Randy Newman salutes ‘Korean Parents’

Randy Newman’s getting his apologies out of the way early. His new album, “Harps & Angels,” isn’t out until Aug. 5, but he knows he’s going to take some hits for the song “Korean Parents,” a portrait of race relations as played out in public education.

Some Jewish kids still trying
Some white kids trying too
But millions of real American kids don’t have a clue
Right here on the lot
We got the answer
A product guaranteed to satisfy …

Korean parents for sale
You say you need a little discipline
Someone to whip you into shape
They’ll be strict but they’ll be fair

Look at the numbers
That’s all I ask
Who’s at the head of every class?
You really think they’re smarter than you are
They just work their asses off
Their parents make them do it …

Newman’s gotten heat in the past for his use of the N-word (“Rednecks”) and has engendered protests from the height-disadvantaged (“Short People”), but has rarely flinched for what he has sung.

This time, it may be different.

“I don’t know if I’m going to be in a position to defend this one, so I’ll apologize now,” the 64-year-old Oscar-winning film composer said over lunch in Santa Monica this week to talk about his first studio album in nearly a decade.

“There’s nothing actually offensive in it,” he said, “except maybe the music, which is stereotypically Asian. But I know some people will be upset.”

-- Randy Lewis

Newman reveals more details about his approach to songwriting in an in-depth interview, coming soon in Calendar.

Photo by Gary Friedman/Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Dan]

Bad song and in bad taste. If you guys think using stereotypes and racism to make a weak statement that isn't very profound or insightful to be genius then you might find MadTV to be on par with Shakespeare's works.

[Bobby]

I don't find this really offensive, but then I don't also don't really find it funny or interesting. But I'm wondering - does anyone take offense at the idea of "parents for sale"?

[The Engineer]

Mr. Newman:

Good song. I am glad you wrote it.

If I presume correctly, you are Jewish; therefore, your song is somewhat self-deprecating, which is quite fine, if your intent is to bring awareness to a current problem: the growing incompetency in parenting.

I suppose you could have substituted the word, Korean, for appropriate word such as Asian. But in such case, you would have to address the parenting problems of all races -- a hard thing to do in just one song.

Thank you sharing your creativity with the world and sharing your own social commentary.

Yes, my parents made me do it; I worked my ass off, and I am whipped into shape. I love them very much.

[tdub]

If some people are so uttlerly thin-skinned and thick-headed to be offended by this song, then their loss. It is unfortunate that skilled satire is lost on some very inflexible and humorless minds. Anyone who is even minimally familiar with Randy Newman's music should know that he sometimes writes from a satirical standpoint. Oh well, sometimes this inoffensive fact is lost on some very inflexible and hyper-sensitive people.

[Tom]

Wow, Korean people sure are stupid if they don't understand satire.

[diane]

well, as a Korean, no offences taken. It's pretty much true. Koreans think you guys are laughing at Korean parents, but some Korean Korean parents should be satired. Many Korean parents teach math and Korean characters to their 18-month-old children, and think they're genius. ridiculous... I wish they would just let their children have some 'childhood'