Let’s get down to business to get the story behind the music ofMulan.
As he explains, “We knew we weren’t going to be writing a five-tone scale musical.
My go-to references were Rodgers & Hammerstein and Lerner & Loewe and Gilbert & Sullivan.
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This meant writing and re-writing songs, occasionally tossing things out the window altogether.
“We wrote three different versions of it,” explains Zippel.
Like the character of Mulan,the song is an unlikely hero.
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We were very lucky with that one,” remembers Zippel.
“And a rather odd structure.
But the lyric was leading on that one.”
Everett Collection
When it came to writing the music, Wilder says he used an everything-and-the-kitchen-sink approach.
I had a very extensive Asian sample library.
Zippel notes, “It was trying to be ironic and humorous and in character at all times.”
“This was a chance to put some specificity into it.
This is a song a little bit about hyper-masculinity and the whole idea ofMulanpunctures that idea.
This was a chance to have those two issues head-to-head.”
Wilder remembers preparing a demo of the song set to hand-drawn animation to screen for then-Disney chief Michael Eisner.
It did not do what he was hoping it would do," remembers Wilder.
“He started to get all choked up, and I said ‘What is it?’
I didn’t know how to tell anyone.
I heard the song ‘Reflection’ and the lyrics ‘When will my reflection show who I am inside?’
“That moment alone made being a songwriter worth my whole life.
That our song had that effect on him was wonderful and very powerful.”
“With all of its irony, [it] was a comedy song.
I thought that was a really powerful moment,” says Zippel.
The song also brought an unexpected vocal cameo for Wilder.
“That was a real high point for me because I didn’t see that coming.
When I hear the song, that’s the moment that comes to mind.
Wilder still vividly remembers their recording sessions with the music legend.
He looked like an African god.”
Neither Wilder nor Zippel knew precisely what Wonder might contribute to the song.
“Initially we had asked if he’d play harmonica on the piece,” says Zippel.
That was the coup de gras, that just made us so happy.”
“He basically told us at that moment, ‘I’m here for you.
I’ll do whatever you want.
“We spent the next two days with Stevie Wonder at our beck and call.
The two have not relinquished the idea of doing something further with the piece.
We have a deep, deep, deep passion for this piece.
[We would love] to have the opportunity to expand the score and see it up on stage.
That would be a dream.”
