Despicable Me 2 (soundtrack) explained

Despicable Me 2: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Type:soundtrack
Artist:Heitor Pereira and Pharrell Williams
Cover:Despicable Me 2 (soundtrack).jpg
Released:July 2, 2013
Recorded:2012
Genre:Film soundtrack
Length:1:01:24
Label:Back Lot Music

Despicable Me 2: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is the soundtrack album for the 2013 film Despicable Me 2; the sequel to Despicable Me (2010). The album was released on July 2, 2013, through Back Lot Music.[1] [2] The original music was composed by Heitor Pereira and Pharrell Williams, whom previously scored for Despicable Me.[3] The soundtrack to the film featured 24 tracks – eight songs and the remainder of the album, consists of original score tracks. Out of the eight songs, three original tracks, written by Williams, were featured in the album as well as the tracks "Another Irish Drinking Song", "I Swear" and "Y.M.C.A." were incorporated into the album. Besides that, two tracks from Despicable Me: "Fun, Fun, Fun" and the titular track is also featured in the soundtrack.

The track "Happy" served as the only single from the album released on November 21, 2013, by Back Lot Music, and was also part of Williams' second studio album Girl (2014).[4] A visual presentation of the track, being advertised as "the world's first 24-hour music video" coincided the single, featuring Williams and directed by We Are from LA, and went viral upon release. Besides, topping the charts in over 19 countries, it was the best-selling song of 2014 in the United States and United Kingdom.[5] The song also received an Academy Award-nomination for Best Original Song at the 86th Academy Awards, but lost the award to "Let It Go" from Frozen.[6] Eight years after the single release, the track "Just a Cloud Away" was released in March 2022.[7]

Background

The co-director of Despicable Me 2, Chris Renaud had recalled the "distinctive music of the first film" that born out of the collaboration between Pereira and Williams, leading them to work for its sequel.[8] Pereira attributed that for El Macho, being a Mexican wrestler and the main antagonist, had to implement "full choir with a latin flair to emphasize his presence". Pereira also created new themes for the characters, including for the minions, whose themes needed to be "more threatening and menacing".[9] Williams and Pereira discussed about several main themes for the album, and went ahead with the overarching theme, which was not about the characters but much about the air of the film. He added that the "continuity was honestly based on lifting people up emotionally".[10] [11]

Williams wrote three original songs, including the popular track "Happy" that was released as a single on November 21, 2013, to wider commercial success.[12] [13] In a 2014 interview to The New York Times, Williams recalled that the song was rejected nine times, by the producer Chris Meledandri, before finally being approved.[14] While writing the track, did not write the melodic portions, but only just the chorus part of the film. He finished writing the song within 20 minutes.[15] The song was initially intended to be written for CeeLo Green (who earlier sang another track "Scream"),[16] but due to conflicts with CeeLo's record company Elektra Records, as he was on the verge of releasing his 2013 Christmas album,[17] [18] Williams himself sang the track, instead.[19] [20]

Speaking on the integration of the film songs into the score, Pereira said "Unless there is a reason in the story, you don't want it to be a surprise, so you have to tease the ears with what is going to come in the song before it begins".

Promotions and marketing

As a part of promotions, Williams came up with a website 24hoursofhappy.com,[21] launched to coincide with the single release,[22] featuring a visual presentation of "Happy" advertised as being "the world's first 24-hour music video", directed by the French directing team We Are from LA.[23] The video went viral upon its premiere, and attributed to the massive success of the song.[15] The four-minute video edit of the song released on YouTube on November 21, and as of March 2018, it crossed over 1 billion views.[24] Eight years after the film's release, Williams released the lyrical song "Just a Cloud Away" on March 25, 2022, to wider commercial response.[25]

Commercial performance

"Happy" topped the musical charts in over 19 countries. It topped the US Billboard Hot 100 for the week ending March 8, 2014, and the following week,[26] and also topped the Hot 100 Airplay chart.[27] It holds the record for the second-highest audience peak for a week on the Hot 100 Airplay, with 225.9 million impressions, only behind Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines".[28] It also topped the New Zealand Singles Chart holding the first position for 12 consecutive weeks, since January 2014,[29] and broke the 36-year-long record for most weeks spent at #1, which was previously held by Boney M.'s 1970 single "Rivers of Babylon". It also became the best-selling single of UK and US in 2014, with 1.5 and 6.45 million copies sold for the year, respectively.[30]

The soundtrack consecutively listed in the first 10 positions of the UK Soundtracks Chart by the Official Charts Company.[31] It also topped the 86th position in Billboard 200, and further listed in number 19 in the Independent Albums chart and in the top-third of Billboard soundtracks chart, since 2014.[32]

Chart positions

Chart (2013–14)Peak
position
UK Compilation Albums (OCC)[33] 48
UK Soundtrack Albums (OCC)9
US Billboard 200[34] 86
US Independent Albums (Billboard)19
US Top Soundtracks (Billboard)3

Accolades

See also: List of accolades received by Despicable Me 2. At the 86th Academy Awards held on March 2, 2014, Williams' song "Happy" was nominated for Best Original Song, but lost to "Let It Go" from Frozen.[35] When GQ magazine asked Williams "how badly" he wanted the Oscar, he responded: "When they read the results, my face was...frozen. But then I thought about it, and I just decided just to... let it go."[36]

The music video for "Happy" was nominated for Best Male Video and Video of the Year at the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards.[37] [38] It also won the Grammy Award for Best Music Video at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards, and in the same ceremony, a live rendition of the song, won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Solo Performance.[39] However, the song failed to shortlist at the Best Song Written for Visual Media category.[40]

Award! scope="col"
Date of ceremonyCategoryRecipient(s)Result
Academy AwardsBest Original Songdata-sort-value="Williams, Pharrell" Pharrell Williams for "Happy"[41]
Annie AwardsOutstanding Achievement for Music in an Animated Feature Productiondata-sort-value="Pereira, Heitor and Williams, Pharrell" Heitor Pereira and Pharrell Williams[42]
Black Reel AwardsBest Original or Adapted Songdata-sort-value="Williams, Pharrell" Pharrell Williams for "Happy"[43]
[44]
Critics' Choice Movie AwardsBest Songdata-sort-value="Williams, Pharrell" Pharrell Williams for "Happy"[45]
Guild of Music Supervisors AwardsBest Film Studio Music DepartmentUniversal Pictures[46]
[47]
Satellite AwardsBest Original Songdata-sort-value="Williams, Pharrell" Pharrell Williams for "Happy"[48]
[49]
St. Louis Film Critics Association AwardsBest SoundtrackDespicable Me 2[50]
[51]
Teen Choice AwardsChoice Music Single: Maledata-sort-value="Williams, Pharrell" Pharrell Williams for "Happy"[52]
World Soundtrack AwardsBest Original Song Written Directly for a Filmdata-sort-value="Williams, Pharrell" Pharrell Williams for "Happy"[53]
[54]

Personnel credits

Credits adapted from CD liner notes:

Soundtrack

Newman Scoring Stage sessions
Vocalists

Score

Choir
Newman Scoring Stage sessions
Featured instrumentalists
Management

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 'Despicable Me 2' Soundtrack Announced. June 23, 2013. Film Music Reporter. May 21, 2013. June 10, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130610063239/http://filmmusicreporter.com/2013/05/21/despicable-me-2-soundtrack-announced/. live.
  2. Web site: Despicable Me 2: Various Artists: Music . Amazon . May 22, 2013 . December 1, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201201225427/https://www.amazon.com/Despicable-Me-2-Various-Artists/dp/B00CMB8MXC/ . live .
  3. Web site: Despicable Me 2 Production Notes. Universal Pictures. June 26, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20141016210256/http://despicableme.com/assets/DESPICABLEME2_ProductionNotes.pdf. October 16, 2014.
  4. Web site: Happy (From "Despicable Me 2") – Single by Pharrell Williams . November 23, 2013 . iTunes US.
  5. Web site: Grein . Paul . December 31, 2014 . It's Official: Pharrell Has 2014's Best-Selling Song . April 22, 2015 . Yahoo! Music.
  6. Web site: 2013 Nominations . https://web.archive.org/web/20140419014132/http://www.pressacademy.com/award_cat/current-nominees/ . April 19, 2014 . August 19, 2015 . International Press Academy.
  7. Web site: Remember When Pharrell Williams Released A 24-Hour Music Video? Z100 Portland . July 17, 2022 . American Top 40 . en.
  8. Web site: Heitor Pereira & Pharrell Williams Reteam for 'Despicable Me 2' . July 17, 2022 . Animation World Network . en.
  9. Web site: Interview: Heitor Pereira, Composer of "Despicable Me 2" . July 17, 2022 . Movie Mom . en-US.
  10. Web site: Roberts . Sheila . July 5, 2013 . Pharrell Williams Talks DESPICABLE ME 2, Taking the Music to a Happier Place, and More . July 17, 2022 . Collider . en-US.
  11. Web site: Gilchrist . Todd . July 3, 2013 . Pharrell Williams Explores 'the Happier Side of Things' For Despicable Me 2 . July 17, 2022 . CBR . en-US.
  12. News: Williams . Pharrell . December 4, 2014 . Opinion Happiness Matters . en-US . The New York Times . July 17, 2022 . 0362-4331.
  13. Web site: Outbreak . Hollywood . June 18, 2013 . Pharrell Williams Gets 'Happy' With 'Despicable Me 2' Soundtrack . July 17, 2022 . Hollywood Outbreak . en-US.
  14. Web site: Wright . Lisa . December 5, 2014 . Pharrell 'rejected nine times' for 'Despicable Me 2' soundtrack before writing 'Happy' . July 17, 2022 . NME . en-GB.
  15. Web site: The Art of Being Pharrell . July 17, 2022 . W Magazine . en.
  16. News: Michaels . Sean . April 30, 2014 . Pharrell Williams' Happy was originally recorded by Cee Lo Green . . March 23, 2019.
  17. News: May 1, 2014 . Pharrell's Happy originally recorded by Cee Lo Green . en-GB . BBC News . July 17, 2022.
  18. Reed . Ryan . April 30, 2014 . Pharrell Says 'Happy' Originally Recorded by Cee Lo Green . . March 23, 2019.
  19. Web site: C . Mallory . January 10, 2021 . The Real Meaning Behind Happy By Pharrell Williams . July 17, 2022 . NickiSwift.com . en-US.
  20. Web site: February 20, 2014 . Pharrell Williams, a 'Happy' and busy guy . July 17, 2022 . Los Angeles Times . en-US.
  21. Web site: Hammond . Pete . November 22, 2013 . OSCARS: 'Despicable Me 2's Pharrell Williams Aims For Best Song Spot With "World's First" 24-Hour Music Video . July 17, 2022 . Deadline . en-US.
  22. Web site: Toor . Amar . November 22, 2013 . Pharrell Williams debuts 24-hour, interactive music video for 'Happy' . July 17, 2022 . The Verge . en.
  23. Web site: 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards Winners & Nominees . https://web.archive.org/web/20150210235347/http://www.grammy.com/nominees?genre=18 . February 10, 2015 . Grammy.com.
  24. Web site: November 21, 2013 . Pharrell Williams – Happy (Official Music Video) . March 4, 2018 . . YouTube.
  25. Aniftos . Rania . March 26, 2022 . Here Are the Lyrics to Pharrell Williams' 'Just a Cloud Away' . July 17, 2022 . Billboard . en-US.
  26. Trust . Gary . February 26, 2014 . Pharrell Williams' 'Happy' Hits No. 1 on Hot 100 . Billboard . February 26, 2014.
  27. Trust . Gary . March 5, 2014 . Pharrell's 'Happy' Holds at No. 1 On Hot 100 . Billboard . March 6, 2014.
  28. Trust . Gary . April 2, 2014 . Pharrell Williams' 'Happy' Holds Atop Hot 100; DJ Snake & Lil Jon Hit Top 10 . Billboard . April 3, 2014.
  29. News: Manning . Brendan . April 28, 2014 . Pharrell's happy chart-buster . . April 28, 2014.
  30. Web site: Copsey . Rob . January 1, 2015 . The Official Top 40 Biggest Selling Singles of 2014 . January 1, 2015 . Official Charts Company.
  31. Web site: Official Soundtrack Albums Chart Top 50 Official Charts Company . July 17, 2022 . www.officialcharts.com . en.
  32. Unterberger . Jason Lipshutz,Andrew . March 30, 2022 . Trending Up: Eight Years Later, Another Pharrell 'Despicable Me 2' Hit — Plus Anitta's Breakthrough, 'Birthday Cake' & More . July 17, 2022 . Billboard . en-US.
  33. Web site: CHART: CLUK Update 18.01.2014 (wk2). Zobbel. March 18, 2014. February 2, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140202092813/http://zobbel.de/cluk/140118cluk.txt. live.
  34. Web site: Despicable Me 2 - Original Soundtrack Awards. AllMusic. March 18, 2014. December 22, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151222193911/http://www.allmusic.com/album/despicable-me-2-mw0002543448/awards. live.
  35. Web site: 2013 Nominations . https://web.archive.org/web/20140419014132/http://www.pressacademy.com/award_cat/current-nominees/ . April 19, 2014 . August 19, 2015 . International Press Academy.
  36. Baron . Zach . March 2014 . Pharrell Williams on Advanced Style Moves and That Oscar Snub: My Song Will "Be Here For 10 Years" . . March 31, 2014.
  37. News: August 24, 2014 . Best Male Video 2014 MTV Video Awards . . https://web.archive.org/web/20140719232809/http://www.mtv.com/ontv/vma/2014/best-male-video/ . dead . July 19, 2014 . August 24, 2014.
  38. News: August 24, 2014 . Video of the Year 2014 MTV Video Music Awards . . https://web.archive.org/web/20140717233233/http://www.mtv.com/ontv/vma/2014/video-of-the-year/ . dead . July 17, 2014 . August 24, 2014.
  39. Web site: February 9, 2015 . Grammy Awards 2015: winners and performances – as it happened . February 12, 2015 . Guardian.
  40. Web site: December 7, 2013 . Grammys 2014: The complete list of nominees and winners . July 17, 2022 . Los Angeles Times . en-US.
  41. Web site: Nordyke . Kimberly . March 2, 2014 . Oscars 2014 Winners: The Complete List . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210516171104/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/oscar-winners-2014-full-list-results-86th-academy-awards-kodak-theater-684748/ . May 16, 2021 . June 29, 2022 . The Hollywood Reporter.
  42. Web site: February 1, 2014 . Annie Awards 2014: Complete list of winners and nominees . limited . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20150609234307/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-complete-list-of-2013-annie-award-noms-20131202-story.html . June 9, 2015 . November 25, 2022 . Los Angeles Times.
  43. Web site: December 18, 2013 . 14th Annual Black Reel Awards Nominations List . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220628221856/https://www.blackfilm.com/read/2013/12/14th-annual-black-reel-awards-nominations/ . June 28, 2022 . June 29, 2022 . Blackfilm.
  44. Web site: February 14, 2014 . 12 Years a Slave Dominates 14th Annual Black Reel Awards . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220628221900/https://www.blackfilm.com/read/2014/02/12-years-a-slave-dominates-14th-annual-black-reel-awards/ . June 28, 2022 . June 29, 2022 . Blackfilm.
  45. Web site: January 17, 2014 . Critics' Choice Awards: The Winners . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20141017063852/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/2014-critics-choice-awards-winners-671707 . October 17, 2014 . June 29, 2022 . The Hollywood Reporter.
  46. Web site: Ng . Philiana . February 13, 2014 . Music Supervisors Guild Unveils Film, TV Nominees . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220716110227/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/music-news/music-supervisors-guild-unveils-film-680092/ . July 16, 2022 . July 16, 2022 . The Hollywood Reporter.
  47. Web site: Chagollan . Steve . February 27, 2014 . American Hustle, Inside Llewyn Davis Nab Wins at Music Supervisors Awards . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220716110235/https://variety.com/2014/music/awards/american-hustle-inside-llewyn-davis-nab-wins-at-music-supervisors-awards-1201122301/ . July 16, 2022 . July 16, 2022 . Variety.
  48. Web site: Pond . Steve . December 2, 2013 . 12 Years a Slave Tops Satellite Award Nominations . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20150627153734/https://www.thewrap.com/12-years-slave-tops-satellite-award-nominations/ . June 27, 2015 . June 29, 2022 . TheWrap.
  49. Web site: Kilday . Gregg . February 23, 2014 . Satellite Awards: 12 Years a Slave Wins Best Motion Picture . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210605230241/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/satellite-awards-12-years-a-682716/ . June 5, 2021 . June 29, 2022 . The Hollywood Reporter.
  50. Web site: Williams . Joe . December 10, 2013 . St. Louis Film Critics flip the script, make hip picks . subscription . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20181001041845/https://www.stltoday.com/entertainment/movies/st-louis-film-critics-flip-the-script-make-hip-picks/article_0856454d-0a26-50fa-add9-ddeca70b36b1.html . October 1, 2018 . June 29, 2022 . St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
  51. Web site: December 16, 2013 . 12 Years a Slave wins seven from St. Louis film critics . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220626223002/https://uproxx.com/hitfix/2013-st-louis-gateway-film-critics-association-winners/ . June 26, 2022 . June 29, 2022 . Uproxx.
  52. Web site: Nordyke . Kimberly . August 10, 2014 . Teen Choice Awards: The Complete Winners List . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20140812214317/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/teen-choice-awards-2014-winners-724423 . August 12, 2014 . June 29, 2022 . The Hollywood Reporter.
  53. Web site: Chagollan . Steve . August 12, 2014 . Arcade Fire, Alex Ebert, Pharrell Williams Among World Soundtrack Awards Nominees . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220627052720/https://variety.com/2014/music/awards/arcade-fire-alex-ebert-pharrell-williams-among-world-soundtrack-awards-nominees-1201281506/ . June 27, 2022 . June 29, 2022 . Variety.
  54. Web site: Chagollan . Steve . October 27, 2014 . Alexandre Desplat Proves a Perennial Fave at Ghent's World Soundtrack Awards . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220627052736/https://variety.com/2014/film/awards/alexandre-desplat-gent-world-soundtrack-awards-1201340243/ . June 27, 2022 . June 29, 2022 . Variety.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Despicable Me 2 (soundtrack)".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.