As a long-time fan of Disney films and a proud Polynesian, I eagerly await the release of Moana 2 this November. The anticipation has been building since the first film captivated audiences with its enchanting storyline and memorable music. However, nothing quite prepared me for the news that Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson would be reprising his role as the beloved demigod Maui, and more so when I learned that the music for this sequel would be penned by none other than The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical’s Barlow & Bear.
With the upcoming release of Moana 2, critics have been discussing the sequel’s music, particularly from the team Barlow & Bear of The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical. Given that they are following in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s footsteps, there was undoubtedly a significant amount of pressure to create music that Disney would endorse. In an interview with TopMob, they revealed that presenting Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson with his follow-up to “You’re Welcome” was an emotional journey for the songwriting duo.
During our conversation at the Hawaii promotional event for “Moana 2”, Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear amusingly recounted an incident that occurred while composing “Can I Get A Chee Hoo?” especially for Dwayne Johnson. In Abigail’s own words:
Indeed, that’s Maui we’re talking about, who generously incorporated everything we might have suggested into the song. However, we weren’t expecting his call, as he dialed us up using our boss’s phone. In that moment, I was in the midst of preparing for a performance, donning a turban and robe, while Emily was driving. He was gracious about the unexpected interruption, sharing it sent shivers down his spine and he was thrilled to be part of the recording.
During the interview, Barlow mentioned that Johnson incorporated everything we might’ve thought to ask for in Maui’s latest song. However, when they initially gave him the track, they felt quite anxious about it. As Bear put it:
Initially, we anticipated that they’d play the song for him during one of his recording sessions, but we waited for hours without any sign. We assumed he must have hated it, and we thought we’d need to start over from scratch. It was disheartening. But then, unexpectedly, he called us via FaceTime, saying, “I adore it girls! I love it so much.” His words sent shivers down my spine. To our surprise, he actually liked it.
Writing a song for Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson must be incredibly nerve-racking, but the creators managed to captivate the superstar with their idea for “Can I Get A Chee Hoo?” This tune is inspired by the well-known Hawaiian phrase “Chee hoo,” which symbolizes excitement and happiness. It’s a song meant to encourage Moana when she needs it most from Maui, expressing encouragement and joy.
Barlow & Bear have spent most of their lives composing songs, yet “Moana 2” marked their debut as Disney songwriters after their hit musical about “Bridgerton”, which won a Grammy and went viral. TopMob also had a conversation with Disney’s new creative chief officer, Jared Bush (who also penned the script for the original “Moana”), during their time in Oahu. Bush shared his insights on the film’s songwriters, and he expressed his thoughts about Maui’s new tune. As Bush stated:
Working with DJ is absolutely one of my top joys in life. Our collaboration during Moana’s first installment was fantastic, and we were eager to further explore Maui’s character. However, we knew that he needed a standout song to match the high expectations. From the start, we wanted this new tune to have a unique flavor while still maintaining Maui’s essence.
For Dwayne Johnson, reprising his role in “Moana 2” held significant value since his daughters identify with the Disney princess. In fact, they made a special appearance in the newest film. By voicing a cherished Disney character and hero from Polynesian folklore in “Moana 2”, Johnson has an opportunity to reflect his own Polynesian heritage. Moreover, he has expressed that the sequel gave him a platform to question traditional notions of masculinity through Maui’s latest journey.
In essence, this film project for the 2024 release, including its soundtrack, holds significant importance not only for Dwayne Johnson (The Rock) but also for everyone involved in its creation.
As a fellow gaming enthusiast, I’m super excited to share that I’ll be heading to the cinemas on November 27 to catch Moana 2! If you’re curious about what other Disney movies are on the horizon, don’t hesitate to check them out here on TopMob. Let’s embark on these magical adventures together!
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2024-11-27 05:38