March 2, 2011

Randy Newman//I Love L.A.

Recently, a friend posted a facebook update that read, "Enough Randy Newman. He must be stopped. Please. Year after year after year. We need a break." I can only imagine that this post was in reference to Newman dominating another awards ceremony for whatever "Original Score" or "Soundtrack" category was applicable. I like Toy Story as much as the next guy, but I see his point.

That said, this song has kind of crept into the soundtrack of my life, mostly thanks to a man who comes up with some frequency on this blog: my dad.

Much to the general dismay of many other members of my family, my dad has this way of fixating on one song and blaring it from the stereo on repeat all day every day until the next song comes along. He sings it. He whistles it. He quotes the lyrics in the middle of other completely unrelated conversations. Family dinners fill with eye rolls and declarations about the kids being "too damn sassy."

We all know I'm a bit of a nerd about music and as a result, I also get into the occasional "song jag.". Because of this, I think I am the most understanding about this little quirk of dad's. I mostly find it endearing, unless I'm being subjected to the 500th spin of Spirit's "Nature's Way" (Google it).

To get to the point of the story, when dad learned that I was moving to LA, a memory of this song, Randy Newman's ultimate hometown anthem, somehow got jostled loose in his brain and it instantly went on repeat. Siblings groaned. Mom sighed. Dad crooned.

The result of all this: I'm not really sure I love LA. But I do love this video:



I Love LA.mp3

Everybody's very happy
'Cause the sun is shining all the time.
Looks like another perfect day:
I love L.A.
(We love it)

4 comments:

nra said...

I am a total song jagger.

SteveA said...

Thanks for sharing - that's a cool story!

Curt Shannon said...

I can understand how your friend feels, but Newman has an outstanding catalogue - he wrote songs like "Mama Told Me Not to Come" and "I Think It's Going to Rain Today" and at least one brilliant album - "Good Old Boys." Listen to "Rednecks" and you'll never call him saccharine again.

Nice story about your Dad. And 12 Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus (Spirit) is a great album!

g said...

@nra: Me too. It's ok. It happens.

@SteveA: Thanks for reading!

@Curt: Don't get me wrong. I like Newman's songs. Was raised on them, specifically a lot of the two you mentioned. I definitely don't think he's saccharine. Now, Spirit...I can't say that I agree with you on that one.