Short People

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
For other uses, see Short people (disambiguation).

"Short People"
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.

The verses and chorus are lyrically constructed as a prejudiced attack on short people. In contrast, the bridge states that "short people are just the same as you and I."; "A fool such as I" and "All men are brothers (...) It's a wonderful world." Many listeners thought that the song reflected Newman's sincere beliefs. However, Newman intended the song to be a satire about prejudice more broadly: "The guy in that song is crazy. He was not to be believed."[2] As with many of his songs such as "Rednecks", Newman wrote the song from the point of view of a biased narrator.

Production and reception

The song follows a basic musical formula with

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,

gold record
.

Newman would later grow to dislike the song and its success, eventually calling it a "bad break", a "novelty record like

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

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[19] Gold 1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Personnel

Musicians

Technical

See also

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.

External links

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