Real in Rio

Album: Rio Soundtrack (2011)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song is from the 2011 animated movie Rio and is sung by The Social Network actor Jesse Eisenberg, as the main character Blu, a socially awkward Spix's Macaw who learns how to fly. He is accompanied on the song by characters voiced by Jamie Foxx, Anne Hathaway, George Lopez and will.i.am. Hathaway previously played Eisenberg's on screen sibling in the TV comedy drama Get Real.
  • Brazilians Carlinhos Brown and Sergio Mendes composed the song. Brown, whose music blends traditional Brazilian percussion with Tropicália, reggae and more recently electronic elements, is a significant star back in his home country. Pianist and band leader Sergio Mendes plays bossa nova heavily crossed with jazz and funk and is best known for his signature tune "Mas Que Nada."
  • Mendes was brought on board Rio to act as music guru and surprisingly the 70-year-old Brazilian told Billboard magazine that it was the first film for which he had specifically written music.
  • The lyric was written by American singer-songwriter Siedah Garrett, who is best known for her collaborations with Michael Jackson, which include "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" and "Man In The Mirror."
  • Along with "Man or Muppet," this was one of just two songs nominated for an Oscar in the Best Original Song category of the Academy Awards held in 2012.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Randy Houser

Randy HouserSongwriter Interviews

The "How Country Feels" singer talks Skynyrd and songwriting.

Gilby Clarke

Gilby ClarkeSongwriter Interviews

The Guns N' Roses rhythm guitarist in the early '90s, Gilby talks about the band's implosion and the side projects it spawned.

Subversive Songs Used To Sell

Subversive Songs Used To SellSong Writing

Songs about drugs, revolution and greed that have been used in commercials for sneakers, jeans, fast food, cruises and cars.

Tom Bailey of Thompson Twins

Tom Bailey of Thompson TwinsSongwriter Interviews

Tom stopped performing Thompson Twins songs in 1987, in part because of their personal nature: "Hold Me Now" came after an argument with his bandmate/girlfriend Alannah Currie.

Krishna Das

Krishna DasSongwriter Interviews

The top chant artist in the Western world, Krishna Das talks about how these Hindu mantras compare to Christian worship songs.

What Musicians Are Related to Other Musicians?

What Musicians Are Related to Other Musicians?Song Writing

A big list of musical marriages and family relations ranging from the simple to the truly dysfunctional.