Randy Newman: Live at Convocation Hall in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

By Adam D. Miller

"I would have come sooner if someone had offered me more than $200," joked Randy Newman, referring to the fact that he had not played Toronto since the early 1980s. It was certainly a long time coming when the singer-songwriter known for his cynical, satirical lyrics performed at the University of Toronto's Convocation Hall. His long-awaited return had initially been planned for March 2006, but had to be postponed for more than six months due to injury.

Newman and his audience, consisting mostly of academic-looking 50- to 60-year-olds, were all in good spirits. The performance, like most from Newman in recent years, was intimate – just the man and his piano – so it was a great opportunity to watch one of popular music's most talented songwriters dissect some of his greatest work with an air of spontaneity. Newman played a total of more than 30 songs from his rich back catalogue, along with a few so new they haven't even been recorded yet.

The evening began with "It's Money That I Love," an ode to capitalism that originally appeared on 1979's Born Again. After the song, Newman joked that he always liked to begin his shows with a spiritual. He then launched into `Greatest Hits' mode, with some of his finest work, including classics like "Mama Told Me Not To Come," "Short People" and "You Can Leave Your Hat On," as well as newer songs from 1999's Bad Love, such as "I Miss You" and "The World Isn't Fair." Newman also treated the audience to some new songs, such as the hilarious and poignant "A Few Words in Defense of My Country."

Not surprisingly, Newman's wit came across not only in his songs but also through stories and jokes told throughout the evening. "The World Isn't Fair" was preceded by a story about his children's private schooling. Likewise, he provided a short synopsis of Toy Story before launching into "You've Got A Friend In Me."

So much attention is paid to Newman's cynicism and satire that we often overlook the sheer beauty of his music. On ballads such as "Marie" and "I Miss You," and later on "I Think It's Going To Rain Today," the audience held its collective breath until the final notes were played.

"Political Science," a song penned in 1972 that remains eerily relevant today, closed the first half of the concert. Not surprisingly, it received the most enthusiastic response of the evening. The line "Africa's far too hot and Canada's too cold" in particular received an animated reaction from the audience, despite the fact that most people had probably heard this song dozens of times before.

After a short break, Newman returned to the stage for more hits and fan favorites, beginning with "Last Night I Had A Dream" from Sail Away. The second set also included Land of Dreams' "Dixie Flyer" and Bad Love's "The Great Nations of Europe," in which Newman sums up "the last 400 years of Western Civilization in 3 minutes and 25 seconds."

Because of the intimacy of the performance, the audience largely saved its applause for between songs. But about half way into the second set, when Newman asked the audience if there was anything he hadn't played yet that they'd like to hear, dozens of song titles were announced simultaneously. Then Newman started to tell the story about seeing Lester Maddox on the Dick Cavett Show. The three tunes from Good Old Boys ("Rednecks," "Louisiana 1927" and "Guilty") that followed were among the high-points of the evening, "Louisiana 1927," in particular, can't help but sound poignant today, after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.

Newman emerged again for a brief encore that featured two of his most affecting songs: "Sail Away" and "Feels Like Home". The latter was a particular treat since it's a song Newman hadn't recorded (at least not as a singer).

Randy Newman is not only one of America's finest songwriters – he happens to be a great performer to boot. His songs remain so relevant today that it's a shame more listeners, especially younger ones, aren't aware of them. Still, it was fun to be a part of a crowd who knew better.

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