Today’s song is from the only non-Pixar film featured this week, and the only non-Pixar animated film Randy Newman has scored for Disney. For its hand-drawn animation, the studio has generally relied on Broadway composer Alan Menken, as well as pop artists such as Elton John and Phil Collins.
The Princess and the Frog was Disney’s first hand-drawn movie since its acquisition of Pixar and the relationship Pixar had with Randy Newman was a perfect fit for this New Orleans-based film.
Newman offered up a soulful feast of New Orleans jazz songs, delivering one of my very favorite Disney scores. The music complements the elegant old-school visuals and is one of the primary reasons I consider The Princess and the Frog one of Disney’s most underrated films.
‘Almost There’ is the show-stopper, and star Anika Noni Rose’s best musical moment, but it’s far from the only gem on this soundtrack. Every song Newman conjured up is infused with the spirit of New Orleans, and great listening either within the film or on its own.
Mama! I don’t have time for dancing;
Thats just gunna have to wait a while.
Aint got time for messing around,
And its not my style.
This old town can slow me down;
People taking the easy way,
But I know exactly where I’m going
I’m getting closer and closer everyday!
And I’m almost there…!
I’m almost there.
People down here think I’m crazy,
But I don’t care!
Trials and tribulations,
I’ve had my share.
But there ain’t nothing gunna stop me now,
Cuz I’m almost there!
I remember daddy told me
fairy tales can come true,
But you gotta make them happen,
It all depends on you!
So I worked real hard each and everyday,
Now things for sure are going my way.
Just doing what I do,
Look out boys I’m coming through!
And I’m almost there…!
I’m almost there.
People gunna come here from everywhere
And I’m almost there…!
I’m almost there.
There’s been trials and tribulations,
I know I’ve had my share.
But I’ve climbed a mountain I’ve crossed a river,
And I’m almost there…!
I’m almost there.
I’m al-most- there…!
Meet Me In Montauk 
Naturally it would be one of the weeks that I’m most interested in that would be the one I need to catch up on commenting. Here goes 😛
I love this movie, and even though the song in at the start of the film, it sets the tone for the whole thing. Disney has a few movies that are at the quality of Pixar, and I think this is one of them. Some movies that try hard to fit in a song everywhere fail, but this one does a great job and the songs become part of what makes the movie amazing.
This was such a great song/scene that made me instantly fall for Tiana. Randy Newman is a gifted songwriter, capable of writing just about any type of song. His work in this film certainly helped to make it successful.
I’m not sure I have sat through this whole movie, though I’ve seen parts. Given my love of the Big Easy and Newman, I believe I need to remedy this sooner than later. I do know the song, however, and like it well enough–though I can’t say it stands out as one of my favorites of Newman, either in Pixar films or otherwise.