Mulan Soundtrack CD

Original score composed by Jerry Goldsmith.
"True To Your Heart" was nominated for the 1999 Grammy Award for Best Song Written For A Motion Picutre Or For Television.
It's hard to believe that Matthew Wilder ("Break My Stride") wrote these zesty, delightful songs along with lyricist David Zippel. Mulan is the best Disney soundtrack in recent memory, with melodies you can instantly sing along with and lyrics that are amusing and thought-provoking. Donny Osmond may not ever qualify as a rocker, but he shows himself the perfect choice for the male vocal lead here, with his best effort since his brief turn in the spotlight as one of the numerous singers for Jeff Beck's "Ambitious" video a decade earlier. Christina Aguilera may have gotten the nod for the pop version of "Reflection," but it's Lea Salonga's heartfelt but not overwrought version that is the cornerstone of the album. Jerry Goldsmith's score keeps things moving, and topping it off is "True to Your Heart" by 980 and Stevie Wonder. ~ Ross Boissoneau
Music is an integral part to any animated Disney film. From Snow White & the Seven Dwarves to Beauty & the Beast, the songs were as enchanting as the animation itself, adding to the magic of the film itself. Shortly after Beauty & the Beast's massive success, the studio set up a succession of "classy" animated films, spending tons of money to get admittedly gorgeous pictures, star voices and big-name music composers. The films were all high-quality, but a little homogenous, and by the time they got to Mulan -- the story of a Chinese princess -- they knew it was time for a change, investing the film with an original look and story. Too bad that didn't extend to the music, as well. While the music for Mulan is far from terrible, it isn't particularly inspired. Jerry Goldsmith's score is fine and occasionally moving, but Matthew Wilder and David Zippel's full-fledged songs are flat and unmemorable. Unfortunately, they provide the bulk of the album and the overall result is a pleasant, forgettable listen -- and that's a disappointment, but it's not surprising considering that Pocahontas and The Hunchback of Notre Dame suffered from the same flaw. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine
The soundtrack to Disney's animated musical MULAN is a star-studded affair. Film music legend Jerry Goldsmith composed and conducted the original score, which is stylistically in keeping with much of his past work. The songs on the album though, composed by Matthew Wilder and David Zippel, roam a bit further afield, employing the vocal talents of an extremely diverse group that includes Stevie Wonder, Donny Osmond and Harvey Fierstein. Now there's a combination not likely to be repeated! In keeping with the theme of the film, some of the original tunes incorporate Asian musical motifs, but rock, pop and R&B all find their way into the mix as well.

Music-Matthew Wilder,Lyrics- David Zippel,J.Goldsmith Score