Down in New Orleans (song)
Encyclopedia
"Down in New Orleans" is a jazz
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 prologue 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.
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
song from Disney's 2009 animated film The Princess and the Frog, written by Randy Newman
Randy Newman
Randall Stuart "Randy" Newman is an American singer-songwriter, arranger, composer, and pianist who is known for his mordant pop songs and for film scores....
. 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
Academy Award for Best Original Song
The Academy Award for Best Original Song is one of the awards given annually to people working in the motion picture industry by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences . It is presented to the songwriters who have composed the best original song written specifically for a film...
at the 82nd Academy Awards
82nd Academy Awards
The 82nd Academy Awards ceremony, presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences , honored the best films of 2009 and took place March 7, 2010, at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles beginning at 5:30 p.m. PST / 8:30 p.m. EST. The ceremony was scheduled well after...
but lost to "The Weary Kind
The Weary Kind
"The Weary Kind" is a country song written by Ryan Bingham and T-Bone Burnett for the film Crazy Heart, a 2009 film directed by Scott Cooper starring Jeff Bridges and Maggie Gyllenhaal. Colin Farrell and Bridges perform renditions of the song in the film...
" from Crazy Heart
Crazy Heart
Crazy Heart is a 2009 American musical-drama film, written and directed by Scott Cooper and based on the 1987 novel of the same name by Thomas Cobb. Jeff Bridges plays a down-and-out country music singer-songwriter who tries to turn his life around after beginning a relationship with a young...
.
The full version of the song appears at the title sequence in the film, performed by Dr. John
Dr. John
Malcolm John "Mac" Rebennack, Jr. , better known by the stage name Dr. John , is an American singer-songwriter, pianist and guitarist, whose music combines blues, pop, jazz as well as Zydeco, boogie woogie and rock and roll.Active as a session musician since the late 1950s, he came to wider...
. 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
Ne-Yo
Shaffer Chimere Smith, Jr. , better known by his stage name Ne-Yo, is an American pop and R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, dancer and actor. Beginning his career as a songwriter, Ne-Yo penned the hit "Let Me Love You" for singer Mario...
's "Never Knew I Needed
Never Knew I Needed
"Never Knew I Needed" is a 2009 Single by American pop/R&B singer Ne-Yo. The song was produced by Chuck Harmony. It is the first single from The Princess and the Frog: Original Songs and Score soundtrack. The song had an accompanying music video which was in heavy rotation on the Disney Channel....
" 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 prologue at its end. Anika Noni Rose
Anika Noni Rose
Anika Noni Rose is an American singer and actress known for her Tony Award winning performance in the Broadway production of Caroline, or Change and her starring roles in the films Dreamgirls and The Princess and the Frog....
, 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
Happy Working Song
"Happy Working Song" is a musical number from the 2007 Disney film Enchanted, with music composed by Alan Menken and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz. Performed by the film's lead actress, Amy Adams, the song pays an homage to such Disney songs as "Whistle While You Work" from Snow White and the Seven...
", 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
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, often known as Jazz Fest, is an annual celebration of the music and culture of New Orleans and Louisiana...
.
The song was nominated for Best Song
Grammy Award for Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media
The Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media has been awarded since 1988 and is awarded to songs written for films, television, video games or other visual media...
at the 53rd Grammy Awards
53rd Grammy Awards
The 53rd annual Grammy Awards were held on February 13, 2011, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. They were broadcast on CBS with a rating of 26.6 million viewers. Barbra Streisand was honored as the MusiCares Person of the Year two nights prior to the telecast on February 11. Nominations were...
; 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.