“One hell of an artist”: The song that made Don Henley recognise Randy Newman’s genius
Not every artist is meant to be considered a genius in their time. Even though they might have the best songs that anyone in their generation has ever spat out, there are many instances where the timing isn’t right, and everyone gets wind of their classics years after the fact. While Don Henley always knew Randy Newman was a cut above most songwriters, he knew this song took him to another level.
Judging by both of their approaches to the craft, though, Henley seemed to be a different breed than what Newman was used to. Compared to every other band coming out of California, Henley was interested in writing thoughtful lyrics on the same level as American poets, and considering how much he loved wordsmiths like Ralph Waldo Emerson, it makes sense how he would make songs that felt like old wise tales being carried down throughout the years.
If Henley was Emerson, then Newman was Kurt Vonnegut half the time. Despite having a lot of heart behind many of his songs, the pianist never claimed to have the meanings of life but rather a unique perspective on the world. Even though every song had scathing critiques of the human race, like on ‘Short People’, it was never clear whether he was being 100% sincere or messing with the audience at every turn.
Henley was always more than happy to dissect Newman’s lyrics whenever he had the chance to, though. He had known that every word mattered in one of his tunes, but when working with his friend, he realised that he also possessed the same wit as Bob Dylan, usually being cut and dry about what he thought, even insinuating that ‘Short People’ only had to do with people who are, shall we say, vertically impaired.
Even by Newman’s sarcastic standards, though, ‘Rednecks’ would be enough to get him burned at the stake for those who bothered to learn the lyrics. He speaks a lot of truth in the song, but the harsh outlook that he has about the American South’s history of racism would have been enough for good ol’ boys to get on his ass, but most of them were too busy humming along to let it go.
Once Henley saw ‘Rednecks’ go over in the heart of the South, though, he knew that he was looking at someone who didn’t need to tiptoe around issues, saying, “I saw him in Texas last year, and he tore the roof off the place. When you can get 2,000 Texans to stand up and applaud a song like ‘Rednecks’ in a state that has elected Rick Perry three times in a row, you are a hell of an artist. Randy has a wonderful sense of humour that was as deep as his talent.”
And yet, the beauty of Newman’s music is that he can go from something hostile to a song that could tear someone’s heart out. While getting everyone on their feet to sing a song that is opposite to their ideals is one thing, it’s another to get those same people disgruntled and then have them openly weep when going to the movies with their kid to see Toy Story.
But that’s always been the mark of any great artist. No one is born to play simply one emotion for the rest of their lives, and hearing Newman talk about the natural feelings that every one of us deals with is enough to make anyone feel a little less alone in the world.
