Short People

Zoo Freaks, get ready for some wild trivia about "Short People" by Randy Newman from his 1977 album Little Criminals, spinning now on THE ZOO! This catchy tune, with its bouncy piano and conga drums, hit No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, but it stirred up a storm. Newman meant it as a satire on prejudice, singing from the perspective of a bigoted narrator who rants about short people having "no reason to live." In a 2017 Rolling Stone interview, he said, "Everyone should know nobody has anything against people just because of their height," but many missed the irony. Radio stations in Boston, New York, and beyond banned it, and the group Little People of America called it "crass." Newman even got threats, later calling the song a "bad break" and a "novelty record like The Chipmunks" in a Wikipedia entry. Despite the backlash, it sold 1.5 million singles, boosting Little Criminals to 750,000 copies.

Here’s a groovy tidbit: the song’s backing vocals feature Eagles members Glenn Frey, Timothy B. Schmit, and J.D. Souther, adding some rock cred. Newman told NME in 1977, "It’s purely a joke. I like other ones on the album better, but the audiences go for that one." A 2020 Reddit post by user SirBanet nailed it, saying the song targets "small-minded prejudiced people" who hate for no reason. On X, user @funplings in 2025 noted how Newman briefly breaks character mid-song to hint at the satire before diving back into the absurd rant. Some fans, like a commenter on Songfacts, speculated it could be about children or even a coded jab at another group, but Newman’s intent was clear: mock prejudice, not height.

Now, let’s rewind to how Randy Newman kicked off his career. Born November 28, 1943, in Los Angeles, he grew up in a family of Hollywood film composers, including uncles Alfred, Lionel, and Emil Newman. By 17, he was writing songs for acts like the Fleetwoods and Gene Pitney, as noted on Britannica. His 1968 debut album, Randy Newman, produced by Lenny Waronker and Van Dyke Parks, was a critical hit but didn’t chart. Covers by artists like Judy Collins and Dusty Springfield spread his early songs, like "I Think It’s Going to Rain Today." His 1970 album 12 Songs, with Ry Cooder’s slide guitar, earned praise from critics like Robert Christgau, who called it one of the best of the ’70s. Newman’s sardonic, Southern-accented style and storytelling shone through, leading to hits like "Mama Told Me Not to Come" for Three Dog Night.

Connect with Randy Newman and his fans! His official website is randynewman.com. Follow him on Facebook (114k followers), Instagram (27.5k followers), and X (16.1k followers). Join the fan community at the RandyGroupTwo discussion group, part of his "Little Criminals" fan club, for some far-out chats with fellow Zoo Freaks!