Following the release of the anticipated sequel, Moana 2, which earned $225 million at the US and Canadian box office in its first week, the film's soundtrack proved to be an equally big hit, debuting in the top 10 of the three Bulletin board album chart.
With the voices of returning actors Auliʻi Cravalho (Moana) and Dwayne Johnson (Maui), Moana 2 it also debuted a new musical pairing in the composition duo Barlow & Bear (Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear). Together, the two made history as the youngest and only all-female songwriting duo to create a complete soundtrack for a Disney animated film. (Barlow & Bear stepped in for Lin-Manuel Miranda, who directed the score for the 2016 original Moana.)
“They were transported for their enormous talent as musicians and storytellers,” he says Tom McDougallchairman of Walt Disney Music and Bulletin board's Executive of the Week, who also A&R'd the soundtrack. “Where you are younger did came into the game was revealed in their ability to understand the emotions Moana felt as a young woman striving to achieve great things and channeling that experience into the story.” (Moana 2 picks up three years after the original film left off. this time, Moana receives an unexpected call from her ancestors that brings her back to the ocean.)
The festive opening week for Moana 2 it's only the beginning of the end of a busy year for Disney, as MacDougall's next soundtrack is already on its way. On December 20, Mufasa: The Lion King will arrive along with Miranda's original soundtrack.
And while MacDougall says “we just release movies when they're ready,” he believes there's something special about the end of a year. “Think [this period] it represents a time of reflection, joy and family,” he says. “I can see how those feelings can get you in the mood to see characters sing.”
Moana 2 debuted in the top 10 in three of Bulletin boardalbum chart (No. 2 on Kid Albums, No. 10 on Soundtracks and No. 10 on World Albums). What key decisions did you make to help make this happen?
Our Disney Music Group and studio marketing partners know the “first responders” to our soundtracks live in these key categories and strive to serve them early with sneak peeks, exclusives and lyric videos. As movies expand — like Frozen and Encanto — we try to capture all audiences on as many charts as we can, including the top songs and albums charts.
The first one Moana The soundtrack topped both the Kid Albums and Soundtracks charts for 54 and 62 non-consecutive weeks, respectively. How do you and the team aim for similar longevity to Moana 2?
We are always humbled by any charting, and don't expect the past to indicate future success, but do our best to find the underlying emotional states that, dare I say, require these characters to sing. My experience is that when we hit that point — which I think we did Moana 2 — success may follow.
What challenges did you and the team face in pursuing a musical hit? Moana?
Sequels to musicals are difficult, as you need new adventures, obstacles and desires to sing, otherwise it won't feel like development for the characters. With Moana being older and wiser, she has taken on more responsibilities towards her community and her family, which has provided fertile ground for her to sing. And, of course, our demigod Maui always finds reasons to sing, and so does Dwayne [Johnson] He really pushed himself creatively to find yet another platform for his singing talents for the new song “Can I Get A Chee Hoo?”
Except Moana 2, Mufasa: The Lion King arrives on December 20th. For any sequel or franchise sequel, in terms of music, what's the secret to balancing familiar sounds with new ones?
I think the secret to a musical sequel is to make sure you offer something new in terms of characters, story and music, but [that] it does not abandon what has gone before. Barlow & Bear represented the new on Moana 2and [composers] Opetaia Foa'i and Mark Mancina were the foundations of what came before them bringing the warm homey feel that audiences expect from their world Moana.
For you, what is the signal that the team has a hit on its hands?
Honestly, we don't consider any movie soundtrack a success until the audience speaks. There's often a slow absorption period that seems to happen with music that doesn't follow the near-instant assessment of box office success, so sometimes we just have to wait. With Moana 2 Audiences have told us they want to spend a lot of time in this world, so I don't think we'll have to wait long to consider the soundtrack a success.
How “far” do you see it Moana motion pictures specifically – are there any current plans “beyond” this sequel?
Having worked on both films for over a decade in my career, I look forward to enjoying this moment of success and being grateful that audiences have responded to these films in this unprecedented way. can i have a chee hoo
