Reason and Radical

Randy Newman Concert

I saw Randy Newman with the local symphony on Friday night. He was very good, of course, and very funny. Highlights: he said of his children (4 boys and 1 girl, in that order) that if he'd had the girl first, he'd have thought the boys were retarded. While doing his song about US foreign policy "Political Science," he noted that the first line -- "No one likes us, I don't know why" -- was less relevant these days (we know why they hate us). He referred to "Avalon," for which he wrote the score, as the movie no Gentile has yet seen. He did a hilarious song about rockers who go on way past their prime (a pet peeve of mine) and had the audience sing a chorus of "He's dead! He's dead! He's dead! But he don't know it." Lots of funny moments and of course great music. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

I was also surprised and impressed by the local symphony. Much better than I expected, given that I live in a what could not under any circumstances be described as a metropolitan community.

posted by Leimodnu @ 6:35 PM