Ever since its release in 1998, Mulan has become one of the most beloved Disney films of all time. It flipped the script on Disney princesses and used the movie as a way to display female empowerment. A live-action version was released in 2020 but has not received as much praise as the original.
Surprisingly, the movie only has a handful of songs, but they’re so memorable that plenty of fans watch for the tunes, alone. All of the songs and the original scores further elevate Mulan and make it stand out from other musicals of the time period. However, fans love some pieces more than others.
“True To Your Heart”
“True to Your Heart” is the transition between the movie and the ending credits. Because it’s not sung by any of the characters, it’s not as well known as the rest of the songs. However, it’s still catchy, and it fits well in Mulan’s final scene with Mushu. Mushu was the one who was there for her from the very beginning, and he believed in her when no one else did.
The lyric, “Someone you know is on your side can set you free, I can do that for you if you believe in me,” speaks volumes. Mushu’s success was dependent upon Mulan’s, and their friendship went both ways. Neither one of them could have accomplished their dreams without the other.
Original Scores
There are plenty of incredible scores in Mulan, but since they’re instrumental, they aren’t something the audience can sing along to. However, they did an excellent job at upping the film’s intensity and setting the tone of each scene.
“The Huns’ Attack,” which is played when Mulan and the rest of the army are ambushed, and “Attack at the Wall,” which played during the final fight scene, stand out because of their ability to make the audience recognize how high the stakes are.
“A Girl Worth Fighting For”
As Shang’s army marches on, they begin to sing about the biggest perk of serving their country. They believe a woman makes it worth it in the end, and they each discuss what their ideal woman is like. However, most of their comments are rather sexist and surface level, and one of the men only cares about how good her cooking will be.
Mulan doesn’t resonate with what they’re saying and instead asks, “How about a girl who’s got a brain and always speaks her mind?” Of course, this was something that didn’t appeal to them, but they realize how wrong they are by the end of the film. The song is unforgettable because of its beat, and it uses irony to showcase that gender stereotypes do not define women.
“Honor To Us All”
Because it’s one of the more upbeat songs on the soundtrack, “Honor to Us All” is pretty catchy. It plays while Mulan’s family gets her ready to see the matchmaker and quickly turns comical. Mulan is thrown in a bath, fussed over, and rushed across town.
She clearly isn’t as prepared as the rest of the women and even writes a cheat sheet on her wrist in case she forgets something. But the most important thing about the song is that it gives the audience a good idea of Mulan’s character. She clearly doesn’t want to be the obedient housewife that everyone expects, and she wants to control her own destiny.
“Reflection”
“Reflection” is the most beautiful and most heartbreaking song in the film. It lets the audience inside Mulan’s head and puts all of her feelings on display. Mulan never meant to disappoint her family, and she was prepared to be the “perfect” daughter even though it wasn’t what she wanted.
The line, “If I were truly to be myself, I would break my family’s heart,” can resonate with those who are afraid to show others who they really are. But the movie proves that Mulan was wrong, as her family is proud just to have her as a daughter. By being herself and not letting others define her, Mulan saved all of China.
“I’ll Make A Man Out Of You”
With over 130 million views on Youtube, “I’ll Make a Man Out of You” is easily the film’s best and most well-known song. Even those who have never seen Mulan are likely familiar with it, and it’s the most empowering scene in the entire movie. While Shang sings about how only men are capable of being in the army, surely but slowly, Mulan proves him wrong.
Shang is completely unaware that the more successful Mulan becomes, the less the song holds true. Given that Mulan is a family film, it teaches girls from a young age that women can do anything men can do. In fact, Mulan ends up surpassing the men around her. The song is easily the catchiest piece, and people can’t seem to get enough of it.
