Newman is noted for his practice of writing lyrics from the perspective of a character far removed from Newman's own biography. For example, the 1972 song "Sail Away" is written as a slave trader's sales pitch to attract slaves, while the narrator of "Political Science" is a U.S. nationalist who complains of worldwide ingratitude toward America and proposes a brutally ironic final solution. One of his biggest hits, "Short People" was written from the perspective of "a lunatic" who hates short people. Since the 1980s, Newman has worked mostly as a film composer. His film scores include Ragtime, Awakenings, The Natural, Leatherheads, James and the Giant Peach, Meet the Parents, Seabiscuit and The Princess and the Frog. He has scored many Disney-Pixar films: Toy Story, A Bug's Life, Toy Story 2, Monsters, Inc., Cars, Toy Story 3, Monsters University, Cars 3 and most recently Toy Story 4.
He has been awarded an Academy Award, three Emmys, four Grammy Awards, and the Governor's Award from the Recording Academy. Newman was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2002. In 2007, Newman was inducted as a Disney Legend.
Newman grew up in a musical family with Hollywood connections; his uncles Alfred and Lionel both scored numerous films. By age 17, Randy was staff writer for a California music publisher. One semester short of a B.A. in music from UCLA, he dropped out of school. Lenny Waronker, son of Liberty Records’ president, was a close friend and, later, as a staff producer for Warner Bros., helped get Newman signed to the label.
Newman’s early songs were recorded by a number of performers. His friend Harry Nilsson recorded an entire album with Newman on piano, Nilsson Sings Newman, in 1970. Judy Collins (“I Think It’s Going to Rain Today”), Peggy Lee (“Love Story”), and Three Dog Night - for whom “Mama Told Me (Not to Come)” hit #1 - all enjoyed success with Newman’s music.
Newman became a popular campus attraction when touring with Nilsson. His status as a cult star was affirmed by his critically praised debut, Randy Newman, in 1968, which featured his own complex arrangements for full orchestra, and later by 1970’s 12 Songs. He also sang “Gone Dead Train” on the soundtrack of Performance (1970). Live and Sail Away were Newman’s first commercial successes, but his audience has been limited to some degree because his songs are often colored by his ironic, pointed sense of humor, which is rarely simple and frequently misunderstood.
Good Old Boys, for example, was a concept album about the South, with the lyrics expressing the viewpoint of white Southerners. Lyrics such as “We’re rednecks, and we don’t know our ass from a hole in the ground” made people wonder whether Newman was being satirical or sympathetic. He toured (to Atlanta and elsewhere) behind the album with a full orchestra that played his arrangements and was conducted by his uncle Emil Newman.
Little Criminals, in 1977, contained Newman’s first hit single, “Short People,” which mocked bigotry and was taken seriously by a vocal offended minority. “Baltimore” from that album was covered by Nina Simone. Following that album’s release, Newman toured for the first time since 1974. He claimed that in the interim he’d done nothing but watch television and play with his three sons. In 1979 his Born Again featured guest vocals by members of the Eagles. In 1981 Newman composed the soundtrack for the film Ragtime (the first of many soundtrack assignments) and was nominated for two Oscars (Best Song, Best Score). His 1983 album, Trouble in Paradise, included guest appearances by Linda Ronstadt, members of Fleetwood Mac, and Paul Simon, who sang a verse of “The Blues.” That album’s “I Love L.A.” became something of an anthem, thanks in part to a flashy music video directed by Newman’s cousin, Tim Newman (who went on to shoot popular videos for ZZ Top, among others). Land of Dreams (#80, 1988) spawned a minor hit in “It’s Money That Matters” (#60, 1988). It would take Newman 10 more years to make another studio album, 1999’s critically acclaimed Bad Love. With that record peaking at #194, he continues to meet his biggest success in Hollywood, where he spent most of the ’90s becoming one of the town’s most sought-after film composers. Although the material on his own records is literate and biting, the songs he writes for movies are decidedly simpler and with a sunnier outlook - and they usually meet with more success. Both “I Love to See You Smile” from Parenthood and “When She Loved Me” from Toy Story 2, for instance, were nominated for Oscars; in 1998 alone, Newman garnered three Oscar nominations for three different movies.
In 1995 Newman wrote a musical adaptation of Goethe’s Faust. Both the play and the accompanying CD (which featured guests such as Bonnie Raitt, Linda Ronstadt, Elton John, Don Henley, and James Taylor in the role of God) were commercially unsuccessful. In 2000 he received the Billboard Century Award.
I Love L.A.
Randy Newman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's cold and it's damp
And all the people dressed like monkeys
Let's leave Chicago to the Eskimos
That town's a little bit too rugged
For you and me you bad girl
Rollin' down the Imperial Highway
Santa Ana winds blowing hot from the north
And we as born to ride
Roll down the window, put down the top
Crank up the Beach Boys, baby
Don't let the music stop
We're gonna ride it till
We just can't ride it no more
From the South Bay to the Valley
From the West Side to the East Side
Everybody's very happy
'Cause the sun is shining all the time
Looks like another perfect day
I love L.A. (we love it)
I love L.A. (we love it)
We love it
Look at that mountain
Look at those trees
Look at that bum over there, man
He's down on his knees
Look at these women
There ain't nothing like 'em nowhere
Century Boulevard (we love it)
Victory Boulevard (we love it)
Santa Monica Boulevard (we love it)
Sixth Street (we love it, we love it)
We love L.A.
I love L.A. (we love it)
I love L.A. (we love it)
I love L.A. (we love it)
Randy Newman's "I Love L.A." is a sarcastic and satirical anthem to Los Angeles. The opening lyrics are a direct criticism of New York City, which is portrayed as being cold, damp, and unpleasant, with its residents dressed like monkeys. Newman is essentially saying that he hates New York City and that Los Angeles is better.
In contrast, Los Angeles is portrayed as being warm, sunny, and full of happy people that are enjoying life. The song talks about driving down the Imperial Highway with a big, nasty redhead, listening to the Beach Boys, and feeling the Santa Ana winds blowing hot from the north. The chorus, which repeats several times, states that "I love LA" and that everyone else does too.
The song goes on to describe various parts of Los Angeles, including Century Boulevard, Victory Boulevard, Santa Monica Boulevard, and Sixth Street, all of which are said to be loved by everyone. The overall tone of the song is one of satire and a tongue-in-cheek celebration of Los Angeles, with Newman poking fun at the city's stereotypes and cliches.
Overall, "I Love L.A." is a fun and upbeat song that captures the essence of Los Angeles and its culture. Despite its sarcastic tone, the song has become an anthem for the city and is widely loved by residents and visitors alike.
Line by Line Meaning
Hate New York City
I strongly dislike New York City
It's cold and it's damp
The climate is unpleasant
And all the people dressed like monkeys
The fashion choices of the locals are peculiar
Let's leave Chicago to the Eskimos
Chicago is too unforgiving and harsh for us
That town's a little bit too rugged
Chicago's environment is rough and challenging
For you and me you bad girl
Even you, who I think is daring and adventurous, cannot handle Chicago
Rollin' down the Imperial Highway
We are smoothly cruising down the road
With a big nasty redhead at my side
I'm accompanied by a compelling and attractive woman
Santa Ana winds blowing hot from the north
The northern winds carry a warm temperature from the Santa Ana region
And we as born to ride
We were meant to take this ride together
Roll down the window, put down the top
Let's create an open-air environment in the vehicle
Crank up the Beach Boys, baby
Let's turn up the volume on some good music
Don't let the music stop
Keep the tunes playing
We're gonna ride it till
We're going to enjoy this journey
We just can't ride it no more
Until we physically can't do it anymore
From the South Bay to the Valley
We're traveling across the entire metropolitan area, from the south to the north
From the West Side to the East Side
We are making our way from the west to the east
Everybody's very happy
All the people we encounter are in a great mood
'Cause the sun is shining all the time
The weather is constantly beautiful and sunny
Looks like another perfect day
It seems another flawless day has arrived
I love L.A. (we love it)
I adore Los Angeles
Look at that mountain
Observe that attractive natural wonder
Look at those trees
Take a glimpse at the mesmerizing foliage
Look at that bum over there, man
Acknowledge the struggling homeless person in sight
He's down on his knees
They are in a kneeling position, like begging for help
Look at these women
See how beautiful the women are here in L.A.
There ain't nothing like 'em nowhere
They are one-of-a-kind and you can't find anyone like them anywhere else
Century Boulevard (we love it)
We love driving on Century Boulevard
Victory Boulevard (we love it)
We enjoy traveling on Victory Boulevard
Santa Monica Boulevard (we love it)
We have a fondness for Santa Monica Boulevard
Sixth Street (we love it, we love it)
Even a small street like Sixth Street is loved by us
I love L.A. (we love it)
We all adore Los Angeles
I love L.A. (we love it)
Our passionate attachment to L.A. continues
I love L.A. (we love it)
Our love for L.A. persists
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: RANDY NEWMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@cm9859
There is no other state like California.
I was born in LA County, Whittier. Lived in Orange County, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties.
Had moved out of state twice to Tennessee.
Just recently moved back to my home state of California.
I live in So Cal, missed it, love it.
Beaches, beautiful Coast line, weather.
Iconic song.
California is like 3 states in 1.
Southern, Central, Northern.
All so different and unique.
So much to do here in Cali.
Glad to be a Californian.
I love LA!
@kevinfromvirginia1796
Enrico Palazzo sang the anthem, umpired home base, saved the Queen's life and stopped a terrorist all in one baseball game. Amazing.
@magoid
That Enrico Palazzo is a fraud. I don't know how a guy can sing so bad and still became famous.
@starbreaker6017
🙏😁
@michaelford1418
Hey, it's Enrico Polazzo!!!
@danielnehdar8138
Hahaha 🇺🇸🤘🏼
@lucilovecraft1621
He truly did and defeated Khan 💕
@shrug53
L.A. in the 80s was the best! I turned 16 in 1980. So I was the perfect age in the perfect decade!
@shrug53
@@djohnson4321Sorry about your brain damage.
@danielstone4555
@@djohnson4321
He’s my childhood composer
@bulloguin
2:08 Are my eyes deceiving me or is it true that I see David Paich, Steve Lukather and the Porcaro Brothers playing along Randy...? Boy that’s awesome!!!! WE LOVE IT!!!❤️