RANDY NEWMAN

November 2003
		Award-winning musician, songwriter and composer Randy Newman has released a retrospective look at his career, "The Randy Newman Songbook." The artist answers your questions about composing for movies, his latest album and his life of music. RealAudio: Arts correspondent Jeffrey Brown talks with Newman about his life and work.

Forum Introduction Are there any other songwriters today who approach the task the way you do and if so, is that why I haven't heard of them? How should entertainers be viewed for their political views? What do you think of the current state of the music industry? Do you feel a desire to pass along your experiences, advice and wisdom to aspiring songwriters? What was it like working with Harry Nilsson? I was wondering which songwriter(s) among your contemporaries do you admire most? What was it like to finally receive your Best Song award after all of those nominations? What is there about music that sustains you? In some of your songs you take a sarcastic look at the U.S. and life in the U.S. In retrospect of your career and as an American, how do you see the state of the U.S.?	Paul Wein of Brooklyn, N.Y., asks: Are there any other songwriters today who approach the task the way you do and if so, is that why I haven't heard of them? Randy Newman responds: I don't know if there are other songwriters who write with different characters as the narrator. Some of the rappers probably do. I've heard Neil Young do it — be somebody less intelligent than he is. I don't listen much to what's going on now; I've heard Good Charlotte because of my kids and 50 Cent and Nelly. They're all good. Richard Estrada of Austin, Texas, asks: How should entertainers be viewed for their political views? Is there room, generally, for those in entertainment to have an equal voice in politics to that of, say, a politician, professor or economist? Are their views worthy of their media attention as much as 'experts' views? Randy Newman responds: In general, I don't think entertainers should have a disproportionate influence on the political views of the public. We're entitled to our views and to let them be known. But sometimes the more successful one becomes in this field the less they know about life as it's really lived. The real world is not home to many of us. Photograph of Randy Newman by Pamela Springsteen