"You Can Leave Your Hat On", "Feels Like Home" and "Mama Told Me Not to Come" were all written by Newman and have arguably become more famous by other artists. Nonetheless, Newman sings his fantastic and often humorous songs in a way only he could. To many, Newman's voice may not be the most melodic but that is often what makes his music so individual and charming. Bob Dylan is very similar, their voices are often nasally and gruff but it is this uniqueness that makes them memorable. They don't have a vocal range, like Mariah Carey or Elton John but it's this difference that makes Newman and Dylan stand out.
Newman has a wonderful capability to tell stories through his music but is often know for his satirical outlook in which he sings from the point of view of another person. For example, "Political Science" is sung from the view of an American Nationalist and the infamous "Short People" is sung by a someone who hates short people. His song "Louisiana 1927"became an anthem for the floods that engulfed New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina.
Chat with audience was prevalent throughout the night, remarking on events such as the Brit awards and his family. This made the concert far more personal and he clearly appreciated the audience being there, something artists often don't always do. Not only did he sing 37 songs but he spoke and engaged with audience.
Nominated for 20 Academy Awards, Newman is firmly in a group of songwriting legends, Bob Dylan said in a interview about Newman, "Not that many people in Randy's class". A voice full of dry wit but at times sorrow with ability to write masterpieces or add a stunning score to a movie. Newman is an underrated singer, songwriter and most definitely a legend of music.
No comments:
Post a Comment