Disney fans recently returned to the world of ‘Zootopia’ – complete with new characters, a new message, and an original song from Shakira / Gazelle.
Stream: “Zoo” – Shakira
It’s been almost 10 years since Disney fans met the unlikely duo of Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde.
In the original animated film Zootopia, these two fought to make the world a better place, shattering stereotypes about dumb bunnies and sly foxes along the way. Of course, there was also the beloved pop star Gazelle, voiced by actual beloved pop star Shakira.
For Zootopia 2, Gazelle returned with a new hit song, “Zoo,” performed with her tiger backup dancers. It’s a track that feels similar to Shakira’s original music, definitely inspired by latin pop and prioritizing dance-ability above all else.
“Come on, get on up,
We’re wild and we can’t be tamed.
And we’re turnin’ the floor into,
A zoo, ooh, ooh.”
– “Zoo,” Shakira
The lyrics are super catch-y, albeit repetitive… and especially when compared to “Try Everything” from the original Zootopia movie, this new theme feels a little uninspired and watered down. Both songs, I fear, will never be discussed in the same vein as “Circle of Life” or “A Whole New World.”
“I won’t give up, no, I won’t give in,
‘Til I reach the end, and then I’ll start again.
No, I won’t leave, I wanna try everything,
I wanna try even though I could fail.
I’ll keep on making those new mistakes,
I’ll keep on making them every day,
Those new mistakes.”
– “Try Everything,” Shakira
There’s this nagging feeling that songs composed for media today are less creative and thought-provoking in favor of something easier to understand or, more accurately, something soundbite-able with potential for TikTok virality – and Shakira creating a dance for “Zoo” doesn’t support the alternative.
Others have poked fun at this, especially when it comes to the literal lyrics chosen for Netflix’s reality show Love is Blind. Those obscure songs often describe exactly what’s happening to the characters onscreen, and don’t get me wrong, for a reality show basically about talking to a wall, they’re hilarious and perfect. The problem becomes when this method bleeds into other Netflix projects and cinema as a whole.
Even screenwriters for the streaming platform revealed a common note from company executives is to “have… character[s] announce what they’re doing so that viewers who have this program on in the background can follow along” (via N+1 Magazine.)
In the age of streaming movies at 1.25x speed and quirky TikTok dances, is this the music we should expect? Is this the music we crave? Is this the music that actually achieves financial success and shapes pop culture?
Admittedly, when it comes to Disney films, the bar for music is high. And that’s not to say all original music for blockbusters feels this way. The Fantastic Four: First Steps soundtrack is pretty mind-blowing – shoutout Michael Giacchino.
I’d be remiss to not mention this year’s most popular animated movie, KPop Demon Hunters, as an example of something different and exciting – especially regarding its original soundtrack. Obviously, the response has been overwhelmingly positive, with “Golden” snagging a Critics’ Choice Award nomination. But that wasn’t Disney… that was Netflix.
I just wonder, as I queue “Zoo” for my morning coffee run, is this song actually good? Or have I just heard it on Instagram 50 times?
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Stream: “Zoo” – Shakira
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© Disney
© DisneyZootopia 2
Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
