Randy Newman’s piano-powered social satire delights mellow but appreciative Meijer Gardens crowd

The Grammy- and Academy Award-winning songwriter made his Meijer Gardens debut on Thursday, playfully skewering politicians, Hollywood, himself and well, music, at a Steinway grand piano. (Review, photo gallery)

Piano Man: Randy Newman on the Meijer Gardens stage on Thursday. (Photos/Anthony Norkus Photography)

Is Randy Newman the original meta artist?

Self-referential and smiling sideways at the crowd long before today’s cool kids even thought to ironically sport over-sized spectacles, skin-tight shorts, and rock out to the likes of, well, Randy Newman?

TRICIA WOOLFENDEN LocalSpins.com Review

The prolific singer-songwriter certainly does know how to laugh at himself and all the trappings of his profession. He did just that Thursday night during his one-man-and-a-piano performance at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. During the 34-song set — which clocked in at just less than two hours — Newman playfully skewered Hollywood, the music industry, vanity, politicians, the United States, every country that isn’t the United States, Marxism, capitalism, women, men, the rich, the poor, and of course, short people.

Newman’s favorite target, however, is himself. That and the somewhat delightful absurdity of a culture that worships fame, wealth and greed. (See “It’s Money That I Love” and “I’m Dead [But I Don’t Know It]” for examples of this.) Aging and a growing sense of mortality also are favorite themes. Anything, really, is fair game for a song. And, hey, when you’ve composed as many as Newman, you’re bound to cover a lot of ground.

Newman’s set primarily vacillated between jokey larks and biting — in his own words, vicious — social satire. Those few moments in which he was sincere were perhaps the most effective. “In Germany Before the War,” a chilling song with a lovely melody, suggests there’s more to the Academy Award winner’s oeuvre than goofy characters and tongue-in-cheek rhymes. It would’ve been nice if he’d revealed that side just a few more turns at the Gardens.

An audience of just under 1,000 embraced the award-winning songwriter.

THE VIBE

Mellow as mellow can be. The crowd was just shy of 950, with folks enjoying the extra elbow room and ideal weather. People did join in on not one, but two, sing-along numbers. A handful of enthusiastic attendees meandered down to the front to dance to the two-song encore. Otherwise, polite, appreciative and pretty chill.

THE NIGHT’S BIG MOMENTS

“Short People” elicited the expected laughs, while “Political Science” and “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” fared equally well.

THE BANTER

So many one-liners, and strange and funny meandering stories, so little room. A few highlights:

“I’m going to do one more, go shoot up and have a drink, and come back.” – Before launching into the last song of the first set, which was followed by a 20-minute-or-so intermission.

“You’re not THAT famous.” – Imitating his young daughter’s analysis and critique of his preference for sitting with his back to the crowd in restaurants and other public places.

“You may have noticed, no one is retiring.” – Said in reference to the music industry, currently populated by, ahem, mature artists who refuse to quit touring.

“Take it!…It gives the illusion of having a band without having to pay them.” – Said before throwing to himself on a piano riff.

RANDY NEWMAN: THE LOCAL SPINS PHOTO GALLERY

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