Archive for Disney Music

Walt Disney Records Set To Release Zootopia Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

Walt Disney Records releases the Zootopia soundtrack which features score by Oscar®-winning composer, Michael Giacchino and the end-credit song “Try Everything” performed by Grammy®-winning artist Shakira.   The original motion picture soundtrack will be available wherever music is sold today, March 4, 2016.   Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Zootopia,” a comedy-adventure directed by Byron Howard (“Tangled,” “Bolt”) and Rich Moore (“Wreck-It Ralph,” “The Simpsons”) and co-directed by Jared Bush (“Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero”), opens in theaters on March 4, 2016.

The modern mammal metropolis of Zootopia is a city like no other. Comprised of habitat neighborhoods like ritzy Sahara Square and frigid Tundratown, it’s a melting pot where animals from every environment live together—a place where no matter what you are, from the biggest elephant to the smallest shrew, you can be anything. But when optimistic Officer Judy Hopps arrives, she discovers that being the first bunny on a police force of big, tough animals isn’t so easy. Determined to prove herself, she jumps at the opportunity to crack a case, even if it means partnering with a fast-talking, scam-artist fox, Nick Wilde, to solve the mystery.

Award-winning composer Michael Giacchino marks his first-ever feature collaboration with Walt Disney Animation Studios for “Zootopia.” Featuring an 80-piece orchestra and conductor Tim Simonec, Giacchino’s score reflects the diversity of the world.

“In a world as vast as Zootopia, we needed someone who could deliver a score that can feel exotic and powerful, but also provide that same emotional intimacy,” says director Byron Howard. “We tell stories with images, Michael tells stories with music. ‘Zootopia’ is a massive film with deep emotional themes running throughout the story, and Michael was the perfect choice to bring the music of this extraordinary animal world to life.”

Adds director Rich Moore, “Zootopia is a thriving metropolis inhabited by animals from around globe, and Michael’s music has captured a wonderful international spirit that marries perfectly with the visuals. I’m very excited for audiences to experience this incredible new world we’ve created together.”

According to the composer, the score is very diverse instrumentally. “There are flavors of world music sprinkled in everywhere. But at its core, the score always follows the emotional story of Hopps and Nick.”

Giacchino’s credits feature some of the most popular and acclaimed film projects in recent history, including Disney•Pixar’s “Inside Out,” “The Incredibles” and “Ratatouille,” as well as “Jurassic World,” “Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol” and “The Dawn of the Planet of the Apes.”  His score for Disney•Pixar’s 2009 feature “Up” earned him an Oscar®, a Golden Globe®, the BAFTA®, the Broadcast Film Critics’ Choice Award and two Grammy® Awards.

“I am really proud to be a part of this film,” continues Giacchino. “It’s one of those films with a huge heart and wonderfully realized characters set within a story that’s not only incredibly fun and entertaining but takes an honest look at our own world and the important issues we deal with living in such a diverse society.  That’s what really attracted me to the film—the chance to write music that reflects these kind of challenges.”

Performed by Shakira, “Try Everything” exemplifies Judy’s journey from small-town bunny to big-city cop. The original song was written by Grammy® winning singer-songwriter Sia and songwriting duo Stargate. “I think that they really captured the spirit of the movie,” says Shakira, “not only in terms of the music, but the lyrics, too. It’s a song about being unafraid of your dreams and being willing to fight for them.”

The Zootopia soundtrack is now available at iTunes http://smarturl.it/zsa1, Amazon http://smarturl.it/zsama1, and wherever music is sold.

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Kindermusik and Disney Junior Team Up to Create Harmonious Program

Kindermusik® International, the world’s leader in music and movement education, today announced a new  exclusive “Rock & Roar” program to bring the musical adventures of Disney Junior’s newest hit series “The Lion Guard” to Kindermusik Studios throughout the United States.  Kicking off this February, the fun-filled, 45-60 minute classes for children ages 2-5 will explore the African savannah in a rip-roaring, fast-moving adventure, all set to the thunderous beats of “The Lion Guard” soundtrack. Along the way, kids will learn to build relationships, develop language and literacy skills, enhance balance, flexibility, and coordination, learn steady beat, and explore pretend play.

“We are thrilled to be working with Disney Junior to provide our families with this one-of-a-kind experience,” said Scott Kinsey, President and CEO of Kindermusik International. “Through this program, we’re able to blend our expertise and research-proven education methods with Disney Junior’s beloved characters and storytelling, delivering an exceptional experience for children and families enrolled in Kindermusik.”

Disney Junior’s “The Lion Guard” animated series continues the epic storytelling of “The Lion King” and follows Simba and Nala’s second-born cub, Kion and his diverse group of friends as they unite to protect the Pride Lands.  Kion and his friends were introduced this past November in Disney Channel’s animated television movie “The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar,” the #1 primetime cable TV telecast of 2015 among Kids 2-5 and the #1 animated telecast across kid cable-TV networks among Total Viewers and Adults 18-49.

Visit www.kindermusik.com/thelionguard to learn more or to find a class near you.

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Walt Disney Records Set To Release “The Finest Hours” Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

A heroic action-thriller, “The Finest Hours” is based on the remarkable true story of the most daring rescue mission in the history of the Coast Guard. Presented in Digital 3D, Real D 3D and IMAX® 3D, the film transports audiences to the heart of the action, creating a fully immersive cinematic experience on an epic scale.  “The Finest Hours” original motion picture soundtrack features score by award-winning composer Carter Burwell and will be available digitally on January 29, 2016.  “The Finest Hours” storms into U.S. theaters on January 29, 2016.

Carter Burwell has scored over 80 films, including “Blood Simple,” “Raising Arizona,” “Miller’s Crossing,” “Barton Fink,” “The Hudsucker Proxy,” “Rob Roy,” “Fargo,” “The Spanish Prisoner,” “Gods and Monsters,” “Velvet Goldmine,” “The General’s Daughter,” “Three Kings,” “Being John Malkovich,” “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” (BAFTA Nominee for Film Music), “Before Night Falls,” “A Knight’s Tale,” “The Rookie,” “Adaptation.”, “Intolerable Cruelty,” “The Ladykillers,” “No Country for Old Men,” “In Bruges,” “Burn After Reading,” “Twilight,”  “Where the Wild Things Are” (Golden Globe Nominee for Best Original Score), “A Serious Man,” “The Blind Side,” “The Kids Are All Right,” “True Grit,” “Twilight: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 & 2,” and “The Fifth Estate,” “Mr. Holmes” and “Legend.” Burwell received his first Oscar nomination for Best Original Score for “Carol.”  He was also nominated for a Golden Globe and Critics’ Choice Movie Award for “Carol.” He received an Annie nomination for Outstanding Achievement, Music in an Animated Feature Production for “Anomalisa.”  In addition, Burwell received The Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Music Score for “Carol” and “Anomalisa.”

The end credit track is a cover of the sea shanty “Haul Away Joe” performed by Kodaline.   Made up of childhood friends — Steve Garrigan (lead vocals) Mark Prendergast (guitar), Jason Boland (bass) and Vinny May (drums), Kodaline have released two studio albums In A Perfect World and Coming Up For Air. The group has sold out numerous tours in both North America and Europe.  The group’s songs have been featured in several television, film and ad placements including Google, ESPN, The Voice (NBC), Chicago PD (NBC), Grey’s Anatomy (ABC), Modern Family (ABC), So You Think You Can Dance (FOX), American Idol (ABC) and many more. Their music videos have garnered over 105 million views and are continuing to grow.

Disney’s “The Finest Hours” is based on the unforgettable story of the Coast Guard’s courageous mission, which is directed by Craig Gillespie and stars: Chris Pine; Academy Award® and Golden Globe® nominee Casey Affleck; Ben Foster; Holliday Grainger; John Ortiz; and Eric Bana. Produced by Jim Whitaker and Dorothy Aufiero, the screenplay is by Oscar® nominee Scott Silver and Oscar nominees Paul Tamasy & Eric Johnson based on the acclaimed non-fiction book of the same name by Casey Sherman and Michael J. Tougias. Doug Merrifield serves as executive producer.

“The Finest Hours” original motion picture soundtrack will be available digitally on January 29.  For more information on “The Finest Hours” please visit http://movies.disney.com/the-finest-hours.  For more information on Walt Disney Records’ releases, like us on Facebook.com/disneymusic or follow us at Twitter.com/disneymusic.

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Grammy Award-Winning Pentatonix Star Makes Surprise Visit at Disney Performing Arts Workshop at Walt Disney World Resort

Kevin “K.O.” Olusola, cello beatboxer for the Grammy Award-winning vocal quintet Pentatonix, surprised Disney Performing Arts students Wednesday with a guest appearance at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort. Olusola visited with students taking part in the “Disney Sings” musical workshop during his recent visit to Walt Disney World Resort.

(Dec. 31, 2015): Kevin “K.O.” Olusola, cello beatboxer for the Grammy Award-winning vocal quintet Pentatonix, surprised Disney Performing Arts students Dec. 29, 2015, with a guest appearance at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort. Olusola visited with students taking part in the “Disney Sings” musical workshop during his recent visit to Walt Disney World Resort. Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa is located at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Mariah Wild, photographer)

Disney Performing Arts students from the Lewisburg Area High School Choir from Lewisburg, Penn. were thrilled to share the stage with Olusola as he showcased his beatboxing skills and answered student questions. Olusola also spoke with the students about achieving their dreams as young musicians.

“Be extraordinary and uncommon,” said Olusola. “Whatever, you do, be the best that you can be with it.”

Winners of season three of the television singing competition “The Sing-Off,” Grammy Award-winner and platinum selling recording ensemble Pentatonix has sold more than 2 million albums in the U.S. and received over 905 million views on their YouTube channel with more than 7.8 million subscribers. The group received its first Grammy Award in Feb. 2015 for Best Arrangement, Instrumental and A Cappella. Olusola, 27, is a graduate of Yale University. His first solo album, “Renegade,” was released March 2015.

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Star Wars: The Force Awakens Original Motion Picture Soundtrack From Oscar®-Winning Composer John Williams

Five-time Academy Award®-winning composer John Williams has composed and conducted the score for the original motion picture soundtrack Star Wars: The Force Awakens. The soundtrack is available worldwide for pre-order digitally at http://smarturl.it/swtfaa1, physically at http://smarturl.it/swtfap, and at Disney Music Emporium (http://smarturl.it/swtfadme).

Lucasfilm and visionary director J.J. Abrams join forces to take you back again to a galaxy far, far away as Star Wars returns to the big screen with Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Star Wars: The Force Awakens releases in U.S. theaters on December 18, 2015. The limited edition first run of the physical soundtrack, featuring premium digipak foil packaging, will be released wherever music is sold onDecember 18. The soundtrack will also be available at all digital download, streaming and hi-res services on Dec. 18.

Also available at DisneyMusicEmporium.com is an exclusive bundle, which includes the Star Wars: The Force Awakens CD and a special Star Wars poster http://smarturl.it/swtfadme. The vinyl version of the soundtrack, expected in early 2016, is also available now for pre-order. Fans who order the vinyl will receive a digital copy of the album on December 18th.

For more information on Star Wars: The Force Awakens, please visit http://www.theforceawakens.com. For more information on Walt Disney Records’ releases, like us on Facebook.com/disneymusic or follow us at Twitter.com/disneymusic. For more information on Disney Music Emporium, please visit, DisneyMusicEmporium.com, become a fan at Facebook.com/disneymusicemporium or follow us at Twitter.com/DisneyMusicEmp.

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Disney Music Emporium Site To Offer 30% Off On Cyber Monday Plus Weekly Friday Offers In December

Honoring the continuing legacy of the Disney music catalog, Walt Disney Records’site, Disney Music Emporium (DME) is the destination for collectible Disney music products perfect for holiday gift giving. The site also features monthly columns by guest writers, a News tab for fun Disney facts, plus videos that exclusively debut on DME including behind-the-scenes of beloved soundtracks, The Lost Chords and more. The site will offer 30% off all purchases for two days only, Black Friday (Nov. 27) and Cyber Monday (Nov. 30).

Disney Music Emporium will also offer weekly Friday deals in December leading up to Christmas.

Below is the full calendar of offerings with details:

Nov. 30: Cyber Monday Offer: 30% off the site one day only, excluding The Silly Symphony Collection and Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Use code DMESALE2 at check out to apply discount.

Weekly Friday Deals:

Dec. 4:  Buy any Legacy Collection album and get a free lithograph (features art from the entire series), one week only, while supplies last.

Dec. 11:  Offer 1: Autographed bundle sale, one week only, while supplies last.

  • Legacy Collection Lion King CD + Legacy Collection Lion King Lithograph Autographed by Lorelay Bove + Legacy CollectionSampler Vinyl  (featuring one song from each album)
  • Legacy Collection Toy Story Randy Newman autographed CD+ Legacy Collection Toy Story Lithograph + Legacy CollectionSampler Vinyl
  • Legacy Collection Toy Story CD+ Legacy Collection Toy Story Randy Newman autographed Lithograph + Legacy CollectionSampler Vinyl
  • Legacy Collection The Little Mermaid Alan Menken autographed CD+ Legacy Collection The Little Mermaid Lithograph + Legacy Collection Sampler Vinyl
  • Legacy Collection The Little Mermaid  CD+ Legacy Collection The Little Mermaid Alan Menken autographed  Lithograph + Legacy Collection Sampler Vinyl
  • Legacy The Lion King autographed by Hans Zimmer, Mark Mancina, the directors and producer of The Lion King CD+ Legacy The Lion King Lithograph + Legacy Collection Sampler Vinyl
  • The Nightmare Before Christmas vinyl autographed by Danny Elfman + Jack is Back Hollywood Bowl 2015  Commemorative T-shirt + Hollywood Bowl 2015  Commemorative Poster

Offer 2:  Buy The Black Cauldron and get 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea 30% off, one week only, while supplies last.

Dec. 18: Star Wars: The Clone Wars vinyl 30% off, one week only, while supplies last.

Also available at DME is the 12-album, 28-disc collectors’ box gift set Walt Disney Records The Legacy Collection.  The individual albums celebrate the anniversaries of Disney’s most cherished and classic films that have been enchanting audiences for generations.

For more information on Disney Music Emporium, please visit, DisneyMusicEmporium.com become a fan at Facebook.com/disneymusicemporium or follow us at Twitter.com/DisneyMusicEmp.

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Disney Music Emporium Site To Offer 30% Off On Black Friday

Honoring the continuing legacy of the Disney music catalog, Walt Disney Records’site, Disney Music Emporium (DME) is the destination for collectible Disney music products perfect for holiday gift giving. The site also features monthly columns by guest writers, a News tab for fun Disney facts, plus videos that exclusively debut on DME including behind-the-scenes of beloved soundtracks, The Lost Chords and more. The site will offer 30% off all purchases for two days only, Black Friday (Nov. 27) and Cyber Monday (Nov. 30).

Disney Music Emporium will also offer weekly Friday deals in December leading up to Christmas.

Below is the full calendar of offerings with details:

Nov. 27:  Black Friday Offer: 30% off the site one day only, excluding The Silly Symphony Collection and Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Use code DMESALE1 at check out to apply discount.

Nov. 30: Cyber Monday Offer: 30% off the site one day only, excluding The Silly Symphony Collection and Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Use code DMESALE2 at check out to apply discount.

Weekly Friday Deals:

Dec. 4:  Buy any Legacy Collection album and get a free lithograph (features art from the entire series), one week only, while supplies last.

Dec. 11:  Offer 1: Autographed bundle sale, one week only, while supplies last.

  • Legacy Collection Lion King CD + Legacy Collection Lion King Lithograph Autographed by Lorelay Bove + Legacy CollectionSampler Vinyl  (featuring one song from each album)
  • Legacy Collection Toy Story Randy Newman autographed CD+ Legacy Collection Toy Story Lithograph + Legacy CollectionSampler Vinyl
  • Legacy Collection Toy Story CD+ Legacy Collection Toy Story Randy Newman autographed Lithograph + Legacy CollectionSampler Vinyl
  • Legacy Collection The Little Mermaid Alan Menken autographed CD+ Legacy Collection The Little Mermaid Lithograph + Legacy Collection Sampler Vinyl
  • Legacy Collection The Little Mermaid  CD+ Legacy Collection The Little Mermaid Alan Menken autographed  Lithograph + Legacy Collection Sampler Vinyl
  • Legacy The Lion King autographed by Hans Zimmer, Mark Mancina, the directors and producer of The Lion King CD+ Legacy The Lion King Lithograph + Legacy Collection Sampler Vinyl
  • The Nightmare Before Christmas vinyl autographed by Danny Elfman + Jack is Back Hollywood Bowl 2015  Commemorative T-shirt + Hollywood Bowl 2015  Commemorative Poster

Offer 2:  Buy The Black Cauldron and get 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea 30% off, one week only, while supplies last.

Dec. 18: Star Wars: The Clone Wars vinyl 30% off, one week only, while supplies last.

Also available at DME is the 12-album, 28-disc collectors’ box gift set Walt Disney Records The Legacy Collection.  The individual albums celebrate the anniversaries of Disney’s most cherished and classic films that have been enchanting audiences for generations.

For more information on Disney Music Emporium, please visit, DisneyMusicEmporium.com become a fan at Facebook.com/disneymusicemporium or follow us at Twitter.com/DisneyMusicEmp.

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Disney Music Group President Ken Bunt on the ‘Star Wars’ Soundtrack

Of all the memorabilia lining Disney Music Group president Ken Bunt‘s office walls, his favorite is a large-scale illustration from a 1935 Silly Symphonies cartoon short called “Music Land.”

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Walt Disney Records The Legacy Collection Box Set Available Now

One of this year’s most acclaimed series of special edition albums, the long-awaited, 12-album, 28-disc collectors’ box gift set Walt Disney Records The Legacy Collection is now available. The individual albums celebrate the anniversaries of Disney’s most cherished and classic films that have been enchanting audiences for generations.

This CD series combines great songs, background scores and rare recordings from over a half-century of animation classics–plus music from Disneyland® Park. In addition to remastered tracks, each album in Walt Disney Records The Legacy Collection Box Set comes in its own hardcover book, filled with art treasures, exclusive essays, and new illustrations by Lorelay Bove, a visual development artist at Walt Disney Animation Studios (“Tangled”, “Winnie the Pooh”, “Wreck-It Ralph”). Bove was recently named one of ’10 Animators to Watch’ by Variety (March 3, 2015) and her art can be seen in the hardcover book, Lovely: Ladies of Animation: The Art of Lorelay Bove, Brittney Lee, Claire Keane, Lisa Keene, Victoria Ying and Helen Chen.

Designed for display, all 12 albums are presented in a specially fitted collectors’ slipcase. The 28-disc Walt Disney Records The Legacy Collection Box Set contains over 130 songs; 270 instrumentals; 75 “Lost Chords” deleted songs and demos; and much more–totaling over 25 hours of matchless entertainment for all ages.

The 12 albums in the new box set are as follows:

The Lion King
The Oscar® and Grammy®-winning songs by Elton John and score by Hans Zimmer plus 30 minutes of expanded underscore andLost Chords demos not used in the film.

Mary Poppins
Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke in an artistic triumph of Walt Disney and the Sherman Brothers, including the debut new recording of the lost song, “The Eyes of Love.” Album includes the Sherman Brothers’ demos of the film’s songs and is the largest collection ofLost Chords original demos and new versions in the entire series.

Sleeping Beauty
The magnificent music of Tchaikovsky is transformed into one of Disney’s most dramatic and memorable scores, plus special versions from vinyl record master tracks.

The Little Mermaid
Howard Ashman and Alan Menken’s multi-award-winning music and songs with the original demo recordings and previously unreleased background score.

Fantasia
Leopold Stokowski’s complete FantaSound score from the innovative film, the complete digital score conducted by Irwin Kostal plus bonus tracks by Sterling Holloway.

Pinocchio
One of the most brilliant scores in movie history—it introduced “When You Wish Upon a Star”—plus six new-to-CD Mickey Mouse Club songs sung by Jiminy Cricket (Cliff Edwards).

Cinderella
The Oscar®-nominated score and all the songs from the animated classic, plus The Lost Chords, featuring 7 original demos and new versions.

Toy Story
Randy Newman’s hit songs and score from the Disney/Pixar’s landmark animated feature, as well as bonus tracks and three never-before-released background tracks.

Pocahontas
Majestic music of Alan Menken, lyrics by Stephen Schwartz (“Wicked”) plus songs that were deleted from the finished score and original demos sung by Menken himself.

Lady and the Tramp
An eagerly requested soundtrack in the series showcasing the vocal and songwriting genius of Peggy Lee, plus bonus track and rare demos.

The Aristocats
From the Disney film favorite comes the famous score, including songs by the Sherman Brothers, the voices of Phil Harris andMaurice Chevallier. This is the first time the original soundtrack has been available in its entirety.

Disneyland
Beginning with the recordings from the opening day of Disneyland in 1955, the collection guides the listener down Main Street U.S.A., through the greatest attractions, shows and lands that exist today and those that are a happy memory.

The release of Walt Disney Records The Legacy Collection Box Set marks the first time such a massive body of musical and visual masterworks have been contained in a single package.

Walt Disney Records The Legacy Collection Box Set 12-album, 28-disc set is now available at disneymusicemporium.com.  For more information on the Disney Music Emporium, please visit disneymusicemporium.com, become a fan at Facebook.com/disneymusicemporium or follow us at Twitter.com/DisneyMusicEmp.

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Ranking the song covers in ‘We Love Disney’

In its third compilation, We Love Disney goes punk, R&B, country and more, as popular artists cover songs from the company’s famous animated films.

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