Page 31 - ARUBA TODAY

PEOPLE & ARTS Wednesday 2 august 2017
A31

Randy Newman at top of his game on new album, ‘Dark Matter’

By STEVEN WINE of work.” two years ago, well be-
Associated Press Topics include President fore Putin and the 2016 U.S.
Randy Newman’s new al- John F. Kennedy and his election began appearing
bum includes a song cata- brother Robert Kennedy, in the same sentence.
loging American carnage Russian President Vladimir “And now here we are,”
titled, “It’s a Jungle Out Putin and the bluesmen — Newman says, “with him
There,” which he says he plural — Sonny Boy William- playing a big part in run-
doesn’t really believe. son. ning our country maybe.”
Quite the opposite, in fact. The album opens with “The Putin and Kennedy are the
His life is good. Great Debate,” a wild only presidents on the al-
Nearly 50 years into New- eight-minute examination bum, although Newman
man’s recording career, of the science-religion di- says he wrote a song more
he’s still widely beloved by vide with three voices, and than a year ago inspired
the rock ‘n’ roll generation, Newman performs them by Donald Trump’s com-
even though he never sang all. It’s part Scopes trial and ments about the size of his
rock ‘n’ roll. To judge from part “Bohemian Rhapso- hands. The tune has the
concert crowds, his appeal dy,” unlike anything in the singer bragging he’s more
stretches far beyond his Newman canon, and ends generously endowed than
own demographic. with well-deserved ap- In this July 27, 2017 photo, singer-songwriter Randy Newman Trump.
“There are more young plause. poses for a portrait at his home in Pacific Palisades, Calif., to “It ain’t lying if it’s true,”
promote his album, “Dark Matter.”
people coming out the last “Three different voices is Associated Press goes one line.
couple of years,” he says. maybe not the best use The song didn’t make the
“I think they range from of the form,” he says in a cut for the album, and
maybe the late 20s to 105, phone interview from his music marketplace. He follows current events, Newman wishes he had
people my age.” home in Los Angeles. “But “The way the industry is now however, and one result never disclosed its exis-
Newman is actually 73, I couldn’t see a way out of — which basically is 99 per- is the single “Putin,” which tence.
and still at the top of his it, and I’m satisfied I did the cent negative — the one delights in the Russian lead- “It isn’t beautiful. I meant
game on his first studio al- best I could.” thing that’s really great is er’s screen-idol ambitions. it to be obviously amus-
bum of all-new material in The cinematic approach that in this environment, for It includes plenty of laugh ing,” Newman says with a
nine years. “Dark Matter” is makes sense, given New- Randy, doing something lines, including a Greek chuckle. “But I regret ever
a typically engaging mix of man’s success as a film really different and push- chorus known as the Putin mentioning it. The vulgar-
topical tunes, quirky char- composer, and he believes ing the threshold becomes Girls, and a sly dig at Mitch ity of it — there’s no sense
acters, history lessons and the structure represents a a very good idea,” Froom McConnell and Rand Paul. adding to the general vul-
wry asides. The funny stuff step forward for him as a says. “You’re not going to Putin might like it. garity of the world.”
is counterbalanced by a songwriter. He tries some- be facing a record com- “When I finished the song, Newman says he hasn’t
couple of love ballads, in- thing similar on “Brothers,” pany that is going to be dis- I realized it isn’t that criti- made any other attempts
cluding the sad but beauti- where President Kennedy appointed or worried they cal of him,” Newman says. to write about Trump, per-
ful “Lost Without You.” and his brother discuss the don’t have a hit. There was “He doesn’t come off that haps because he antici-
“From the first day of this Bay of Pigs and Celia Cruz, no pressure to conform.” bad. It’s like I’m part of the pates the shelf life would
project, it was obvious he with Newman delivering Newman doesn’t keep up Trump administration.” be short. Newman strives to
really wanted to push him- both sides of the conversa- with music trends anyway. Newman picked a trendier avoid writing songs that will
self,” co-producer Mitchell tion. Froom says such ambi- He says can’t remember topic than he could have lose their currency, mindful
Froom says. “He wanted it tious songs were possible the last pop concert he at- imagined when he began the political climate can
to be an audacious body because of today’s tepid tended. writing the song at least affect the back catalog.q
Sam Hunt makes chart history

with “Body Like a Back Road”

By KRISTIN M. HALL multiplatinum, crossed over good place.”
Associated Press to the pop charts as well Florida Georgia Line’s
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — and jumped into the top “Cruise” benefited from
Country star Sam Hunt has 10 of the Hot 100 all-genre having a remix released
overtaken Florida Georgia chart. Hunt, whose debut with rapper Nelly that
Line for holding the record album “Montevallo” came helped it further cross-
number of weeks atop Bill- out in 2014, wrote the song over to new audiences.
board’s Hot Country Songs with Zach Crowell, Shane But McAnally thinks “Back
chart with his single “Body McAnally and Josh Os- Road” has dominated this
Like a Back Road.” borne. summer because Hunt has
And there are no signs of The inspiration for the snap- taken his time in releasing
slowing down. py and infectiously melod- new music. In this May 21, 2017 file photo, Sam Hunt arrives at the Billboard
Record label MCA Nash- ic song came from Hunt’s It’s the stand-alone single Music Awards in Las Vegas.
ville said Monday that wife, Hannah, McAnally for Hunt this year, with no Associated Press
Hunt’s single has hit 25 con- said. announced date of when
secutive weeks at the top “It was a playful ode to his sophomore album may Other top singles in the for 19 weeks, according to
of the chart, which mea- her,” McAnally said. “He drop. history of the Hot Country Billboard. Florida Georgia
sures radio play, sales and had written a lot of serious “It raced up the charts so Songs chart include “Walk Line scored another big hit
streaming, and edged out stuff about the tumultuous fast that had he put an- On By,” a song by Leroy with last year’s “H.O.L.Y.,”
“Cruise,” which reigned for part of their relationship other song out, it may not Van Dyke, which hit No. 1 which topped the chart for
24 weeks in 2012 and 2013. and I think he just wanted have seen this growth,” in 1961 and stayed there 18 weeks.q
The song, already certified to say that they were in a McAnally said.