Randy Newman: Harps and Angels
September 4th, 2008 by Steve BowbrickThe thing about Randy Newman—let’s be honest—is that you have to be fairly old to appreciate just how often he starts a line with “So anyway…” Something about those two melancholy words makes me want to cry every time. Why? I suppose they’re about resignation, or at least acceptance. Acceptance of the sediment of missed opportunities and paths not taken that you accumulate as you get older. Newman’s acknowledging the passage of time: the busy, messy, hysterical business of getting to middle age.
So anyway… NPR ran a special live performance of his latest album (which is billed as a ’song cycle’) on 5 August and I grabbed the MP3 but I’m so afraid that the whole American public service media establishment might explode if I share it here that I’m going to suggest you get over there and listen to it yourself while you can. It’s a mellow, thoughtful treat… but probably not for you youngsters.
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