Christmas in Capetown

[@lukeluke295]

A Man called blindboy boatclub, suggested that I listen to this song

[@jcs2387]

Yep....I'm South African and never heard this song till Blindboy mentioned it.

[@asaf071286]

me too :)

[@garethbull5303]

Late arrival. Blind boy said to listen to his early stuff, so I did. I've a shed load of newman albums and never heard this one.

[@wallofboingo]

Definitely one of Newman's most energetic and emotional live performances. This is great great stuff and the lyrics are a look into the mind of somebody we all know but never truly meet.

[@oxygenpillowmusic3037]

hell yes. i grew up on my dad listening to randy newman music. he was always laughing at randy's cleverness and admiring his wonderful, versatile songwriting. naturally i just ate it all up. hardly anyone my age knows or appreciates his music, only they just say "randy newman? like in the family guy episode??" ok i admit that s*** was really funny. but randy newman's music is very dear in my heart. some of the most cutting and touching songs i know of. respect! i freaking love you randy newman.

[@daniellokey9442]

There isnt much in art that I have spent more time thinking about than Johny Cutlers birthday and how the actual meaning of Marie is mind F CITY.

[@RichardSimmons-h8x]

That's an Anglican hymnn we sang during Advent

[@friskydingo416]

Me too. My niece just sent me the Blindboy podcast link today and Blindboy recommended this song. Great minds...

[@Mr.G0190]

Best version

[@pkeltz]

Finally some REAL Randy Newman videos.

[@Tokopol]

Absolutely brilliant, Mr. Newman. As always.

[@MobiusBandwidth]

the most daring songwriter of the last century. brilliant and often misunderstood. Stephen King writes about murder and no one thinks he's a murderer. Randy writes about racism and people assume he's racist. he's anti-racist.

[@briansmith2160]

Nah, and that's a good thing

[@MySoggyCornflake]

Please come to Cape Town, Randy! :D We've all got a friend in Randy Newman.

[@jeffbrunswick5511]

It is rare to see Newman play with such passion and aggression. He clearly preferred more nuanced versions of his songs, considering how many orchestral accompaniments he wrote. I prefer him just as he is here. It really showcases his skill as a pianist and the passion brings the songs to life.

[@moehio]

Brilliant.

[@PaulDayPrivateEye]

Newman writes characters, not songs per se. So, if the character would use the word then he'll use it too. That's called art.

[@ginarockyulli]

Tolles Video von Weihnachten in Kapstadt. Gruss Ulrike

[@bapyou]

It's an old(er) book (early 70s), but worth your time to read. Read also the chapter on Sly Stone. You will see the history of gansta rap decades before gangsta rap came to be. The story of Stagger Lee, according to Marcus, is a folk tale that's been floating around Black America for generations; the story of the biggest, baddest mutha on the block. It's a stance that Sly Stone faced down in his life and artistry. It's a stance that gansta rap, consciously or unconsciously, embodies.

[@bapyou]

Mystery Train is a powerful book. Full of resonance.

[@alang.411]

so cool

[@fredfat1606]

only newman can do a song like this

[@wallofboingo]

@MrAtishraja he says it twice in this song and both times it has an impact and is within the character of the piece. Taint nothin' to complain' 'bout!

[@bapyou]

Jacob: No. I'm not overselling Newman. He has his place in the American popular music scene. His niche is what it is; nothing more, nothing less. You think he's boring. It's because (in all likelihood) you're a person who requires a high amount of stimulus in order not to be bored. A common American trait. Personally, I'm never bored. Not all, but much of Newman's best work is too intelligent for most. For this reason he'll probably never connect to the masses.

[@eduardoyoung21]

"And I don't actually go onto certain videos to starting arguements. I just clicked a link." JacobTrue, 4 months ago

[@sergiestevecarbo7310]

merry xmas to me

[@golfsmoore]

Randy - yea - Just Randy - any good !!!

[@Marnavot]

And BTW, I also liked Will Sasso's impression of RN, it's funny (even though RN is one of my favorite musicians).

[@bapyou]

Read Greil Marcus's essay on Newman in one of the greatest books ever written about popular music in America: Mystery Train. You'll get a better perspective on Newman's art.

[@Marnavot]

Hey, JacobTrue, I totally agree- you have a right for your own opinion. So, dear fellow Randy Newman fans, try convincing him instead of attacking him! JacobTrue, it's too bad you're relying only on sound, and not on lyrics and content, because you're missing out on some great songwriters. Many people say that Dylan also sounds crap, but he's one of the greatest songwriters ever lived, and so is Newman (in my opinion). Both are NOT singers, but are great songwriters.

[@ajdc88]

the opening chords sound like When Frederick Was A Little Lad from Pirates of Penzance

[@blaskode]

Maybe, but it sounds to me like it's lifted from Bach.

[@filthyfil024]

Jacob you have to take into account that this was made back in 1983. Things were different then. People spoke differently. Don't assume that someone is racist just on the soul case of using one word.

[@bapyou]

JacobTrue: "what do you mean by me being english and 19 years old 'explains a whole lot'?" Here is what I mean, Jacob: Randy Newman's songs are American with a capital 'A'. They r-e-s-o-n-a-t-e with AMERICANS. The references within most of his best songs are AMERICAN. Now, granted, from the song posted here, you may not come to that conclusion; but this would only be true if 'Christmas in Capetown' were the only song you have ever known of Newman. Newman speaks to the soul of America.

[@X0TangoX0]

@frankthetank383 What? If you don't like it, leave. The greatest American Songwriter/composer of the last quarter of the 20th century and into this one.I like his songs about murder too. Even learned one. I'm sorry. Just re-read. You like him too.

[@didi11326]

I love South Africa

[@blackheartlewis]

does anybody have the bbc documentry made about randy, it was shown about 3 years ago.if you do please upload as mine got taped over and ive never forgiven myself.

[@IronInDaFace]

@mypalrocco I don't think you understand the irony of this song...

[@bapyou]

Here's what I mean: Give it a rest.

[@wallofboingo]

@MrAtishraja Hey man, he might actually like this song for the same reason a lot of other people do.

[@bapyou]

Jacob: You completely miss the point of Newman's song. In many many of Newman's songs, he is adopts a PERSONA. The persona he adopts for this song - written when the apartheid government of South Africa was crumbling - is that of a white South African who is seeing his race's hegemony slip through their collective fingers. So: The character - from whose perspective this song is being sung - is the one who is really enjoying the use of the N word.

[@HumanCarBomb]

I'm only Fifteen years (15) late, but that's the perfect explanation! (-;

[@bapyou]

Well, Jacob, my claim was not that Newman is America's most EXCITING songwriter (whatever an exciting songwriter is), I wrote that "no one in the songwriting game even comes close to Randy Newman's biting satirical wit". This is a statement about satirical wit as much as it is about Randy Newman. So whose songwriting comes close for satirical wit? Please give me a name.

[@bapyou]

Jacob: "I like a band called DragonForce...the best speed metal band I have ever heard." Speed metal. (rolls eyes) Not exactly a musical genre. More like an athletic workout. Newman has used very metal sounding guitars in the production of some of his songs, btw. Check out 'It's Money that I Love'. Speed metal. (rolls eyes) (rolls eyes again) (walks away shaking head, rolling eyes)

[@bapyou]

Jacob: Awards don't always equate with greatness, but no one in the songwriting game even comes close to Randy Newman's biting satirical wit. He will never be appreciated as he should because America is full of dimwits. Who else has writen or is capable of writing a song with the historical sweep and vision of 'Sail Away'? Or the historical emotion of 'Louisiana 1927'? Or the humor/satirical eye of 'It's Money that I Love' and 'My Life is Good'? Answer: No one.

[@sptfgpn]

No. You're right. I don't.

[@bapyou]

Give it a rest.

[@tuttlemsm]

Is someone making coffee? Because something smells bitter....

[@bapyou]

cont: Many (most?) of Newman's songs are written in the third person, and, in this song, he is singing from the perspective of a white South African decrying the loss of white hegemony. Why wouldn't someone within that mileau/in that position use such a word? You must address the content of THE SONG in the historical CONTEXT during which in was written. The song and its context are inseparable. And, if this song is all you know of RN, you speak from an uninformed, reactionary POV.

[@harmonium8198]

You're right about the perspective and subject matter of this song, but I would like to offer one correction: Most of Newman's songs are actually written in first person, including this song. That is, the narrator/singer refers to himself in the first person (e.g., "They love OUR music," "stayin' with ME at MY place," "I tell her," etc). It seems that you are thinking instead of how Newman himself is typically not the character in the song, in which case we might say the songs are persona songs and/or employ an unreliable narrator, which is certainly the case with "Christmas in Capetown." It is important to recognize, though, that the chilling power of a song such as this one results partly from how it is presented in the first person, so that we cannot escape the mind of the character: the song provides no comforting distance from him.

[@wallofboingo]

@MrAtishraja Hmm, guess thats why my friends call me "quite a character".... *rim shot*

[@bapyou]

I understand music far more than you realize. Much of what you young folks refer to as music, is nothing more than your own little cult bands with which you exclude the world. Art steps up to the plate (American phrase there), and addresses the world. It's not about some little group of the select initiated.

[@tuttlemsm]

Except for all those Grammies and Oscars....

[@Tokopol]

Sounds like you have some issues.

[@bapyou]

"musical taste is pointless to debate" Then why are you?

[@bapyou]

Well, you're English. And you're 19 yrs old. That explains a whole lot. Newman is (frequently) very very very American in what he writes about. And yes, I don't know you and made an assumption in my last comment. But you didn't address the important part of my last comments to you. I guess you're not knowledgeable about music enough. Music is not about who can beat up who. That's boxing.

[@bapyou]

Well, Newman's music is quite interesting and it can rock hard at times. Unlike speed metal, his music - aside from its lyrics - is quite dynamic, and highly varied. Not all of his songs sound like "gloomy strained vocals and boring piano". You don't have to like Newman, but I thnk you haven't listened to all of his music, as some of us on this post have. Speed metal? Same thing: Over and over: Fuzz guitar, fast drums; fuzz guitars, fast drums. Talk about BORING! It's for kids.

[@wallofboingo]

@MrAtishraja I don't 'like' saying it and have never uttered it with genuine hate, but I dont wanna restrict a particular word from my vocabulary when it could work in certain instances just because some people might freak out about it. I dont wanna let culture dictate what I'm allowed to say or do. Your own heart and mind should dictate your language.

[@Marnavot]

An opinion to what?! (-; (should be: an opinion, too.)

[@bapyou]

No thanks. Maybe you should also find yourself a girlfriend. Or a guy, if that's your thing. You've wasted far too much energy on this post. Cheers, public schoolboy.

[@bapyou]

You sound like a conservative Republican here in the states, crying woe. You can't change the facts of class. And age has nothing to do with anything. The real issue is you posting sweeping comments about an artist about whose work - admittedly - you know little. Please stay in England, and make comments on Cold Play videos. OK?

[@bapyou]

Get... ...a life. ....some taste.

[@sptfgpn]

Thanks. I've done as you suggested. I'm no clearer. The song appears to be a rather hostile towards black South Africans.

[@JazzySaxE]

he said nigga? wtf?

[@sptfgpn]

I'm a bit baffled by the lyrics. He seems to be justifying apartheid.

[@jwaldhelm]

He’s singing it from the perspective of a white South African who believes in apartheid and is seeing it slip away.