Brad Bird Asked Kimbra to Make RAY GUNN’s “Innocent” Song Catchy and Slightly Annoying, and She Nailed It
When Brad Bird asked singer-songwriter Kimbra to write a song for his animated sci-fi noir Ray Gunn, he had a pretty funny request. Make it catchy as hell, but also just annoying enough that people would wish they could get it out of their heads.
That was the creative direction behind “Innocent,” one of the original songs Kimbra wrote for the film, which features Scarlett Johansson performing the music as her character.
I recently attended a screening of Ray Gunn in Los Angeles, where Bird participated in a Q&A afterward and talked about collaborating with Kimbra on the movie's music.
Each song had a specific job to do in the story, but “Innocent” came with an especially entertaining challenge.
Bird explained: “Each one had a different challenge and a different role to play in the film. And what was amazing to me is that we talked about it in detail, each one. Like, the ‘Innocent’ song, I said, I want it to be really hooky. Like once you hear it, you keep hearing it. But I also want it to be slightly annoying. I wanted to be something that you kind of wish you could think of something else.
“And she went off and came back with the, and I wanted it to be called ‘Innocent’ so that it would play into the plot of, is she guilty, or is she innocent? Because I knew the press in the movie would then be, you know, is she innocent? you know? All of that.”
The song needed to do more than get stuck in people's heads. Its title also ties directly into the film's mystery, with the question of Johansson's character's innocence becoming part of the story.
Bird wanted something that worked as both a catchy pop song and a slightly irritating earworm. Kimbra apparently understood the assignment perfectly.
He continued: “So when I asked her to do that, to make something that was had a hook, but was really annoying, she went off and she came back with something that was perfect, because it absolutely, the innocent part is memorable.
“But it also is like being poked. ‘Innocent,’ you know, it's kind of one of those things that you, it's in your brain, but you kind of wish it wasn't.”
That's a hilarious creative goal for a song, especially when most musicians are trying to make something people actually want to hear repeatedly.
But Kimbra's work on Ray Gunn wasn't all about crafting an infectious pop tune. Another song required something much more personal, giving Johansson's character a chance to express feelings she struggles to reveal.
Bird explained: “And she came and nailed it, and then I gave her... the other directive for the other song was, this one is her. It's really personal. It's she wrote it, the character, and it talks about her vulnerability in that in that spot. and how it's hard to be authentic when you are surrounded by all that stuff.
“And she delivered something that was totally heartfelt and the lyrics are amazing. And I felt like I wasn't directing in a way. because I had nothing to say when she came back with them, except, thanks. You know?
“I didn't have anything that I wanted that these songs weren't hitting. So she, she kind of, like, did three home runs in a row, which was astonishing to me how gifted she is.”
It's cool hearing how much thought went into making the songs part of the storytelling rather than simply musical performances dropped into the movie.
Bird gave Kimbra some very specific creative challenges, and she delivered songs that served completely different emotional purposes.
One was designed to drive you a little crazy. The other was meant to show you who the character really is. Getting both right is a pretty impressive trick, and Bird clearly couldn't have been happier with what Kimbra brought to Ray Gunn.
Of course, now we’ll just have to wait and see how many people are going to walk away from the movie with “Innocent” permanently lodged in their brains. Apparently, that's exactly what Bird wants.