Pixar’s Cars includes “Our Town,” which was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song.
The song was written and performed by Randy Newman for the film. It accompanies the story’s reflective view of Radiator Springs and its changing fortunes, matching the town’s memories of the old Route 66 era. The nomination recognized the song at the 79th Academy Awards.
“Our Town” was one of Cars’ two Oscar nominations. The film was also nominated for Best Animated Feature, but it did not win either category. The song’s title can cause confusion because “Our Town” is also the name of Thornton Wilder’s famous play, which is unrelated to the Pixar composition.
Randy Newman wrote several important songs for Pixar films, including “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” from Toy Story. His Cars song instead emphasizes community, nostalgia and the decline of roadside towns.