Randy Newman

Randy Newman (cousin of Thomas and David and nephew of Alfred) was best known early in his career for his songwriting, penning and performing such satirical hits as "Short People," "I Love LA," and "Louisiana 1927." Growing up in New Orleans gave him an excellent background for his first major score, Ragtime. His distinct style of Americana blossomed in his scores for The Natural and Avalon. He collaborated with director Ron Howard on Parenthood and The Paper and with Gary Ross on Pleasantville and Seabiscuit. Other credits include the stop motion musical James and the Giant Peach, Meet the Parents (and its sequel Meet the Fockers), George Clooney's Leatherheads, and Richard Donner's Maverick. Disney's The Princess and the Frog allowed Newman to use his knowledge of the many musical styles found in New Orleans for both songs and the score. Newman became the first composer for Pixar Animation Studios, scoring its first four features and three more since. His Toy Story scores feature lushly orchestrated yet frantic cartoon music, overshadowed by classic songs such as "You've Got a Friend In Me" and "When She Loved Me." Cars mixes small-town folk for scenes set in Radiator Springs with high energy rock for the racing sequences, though the film features much more pop songs than typical in a Pixar feature. Monsters, Inc. contains a highly entertaining blend of swinging jazz and a tender theme for the relationship between Sulley and Boo. Its prequel, Monsters University, eschews the jazz angle for a rousing fight theme complete with marching band snares and quads. A Bug's Life is, for me, his best score (which is not adequately represented on the commercial CD), with an epic theme, menacing music for the grasshoppers, adventurous action, and a tone more serious than that of his other Pixar films. Newman finally got two well deserved Oscars for "If I Didn't Have You" from Monsters, Inc. and "We Belong Together" from Toy Story 3. For those wondering how Newman got so sentimental lately, they only need listen to his acceptance speeches to witness that the bite is still there.

A Bug’s Life*

Cars
Cars 3

Monsters, Inc.
Monsters University

The Natural

The Princess and the Frog
Toy Story
Toy Story 2
Toy Story 3