Of course, it was written from the POV of a character that Newman invented: a Georgian who witnessed Huey Long berated on the Dick Cavett Show back in the 1960's:


But damn, if it isn't a brilliant song. Paints the "redneck" of the title as not wholly unsympathetic, while also saying something about segregation and racism, not only in the south, but also in the north.

WARNING: May contain language (and ideas) that some people find offensive. But it's Randy Newman, so what did you expect — Disney?
(oh yeah... )


So yeah, to the topic title:
Do you think that any MAINSTREAM ARTIST could get away with writing/performing a song like this today? Or has political correctness effectively censored this type of expression?

It was controversy. AKA SALES. So, yes.

No, I don't think anyone has the balls to put something out there like this, except maybe Kayne or another hip-hop artist. The fake outrage posse would flip out all over cable news and blogosphere.

That character from the Newman song still exists today, but as with all over-generalizations, the South isn't all rednecks, and the "redneck" and his/her prejudice and bigotry isn't exclusive to the region I call home. Yes, I realize that Newman is singing exactly what I just said, but in a much more ingenious way.

Short answer: no.

Long answer: "One in a Million" -- Guns n' Roses.

does 25 years ago really qualify as "today," though?

Not so much, but it did come well after Newman's piece, & got the band crucified.

As much as I love Guns 'N Roses, the difference between Randy Newman and Axl is that Randy was playing a character.

That and the annoying voice.

i would get a kick out of randy newman doing serpentine just once, though

Leon Phelps just vomited.

Tell me about it, can't stand axl's voice.

aren't their voices equally annoying (albeit in different ways)?

Reminded me of this

Just FYI, it was Lester Maddox, not Huey Long. Long was assassinated in the '30s; however, he did right "Every Man A King" which is on that album.

Yeah. I realized that going over this thread just now. Got thrown by the pic of Huey that is on the back of the album cover.

Jesus Christ. Fu is mellowing. Three, four years ago, PopTodd would have been called a paederast for a mistake like that.

Somebody, quick, break up Fu's relationship/marriage. We need the angry Fu!

The funniest part about this song is not the beginning or the "Keeping" part. It's the "Free in a cage in....." that is probably as incendiary as a Public Enemy album.

This song and Blazing Saddles are a product of a bygone era. Today, we much prefer to close our eyes and pretend it doesn't exist.

Given that Disney soundtracks now define the man's career, he's one of the most under appreciated in the business.

This song and Blazing Saddles are a product of a bygone era. Today, we much prefer to close our eyes and pretend it doesn't exist.

Given that Disney soundtracks now define the man's career, he's one of the most under appreciated in the business.