Winnie the Pooh + Keane: The story of a little bear, a rock band, and one sweet and squishy movie trailer.
By Suzz C.
It became the underground buzz last November: Disney’s trailer for the upcoming Winnie the Pooh full-length film featured a great song by British pop band Keane. Blogs picked up on it and the online world weighed in with nostalgic smiles and cheers for the great pairing of Pooh Bear with such a brilliant, catchy tune. The song, Somewhere Only We Know, was the hit single off Keane’s 2004 debut album Hopes and Fears, which became a mega hit in the U.K. and did fairly well here in the U.S. Since I wasn’t much of a top ten radio listener, I got my exposure to the song at my local gym, which played a sensible mix of throwback 80’s and current pop tunes. After discovering SOWK, it didn’t take long for my music guru hubby to introduce me to Hopes and Fears in its entirety. And the Pooh side of this story? Confession time: let’s say my 20+ year-old Winnie the Pooh tattoo says it all. I’ve been pretty into Pooh bear for a long while now (I wore a locket with pictures of Pooh and Piglet when I was a toddler), though my apex was reached in the late 80’s/early 90’s when I worked for the Disney Company and was dating an equally obsessed Disney fanatic. We’ve both kept our love for this chubby stuffed bear and his posse close to our hearts, even after all these years.
So, I guess I’m just one more Pooh-obsessed person out there raving about how perfectly this 7-year old Keane song captures the spirit of the Hundred Acre Wood. Word on the street is that the song selection had nothing to do with the band or their love of Pooh, which may or may not exist. It seems to have been the decision of record execs — if so, they actually got something RIGHT with this one.
Disney’s new Winnie the Pooh film (simply titled Winnie the Pooh and coming to theaters July 15), will actually utilize the hand-drawn animation techniques most of us have come to relish — kudos to the Disney Company for making that move. It’ll also feature the voices of Jim Cummings (returning to voice Pooh, AND Tigger, after many years away), Zooey Deschanel (who also contributes to the soundtrack alongside M.Ward) and John Cleese, as the Narrator. To learn more about Pooh and his career comeback, visit the official site for Disney/Winnie the Pooh. And of course, here’s the trailer that’s melting hearts across the world – mine included!
lowellfilmcollaborativema.org 
Completely in agreement about this – an absolutely PERFECT pairing of song and trailer… in fact, I have a bit of trepidation about the movie not living up to the sublime tone that is struck in the trailer… still, I’m aiming to take my 4 year old son to see it for his first movie in the theater, so we shall see!
Thanks so much for sharing my love of this little gem of a film. I’m counting down the days till its premiere! I hope you and your son enjoy the movie experience … share it with us if you get a chance! In Pooh spirit — S.C.
Is the Keane song actually in the movie? I am asking because my husband passed last year and this was one of his favorite songs (Keane) and my 4 year old remembers him with it. I just dont know if I can bare hearing it in the movie theatre…I love the song, it is just too emotional. Please let me know. Thanks!
Hi, there: I’m so sorry to hear of your husband’s loss. It IS a beautiful song, and I can understand your apprehension. Everything I’ve read says that the song is NOT in the film, whose soundtrack is provided by various indie artists including M. Ward and Zooey Deschanel. To see the soundtrack listing, visit http://www.disneydreaming.com/2011/04/07/winnie-the-pooh-movie-soundtrack/. Thank you so much for writing — I hope you and your son enjoy seeing the film. Most sincerely, Suzz C.