[QUOTE=LoganDear]
If you don’t like it, don’t listen to it. QUOTE]
You all are a defensive bunch. Hell if Ilisted my musical likes I guarantee many would tell me that “they don’t get it”. I know people have different tastes; I was looking for peoples reasons.
Here’s what I expected (and for the most part, got).
His voice isn’t the greatest but is enjoyed nevertheless.
He writes damn good tunes.
His lyrics are inciteful.
Well 2 outta 3 three ain’t bad. IMHO.
As for “don’t like it don’t listen”, that’s not so easy. My 4 year old loves the Pixar
flicks so everyday I hear the same songs over and over. Plus I love Monk.
Look, those same three observations apply to Bob Dylan, didn’t seem to hurt him none.
I just wanted to see if all of you fans out there actually felt he had a great voice, and that I was just missing it.
Again, mods, please close this, I won’t get any more incite that I haven’t already gotten.
My favorite soundtrack of his is “Avalon”, haunting, lovely, evocative music. But I travelled all the way to Chicago to hear his Faust. OK, it was also because David Garrison was playing the Devil and Ken Page the Lord. But Randy’s music is amazing. Too bad it wasn’t recorded, it was terrific. But the concept album is out there.
And if you don’t like his voice, you can hear a few of his friends deliver the songs–a few unknowns like Elton John, Don Henley, James Taylor, Bonnie Raitt–and oh yeah, Linda Ronstadt singing “Gainesville”, one of the loveliest theater songs I have ever heard after seeing dozens and dozens of shows.
Not sure what your point is here Bob, can he write or not? You say his singing is an irritant but his soundtracks annoy you? I guess previous posters have a point in saying you can avoid his records. He does sing in Toy Story though - you’re right. And Parenthood. Monsters Inc? Don’t remember.
I like his voice, but then I buy his records in order to listen to it. Steve Earle and Ron Sexsmith struggle to hold a tune but are 2 of my favourite singers.
The idea of calling in the mods to stop getting replies you dont like is new to me though. Gonna definitely use it.
I dunno, you seem to have incited quite a lot. Enjoy.
And I, too, went to Chi to catch Faust. Really liked the idea, loved the concept album, but one should never, ever, ever, ever, ever start a show with a ballad. Plus, Mamet’s additions stuck out like a turd in a punch bowl and did nothing for the show itself.
Also, in re-reading the OP it seems like you’re complaining about his voice, but he doesn’t sing in most of the soundtracks. Color me puzzled.
He’s a good songwriter. I’m not crazy about the voice, but I like his stuff as sung by other people, like Linda Ronstadt.*
*Liked her when I was in grade six and still like her today.
Perosnally, I just hope that, having been given his mercy Oscar for re-writing and re-submitting the same movie song for the 40th time, he’ll go away quietly forever.
I agree that it was a bit of a mess, but blame Goethe–and Gonoud, I guess. The Mamet stuff was weird, I agree, but I did like his bit about Lucky (or Lucy) turning the messenger angels into peanuts and then conjuring up some elephants.
Anyway, for lyrics, “Relax, Enjoy Yourself” and “Marie” are great.
Randy Newman is one of my favorite songwriters - he can write a hilariously snarky bit of satire (“rednecks,” “political science,” “God’s song (that’s why I love mankind),” only to turn around and break your heart wide open (“Sail Away,” “Louisiana 1927,” “I think it’s going to rain today”).
I find it funny that most people think of Newman as “the guy that writes songs for movies and TV shows and stuff” - I think of all of that as a footnote on a brilliant singer-songwriter career. Newman cranked out songs for other artists before he launched his own career (including the brilliant “Mama told me not to come,” recorded by Three Dog Night), then had a mostly brilliant solo career.
You (anyone) really owe it to yourself to check out the amazing “Sail away” (1972) and “Good Old Boys” (1974). They’re easily his two best records, and are pretty close to flawless.
Randy has described this as one of the worse possible things anyone can say to another. In it Randy’s character describes how he’d like to get the whole world together and lead them singing it. Kind of the complete reverse of “I’d Like To Teach The World To Sing”. Except, being a singer, he first explains how he’d sing a few songs of his own first. Can’t let an audience like that go to waste!
