Randy Newman’s Dark Secret

NEW YORK, NY- After years of rumors and speculation, Randy Newman fans are finally receiving a long-sought answer to a complicated question: are his lyrics really as simple as they seem, or do they have deeper meaning? Last week, Newman, 63, revealed the latter to be true.

On the Friday, February 8, 2008 episode of VH1's Behind the Music, Newman exposed the heart-wrenching truth about some of his songs that were, for so long, interpreted by many as "simplistic," "wholesome," and "dippy."

"Most of my songs came out of a very dark time in my life when I was drinking and doing a lot of drugs," said Newman, in his signature, nasally voice. "The only reason I'm still alive today is because I was able to use music as an outlet for my problems."

Newman first began producing music in 1968, at the age of 25, but it wasn't until the mid 90's that he achieved commercial success. Scoring films such as Toy Story, A Bug's Life, and Monster's Inc., Newman rose to the top of the charts and earned several Oscar Nominations in the category of "best original score."

The song "You've Got a Friend in Me," which was featured in Toy Story, made Newman a household name among children and families, and he became widely popular after the movie's release in 1995. However, in Newman’s recent explanation of the song, he reveals it to be anything but kid-friendly.

"After I got out of HAA [Heroin Addicts Anonymous] for heroin use, I fell off the wagon and started using more than ever. My girlfriend left me, I was broke...I even sucked beaver cleaver in road stop bathroom stalls just to get some smack. All I could think about was chasing my next high." Newman continued, “When I finally hit rock-bottom, my sponsor stepped in and made sure that I never picked up another needle again. After I got sober, I promised I'd be there for him the way he was for me. That’s what the song is about. It’s about walking through the valley of the shadow of death and meeting the devil face-to-face, and saying “Fuck you, I have people who love and support me, and I’m not done living yet."

This candid revelation comes as no surprise to Newman's cult following of young adults.

"Randy Newman is the shit. Says 24-year-old Tyler Brobowski, a resident of Williamsburg, Brooklyn. "He's like, so fucked in the head, and he writes children's music, and there’s this fusion of, like, drugs and childhood, and it just blows my mind. I can't believe it's taken people this long to figure it out."

Gemina Caldwell, a 22-year-old psychology major at NYU, shares this opinion.

“I'm glad that people are finally hearing the truth about [Newman]. A lot of people say his music is "hokey" and "unimaginative," but they're wrong- he's so much more than that. When I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, there were only two artists I listened to that really spoke to what I was going through. One was Kurt Cobain, and the other was Randy Newman.”

Kathleen Donahue, a 45-year-old mother of two, is also not shocked to hear of Newman's battle with addiction, though she claims she won't be buying any of his albums in the near future.

"I always knew that Randy Newman was no good. I kept telling my husband that I didn't want our kids listening to that filthy music, but he thought I was crazy. Now I finally have proof." She goes on, "I'll tell you something else, that Toy Story movie is nothing but smut. Buzz Lightyear and Woody are, obviously, a gay couple, and I don't even want to begin to think about the unspeakable things they're doing in that toy chest at night. A friend in me? Icky." Mrs. Donahue thinks her children should not be exposed to this disgusting man. "Although my opinion of him has changed from a possible pedophile to a former junkie with homosexual tendencies, he's still a bad influence for children. I'll pass."

Due to such strong reactions to his recent public statements, Newman has decided it's time to take his career in a different direction. On May 15, 2008, he will begin touring with rock legend Ozzy Osbourne, and is also slated to team up with lyrical genius 50 Cent, in a remix of Newman's 1977 masterpiece, "Short People." "It will be off the hook," Newman promises.