Born Again

The surprise success of the single "Short People" earned a large audience for Randy Newman, who works in character sketches where irony, sarcasm, and hints of hope tangle in ways that lead to unusual effects. If people could accept the absurdity of prejudice in "Short People," it didn't guarantee that they'd embrace the greedy yuppie of "It's Money That I Love." Of course, Newman wasn't too concerned with what others thought. He's always written to please himself, and these songs work with an internal logic that's sometimes hard to classify. Figuring out how Newman might feel about a character is usually a loaded exercise. "Ghosts" treads on old age. The quirky "The Story of a Rock and Roll Band" has led to a variety of interpretations. "Half a Man" centers on bizarre preconceptions of homosexuality. "Mr. Sheep" refuses to take pity on the working man. "The Girls in My Life (Part 1)" reflects the dullness of a skirtchaser. Newman's humor is often tough and often unforgiving. His songs play like Rorschach tests, with listeners hearing what they want to hear.