I cant help thinking it would have been better with a different composer

I would've loved it if Alan Menken did the score. He was a composer for most of the 90's Disney films, and would've given PATF that authenticity.

Not to say Randy Newman did a poor job, but his songs left much to be desired.

I have to agree. I just watched it again today after having seen it a couple of years ago. Unlike after watching a lot of Disney movies, I hadn't remembered any of the songs from PATF. While I enjoyed the movie, save for a few gripes here and there, the music I didn't enjoy so much.

First of all, there was too much of it. To the extent that it almost felt like filler rather than being a part of, or furthering, the story. I found myself saying, "Oh not another song. Didn't they just sing one?" I wanted more story, more, dialog between the characters. For instance, the romance between Tiana and the Prince could have stood for a bit more development.

And secondly, the songs seemed flat, not enough emotion. No stirring melody or verse. There was nothing than captured my heart. And certainly nothing that made me want to buy the CD to hear them again as I did for Beauty and the Beast, Lion King, Tarzan, Little Mermaid, Aladin, to name a few.

Nothing against Newman because I like his music generally, but the effort wasn't there in this project to produce a rapturous score, as compared to the music in most other Disney movies. I don't think this music would have been acceptable if it were for a different Disney movie, which tends to have mass appeal hit ballads. I guess they thought there was no need to have chart-topping hits for this one. Good enough was okay enough -- which doesn't fly for most other Disney projects. In my opinion.

Am I the only one who felt the songs were better in PATF compared to the usual Disney stuff? At least in terms of composition -- lots of influences like jazz and zydeco and black gospel and swing and dixieland that sounded more complex and interesting that the vanilla pop ballads Disney is known for.

I did feel that the lyrics often fell flat, though -- "goin' down the bayou, goin' down the bayou, takin' you all the way" is a pretty lame chorus; it only works because the tune is so catchy. I miss the wordplay and clever humor that went into the Disney renaissance songs. Newman's lyrics here, like in Toy Story, are overall nothing special.

"Life is short; when you're done you're done
We're on this earth to have some fun"

I disagree. While I"m not a fan of Randy Newman in general, this was the perfect movie for him and he delivered the best that he could. Was he perfect? No, a couple of songs are rather mediocre, but the overall experience fits the movie perfectly and really adds to it's awesomeness!

If everything is not all rainbows and kittens for you today, hopefully it will be tomorrow!

I love the music in this movie, I even bought Dig a little Deeper and Dreams do Come True (the ending version) I liked the Jazz/Up-tempo feel it had.