The Great Debate

Album: Dark Matter (2017)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • During this eight-minute epic, Randy Newman pits "true believers" against atheist scientists. The song examines evolution and the 'dark matter' of the album title with the religious side coming out on top, largely thanks to the power of music. Asked by Pitchfork why faith comes out on top, despite not being a believer himself, Newman replied:

    "Faith wins because it's got Dorothy Love Coates, the Golden Gate Quartet, Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Brahms, everybody. I don't know whether I am a music lover, strictly - it's hard to say how I feel about it - but I love good gospel music. No doubt. My side, the agnostic, atheist side, has got nothing like that. There's no great song that's like, 'Let's all not believe and play our agnostic hymnals!' They got everything: the high ceilings, the confessions - man what a hit idea."
  • "The Great Debate" is one of several songs on Dark Matter that switches narration several times between different people. "Some of them took me a long time because they're so goddamn complicated," Newman told American Songwriter regarding the album.

    "It's not a step anyone else is going to be dumb enough to take, but it's what I do," he added.
  • This is Randy Newman's longest ever composition. He admitted to Mojo: "I'm wondering now if the song's too long. Maybe I should have taken the two songs in there, done different versions of them instead."
  • Randy Newman told Uncut: "I definitely do what I'm accused of doing in that song, I create characters as objects of ridicule. 'He doesn't believe anything he has you say nor does he want us to believe anything you say.'"

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Gene Simmons of Kiss

Gene Simmons of KissSongwriter Interviews

The Kiss rocker covers a lot of ground in this interview, including why there are no Kiss collaborations, and why the Rock Hall has "become a sham."

Vince Clarke

Vince ClarkeSongwriter Interviews

An original member of Depeche Mode, Vince went on to form Erasure and Yaz.

Incongruent Opening Acts

Incongruent Opening ActsSong Writing

Here's what happens when an opening act is really out of place with the headliner, like when Beastie Boys opened for Madonna.

Subversive Songs Used To Sell

Subversive Songs Used To SellSong Writing

Songs about drugs, revolution and greed that have been used in commercials for sneakers, jeans, fast food, cruises and cars.

Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat World

Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat WorldSongwriter Interviews

Jim talks about the impact of "The Middle" and uses a tree metaphor to describe his songwriting philosophy.

Bill Medley of The Righteous Brothers

Bill Medley of The Righteous BrothersSongwriter Interviews

Medley looks back on "Unchained Melody" and "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" - his huge hits from the '60s that were later revived in movies.