“She can create the world in a song”: Randy Newman names his favourite lyricists
The most enduring exposure to the work of Randy Newman might live on in his sentimental ode to friendship in the Toy Story theme, but his musicianship ran far deeper than just that. In fact, Newman is one of the most intuitive creatives in music history, whose tendency to push boundaries often landed him in hot water.
Newman’s ability to craft thought-provoking social commentaries while infusing them with black comedy often sparked huge talking points about the dos and don’ts of songwriting. Take his track ‘Short People’, for instance – as the title suggests, this might not seem like the most overtly inclusive piece of songwriting, but it was actually written from the perspective of a bigoted, prejudiced person.
Newman also addressed institutional American racism in his song ‘Rednecks’, contributing to a long list of compositions that the singer created in order to hold a mirror up to the country, exposing its cracks and urging it to do better. Perhaps this is why Don Henley once labelled Newman’s music as “an unflinching portrait of America in all its sham and all its glory.”
It’s completely conceivable, therefore, that many of Newman’s favourite lyricists are ones which challenged the status quo and revolutionised song-writing, causing it to explore new paths and inspire countless generations of aspiring musicians. Whenever anybody brings up the topic of great lyricists, the first name that almost always comes to mind is Bob Dylan, and Newman understands why.
Although he once rather scathingly implied the fact that Dylan had lost his charm, saying, “I don’t know whether he’s been at his best for a while”, he added that the singer “at his best is the best”. Newman’s gravitation towards such a skilled wordsmith isn’t a difficult concept to grasp, especially considering Zimmy’s fascination with lyrical cynicism and exposing things for what they really are.
According to Newman, to be a great songwriter, you also have to have the full package, which he says is true of acts like Neil Young and Paul Simon. The latter, in particular, he describes as “a conscientious writer” whose talent lies in his ability to “say stuff” and “sing very well”. Newman’s descriptions may seem puerile, but his favourites are generally the ones who possess an effortless talent for storytelling.
This is best evidenced by Newman’s appreciation for Rickie Lee Jones. According to the singer, Jones “is an enormous talent” with “substance” who has the ability to “create a world in a song”. With cherished narratives harking back to earlier folk iterations, Newman’s most favoured style revolves around blending poeticism with realism to create something truly unforgettable.
Randy Newman’s favourite lyricists:
- Paul Simon
- Neil Young
- Bob Dylan
- Rickie Lee Jones