The Princess and the Frog (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) | ||||
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Soundtrack album by Various Artists | ||||
Released | November 23, 2009 | |||
Recorded | 2008–2009 | |||
Genre | Jazz, blues, soul, gospel, R&B, zydeco | |||
Label | Walt Disney | |||
Producer | Randy Newman | |||
Walt Disney Animation Studios chronology | ||||
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Randy Newman chronology | ||||
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Singles from The Princess and the Frog (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) | ||||
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The Princess and the Frog (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the soundtrack of the 2009 Disney animated film The Princess and the Frog . It was released by Walt Disney Records on November 23,2009,just a day before the limited release of the film in New York City and Los Angeles. It contains ten original songs and seven score pieces,all but one of which were composed,arranged and conducted by composer Randy Newman,who previously worked with the film's executive producer John Lasseter on Pixar's films Toy Story , A Bug's Life , Toy Story 2 , Monsters,Inc. and Cars . [1] "Never Knew I Needed" was written and performed by Ne-Yo. The song had an accompanying music video which featured rotation on Disney Channel. The song was also sent to rhythmic radio on October 27,2009. [2] The songs are performed by various artists most of which lend their voices to characters in the film. The score features African-American-influenced styles including jazz,zydeco,blues and gospel. [3]
"Almost There" and "Down in New Orleans" were both nominated in the Best Original Song category at the 82nd Academy Awards;they lost to "The Weary Kind". "Down in New Orleans" was also nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Song Written for a Motion Picture,Television or Other Visual Media at the 53rd Grammy Awards. [4]
All tracks are written by Randy Newman, except track 1 which is written by Ne-Yo
No. | Title | Performer | Length |
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1. | "Never Knew I Needed" | Ne-Yo | 3:38 |
2. | "Down in New Orleans (Prologue)" | Anika Noni Rose | 0:28 |
3. | "Down in New Orleans" | Dr. John | 2:27 |
4. | "Almost There" | Anika Noni Rose | 2:24 |
5. | "Friends on the Other Side" | Keith David | 3:35 |
6. | "When We're Human" | Michael-Leon Wooley, Bruno Campos and Anika Noni Rose featuring Terence Blanchard | 2:22 |
7. | "Gonna Take You There" | Jim Cummings featuring Terrance Simien on Accordion | 1:46 |
8. | "Ma Belle Evangeline" | Jim Cummings featuring Terence Blanchard | 1:56 |
9. | "Dig a Little Deeper" | Jenifer Lewis featuring the Pinnacle Gospel Choir and Anika Noni Rose | 2:48 |
10. | "Down in New Orleans (Finale)" | Anika Noni Rose | 1:38 |
11. | "Fairy Tale/Going Home" (score) | Randy Newman | 4:17 |
12. | "I Know this Story" (score) | Randy Newman | 5:27 |
13. | "The Frog Hunters/Gator Down" (score) | Randy Newman | 6:04 |
14. | "Tiana's Bad Dream" (score) | Randy Newman | 6:22 |
15. | "Ray Laid Low" (score; with a reprise of "Almost There") | Randy Newman; cameo appearance by Anika Noni Rose | 3:22 |
16. | "Ray/Mama Odie" (score) | Randy Newman | 4:01 |
17. | "This is Gonna Be Good" (score) | Randy Newman | 3:20 |
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [6] |
Filmtracks | [7] |
Matthew Wilkinson of Screen Rant stated that Princess and the Frog is among Disney's finest princess films and found its soundtrack to be outstanding. Wilkinson considered the film’s portrayal of New Orleans culture through its vibrant jazz music, varied songs, and depiction of Mardi Gras to be particularly effective. [8] Grace Magee of Comic Book Resources described The Princess and the Frog as an underrated Disney film, emphasizing that while its visuals can be unsettling, the music is a highlight. Magee noted that the soundtrack includes a significant villain song, "Friends on the Other Side," which serves as a pivotal moment in the film, and praised "Almost There" for its truly beautiful vocals. [9]
Matt Watkins of MovieWeb said that Newman's soundtrack is filled with jazzy musical numbers and skillfully integrates various genres to capture the vibrant cultural backdrop of New Orleans. Watkins particularly praised the lively and empowering "Almost There" performed by Anika Noni Rose. [10] Alexis Petridis of The Guardian asserted that Newman's soundtrack for features a series of excellent pastiches of New Orleans music, including R&B and zydeco, and found its greatest moment to be a tribute to voodoo. [11]
Chart (2009) | Peak position |
---|---|
UK Compilation Albums (OCC) [12] | 63 |
UK Soundtrack Albums (OCC) [13] | 12 |
US Billboard 200 [14] | 80 |
US Kid Albums (Billboard) [15] | 10 |
US Top Soundtracks ( Billboard ) [16] | 7 |
Chart (2023) | Peak position |
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UK Soundtrack Albums (OCC) [17] | 28 |
Los Lobos is a Mexican-American rock band from East Los Angeles, California. Their music is influenced by rock and roll, Tex-Mex, country, zydeco, folk, R&B, blues, brown-eyed soul, and traditional music such as cumbia, boleros and norteños. The band rose to international stardom in 1987, when their version of "La Bamba" peaked at the top of the Billboard Hot 100, and also topped the charts in the United Kingdom, and several other countries. Songs by Los Lobos have been recorded by Elvis Costello, Waylon Jennings, Frankie Yankovic, and Robert Plant. In 2015, they were nominated for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 2018, they were inducted into the Austin City Limits Hall of Fame. They are also known for performing the theme song for Handy Manny. As of 2024, they have been nominated for twelve Grammy Awards and have won four.
Randall Stuart Newman is an American singer, songwriter, pianist, film composer and conductor known for his non-rhotic Southern-accented singing style, early Americana-influenced songs, and various film scores. His hits as a recording artist include "Short People" (1977), "I Love L.A." (1983), and "You've Got a Friend in Me" (1995) with Lyle Lovett, while other artists have enjoyed success with cover versions of his "Mama Told Me Not to Come" (1966), "I Think It's Going to Rain Today" (1968), and "You Can Leave Your Hat On" (1972).
Terrance Simien is an American zydeco musician, vocalist and songwriter. He and his group The Zydeco Experience won the Grammy Award for Best Zydeco or Cajun Music Album in 2008 and for Best Regional Roots Music Album in 2014.
Cars (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the soundtrack album to the 2006 Disney/Pixar film of the same name. Released by Walt Disney Records on June 6, 2006, nine songs from the soundtrack are from popular and contemporary artists. The styles of these songs vary between pop, blues, country, heavy metal, and rock. The remaining eleven pieces are orchestral scores composed and conducted by Randy Newman. The soundtrack was released three days before the film's release into theaters. It was also the fifth Pixar film not to be scored by Michael Giacchino or Thomas Newman. On November 25, 2006, the soundtrack's position on the Billboard 200 shot up from #126 to #47, with a 209% sales increase of 25,000 units. This was most likely due to the holiday season and the fact that Cars was released on DVD. This was the first Pixar soundtrack to ever achieve Gold Certification in the United States. It is now Platinum in the U.S.
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The Lion King: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is the soundtrack album for the eponymous Disney film. It contains songs from the film written by Elton John and Tim Rice, and a score composed by Hans Zimmer. Elton John has a dual role of performer for several tracks. Additional performers include Lebo M, Carmen Twillie, Jason Weaver, Rowan Atkinson, Joseph Williams, Whoopi Goldberg, Jeremy Irons, Cheech Marin, Jim Cummings, Nathan Lane, Ernie Sabella, and Sally Dworsky. The album was released on May 31, 1994, on CD and audio cassette. The soundtrack was recorded in three different countries: the U.S., the U.K. and South Africa. It is the best-selling soundtrack album to an animated film in the United States with over 7 million copies sold, with 4,934,000 copies sold in 1994. Hans Zimmer was awarded an Academy Award for his Original Motion Picture Score in 1995. An expanded version of The Lion King soundtrack, featuring 30 minutes of previously unreleased material, was released as part of the Walt Disney Records: The Legacy Collection series on June 24, 2014. In 2014, Hot Topic released a vinyl picture disc of the soundtrack.
The Princess and the Frog is a 2009 American animated musical romantic fantasy comedy film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. It is inspired in part by the 2002 novel The Frog Princess by E. D. Baker, which in turn is based on the German folk tale "The Frog Prince" as collected by the Brothers Grimm. The film was directed by John Musker and Ron Clements and produced by Peter Del Vecho, from a screenplay that Clements and Musker co-wrote with Rob Edwards. The directors also co-wrote the story with the writing team of Greg Erb and Jason Oremland. The film stars the voices of Anika Noni Rose, Bruno Campos, Michael-Leon Wooley, Jim Cummings, Jennifer Cody, John Goodman, Keith David, Peter Bartlett, Jenifer Lewis, Oprah Winfrey, and Terrence Howard. Set in New Orleans during the 1920s, the film tells the story of a hardworking waitress named Tiana who dreams of opening her own restaurant. After kissing prince Naveen, who has been turned into a frog by the evil voodoo witch doctor Facilier, Tiana becomes a frog as well and the two must find a way to turn human again before it is too late.
Toy Story is the soundtrack album for the 1995 Disney/Pixar animated film Toy Story, with music composed, conducted, and performed by Randy Newman. The soundtrack includes the film score, as well as three original songs written and performed by Newman. It was released by Walt Disney Records on November 22, 1995, the week of the film's release, and the first soundtrack album from a Pixar film.
Toy Story 2: An Original Walt Disney Records Soundtrack is the soundtrack album to the 1999 Disney/Pixar film Toy Story 2. The score for the film is composed by Randy Newman, who previously composed for its predecessor, Toy Story. It was released by Walt Disney Records on November 9, 1999. Although out of print in the U.S., the CD is available in the U.S. as an import and all but one song is available digitally.
"At the Beginning" is a song by Donna Lewis and Richard Marx, released as the first single from the Anastasia soundtrack. It plays during the end credits of the film. It was released as a CD and cassette single on October 21, 1997, on Atlantic Records.
"Never Knew I Needed" is a song written and performed by American R&B singer Ne-Yo for the 2009 Walt Disney Animation Studios film The Princess and the Frog. Produced by Ne-Yo's frequent collaborator Chuck Harmony, it is heard during the end credits of the film and is also the first single from the film's original soundtrack. The song, released and sent to rhythmic radio in the U.S. by Walt Disney Records and Def Jam Recordings on December 27, 2008, and released as a digital download on January 3, 2009, had an accompanying music video which was in heavy rotation on the Disney Channel. The song reached number 56 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The song also has an official remix that features Cassandra Steen. The song is an R&B ballad that features a drum machine, a piano and a synthesizer in the chorus.
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