The highly anticipated Moana 2 is nearing its release and fans are buzzing with anticipation. Most children who enjoyed the original thoroughly in 2016 and sang their hearts out, are now adults and will swarm the theatres to re-live the nostalgia.
Moana 2 | Disney
So the expectations for the sequel are sky-high, especially for the film’s soundtracks, after all, music isn’t just background noise when it comes to Disney, it’s the heartbeat of every story. However, people are feeling that the magic that Lin-Manuel Miranda brought to the experience is absent. So what exactly led to this noticeable void, and will Disney pay for it?
The New Music Duo That Took Over Moana 2’s Music
Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear | DisneyMusicVevo / YouTube
Disney handed the reigns of all Moana 2 soundtracks to Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear, two Grammy-winning artists who found their breakthrough on TikTok when they started posting Bridgerton-inspired musicals. Even though their talent is undeniable and praiseworthy, the movie’s compositions are already facing mixed reviews.
I listened to the Moana 2 soundtrack and the music is kinda bad. Lin Manuel Miranda is definitely the secret sauce and they should have drove a truck full of money to him to get him back. pic.twitter.com/MQiBs0c8ji— Shamar⭐️💫 (@shamarhunter99) November 22, 2024
I thought this had to be an exaggeration but…no that was not good.Auli’i can sing like hell but the music and lyrics were mid at best 😬— Kendra🍞still jonesing for it🥖 (@nubpher) November 22, 2024
While the songs aren’t quite as catchy this go round, Moana and Maui are still an infectious pair, delivering hilarious gags and heartfelt moments. Brilliant animation, a deeper dive into Polynesian lore, #Moana2 proves it’s worth sailing beyond the reef once again. pic.twitter.com/7UoBiByOv2— Chris Killian (@chriskillian) November 22, 2024
They’ve made history by being the first female composer duo at Disney, but replacing Lin-Manuel Miranda is no small task. Fans of the original Moana are quite harsh and blunt when it comes to stating their opinion about the sequel’s music, they’ve called it “bad,” “soulless,” “ai-generated” and whatnot.
Yap The soundtrack is a bit down compared to the first one 😭🤌🏼 I listened to it on Spotify earlier but it’s pretty good, hopefully it’s really good when I watch it next weekend— Ilvaldo🍉🕊️ (@i_ilvaldo) November 22, 2024
Streets saying even wish soundtrack was better 💀— prismaticScars – Xiaoping Yolungi (@yolungi) November 23, 2024
They noted that even though songs like Beyond sounded polished, they did not evoke any emotions as Miranda’s music did. Netizens also seemed to complain about the lyrics and found the writing to be mediocre at best.
Has Disney Made a Mistake By Letting Lin-Manuel Miranda Go?
Lin-Manuel Miranda | The Graham Norton Show / YouTube
Lin-Manuel Miranda’s contributions to Moana made it one of the best-animated musicals in Disney’s history. Songs like How Far I’ll Go and You’re Welcome were a perfect fit for the narrative and went on to become a cultural phenomenon.
Fans would sing, dance, and cherish these songs because Miranda is gifted with the ability to combine beautiful lyrics with unforgettable melodies. His music elevated the film, and Moana became more than just another adventure. Now that the film’s release is close, the lack of the sequel’s standout track could be troublesome.
Related First Reactions to Moana 2’s Trailer Starring Dwayne Johnson Reveal the Sequel Could Be the One to Save Disney
Without Miranda’s magic touch, many fear that Moana 2 will lose its edge, and won’t be able to capitalize on the original’s success. And even though Disney’s dedication to bringing in new talent for their projects and giving everyone a platform is admirable, the reactions to the new soundtracks suggest that the road ahead could be rough.
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