I've just finished listening to the complete OST of Moana and, in all honesty, I don't need to see the movie to know that I
will cry. To me, Moana's OST is definitely one of the best I have heard from Disney, together with The Lion King and Frozen. Most tracks were simply overwhelming and I couldn't help but feel like some were an attempt to leave a powerful statement to the world. The 'cultural environment' that they transmit is also splendid. Also, there is clearly a lot of Miranda's doing in this soundtrack as I felt like I was seeing a Broadway show throughout the whole thing - the emotional roller coaster I felt was impossible to escape from.
Regarding their voices, I had a few surprises...
Auli' i was a surprise to me. After the 'powerhouse voices' given to the previous princesses, I wasn't expecting to hear such a calm and...pure voice. There is something different about Auli' i. She doesn't need a very high and long note like Elsa did in Disney's 'Let It Go' to stand out or leave some statement in her movie, her voice alone does that and, IMO, this is heard in "I Am Moana".
Dwayne Johnson was just priceless - is there anything he
can't do? - yet, I had already heard a part of his song before, so I knew what to expect.
Jemaine Clement was another surprise. In all honesty, I did not know who would be voicing the villain and couldn't help but grin throughout all of his song. His voice just fits so well with his character, in such an odd way! He doesn't sound 'scary', yet, at the same time, there's this tone that makes him easy to identify as the villain!
Overall, the whole cast was amazing, in my opinion. They definitely fit their characters, but in a way that they are not the 'clichés' we are used to hear. They are a different approach to the character they are supposed to be (princess, sidekick, villain, etc...), yet they're effective. It's nearly impossible to explain.
Of all the soundtrack, I have a few favourite tracks:
"
An Innocent Warrior" - Although I do not understand the lyrics, this song is simply haunting. It gave me chills, as soon as it began.
"
We Know the Way" (Regular and Finale) - The mix between the foreign and the English languages was a great choice. The upbeat rhythm of this song just makes me want to stand up and 'get out there'. I also love how it's 100% related to the Polynesian culture.
"
How Far I'll Go (Reprise)" - Moana's "main song" as a character. It allows us to know her, for once, IMO. I love how different this song is from the typical princess songs. Moana seems to be far more tough and brave than the rest and this song reflects that.
"
I Am Moana (Song of the Ancestors)" - I can't avoid noticing this song's connection to "How Far I'll Go", yet, this one has such a depth that is impossible to explain. It starts with a "broken soul needing fix" and it ends with that very same soul finding itself again and leaving a statement to everything and everyone. The final line ("I AM MOANA!") just reminds me of the "Let the storm rage on!" from the end of Frozen's "Let It Go".
Overall? I cannot wait to get my hands in the CD. That says it all.