Tell people in Spain that the number one song in the U.S. right now is Randy Newman’s “Political Science” (written in 1972!), I think most people would believe you. (hint: the “big one” is the atomic bomb and just to be ABSOLUTELY CLEAR people, he is MAKING FUN of Americans who would think this way). Of course, the joke is that Spanish people would believe that this song is serious. Lyrics here:
I don't know why.
We may not be perfect
But heaven knows we try.
But all around even our old friends put us down.
Let's drop the big one and see what happens.
We give them money
But are they grateful?
No they're spiteful
And they're hateful.
They don't respect us so let's surprise them;
We'll drop the big one and pulverize them.
Now Asia's crowded
And Europe's too old.
Africa's far too hot,
And Canada's too cold.
And South America stole our name.
Let's drop the big one; there'll be no one left to blame us.
We'll save Australia;
Don't wanna hurt no kangaroo.
We'll build an all-American amusement park there;
They've got surfing, too.
Well, boom goes London,
And boom Pear-EE
More room for you
And more room for me.
And every city the whole world round
Will just be another American town.
Oh, how peaceful it'll be;
We'll set everybody free;
You'll wear Japanese kimonos, baby,
There'll be Italian shoes for me.
They all hate us anyhow,
So let's drop the big one now.
Let's drop the big one now.
Randy Newman is a friggin genius, depressed, but a genius. He's a unique kind of a songwriter. His songs are like little novels narrated by the characters he creates – they are not “him” talking. This one is narrated by some nameless American idiot (but a funny and kind of insightful idiot) who can’t understand why the world doesn’t like us. Oddly enough, sometimes I am that idiot….
Of course this is funny, terrifying, hilarious, crazy, and believable that an American would feel this way (… hmm, let’s see.. do I think? ….… NAHHH!).
This song has cracked me up for years. My favorite line? "We'll set everybody free!"
Hear it here:
5 comments:
That song was written 36 years ago? Wow. Obviously the more things change the more things stay the same. Only thing that doesn't fit with our contemporary times is the reference to Japan. Randy needs to add a reference to China, India and/or the Middle East to update the lyrics for the 21st century. But still, pretty prescient lyrics, wouldn't you say?
It cracks me up to hear his voice singing those lyrics. This is the same guy who wrote the soundtrack for movies like Toy Story, A Bug's Life and Monsters, Inc. :)
Randy Newman certainly is worth exploring. He wrote 'That's Why I Love Mankind' - a story about God laughing at our efforts to woo him. He wrote 'Short People' which pissed off lots of, uh, short people. 'Baltimore' is a beautiful (but nasty) song. 'Birmingham' took the piss. There were so many..
He's got 'A Few Words in Defence of Our Country' posted on YouTube which reminds me of his 'No one Likes Us'
That song you mentioned is called "God's Song" and is one of my other favorites.
And of course "Short People" makes fun of people's prejudices in general - but nobody got it in 1978 or whenever..
Well I wonder what the Spanish would think of the Randy Newman song Rednecks. Certainly the empetimie of non-political-correctness.
That should give them a rise.
Hey Los Angeleno!
Actually you have to listen carefully to that song. In that one Randy is a Southern "Character" who talks about how backward the rednecks are, but at the same time poking fun at the supposed "sophistication" of the Northerners. He points out that in the North they treat black people exactly like they do in the South - throwing them in jail, etc.. So the Rednecks aren't really any different than us...
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