I imagine every time Randy Newman is on TV, at least half the audience watching asks, “Is this song from a Pixar film? I don’t remember it in Toy Story 2…” Newman’s had a peculiar career: he was a brilliant, sarcastic songwriter, until he became the voice of your childhood. Last night, he played up his first-half side, with a performance of the bitter “I Love L.A.” with the Roots on The Tonight Show.
It was an important history lesson: Newman is more than just the Cars guy, kids.
I cannot hear this song without thinking of the baseball montage from The Naked Gun.
Just when I start getting all mad at Fallon and thinking he’s turning into “Buzzfeed: The Show!” he rolls out Randy Newman and god I love Randy Newman.
Just too bad it wasn’t “Political Science.”