Opinions on Randy Newman (songwriter for Toy Story, etc.)

[sunhuntin]

i quite like his music. i love the instrumental "mcqueen and sally" from cars. i also love the opening song from ts1... his voice sounds great.

[Giygas]

On the TPatF audio commentary don't Musker and Clements mention that the movie was pitched to Disney as having songs by Randy Newman? What's this business about Lasseter forcing them to use him?

[PixarFan2006]

I think he is a pretty decent songwriter. Interesting to know he got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

[Disney's Divinity]

Tough titty!

I like that expression.

As for Newman, I don't hate him. But his music is largely forgettable. Particularly in his most recent work, TP&TF.

[Elladorine]

I think he's definitely an acquired taste, especially due to his non-glamorous voice (which I actually find a bit charming). I didn't like the music from The Princess and the Frog when I first sampled it, and although I liked it better once I watched the actual movie, still wasn't impressed. But after seeing it several times, some of the songs have grown on me in a surprising way and seem to suit the film well. It may not be as catchy as some of my other favorite Disney music, but I enjoy some of the songs enough to now rank them near the top.

I've always liked his work in the Toy Story movies and felt his lyrics worked well, especially on "Strange Things" and "When She Loved Me." I'm wondering if "Losing You" will be a part of Toy Story 3 as we've heard in the trailers (since it was originally produced for one of his 2008 albums); I hope so since it's a beautiful song that seems well suited for the film. He talks a little about the inspiration behind the song and plays it here.

I also enjoyed the music in Cats Don't Dance. Nothing else of his really stands out to me with the exception of "It's a Jungle Out There," the second theme song from Monk.

[pap64]

I agree with enigmawing in that Randy's music is that of an acquired taste, but I feel he is very underrated as a composer. He IS able to create very fun, memorable songs. I point to "Cats Don't Dance". You have the happy "Danny's Arrival Song", the charming "Little Boat on the Sea", the very Fred Astaire/Gene Kelly "Animal Jam Session", the very sad "Tell Me Lies" and the triumphant "Nothing Gonna Stops Us Now".

Some of the songs in Princess and the Frog were hit and miss, but I think they worked well with the film. I really love "Down in New Orleans", "Almost There", "Friends On The Other Side" and "When We're Human".

Regarding his Pixar work, only "You got a friend in me" works for me. The rest were indeed very forgettable. His Oscar win for "If I didn't have you" was definitely out of pity. I feel the Toy Story theme should have won because it defines the franchise very well. It defines Woody's relationship with Andy, his relationship with Buzz and all of the toys' relationship with each other.

[Kyle]

I'm wondering if "Losing You" will be a part of Toy Story 3 as we've heard in the trailers (since it was originally produced for one of his 2008 albums); I hope so since it's a beautiful song that seems well suited for the film.

Almost positive its not. The one new song he wrote and performs in TS3 is "We belong together", which I haven't heard, but I hear its pretty generic.

[Lazario]

His songs for Toy Story were great.

After that, I have almost no opinion about his work for Disney. Other than: none of it is as effective as what he did for Toy Story.

[toonaspie]

On the TPatF audio commentary don't Musker and Clements mention that the movie was pitched to Disney as having songs by Randy Newman? What's this business about Lasseter forcing them to use him?

The story goes that originally that Alan Menken was to compose the songs for the film (as a means of making this film more marketable and more Disney Renaissance associable) but John Lasseter felt that Randy Newman was a better fit due to the New Orleans setting of the film. Could be that Musker and Clements also felt this way as well.

Normally I'm not a fan of how John Lasseter runs things but this was one of the few things I was in agreement with. I'm sure Alan Menken would've done a great job with the music in this film as well but I prefer the jazz/cajun style that Randy Newman brought to the film.

I think had Alan Menken had done the music, it would've been too Broadway to suit the tone and setting of the film.

[Neal]

Before the film came out, I would have completely disagreed with you...

... but now that I've seen it three times, and downloaded the soundtrack - I fully agree. I love Menken, and know he has range ("The Little Mermaid's" sweeping Broadway style is much different than "Home on the Range's" folksy country tunes), but Newman made some very catchy songs for TPatF, and I listen to them now quite a bit!

I can't wait to hear Menken's 60's-style rock in "Tangled" - I hope it isn't a disaster!

[Kyle]

You can now preview Randy's new Toy Story song here, its the first one.
http://www.amazon.com/Toy-Story-3/dp/B0 ... 8&sr=301-3

From this snitbit, I'm just sorta meh on it. doesn't feel very toy story esk to me. is that a Spanish influence he has in there? that could be why I don't care much for it.

The rest of the tacks though sound brilliant. I was just hoping for a great Randy performed one.

[DisneyJedi]

I can't wait to hear Menken's 60's-style rock in "Tangled" - I hope it isn't a disaster!

Well, if you wanna hear 60s style rock, listen to Little Shop of Horrors. He's pretty good at it.

[Margos]

I think that his music is pretty good. He did a great job with the Toy Stories (especially 2) and TPatF (Oh, and James, too). But his singing voice is just ghastly. I hate listening to him, and I always feel a sigh of relief when other people sing his songs in movies. When he sings them himself... I just kinda shudder a little.

[Sotiris]

I've gained a newfound appreciation for Newman after he admitted his Oscar-winning "If I Didn't Have You" is not a particularly good song.

Q: You've gotta have a special place for Pixar, because they finally got you your Oscar, right?

Randy Newman: Yes, for sure! (Laughing) And as I said, it’s not necessarily the best thing I ever wrote for a movie, at all. It’s not “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” or “Toy Story 2’s” (“When She Loved Me”) Sarah McLachlan thing. A bunch of stuff – you know, I think “James and the Giant Peach” had a couple better songs in it. It was kind of a fluke song! But what the hell? What are you gonna do? That’s fine! It just happens that way.

Source: http://www.mlive.com/entertainment/gran ... nning.html

[Atlantica]

Haha, glad he could admit that, as I fully agree....one of his most generic 'Randy Newman-sounding' songs. Mind you, the competition was pretty crap that year. I do not, however, agree with him winning for TS3 over Tangled. Not by a long shot.

[Sotiris]

I do not, however, agree with him winning for TS3 over Tangled. Not by a long shot.

Or over any other song nominated that year.

[frankf3]

Haha, glad he could admit that, as I fully agree....one of his most generic 'Randy Newman-sounding' songs. Mind you, the competition was pretty crap that year. I do not, however, agree with him winning for TS3 over Tangled. Not by a long shot.

Agreed, "I See The Light" was one of Alan Menken's best songs in his career so far. I was very upset that he lost to a forgettable end credits song.

[PatrickvD]

I actually think If I Didn't Have You is a great song.

But yes, he has written better songs. When She Loved Me was better than You'll Be In My Heart for example.

[RyGuy]

Wait! If I Didn't Have You was from Monsters, Inc. he won for We Belong Together from TS3.

It's such a forgettable song that even WE are forgetting it.

[Sotiris]

Wait! If I Didn't Have You was from Monsters, Inc. He won for We Belong Together from TS3.

He won the Oscar for both songs.