Friends on the Other Side facts for kids

"Friends on the Other Side" is a popular song from the 2009 animated movie The Princess and the Frog. Randy Newman wrote the song. It is sung by Keith David, who is the voice of the movie's main bad guy, Doctor Facilier.

The song shows Doctor Facilier starting his plan to take over New Orleans. He tricks Prince Naveen and gets Naveen's helper, Lawrence, to join him. This song appears again later in the movie. This happens when Facilier fails and is pulled into the spirit world.

How the Song Was Made

This song is like "Poor Unfortunate Souls" from The Little Mermaid. Both songs are sung by villains. These villains pretend to help people's dreams come true. But really, they are only helping themselves.

Both songs trick the main characters into making deals. These deals lead to a magical change for the heroes. This change lasts for most of the movie.

"Friends on the Other Side" was one of the first villain songs in a long time. Before this, there was "Hellfire" from The Hunchback of Notre Dame in 1996. There was also a deleted song called "Snuff Out the Light" from The Emperor's New Groove in 2000. This song helped continue the tradition of Disney villains having their own songs.

What the Song is About

Doctor Facilier wants to be as rich as Eli "Big Daddy" La Bouff. He follows Big Daddy and his daughter, Charlotte La Bouff, to a cafe. They are talking about a foreign prince, Prince Naveen, who is arriving. Charlotte wants to marry Naveen. She shares her excitement with a waitress named Tiana.

Facilier listens to their talk from the shadows. He plans to use Charlotte and Naveen to get the La Bouff family's money.

He brings Naveen and Lawrence to his shop. He tells them to sit for a Tarot card reading. Facilier does card tricks. He tells Naveen that his parents have cut off his money. Naveen needs to marry a rich young lady. Facilier tells Lawrence that he has been pushed around his whole life.

Facilier says their situations will change. He uses tricky words. Naveen will get "green," meaning money. But it also means he will turn into a frog. Lawrence will become "exactly the man he always wanted to be." This means Lawrence wants Naveen's carefree life.

Facilier asks them both to shake his hand. He grins as they do. This makes a deal with him. He calls his "Friends on the Other Side." These friends look like voodoo dolls, masks, and shrunken heads. Facilier takes a special charm from a large mask. He pricks Naveen's finger to get his blood. This starts Naveen's change into a frog.

Lawrence is scared as his master shrinks into an amphibian. Facilier dances and celebrates with fireworks. The scene ends with Facilier warning, "Hush..."

The Song's Return

Tiana tries to break the charm Facilier used. This charm holds Naveen's blood. But Facilier's shadow grabs it and gives it back to him. Facilier then turns Tiana back into a frog. He tells her she will stay a frog forever.

Tiana uses her long frog tongue to grab the charm. She breaks it before Facilier can stop her. Facilier panics. He tries to pick up the broken pieces. His "friends from the other side" arrive. They say they will take his soul. This is his punishment for not paying his debt.

Doctor Facilier tries to convince his spirit friends to give him another chance. He says he still has Naveen. But they do not listen. He tries to run away. But the spirits grab his shadow. They pull Facilier into the spirit world. His soul will stay there forever.

With a flash of light, Facilier and the spirits disappear. Only a tombstone with Facilier's name and face is left. This shows that the witch doctor is gone.