Randy Newman has been a fixture of the Pixar brand since day one. He composed the score for 1995’s “Toy Story” and supplied the original songs, “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” becoming the theme of the franchise. After receiving 15 nominations without a win, he finally took home his Oscar in 2002 for the original song “If I Didn’t Have You” from “Monsters, Inc.”
This year, Newman is back in the thick of the discussion as he has offered up a new original tune for “Toy Story 3,” namely, “We Belong Together.” The song plays over the closing credits (though I could have sworn I remembered it in the context of the narrative), so that could make it tough. But I have a hunch it’ll be fine.
The song is standard Newman/Pixar fare. There’s certainly no reinvention of the wheel going on here and the song is incredibly simplistic (as it would be in a film largely aimed at children). But I don’t imagine all of that will really count against the track. If nominated, it will be Newman’s 20th invitation to the dance.
Have a listen to “We Belong Together” below, and remember to keep track of the Best Original Song race via its dedicated Contenders page here.
[display_podcast]
[Photo: WFUV]
Comments
17 responses to “Listen to Randy Newman’s ‘We Belong Together’ from ‘Toy Story 3’”
I always enjoyed Newman’s songs, but this one doesn’t hold a candle to the previous Toy Story songs (nor does Toy Story 3 hold a candle to the previous Toy Story films).. I’m kind of hoping it’ll be a three-song line-up this year, there simply doesn’t seem to be any songs out there worthwhile.
I agree, other than ‘Toy Story 3’ not holding a candle to the previous films. I think it’s the best of the three.
Why does Pixar and Disney keep returning to him? His unimaginative songs for Princess and the Frog nearly ruined it.
Definitely not as good as “You’ve got a friend in me” or “When she loved me” but it’s a nice song and I wouldn’t mind it it was nominated.
And I must say that the Scott Pilgrim songs, while a long shot, could be nominated particularly “Threshold” and “Ramona” but especially the former because of how it plays in the movie. But I see that you don’t even have them in the conterders section.
This song loses to “Shine” by John Legend from Waiting for “Superman”.
great song
This will get nominated along with 2 songs from Tangled, one from Waiting For Superman and one from Burlesque or Country Strong… I doubt anything else has even a little chance right now
What about the How to train your dragon song??
Wait for 127 hours to release, and everyone will be talking about Dido’s “If I Rise”. Mark my words.
Or some random song from some random french film no one has heard of? Don’t even pretend to know how this category is going to turn out, it just makes you look completely stupid.
Why copy a very famous title from a mega succesful song of Mariah Carey?!
I hate Newman’s fake folsky schtick. It’s why things like “When She Loves Me” (which loses that feeling) are great and things like this (which has it in abundance) just sound generic.
My fourth favorite of the four nominees.
Sorry to disagree with most of you- I think this is an awesome song and one of his best. It ‘s sentimental it’s own right- honoring lifelong friendships & relationships without being mushy gushy- just a great up beat, easily danceable rhythm and up beat tune. I absolutely love it and think the Oscar is well deserved.
It’s incredibly simplistic, yeah, if your not the one trying to compose it, then score it, then sing and play it …. yeah it’s incredibly simplistic if your not doing all that…, just listening…. and it’s quite good the way it closes out the TS trilogy , I don’t think any of us mere mortals, especially the critics on this page, could even pick an appropriate song to end the TS trilogy , let alone come up with something , like Gloria, said, captures the spirit of the whole enterprise so well , well done Randy, you won for this song, as well as a way to honor your work for all three films, you made a mark in movie history I would say
It’s a simple song, but it touches me. You can really hear Woody expressing his love for Andy. Quite beautiful, actually.
[…] Pixar once again turned to Randy Newman to come up with a song for Toy Story 3. The result, “We Belong Together,” is a snazzy, upbeat number, but not all that strong, and not as good as some of his earlier […]
I don’t listen to the songs, cos I read at work and that would just be anynniog to the rest of the orifice. (Also, I may be a bit thick, but when I have tried to listen, couldn’t fathom out how!)I do, however, usually read what you have to say about the songs. I have to admit that I have never heard most of them, but it’s always good when I have.Anyway, what would you replace it with? My suggestion weekly pug update.