Please, No More Randy Newman!!

radiohost

radiohost

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Please don't hate wdwmagic land!! Randy Newman is a musical institution. His work on so many films is legendary. Really, what would Toy Story have been like without his work?

But as I type this less than two hours after seeing his latest work in "The Princess and the Frog", can Disney just say "see ya real soon" to Randy Newman?

We are at the dawn of a new "Decade of Disney", launched 20 years ago in 1989 with The Little Mermaid. Audiences left the theatres then and were immediately singing "Under the Sea"...

Beauty and the Beast came along, launching a mega hit song of the films title, with "Beauty and the Beast"

Then came Aladdin, remember "Friend like Me" and "A Whole New World"?? Instant classics...


And as I sit here 2 hours after seeing the latest Disney hit (and this movie is great) I do not remember one song from "The Princess and the Frog"! Great animation, but c'mon...The songs maybe catchy and play well with the New Orleans setting, but Randy Newman couldn't come up with one chart topper?
 
SpectroMan

SpectroMan

New Member
I did agree with you that Randy Newman needed to let go of composing for Disney and Pixar until I saw Princess and the Frog. All of his music, for years now, has sounded exactly the same, but then came along this opportunity for him to write music for a movie set in the city that mostly influenced his composition.

This movie evoked exactly the sound and feeling of New Orleans, and the lyrics actually progressed the story and gave some of the best exposition and character development that a Disney move has ever had. The songs might not be as catchy as other Disney musicals, but Princess and the Frog will be Randy Newman's crowning achievement.
 
radiohost

radiohost

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
I hope so....But the film critics (Ebert, ect...) seem to love the movie, but not its soundtrack.

Take that for what its worth...
 
MousDad

MousDad

New Member
In Toy Story, Randy Newman was being Randy Newman, which was legendary (not only because of the great composition and catchiness, but also the instantly timeless nature of the songs, which was due mostly to his Ray Charles-level, unique, vocal styling). I don't know if, musically, he can be that great being anything else.

But that being said, I'm not seeing PATF until next weekend. I'll share my thoughts on his score then.
 
_Scar

_Scar

Active Member
PatF music imo was some of the best Disney music ever.

Did I like it at first? Not so much. In fact, I swore off EVER seeing the movie entirely, but then the music grew on me, and grew and grew and I wound up seeing the movie. It's one of the best movies out there IMO. Very heart-warming.

The music fits so perfectly and is so catchy!

Chart Toppers?

Down in New Orleans
Friends on the Other Side
Almost There

.... and all the rest :D
 
SirGoofy

SirGoofy

Member
_Scar said:
PatF music imo was some of the best Disney music ever.

Did I like it at first? Not so much. In fact, I swore off EVER seeing the movie entirely, but then the music grew on me, and grew and grew and I wound up seeing the movie. It's one of the best movies out there IMO. Very heart-warming.

The music fits so perfectly and is so catchy!

Chart Toppers?

Down in New Orleans
Friends on the Other Side
Almost There

.... and all the rest :D
Click to expand...

You're nuts man. I want to see the movie, but the music sucks compared to classic Disney/Second Golden Age Disney.
 
Ilovewishes

Ilovewishes

Member
I am most likely all on my lonesome on this one, but I am not a fan of Randy Newman at all. Granted, I've only ever heard him sing in the Pixar films and I have yet to see PatF, but I don't like the songs he did for Toy Story. Love the films, don't rate the songs. The only one I liked was from Toy Story 2 and that was "When she loved me".

I guess I'm just much more of a "classic" fan - my fave songs are Can you Feel the Love Tonight, A Whole New World & Beauty & the Beast.

On the flip side of the coin, my mum loves You've got a Friend in Me and thinks it's the best Disney song ever.

:shrug:
 
C

CaptainMichael

Well-Known Member
"Down in New Orleans" had potential song, but it tries wayyyyyyyy too har and is way too busy. That being said, it is the best song by far. "Friends on the Other Side" was worthy of being in the movie as well.

By far, weak soundtrack when compared to Toy Story, Up, the Incredibles, Lion King, Aladdin, Mermaid, and Beauty.
 
CastleBound

CastleBound

Well-Known Member
I thought the music was really good, just not at the level of past Disney movies. The type of music was called for in the New Orleans area. So it fit very well. Like many have already said, to me they just were 'as' memorable. The movie I thought was great and the music was a foot tapper. Other than that, the music to me didn't make the movie and better or worse.
It was completely obvious who wrote the music, as you could hear his sound throughout. There was a scene where a band was playing a song, which sounded like it was from Toy Story, only to be interrupted very quickly and they changed pace really fast. I think they need to step back and get another composer for the future.
 
T

T-1MILLION

New Member
Randy Newman's music for the film was..ok. But let's face it. John L has a bias with him since he has been recording music for Every Pixar movie basically since Toy Story.

Friends on the other Side was a fun villian song but I know some others like me who could hear Randy's voice in a lot of the songs. It is not that the music was awful, it was fun at times. But I was aware that they were Randy songs with a few of the numbers as if I could hear his voice in my head. I agree with Castlebound though. The music was very well fitting with the time and area of New Orleans.


When it comes to Disney wanting to sell tons of soundtracks and sales related to catchy music that will live on in an almost broadway form(and sometimes broady spinoff form!) they are going to have to get Alan Menkan again. Menkan has that Disney touch from the golden age.
 
_Scar

_Scar

Active Member
SirGoofy said:
You're nuts man. I want to see the movie, but the music sucks compared to classic Disney/Second Golden Age Disney.
Click to expand...


You should see the music paired with animation. It will give you a whole new perspective. You should see the movie!

I think the movie is in the league of LK, TLM, and Hunchback. (my 3 top favorite movie soundtracks)
 

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