New Sneak Peek of Disney’s Dumbo debuts “Baby Mine” cover by Arcade Fire

A new sneak peek of Disney’s Dumbo debuted during American Idol tonight and it featured an all-new version of “Baby Mine” recorded by Arcade Fire. The song will play over the end-credits of Tim Burton’s live-action re-imagining of the beloved classic story “Dumbo.”

The indie rock bands hails from our neighbor to the north, Canada. They’re known for their 2004 debut album “Funeral” and 2010’s “The Suburbs” which one Grammy for Album of the Year. They also provided the score for the 2013 film “Her” which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Score.

As fans of Disney’s 1941 classic film “Dumbo” can attest, the scene featuring the poignant lullaby “Baby Mine” was one of the most memorable moments. Serenading a touching moment between mother and son, the song featured music by composer Frank Churchill and lyrics by Ned Washington. “Baby Mine” was nominated for an Oscar for best original song.

According to Mitchell Leib, president, music & soundtracks for Walt Disney Studios, he and the filmmakers wanted to create a version of “Baby Mine” for the end of Burton’s live-action reimagining that was as artistic and interesting as the film itself.

“Not an easy ambition to accomplish,” says Leib. “Arcade Fire is an artist I’d pursued over the years—but this time I had Tim Burton! I pitched the idea to Tim and his producer Derek Frey, and it turned out Arcade Fire is one of Tim’s all-time favorite artists. The rest is history.”

Leib says the end result was perfect. “A brilliant, new, interesting, artistic and very original version of ‘Baby Mine’ now resides at the end of our new live-action ‘Dumbo.’”

Arcade Fire’s Win Butler has a very personal connection with the animated film. “There is a scene with a locomotive in the original ‘Dumbo’ that uses an instrument called the Sonovox that my grandpa Alvino Rey made famous in the 1930s,” says Butler. “Every time I saw the film I thought it was him. When we were asked to do the [end credit version of ‘Baby Mine’], I immediately got all of my grandfather’s old guitars and wanted to play them in the song. My mom plays the harp on the track, my brother the theremin, my wife [Régine Chassagne] sings and plays drums, and our son even plays the triangle, as well as the rest of our ‘family’ in Arcade Fire. I will forever relate to the song thinking about the people I hold so dear that are ‘so precious to me.’ Listen for the cameo of my grandpa Alvino’s famous Sonovox at the end.”

Arcade Fire’s Régine Chassagne says the song and the movie are just as relevant today as they were nearly eight decades ago. “It’s a story we need to tell again,” she says. “A lot has changed since 1941, and we are still on that quest to allow for all people to accept and celebrate who they are on this planet.”

Sharon Rooney, who portrays Miss Atlantis in the new “Dumbo,” performs “Baby Mine” in the film.

The digital version of the “Dumbo” original motion picture soundtrack will also be available from Walt Disney Records March 29 (iTunes, Amazon), and the physical CD is set for release on April 5.

About the film:

From Disney and visionary director Tim Burton, “Dumbo” expands on the beloved classic story where differences are celebrated, family is cherished and dreams take flight. A new trailer, images and poster are now available. The trailer features Colin Farrell, Michael Keaton, Danny DeVito, Eva Green, Finley Hobbins and Nico Parker.

Circus owner Max Medici (Danny DeVito) enlists former star Holt Farrier (Colin Farrell) and his children Milly (Nico Parker) and Joe (Finley Hobbins) to care for a newborn elephant whose oversized ears make him a laughingstock in an already struggling circus. But when they discover that Dumbo can fly, the circus makes an incredible comeback, attracting persuasive entrepreneur V.A. Vandevere (Michael Keaton), who recruits the peculiar pachyderm for his newest, larger-than-life entertainment venture, Dreamland. Dumbo soars to new heights alongside a charming and spectacular aerial artist, Colette Marchant (Eva Green), until Holt learns that beneath its shiny veneer, Dreamland is full of dark secrets.

Disney Dumbo soars into theaters near you on March 29.