(upbeat jazz music)
- [Narrator] Come along as we step
into the Iconic Preservation Hall in New Orleans,
where for over 60 years,
the greatest musicians in the world have played.
Walt Disney, "Imagineering," hosted a panel,
all about the music from the upcoming attraction,
"Tiana's Bayou Adventure." (clapping and cheering)
Here are some of the best moments from the panel,
which started off with a huge announcement.
- We talk about the name of our attraction,
"Tiana's Bayou Adventure."
It was announced here, one year ago.
But what we're here today,
is to make another special announcement
about our music guest.
This man is a well decorated artist
in the worlds of R&B.
He's a native New Orleanian, multi-Grammy Award winner,
Writer, Producer, Arranger,
Musician,
and an amazing human being.
Also, he's writing an original song for us,
as well as arranging songs from, "Princess and the Frog."
Please welcome to the stage PJ Morgan.
(audience cheering and clapping)
(upbeat jazz music continues)
- Meow!
What's up y'all?
(horn music)
- [Narrator] PJ Morton is one of the Music Producers
for, "Tiana's Bayou Adventure,"
and much of the music will be recorded right here,
in New Orleans.
Including an all new original song.
With music from the film being so well known,
PJ Morton talks about the challenge
of writing new music for the attraction.
- Well, I mean, I'm a huge Randy Newman fan.
He's done such an amazing job,
with not only that movie,
but so many,
he's made me cry a couple times, Randy.
But it was exciting to me,
the idea of
creating something original for this.
And,
but that was also a challenge,
just trying to, all the songs are so well done.
People are very familiar with them now.
So the challenge was to try to fit in
with what already existed
but also bring something fresh
and move the story along.
I'm appreciative of this team, all of you,
because I was allowed to be myself.
We know as New Orleanians, in the room,
how many times people tell us how New Orleans
is supposed to be presented.
And we've seen movies and things where it's like,
"Okay, you know, that's not necessarily my home,
but all right, I see what piece of New Orleans that is."
But these guys are being so intentional
about making sure
that the story is told
in an authentic way,
and that the music is done in an authentic way.
Everybody who I'm bringing along
to be a part of this
is just very authentic to New Orleans and very real,
not trying to make a caricature
of what New Orleans is.
But really just being our city.
(rhythmic technique jazz music)
Music was literally everywhere,
a part of my life.
But I think New Orleans is one of the only places
where you'll find
fourth generation musicians.
I am the real, real.
I'm born and raised in New Orleans
but I also represent
something else,
which I think is, moving forward as well.
We talk about our past a lot,
but sometimes we stay there in New Orleans
and we only talk about that past.
But there's also so much happening
with this new generation
of New Orleanian musicians,
who respect that and love that,
but also bring it forward.
And I think that's what this whole thing is about.
It's omnipresent.
So whatever you do here,
music is the under-bed.
I didn't fully appreciate that,
until I left home and notice,
"Oh wait, it's not music I'm..."
everywhere I go.
And is not music a part of everything I'm doing?
Now, I gotta capture this magic.
And, historically,
that magic was captured and brought
to New York and brought to LA and brought to Chicago,
because the industry wasn't necessarily here,
but the magic was here.
So for me, coming home was,
I'm gonna take care of my own magic here in New Orleans
and really shine the light on my own magic
that I grew up with because I have a different understanding
and a full appreciation for it.
(piano jazz music)
- [Narrator] With music being so iconic
in Disney Park's attractions,
Ted Robledo tells us why, "Tiana's Bayou Adventure,"
deserves its own theme song.
- The people who love Princess Tiana, the fans,
I think they deserve more.
More of what was captured in, "The Princess and the Frog."
And I think that's what we've brought folks on like PJ
to help us deliver,
deliver more of what's already great.
We need a theme song.
It deserves a theme song
that people are gonna be humming
and singing all the way home.
And I think we've seen examples
of that last, few days.
It's a privilege to create brand new Disney music
for an attraction in the park.
Because, like me, that song for,
"It's a Small World,"
I can only hear it when I ride that ride.
"A Pirate's Life for Me,"
I can only hear it when I ride that ride.
People will only hear the magic that PJ is bringing,
probably not, 'cause we're gonna spread it out
till their crazy. (all laughing)
- And it's gonna
go everywhere. - But they're not gonna...
They're not gonna hear it for real,
with Tiana being right in front of your face,
until they come to either Magic Kingdom or Disneyland,
and they experience, "Tiana's Bayou Adventure."
That gets me excited.
(horn jazz music)
- [Narrator] The panel wouldn't be complete
without a special gift.
- A huge part of our storytelling are the characters
and the characters of the story
and emotion and whatnot.
But we use these characters to tell the story
and move it along.
But they're the touch points
that a lot of people recognize.
"Oh, that's The Genie that's Moana."
"That's Stitch, that's Belle,
that's Tiana," right?
But I think that the music and this song,
this song that, BJ, you brought,
is as much of a character
and as much of a storyteller,
to "Tiana's Bayou Adventure,"
that we wanted to cement that.
And we had a very talented artist
at Walt Disney Imagineering
show how much you are just as much a character
in our story. - [Speaker] Aha, look at that.
- [Ted] You know?
And, yeah.
- That's beautiful, man.
Thank you so much.
(audience clapping)
(jazz music ending)