"Hoodwinked" Soundtrack Lyrics

"Hoodwinked: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack" Soundtrack Description

Overview

Not 2009: the first film is Hoodwinked! (limited release 2005; wide 2006). Its album, Hoodwinked: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, blends character-sung numbers with a retro-tinged score. John Mark Painter’s cues nod to Mancini and ’60s TV thrillers, while original songs by Todd Edwards and guests turn fairy-tale scenes into pop skits and genre pastiches.

The record’s tonal swing is the point: Anne Hathaway’s upbeat “Great Big World,” Benjy Gaither’s yodel-cabaret “Be Prepared,” a goofy jingle duet (“The Schnitzel Song”) with Jim Belushi, and Ben Folds’ piano ballad “Red Is Blue.” The score and songs were recorded in Nashville; the album was issued by Rykodisc. (Trusted sources: Wikipedia’s soundtrack entry; Apple Music album page; Discogs release; MusicBrainz release metadata.)

Questions & Answers

Who wrote the music?

Score by John Mark Painter; original songs largely by Todd Edwards, with featured performances by Anne Hathaway, Ben Folds, Benjy Gaither, Andy Dick and others.

What label released the album?

Rykodisc (original release December 13, 2005). Digital reissues followed; the album is available on major platforms.

Is “Red Is Blue” really Ben Folds?

Yes—Painter invited Ben Folds to perform it; Folds cut the vocal and arranged the piano part for the soundtrack.

Which tracks are diegetic (sung/heard in-world)?

“Be Prepared” (Japeth’s song), “The Schnitzel Song” (Kirk’s jingle), “Top of the Woods” (comic in-world performance) and several gag motifs are performed in-world; others play non-diegetically.

Was there a 2009 version?

No new film; the 2005 soundtrack saw renewed retail availability around late 2009/early 2010 after earlier CD issues were hard to find.

How does this differ from the 2011 sequel?

The sequel (Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil) has a separate song album (Lakeshore) and an original score by Murray Gold.

Notes & Trivia

• Recorded and mixed in Nashville (Ocean Way Studios and IHOF Studios).
• Todd Edwards wrote nine originals for the movie; he sings four of them (“Critters Have Feelings,” “Tree Critter,” “Eva Deanna,” “Glow”).
• Anne Hathaway’s “Great Big World” replaced an earlier song; the scene was re-animated to fit the new cue.
• “Be Prepared” was engineered to support a running horns gag for Japeth the Goat.
• Instrumental “Blow Your House Down” uses a track by Filipino band Pupil as a playful wolf/boar nod.

Genres & Themes

Retro caper score — vibraphone/woodwinds, brisk brass hits; frames the police-procedural parody.

Comedy cabaret & novelty — goat yodel, schnitzel jingle; character comedy delivered as songs.

Piano pop balladry — Ben Folds’ “Red Is Blue” underscores Red’s self-doubt with classic pop melancholia.

Acoustic pop & kid-friendly indie — Hathaway’s “Great Big World,” Todd Edwards’ light pop; optimism cues for Red’s perspective.

Tracks & Scenes

"Great Big World" — Anne Hathaway
Scene: Red’s perspective sequence early in the film; a bright, self-motivating montage element (non-diegetic vocal over action).
Why it matters: Introduces Red’s energy and optimism in one bite-sized pop chapter.

"Be Prepared" — Benjy Gaither (as Japeth)
Scene: Red meets Japeth the Goat in the mine; he sings about readiness while swapping horns (diegetic, on-screen performance).
Why it matters: A character-defining gag song that also moves the plot through the mountain tunnel section.

"The Schnitzel Song" — Fleming McWilliams & Jim Belushi
Scene: Kirk the Woodsman’s goofy advertising jingle, heard in-world as part of his schnitzel-peddling persona (diegetic).
Why it matters: Establishes the Woodsman as more than a cliché and pays off later in his recounting.

"Red Is Blue" — Ben Folds
Scene: Reflective interlude tied to Red’s doubts and regrouping (non-diegetic).
Why it matters: Piano pop palate-cleanser that adds genuine pathos between chase beats.

"Critters Have Feelings" — Todd Edwards
Scene: Montage-style connective tissue during the investigation (non-diegetic).
Why it matters: Pop commentary that underlines the film’s “four versions of the truth” structure.

"Top of the Woods" — Andy Dick
Scene: In-world comic performance linked to a villain gag (diegetic; brief set-piece).
Why it matters: A breezy villain-feint that winks at show-tune bravado.

"Runaway" — Joshua J. Greene
Scene: Action transition during the caper unraveling (non-diegetic).
Why it matters: Keeps momentum high between interrogation chapters.

"The Real G" — Cory Edwards
Scene: Comic aside tied to the Wolf’s undercover shtick (non-diegetic, vignette-style insert).
Why it matters: Adds meta-humor to the procedural parody.

"Bounce" — Todd Collins
Scene: End-sequence/credits energy bump (non-diegetic).
Why it matters: Sends the audience out on an uptempo beat after the mystery’s reveal.

"Blow Your House Down (Instrumental)" — Pupil
Scene: Short instrumental insert during a wolf/boar gag (non-diegetic, underscore color).
Why it matters: A left-field rock color inside a largely orchestral comedy score.

Trailer music: Marketing uses Painter’s caper stings and quick song snips for the multi-POV “case file” tone.

Music–Story Links

Because the movie replays the same event from four viewpoints, songs punctuate perspective shifts. Diegetic numbers (“Be Prepared,” “The Schnitzel Song”) expose character filters masquerading as facts; non-diegetic ballads (“Red Is Blue”) let Red process the mess between interrogations. The score’s caper language glues it together—every motif treats a fairy tale like a police report.

How It Was Made

Painter (of the rock duo Fleming & John) scored the film; Todd Edwards wrote and produced songs with Painter. Sessions took place in Nashville (Ocean Way, IHOF). The final album—27 cues mixing songs and score—was produced by Edwards and Painter and released on Rykodisc.

Reception & Quotes

Critical response to the film was mixed, but the music’s variety and wit were frequently noted in coverage and fan forums; the soundtrack remains a cult favorite for its character numbers.

“Score by John Mark Painter… recorded in Nashville; the album landed via Rykodisc.” Wikipedia (soundtrack entry)

“Includes Anne Hathaway’s ‘Great Big World’ and Ben Folds’ ‘Red Is Blue’ alongside novelty cuts.” Apple Music editorial/track list

Additional Info

• Original album length: ~48:35 (27 tracks).
• CD availability lapsed for a period; retail/digital access returned by late 2009/January 2010.
• Sequel releases: Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil has a 2011 song album (Lakeshore) and a separate Murray Gold score disc.
• Painter’s caper cues were inspired by ’60s TV/film scoring; sessions featured Nashville players and orchestrator Kristin Wilkinson.

Technical Info

• Title: Hoodwinked: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
• Year: 2005 album (film limited 2005; wide 2006)
• Type: Songs + original score
• Composers/Producers: John Mark Painter (score, co-producer); Todd Edwards (songs, co-producer)
• Key Performers: Anne Hathaway; Ben Folds; Benjy Gaither; Fleming McWilliams & Jim Belushi; Andy Dick; Todd Edwards; Joshua J. Greene
• Label: Rykodisc
• Studios: Ocean Way & IHOF Studios (Nashville)
• Notable placements: “Be Prepared” (Japeth’s mine scene); “The Schnitzel Song” (Kirk’s jingle); “Red Is Blue” (reflection cue); “Great Big World” (Red montage); “Bounce” (end sequence)

Canonical Entities & Relations

Sources: Wikipedia (Hoodwinked! soundtrack & production); Apple Music (album page); Discogs (release credits); MusicBrainz (release metadata).

November, 10th 2025