Shorty Don’t Wait for Short People because Life’s Short when you make a long story short

Hello, Monday peeps! Today is Groundhog Day – since I’m writing/publishing this on Sunday, I’ll no doubt find out what the groundhog’s final say was on winter/spring. 😉

Since it is Monday, you know that Monday means music! This week’s theme is “February is the shortest month of the year. With that, use “short” in song titles or lyrics for your music choice inspiration.” Let’s get this “shorty” party started!

Let’s start with a song whose title is originally a word used for a person of short stature, but has evolved to become an affectionate term for a girlfriend, a usage that was popularized in modern rap music. The group explained how they ended up using the term in a song:

“Ian was playing around with the line ‘Shorty don’t wait’ and we both thought it was the funniest thing ever for him to sing that … and it stuck. This was just a fun tune to write and we just tried to inject some positivity into the world through a three-minute song. Ultimately, we decided I should sing it because the word ‘shorty’ sounds more natural coming from me for some reason.”

Here’s A Great Big World with “Shorty Don’t Wait”:

Next up is a song that might be widely shared today, since it was the first one that popped into my head when I saw this week’s theme. 😅 This song is widely misinterpreted, which generated a great deal of exposure for the song and controversy for the artist.

On the surface, the song makes fun of little people, but “short” is used figuratively to poke fun at those who are short-tempered and small-minded, which is quite the opposite of the literal meaning. A lot of people didn’t get the joke and thought of the artist as a bigot. Many radio stations refused to play it.

The artist was asked if he realized from the start that this song’s irony would be a tough sell. He said:

“I didn’t. I thought, all you gotta do is listen. It’s not like it’s James Joyce. [Then] I realized the medium wasn’t great for that. People don’t listen to music like that, where they’re actually listening. They’re doing all kinds of things. It’s just an irritation.

Because it was a hit, the song reached people who aren’t looking for irony. For them, the words mean exactly what they say. I can imagine being a short kid in junior high school. I thought about it before I let the record get out. But I thought, ‘What the hell?’ I know what I meant – the guy in that song is crazy. He was not to be believed.”

The artist Newman explained that he was adopting the role of

“…a nut that no one would take seriously. I would never write a song to make fun of someone or something. What I’m making fun of his people’s callousness and insensitivity.”

Give a listen to Randy Newman with “Short People”:

Next up, from an artist I’ve never heard of, and couldn’t find any background to this song (and it’s not typically a type I generally listen to, but it does grow on you, and it fits well for this week’s theme). This artist is a Louisiana-based independent southern melodic hip-hop/pop artist known for his YouTube music videos and songs.

Give a listen to Zach Smith with “Life’s Short”:

Last but certainly not least is the final representation of ‘short’, a song by this favorite artist, which reflects on her personal redemption following the events of 2016, when her reputation took a battering. In July of that year, the Pop Princess was humiliated after a video was posted showing a phone call between her and Kanye West.

The clip appeared to show the songstress giving her tacit approval to Yeezy’s references to her in his “Famous” cut; she had previously denied approving his lyrics, and denounced the track as having a “strong misogynistic message.” Here, she references the public criticism she garnered following the incident.

And I fell from the pedestal / Right down the rabbit hole / Long story short, it was a bad time

Around the same time, she broke up with her boyfriend, the Scottish DJ and record producer Calvin Harris. She dove into a fling with English actor Tom Hiddleston, which acted as a release from the emotional stress she was enduring at the time

Pushed from the precipice / Clung to the nearest lips / Long story short, it was the wrong guy

That relationship didn’t last long, and the series of breakups further hindered the artist’s public reputation. Then she fell in love with the English actor Joe Alwyn; this time, she found a safe place and genuine comfort where she could restore her emotional health.

No more keepin’ score / Now I just keep you warm

Without further ado, here’s the amazing Taylor Swift with “long story short”:

That’s a wrap for this week – have a great Monday! See you on the dance floor!

Now, onto the particulars of Monday’s Music Moves Me:

I have the supreme honor and privilege of being a co-host with the inimitable Xmas Dolly and our musical cohort, the awesome Cathy from Curious as a CAThy, and Alana of Ramblin’ with AM!

Want to join in the fun? It’s easy – just find a tune that rocks your boat, post it and link up – don’t forget to grab Xmas Dolly…er, um, I mean her button…over at her place here. Check out Xmas Dolly’s sidebar for the random themes we sport each week – and you can always ask for a specific theme of music you like, too. Check out the other music lovahs and let’s jam!