Somewhere Out There: Songs of James Horner (Part 1)

In this post, I wanted to focus on the numerous songs written by James Horner.  Along with his film scores, some of his songs have transcended pop culture, radio charts, and Grammy and Oscar wins.  This is the first part, I'm focusing on his songs for films 1986-1995.

With An American Tail (1986), Horner wrote the score and Amblin turned to Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil to co-write the musical's songs.  In the film we hear "There Are No Cats in America", "Never Say Never", "Somewhere Out There" and "A Duo".  The end credit version of "Somewhere Out There" (performed by Linda Ronstadt and James Ingram) became a pop hit, won 2 Grammys and the song was Oscar nominated.  Don Bluth's next animated film, The Land Before Time (1988), there were no songs except the end credits song.  Collaborating with lyricist Will Jennings for the first time, "If We Hold On Together" was based on the main theme and sung by Diana Ross.

Horner writing the songs and score for An American Tail: Fievel Goes West (1992) , starting a collaboration with lyricist Will Jennings.  The film features ballad "Dreams to Dream", "Way Out West",  and lively saloon performance "The Girl You Left Behind".  The Golden Globe nominated pop version of "Dreams to Dream" originally was to be sung by Celine Dion, but later replaced by Linda Ronstadt from the original film.  Of course Horner kept Dion's voice in mind for another project a few years later.   

For Amblimation's next project, We're Back! A Dinosaur's Story (1993), John Goodman performs the song "Roll Back the Rock (To The Dawn of Time)".  Writing the lyrics and co-writing the music was Thomas Dolby.  The end credit version was sung by Little Richard.  Horner would then work on his last fully animated musicals with the forgotten Once Upon a Forest (1993).  Working with Will Jennings we hear "Once Upon a Time with Me" sung by Florence Warner Jones and the New London Children's Choir.  Michael Crawford sings the poignant "Please Wake Up" and Ben Vereen performs the gospel "He's Back" (co-written with Andrae and Sandra Crouch).  

Before leaving the film Hocus Pocus, Horner wrote the song "Sarah's Theme" with lyrics by Brock Walsh.  Composer John Debney adapted the melody into his score and the song is sung by Sarah Jessica Parker.  Horner composed the score to the live-action/animated The Pagemaster (1994).  Naturally one of his main themes became "Whatever You Imagine".  The song was co-written by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, performed by Wendy Moten and led to another Grammy nomination for song.  There's a brief scene in Legends of the Fall (1994) where Henry Thomas sings "Twilight and Mist", using the Ludlow melody with lyrics by Brock Walsh.  Horner also scored Amblimation's last feature, Balto (1995).  Again working with Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, the song "Reach for the Light" is sung by Steve Winwood in the end credits.    

As Horner moved from animated musicals, he shifted to end credit songs based on the main themes.  We'll see many of those songs in Part 2.