This summer, actress-turned-singer Zooey Deschanel will be returning to the big screen, but this time, it will be as a musician. The female half of She & Him has contributed three songs to the Disney film Winnie the Pooh, which is the latest update on the classic children's series.
Two of the songs are remakes: there's the "Winnie the Pooh" theme song, which features Zooey on ukulele, plus "A Very Important Thing to Do." Deschanel also penned an original tune called "So Long," which she performs with M. Ward (the titular "Him" of She & Him).
"So Long" was written especially for the film. In a press release, Deschanel explained, "When I was writing 'So Long,' I just held the images for the end credits in my mind. I spent a number of days tinkering with ideas, melodies and chord progressions that I thought would fit the images, the new music being written and the original Sherman Brothers stuff -- but still be my own thing."
As for why the filmmakers chose to tap Deschanel's musical talents, director Don Hall said, "Her music actually embodies the underlying spirit of the movie. We're taking something that has vintage roots in the '60s, but spinning it in our own way and updating it. If you listen to Zooey's music with She & Him -- that's their sound to a tee."
In addition to performing three tracks herself, Deschanel lent her voice to two more: "Everything Is Honey" and "Pooh's Finale." You can hear a clip of the peppy piano pop tune "So Long" in the video embedded below, which also features Deschanel talking about the project.
The Winnie the Pooh soundtrack is due to drop in North America on July 12 via Walt Disney Records. The film will follow on July 15.
Two of the songs are remakes: there's the "Winnie the Pooh" theme song, which features Zooey on ukulele, plus "A Very Important Thing to Do." Deschanel also penned an original tune called "So Long," which she performs with M. Ward (the titular "Him" of She & Him).
"So Long" was written especially for the film. In a press release, Deschanel explained, "When I was writing 'So Long,' I just held the images for the end credits in my mind. I spent a number of days tinkering with ideas, melodies and chord progressions that I thought would fit the images, the new music being written and the original Sherman Brothers stuff -- but still be my own thing."
As for why the filmmakers chose to tap Deschanel's musical talents, director Don Hall said, "Her music actually embodies the underlying spirit of the movie. We're taking something that has vintage roots in the '60s, but spinning it in our own way and updating it. If you listen to Zooey's music with She & Him -- that's their sound to a tee."
In addition to performing three tracks herself, Deschanel lent her voice to two more: "Everything Is Honey" and "Pooh's Finale." You can hear a clip of the peppy piano pop tune "So Long" in the video embedded below, which also features Deschanel talking about the project.
The Winnie the Pooh soundtrack is due to drop in North America on July 12 via Walt Disney Records. The film will follow on July 15.
