On 29 August 2022, BBC Radio 2 listeners crowned Randy Newman’s You’ve Got A Friend In Me as their favorite Animated Movie Song.
From BBC Radio 2:
Toy Story’s You’ve Got A Friend In Me was revealed on 29 Aug 2022 as the number one from Radio 2’s Ultimate Animated Movie Song Countdown as voted for by BBC Radio 2 listeners.
Released in 1995 and written by Randy Newman, You’ve Got a Friend in Me, is the theme tune to the Disney/Pixar film Toy Story. The song was nominated for an Academy Award plus a Golden Globe for Best Original Song and has featured in the sequel Toy Story films. You’ve Got A Friend In Me has been covered various times by many famous names including George Jones, Michael Bublé and Rex Orange County.
Actor John Morris, who played Andy in Toy Story says: “I’m thrilled the song won! For me, it connects to the core and heart of Toy Story and its message. It illustrates the close friendship between Andy and his toys. On another personal note, the song is meaningful to me as I sang it for Disney on Ice which was a very memorable highlight for me earlier in my career.”
James King, Radio 2 Movie Critic, says: “What a great winner! You’ve Got a Friend in Me was such an instant earworm right from the first Toy Story film, it’s hard to believe that there was ever a time before we all knew it. There are no better movies about friendship than the Toy Story franchise and what Randy Newman did with this song – complete with inspiring lyrics and captivating melody – was get right to the heart of the matter. It’s two minutes of animated movie song perfection.”
Randy’s work snagged four out of BBC Radio 2’s top 50 Animated Movie Songs:
- 1 – You’ve Got a Friend in Me – Randy Newman (Toy Story, 1995)
- 17 – When She Loved Me – Sarah McLachlan (Toy Story 2, 1999)
- 37 – Almost There – Anika Noni Rose (The Princess and the Frog, 2009)
- 43 – If I Didn’t Have You – Billy Crystal and John Goodman (Monsters, Inc, 2001)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/2022/bbc-radio-2-listeners-crown-favourite-animated-movie-song