Down in New Orleans

Randy Newman, Anika Noni Rose

About Down in New Orleans

"Down in New Orleans" is a song from Disney's 2009 animated film The Princess and the Frog, written by Randy Newman. Several versions of the song were recorded for use in different parts of the film and other materials. The song was nominated for Best Original Song at the 82nd Academy Awards but lost to "The Weary Kind" from Crazy Heart. The full version of the song appears at the title sequence in the film, performed by Dr. John. The song introduces the city of New Orleans and foreshadows the manipulations of Dr. Facilier, the film's main villain. This is the first full song in the movie and the only one during the film not sung by one of the characters (Ne-Yo's "Never Knew I Needed" appears only over the closing credits). Tiana sings both a prologue to the song at the opening of the film, and a shorter version of the song as a finale at its end. Anika Noni Rose, the voice of Tiana, also performed the song in full for The Princess and the Frog: Tiana and her Princess Friends along with songs by other Disney Princesses, including "Happy Working Song", another Academy Award-nominated song. A year before the film came out in theatres, Randy Newman himself performed the song at the 2008 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. The song was nominated for Best Song at the 53rd Grammy Awards; in this category and the Academy Award it lost to "The Weary Kind". "Almost There", another song from the film, performed by Tiana (Anika Noni Rose), was also nominated for the Oscar. more »

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Randy Newman

Randall Stuart "Randy" Newman (born November 28, 1943) is an American singer-songwriter,arranger, composer, and pianist who is known for his mordant (and often satirical) pop songs and for film scores. more »

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10 facts about this song

Series Composition "Down in New Orleans" is the opening song from Disney’s 49th animated feature film, "The Princess and the Frog."
Performer This song is performed by Anika Noni Rose, who also gave voice to the film’s lead character, Princess Tiana. Rose is the first African-American actress to voice a Disney Princess.
Composer The song was composed by Randy Newman, a famous American composer known for his work in Pixar films. Newman has been praised for his ability to evoke a sense of location and culture in his compositions.
Oscar Nomination "Down in New Orleans" was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song in 2009. However, it lost to another song from the same movie, "Almost There".
Style The song is deeply rooted in New Orleans jazz, giving a vivid musical portrait of the vibrant city and its rich cultural heritage.
Released in Multiple Versions There are three versions of this song in the movie, each one sung by a different character - Anika Noni Rose as Tiana, Dr. John as himself, and the Disney Chorus.
Iconic Lyrics The song includes some of the movie's most iconic lyrics like “In the South Land there's a city, way down on the river.” These lines depict the unique vibe of New Orleans and have become synonymous with the film itself.
Recording While recording the song, Randy Newman conducted a 37-piece orchestra in Los Angeles.
Film Placement The song is featured in the beginning of the movie, it encapsulates the essence of the movie and sets the tone for what is to follow, i.e., a magical adventure set in the vibrant city of New Orleans.
Favourable Reception "Down in New Orleans" received positive reviews from critics and audiences, many of whom praised the song for its ability to capture the unique spirit of New Orleans.

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"Down in New Orleans Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 19 Apr. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/35403130/Randy+Newman/Down+in+New+Orleans>.

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