Moana 2songwriters Abigail Barlow, 25, and Emily Bear, 22, have addressed the criticism surrounding the sequel’s soundtrack following its theatrical premiere. The highly-anticipated follow-up to Disney’s 2016 hit,Moana, continues the journey of Moana Waialiki (voiced by Auli’i Cravalho), who ventures beyond her home once again to break the curse that befalls the island of Motufetu.Moana 2’s returning cast membersinclude Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as Maui, with a mix of new friends and foes.
In an interview withVariety,the award-winning duo Barlow and Bear spoke openly about audience reactions to theMoana 2soundtrack, which has drawn mixed reviews. Notably, songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda, who crafted many of the iconic songs for the original, did not return for the second installment of Moana’s seafaring adventure. Reflecting on the challenges of following Miranda’s footsteps, Bear addressed the inevitable comparisons, while Barlow seemed unscathed by the apprehension. Here’s what they had to say:
Abigail Barlow:Give it a month,all the kids will be singing it, and you’ll be tired of it.
Emily Bear:I would say that everyone has an opinion. Writing a sequel is really difficult because obviously, you’re never going to be able to recreate the feeling of the first one. And so, people like what they know, and this is new. So, of course, they’re going to have opinions. And I don’t know…music is subjective.
What Moana 2 Songwriters' Comments Mean
Barlow & Bear Address The Weight Of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Legacy
While Barlow and Bear’s innovative style earned them a Grammyanda lawsuit for theirviralBridgerton-inspired musicalin 2022,their next challenge was crafting a soundtrack to match the ingenuity of the originalMoana. Taking the reins from Lin-Manuel Miranda, whose work inEncanto(2021) andHamilton(2020) also received various award nominations, was not an easy task. Miranda’s soundtrack included hits like “How Far I’ll Go,” which won Disney’s multigenerational audience over en masseeight years prior and was nominated for Best Original Song at the Academy Awards.
Moana 2 Post-Credits Scene Explained
The film also ends with a special reunion in the end credits that can set the stage for future Moana movies.
Barlow and Bear’s Grammy-winning experience demonstrates their creative talent and knack for songwriting, but their work compilingalmost everyMoana 2songis their first time composing for a feature-length film. Nevertheless, the duo’s composition forMoana 2contributes to a legacy of broken glass ceilings as the two becamethe 11th and 12th women to compose a Disney film(out of nearly 200 men, viaBBC) andthe first female songwriting duoto be featured in 87 years of Disney music.
Our Take On Moana 2 Songwriters' Comments
Barlow & Bear’s Soundtrack Deserves A Second Listen
The songwriting duo’s confidence in their work shows their resilience as creators stepping into an already-beloved franchise. It’s clear they understand the weight of expectations, especially followingMiranda’s acclaimed song work. Their openness about the challenges of crafting a sequel highlights the difficulty of bringing something new alongside the wave of audience nostalgia. Whether or notMoana 2’s soundtrack achieves the lasting legacy of its predecessor,Barlow and Bear’s trailblazing journey in Disney’s musical history is worthy of recognition.
Moana 2
Cast
Moana 2 is the sequel to the 2016 animated film Moana. Directed by David G. Derrick Jr., Jason Hand, and Dana Ledoux Miller, the film continues the journey of Moana as she embarks on new adventures, exploring the vast Pacific Ocean while encountering new characters and challenges along the way.
