#2 with a short bullet

You'd think that if a song was kept out of the top spot in the 1970s by Debby Boone and the Bee Gees that it's a classic. Do you think "Short People" is a classic?

I remember liking it very much when it came out in 1977, when being contrary was becoming an integral part of my personality. I thought the song narrator's nastiness set it apart from other pop hits. (I also liked -- and bought the 45 for -- Ray Stevens' "Shriner's Convention," so don't put too much critical weight behind that contrariness.)

It seems inconceivable now that the song stayed on the charts for 29 weeks and peaked at #2. But I guess it's equally amazing that "You Light Up My Life," which kept Newman from #1, was such a huge hit when viewed retrospectively. It's a hymn, for God's sake!

What have I learned? The Eagles played and sang backup on the song. A bill was introduced in Maryland to ban the playing of the song, but didn't pass. (Is there something about Maryland I don't know?) And the writer thought it "was the worst kind of hit anyone could have. It was like having 'Purple People Eater.' I'd try to watch a ball game and the band would play the song and the announcers would make jokes about it. It was too noisy. I prefer quiet money." Personally, I think that quote is funnier than the song.

If I was a good blogger, I'd post a link to Randy singing it on Youtube, but I can't stand to listen to it more than once.