As Trouble in Paradise – which gave the world I Love LA – turns 40, we celebrate the satirical singer-songwriter’s best work
To hear Newman assert that vertically challenged people have “no reason to live”, it beggars belief that anyone could have taken his obvious satire at face value – yet Short People sparked a genuine controversy, with reviewers criticising him for his “vicious attack”. Naturally, it became his biggest solo hit – “the worst kind of hit anyone could have”, in Newman’s words – though its reputation as a novelty record does it a disservice.
