RANDY NEWMAN - SHORT PEOPLE

In 1978, singer and songwriter Randy Newman released his most successful song Short People - an inadvertent novelty song. The song may be one of the most misunderstood hit records of all-time. What appears to be an attack on short people is actually a song about prejudice. Newman jokingly considered the song a "bad break", as it had earned him threats, and a #2 spot on the pop charts right behind Stayin' Alive. After the release of Short People the overly sensitive Maryland delegate Isaiah Dixon attempted ban the song from the airwaves. Newman attacks prejudice and racism with an undercut in a similar way with in his 1974 song Rednecks. Despite his misinterpreted "novelty" hit, Newman is also known for many successful songs. In the 1980's he went on to composing films, and earned dozens of nominations and awards for his work.