbia Records in the US. It was recorded during the sessions for the band's 1979 album Back to the Egg and is notable for its disco-inflected sound and spirited flamenco guitar break.

<i>Im in You</i> 1977 studio album by Peter Frampton

I'm in You is the fifth studio album by English musician and songwriter Peter Frampton. It was released on 3 June 1977, almost a year and a half after his 1976 signature breakthrough live album, Frampton Comes Alive! It was recorded at Electric Lady Studios in New York, where Frampton's Camel was recorded four years earlier. Stevie Wonder, Richie Hayward, Mike Finnigan and Mick Jagger are featured on the album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Island Girl</span> 1975 single by Elton John

"Island Girl" is a 1975 song by English musician Elton John. It was written by John and his songwriting collaborator Bernie Taupin and released as the first single from the album Rock of the Westies (1975). It reached number one for three weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S., selling over one million copies. It also reached the top five in Canada and New Zealand, as well as the top twenty in Australia and the UK.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">What a Fool Believes</span> 1978 song by Kenny Loggins

"What a Fool Believes" is a song written by Michael McDonald and Kenny Loggins. The best-known version was recorded by The Doobie Brothers for their 1978 album Minute by Minute. Debuting at number 73 on January 20, 1979, the single reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 on April 14, 1979, for one week. The song received Grammy Awards in 1980 for both Song of the Year and Record of the Year. In 2024, the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">(I've Been) Searchin' So Long</span> 1974 single by Chicago

"(I've Been) Searchin' So Long" is a song written by James Pankow for the group Chicago and recorded for their album Chicago VII (1974). The first single released from that album, it reached number 9 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. It also hit number 8 on the Adult Contemporary chart. In Canada, the song peaked at number 5.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baby, What a Big Surprise</span> 1977 single by Chicago

"Baby, What a Big Surprise" is a ballad written by Chicago's then bassist/singer Peter Cetera, which appeared on their album Chicago XI (1977), with Cetera singing lead vocals. The first single released from the album reached number 4 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No Tell Lover</span> 1978 single by Chicago

"No Tell Lover" is a song written by Lee Loughnane, Danny Seraphine, and Peter Cetera for the group Chicago and recorded for their album Hot Streets (1978), with Cetera and Donnie Dacus singing lead vocals. The second single released from that album, it reached No. 14 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart and No. 5 on the adult contemporary chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Two Out of Three Ain't Bad</span> 1978 single by Meat Loaf

"Two Out of Three Ain't Bad" is a power ballad performed by the American musician Meat Loaf. It is a track off his 1977 album Bat Out of Hell, written by Jim Steinman. It spent 23 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 11, and earned a million-selling Gold single from the RIAA, eventually being certified platinum. It remains his second-highest-charting hit in the US, behind "I'd Do Anything for Love " (1993), and stands as one of his career signature tunes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grazing in the Grass</span> 1968 composition by Philemon Hou

"Grazing in the Grass" is an instrumental composed by Philemon Hou and first recorded by the South African trumpeter Hugh Masekela. Released in the United States as a single in 1968, it followed United States trumpeter Herb Alpert's vocal performance of "This Guy's in Love with You" to the top spot on the Hot 100 chart, ranking it as the 18th biggest hit of the year. The song also reached No. 15 Adult Contemporary. Masekela included the song in his albums Grazing in the Grass: The Best of Hugh Masekela (2001), Still Grazing (2004), and Live at the Market Theatre (2006).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Believe You</span> 1978 single by The Carpenters

"I Believe You" is a love ballad composed by Don and Dick Addrisi which was a 1977 single for Dorothy Moore; taken from her self-titled Dorothy Moore album. "I Believe You" reached #5 R&B and crossed over to the US Pop Top 30 at number 27. The track also reached number 20 in the UK.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A Love Song (Loggins and Messina song)</span> 1973 single by Anne Murray

"A Love Song" is a song written by Kenny Loggins and Dona Lyn George, first released by the folk-rock duo Loggins and Messina in 1973 on their album Full Sail. Country artist Anne Murray covered the song later that year for her album of the same name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Your Mama Don't Dance</span> 1972 single by Loggins and Messina

"Your Mama Don't Dance" is a hit 1972 song by the rock duo Loggins and Messina. Released on their self-titled album Loggins and Messina, it reached number four on the Billboard pop chart and number 19 on the Billboard Easy Listening Chart as a single in early 1973.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Go Crazy (Paul Davis song)</span> 1977 single by Paul Davis

"I Go Crazy" is a song written, composed, and recorded by American singer-songwriter Paul Davis. It was the first single released from his 1977 album Singer of Songs: Teller of Tales, and his second-highest peaking pop hit, peaking at #7 on the Billboard chart in 1978. The song entered the Hot 100 on August 27, 1977 and began slowly climbing, peaking in March and April 1978, before dropping off the chart the week after May 27, 1978. Overall, it spent 40 weeks on the Hot 100, setting what was then the record for the longest run on that chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">This Time I'm in It for Love</span> 1978 single by Player

"This Time I'm in It for Love" is a song recorded by the American rock band Player. It was the second single from their self-titled first studio album. The song was released in early 1978 as the immediate follow-up to their biggest hit and debut single, "Baby Come Back".

References

  1. ↑ "Randy Newman: still biting, still brilliant | Arts & Culture | Music | spiked". Spiked-online.com. November 6, 2015. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  2. ↑ Fricke, David (September 15, 2017). "Randy Newman: My Life in 15 Songs". Rolling Stone . Retrieved April 28, 2020.
  3. ↑ "Short People : Sheet Music". Archived from the original on July 16, 2011. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  4. ↑ Zitz, Michael (September 18, 2003). "Songwriter Randy Newman hates his 'Short People'". The Free Lance–Star . Fredericksburg, Virginia. Archived from the original on July 11, 2012. Retrieved April 17, 2012.
  5. ↑ Lydia Hutchinson. "Happy Birthday, Randy Newman". Performing Songwriter.
  6. ↑ "Best of Randy Newman: Randy Newman: Music". Amazon. Retrieved April 17, 2012.
  7. ↑ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. November 12, 1977. p. 1. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  8. ↑ Thompson, M. Dion (March 17, 2001). "They're smart, fast, usually right". The Baltimore Sun . Retrieved December 15, 2015.
  9. ↑ Steffen Hung. "Forum – 1970 (ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts)". Australian-charts.com. Archived from the original on June 2, 2016. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  10. ↑ "Randy Newman – Short People" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved November 28, 2013.
  11. ↑ "Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on June 3, 2016. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  12. ↑ "Image : RPM Weekly – Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. July 17, 2013. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  13. ↑ "Randy Newman – Short People". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved November 28, 2013.
  14. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (1993). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993. Record Research. p. 174.
  15. ↑ "Cash Box Top 100 1/28/78" . Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  16. ↑ "Image : RPM Weekly – Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. July 17, 2013. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  17. ↑ "Top 100 Hits of 1978/Top 100 Songs of 1978". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  18. ↑ "Cash Box YE Pop Singles – 1978" . Retrieved November 3, 2015.
  19. ↑ "American single certifications – Randy Newman – Short People". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved June 1, 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.