3-D CGI FEATURE DESPICABLE ME, FROM UNIVERSAL PICTURES AND ILLUMINATION ENTERTAINMENT, OPENS JULY 9

Soundtrack album includes new music by Pharrell, Robin Thicke and others, plus No. 1 classics by The Bee Gees and The Sylvers

Film stars Steve Carell, Jason Segel, Russell Brand, Kristen Wiig, Will Arnett, Danny McBride, Jack McBrayer and Julie Andrews

NEW YORK, June 15 /PRNewswire/ — Steal the moon? A despicable act… and the obsession of one of the world’s greatest super-villains Gru (Steve Carell) in Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment’s inaugural animated 3-D CGI feature, Despicable Me, opening July 9th. On July 6th, three days before the film’s opening, Star Trak/Interscope Records will release DESPICABLE ME: ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK, featuring new music by Pharrell, Robin Thicke, Destinee & Paris, and others, plus a pair of classics from The Bee Gees (”You Should Be Dancing”) and The Sylvers (”Boogie Fever”).

Surrounded by an army of mischievous little minions and armed with his arsenal of shrink rays, freeze rays and battle-ready vehicles, Gru vanquishes all who stand in his way. That is, until the day he encounters the immense will of three little girls who look at him and see something that no one else has: a potential Dad. Check out the film’s trailers and a sneak peek at: http://www.despicable.me.

In addition to composing the film’s orchestral score for the DESPICABLE ME: ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK, Pharrell also takes the lead on four tracks he wrote and produced, beginning with the title tune, “Despicable Me,” and including “Fun, Fun, Fun,” “Prettiest Girls,” and “Rocket’s Theme.” With superstar Robin Thicke, Pharrell co-wrote and produced “My Life.” In addition to “I’m on a Roll,” by sisters Destinee & Paris (formerly of Interscope’s Clique Girlz), Pharrell also wrote and produced tracks for the film’s mischievous minions (”Minions Mambo”, co-written with Lupe Fiasco), and littlest orphan, Agnes (”The Unicorn Song”). The album is rounded out by two vintage No. 1 disco hits from 1976, by The Bee Gees (”You Should Be Dancing”) and The Sylvers (”Boogie Fever”).

Universal Pictures Presents A Chris Meledandri Production: Steve Carell in Despicable Me, starring Jason Segal, Russell Brand, Kristen Wiig, Miranda Cosgrove, Will Arnett, Danny McBride, Jack McBrayer and Julie Andrews. The original songs and themes are by Pharrell Williams; the score is by Pharrell Williams and Heitor Pereira. Despicable Me’s editors are Pamela Ziegenhagen-Shefland and Gregory Perler; the production designer is Yarrow Cheney. The 3-D CGI film’s executive producers are Nina Rowan and Sergio Pablos. It is based on story by Sergio Pablos and from a screenplay by Cinco Paul & Ken Daurio. The film is produced by Chris Meledandri, Janet Healy, John Cohen, and it is directed by Chris Renaud and Pierre Coffin. © 2010 Universal Studios. www.despicable.me

DESPICABLE ME: ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK – track listing:

1. Despicable Me – Pharrell
2. Fun, Fun, Fun – Pharrell
3. I’m on a Roll – Destinee & Paris
4. Minion Mambo – The Minions
5. Boogie Fever – The Sylvers
6. My Life – Robin Thicke
7. Prettiest Girls – Pharrell
8. Rocket’s Theme – Pharrell
9. You Should be Dancing – The Bee Gees
10. The Unicorn Song – Agnes

SOURCE Interscope Records

RELATED LINKS
http://www.despicable.me

The soundtrack for Toy Story 3 — or more accurately, the soundtrack to your summer if you have little ones – will be made available through online retailers only on June 15, a few days prior to the worldwide theatrical debut of the highly-anticipated sequel. Award-winning composer Randy Newman is at the helm once again performing the majority of tunes with the exception of a special Spanish version of You’ve Got a Friend in Me,which was recorded by by the Gipsy Kings.

Newman’s score for ‘Toy Story 3′ explores diverse directions, ranging from classic Western themes in the opening sequence to the dramatic orchestrations that accentuate the action-packed climax. Newman serves up another defining musical moment with the end credit song ‘We Belong Together,’ as well as the flamenco-flavored rendition of ‘You’ve Got a Friend in Me (Para Buzz Español)’ by the Gipsy Kings. The acclaimed French group recorded it in London at Abbey Road’s legendary Studio 2 (made famous by the Beatles).

Toy Story 3 Track Listing:

1. We Belong Together
2. You’ve Got a Friend in Me (para el Buzz Español)
3. Cowboy!
4. Garbage?
5. Sunnyside
6. Woody Bails
7. Come to Papa
8. Go See Lotso
9. Bad Buzz
10. You Got Lucky
11. Spanish Buzz
12. What About Daisy?
13. To The Dump
14. The Claw
15. Going Home
16. So Long
17. Zu-Zu (Ken’s Theme)

Accompanying the official soundtrack on the same day will be an EP titled Toy Story Favorites. The “Favorites” compilation contains 2 tracks from each of the Toy Story films for a total of 6 songs.

Toy Story Favorites Track Listing:

1. I Will Go Sailing No More” (Toy Story – 1995)
2. Strange Things” (Toy Story – 1995)
3. When She Loved Me” performed by Sarah McLachlan (Toy Story 2 – 1999)
4. Woody’s Roundup” performed by Riders In The Sky (Toy Story 2 – 1999)
5. We Belong Together” (Toy Story 3 – 2010)
6. You’ve Got A Friend In Me (Para Buzz Espanol)” performed by the Gipsy Kings (Toy Story 3 – 2010)

Just to recap, the official soundtrack will only be accessible via digital download through online retailers while the EP will be available for purchase as a physical audio CD. However, a simple request to yours truly to just sing/hum every single song for you on demand is also option. Granted not a very attractive choice …but what would you expect for free?

Source(s):
Walt Disney Records Toy Story 3 Soundtrack And “Toy Story Favorites” EP [DisneyDreaming]
Toy Story 3 soundtrack album preview [The Pixar Blog]

For Disney’s upcoming holiday-time movie, the company has decided to go back to a more innocent era where animated films were created the old-fashioned way — using Silly Putty, tree bark and typewriters.  Okay, okay…I’m exaggerating.  However, they have decided to ditch the current computer graphics format for a traditional 2-D style similar to yesteryear classics such as Aladdin and The Little Mermaid.

While Disney is going retro with one aspect of The Princess and the Frog, they’re breaking old cultural habits in another.  The main character, Princess Tiana will represent Disney’s first princess of African-American descent (out of 9 previous ladies who’ve worn the crown).  This shows through in the film as a lot of the musical numbers accompanying The Princess and the Frog are African-influenced with some New Orleans-style jazz and blues.

Princess Tiana is voiced by actress Anika Noni Rose.  In the featurette below, Rose speaks about her favorite characters and delves into the smooth, uplifting soundtrack of The Princess and the Frog.

“Ma Belle Evangeline”
Walt Disney Pictures
The Princess and the Frog Soundtrack

“Friends on the Other Side”
Walt Disney Pictures
The Princess and the Frog Soundtrack

“Dig a Little Deeper”
Walt Disney Pictures
The Princess and the Frog Soundtrack

“Almost There”
Walt Disney Pictures
The Princess and the Frog Soundtrack

Source(s):
Sneak Peek at the Soundtrack for Disney’s Princess and the Frog [inside pulse]
African-American crowned Disney Princess [The DePaulia]