The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences has announced today that Pharrell Williams will be performing his original song Happy from the animated hit film Despicable Me 2 at this year’s Oscars show, which will air on March 2. Williams is nominated for the first time in the Best Original Song category. The other nominated songs include Ordinary Love from Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, Let It Go from Frozen and The Moon Song from Her. Despicable Me 2 is also nominated in the Best Animated Feature category. The soundtrack for the film, which also includes more songs by Pharrell and the score by Heitor Pereira is available on Back Lot Music.
Tag: Despicable Me 2
Weekly Film Music Roundup (July 5, 2013)
Three new movies are opening nationwide this week:
Already in theaters since Wednesday is the animated film sequel Despicable Me 2 directed by Pierre Coffin and Chris Renaud and featuring the voices of Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Miranda Cosgrove, Russell Brand, Ken Jeong, Steve Coogan and Benjamin Bratt. Pharrell Williams has written the movie’s original songs and themes and Heitor Pereira (The Smurfs) has composed the film’s original score. Back Lot Music has released a soundtrack album including both songs and score. Check out our previous article for the full album details and to listen to audio clips. Also click here for a video featurette on the music and visit Trailer Addict for a video interview with Pereira at the film’s red carpet premiere in Hollywood and ASCAP’s We Create Music blog for another interview with the composer.
Also opening wide is Walt Disney Pictures’ western The Lone Ranger directed by Gore Verbinski, produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and starring Johnny Depp, Armie Hammer, Tom Wilkinson, William Fichtner, Barry Pepper, James Badge Dale, Ruth Wilson and Helena Bonham Carter. The film’s original score is composed and produced by Hans Zimmer. Walt Disney Records has released a soundtrack album featuring the composer’s score earlier this week. A CD version is set to be released by Intrada Records later this month. Click here for the full details of the score album. Hollywood Records has also released a soundtrack featuring songs inspired by the film by artists including Ben Kweller, Iggy Pop, Shane MacGowan, Lucinda Williams and The White Buffalo.
Behind the Music of ‘Despicable Me 2’
Universal Pictures has published a video featurette on the music of Illumination Entertainment’s animated film sequel Despicable Me 2. The video features interviews with the film’s composer Heitor Pereira (The Smurfs, Beverly Hills Chihuahua), themes and songs writer Pharrell Williams, producer Chris Meledandri and director Chris Renaud, as well as footage from the recording sessions of the score. Check out the video after the jump and also visit our soundtrack announcement for audio clips and the details of the soundtrack album, which was released last month by Back Lot Music and features both songs and score.
‘Despicable Me 2’ Soundtrack Announced
Back Lot Music will release the official soundtrack for the animated feature sequel Despicable Me 2. The album features the film’s original songs and themes by Pharrell Williams and the movie’s original score composed by Heitor Pereira (The Smurfs). Among Williams’ news songs is the track Scream, which also features Cee Lo Green. The soundtrack will be released on June 18, 2013 and is now available for pre-order on Amazon. Check out audio clips below. Despicable Me 2 is directed by Pierre Coffin and Chris Renaud and features the voice talent of Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Miranda Cosgrove, Russell Brand, Ken Jeong, Steve Coogan and Benjamin Bratt. The Illumination Entertainment production will be released nationwide on July 3, 2013 by Universal Pictures.
Heitor Pereira and Pharrell Williams to Return for ‘Despicable Me 2’
Heitor Pereira and Pharrell Williams are returning to provide the music for Despicable Me 2, the sequel to the 2010 animated hit film. Pereira is composing the film’s score and Williams is producing and writing new original songs for the project. The movie is directed by Pierre Coffin and Chris Renaud who also helmed the first installment. The movie’s voice cast includes Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Miranda Cosgrove, Russell Brand and Al Pacino. Christopher Meledandri & Janet Healy (Despicable Me, The Lorax) are producing the Illumination Entertainment production and Ken Daurio & Cinco Paul (Horton Hears a Who, The Lorax) have written the screenplay. Pereira’s and Williams’ music for the original movie was nominated for an Annie Award. Despicable Me 2 is set for a release on July 3, 2013 by Universal Pictures.