The music news doesn’t stop with this morning’s earlier announcement of the new “Magic is Calling” song for Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary! The latest reveal concerns the soundtrack for Harmonious at Epcot, and we have a video previewing the score, behind the scenes info, and a rundown of movies & songs featured in the nighttime spectacular debuting as part of the World’s Most Magical Celebration. (As always, see our Guide to Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversaryfor more info!)
As background, Harmonious will be the largest ever Walt Disney World nighttime spectacular—essentially a fireworks show on steroids that will celebrate how the music of Disney inspires people the world over. Harmonious will bring to World Showcase Lagoon an innovative toolkit of massive floating set pieces that house a variety of show effects, including custom-built LED panels, choreographed moving fountains, colorful lights, lasers, pyrotechnics and more.
Harmonious is a nighttime spectacular that will present a “dreamscape of music and imagery” from Disney animated films, reimagined by diverse cultural musicians and artists from around the world. Walt Disney Imagineering describes it as a “transformative experience, where we can discover how Disney music has the power to inspire and unite us all.”
In case the earlier announcement didn’t convey as much, this should underscore the notion that music is at the heart of any celebration at Walt Disney World. It can bring the world together across boundaries and borders, and Disney music is recognized no matter where you are in the world.
It touches people’s lives through powerful melodies and memorable lyrics that are inspiring and moving in any language. “Harmonious,” the all-new nighttime spectacular coming to EPCOT, celebrates the music of Disney and its ability to unite us all, bridging cultures and generations to unlock the magic of possibility.
The soundtrack for “Harmonious” was produced remotely through more than 100 separate recording sessions in nine different countries and five states. In total, nearly 240 musicians, artists, composers, arrangers, cultural consultants, and vocalists contributed to the unique sound of the show.
“Harmonious” takes us on a journey through new interpretations of familiar Disney songs, performed in more than a dozen languages by a cast of talented singers from around the world. Some are recognizable names, either in the United States or their home country. Others are rising stars being heard by a global audience for the first time. Here’s a look at some of the amazing work that went on behind the scenes to create the music of “Harmonious.”
“Harmonious” opens with an inspiring medley of “How Far I’ll Go” from “Moana” and “Go the Distance” from “Hercules,” performed by “American Idol” finalist and three-time Grammy nominee Danny Gokey and vocalists Elisha Garrett and Ninet Tayeb.
Throughout the soundtrack, there’s also a musical motif in the form of the soaring melody of composer Pinar Toprak’s new Epcot anthem, and all these diverse pieces of music are woven together by arranger Mark Hammond and Walt Disney Imagineering Senior Music Producer and Creative Director Yaron Spiwak. The resulting ensemble is a cultural symphony unlike anything before at Walt Disney World.
Award-winning Puerto Rican artist Luis Fonsi, responsible for several global hits including “Despacito,” joins Mexican singer-songwriter Joy for a rousing, pan-Latin version of songs from “Coco” and “Saludos Amigos.” A new arrangement of “Dig a Little Deeper” from “The Princess and the Frog” features vocalist Bryson Camper and Gospel artists Karen Clark Sheard and Kierra Sheard. Musical selections from “Mulan,” “The Jungle Book,” and “Aladdin” are highlighted by the vocal talents of Wang Liuqi, Hollie Hammel, Aditya Rao, Gaayatri Kaundinya, Jorgie Shkara, and Sanaa Marahati.
The Ndlovu Youth Choir from Johannesburg contributes a medley of favorites from “The Lion King,” performed in both English and Zulu. French pop singer Damien Sargue performs “Out There” from “The Hunchback of Notre Dame.” The music of “Brave” gets a Celtic kick from the dueling violins of Grammy and Emmy-nominated violinist Máiréad Nesbitt and platinum-selling electronic artist and violinist Lindsey Stirling.
Finally, Harmonious builds to a finale that unites everyone around World Showcase and from around the world, as many of the musical artists come together to perform a poignant and powerful song, bringing “Harmonious” to an emotional close.
The more we hear, the more we’re cautiously optimistic about Harmonious. When this was first announced, I was sad to see IllumiNations going and not being replaced by something that maintains its spirit. The whole notion of a character-centric show in World Showcase was not the direction I wanted to see, and I still have misgivings about Epcot moving in the direction of Magic Kingdom. However, preview photos and videos of the nighttime spectacular look impressive, and the involvement of Steve Davison (a legend who has created some of Disney’s best nighttime spectaculars) is reassuring.
Ultimately, Epcot needed (and still needs) help in numerous ways, and it also felt counterproductive to drag my feet at every change that doesn’t “honor” the legacy of a park that has been gone for two-plus decades. Epcot is going in a new direction, and hopefully it’ll be a good one–at the very least, it’s better than stagnation. Harmonious certainly won’t be IllumiNations, but its music weaving cultures with characters could end up working, and making it a good fit in World Showcase. Above all else, I’m hopeful that Harmonious will be a tremendous nighttime spectacular that, like World of Color before it, revitalizes a languishing theme park.
What do you think of the soundtrack for Harmonious? Are you excited for the upcoming Epcot nighttime spectacular? Think it’ll be a worthy successor to IllumiNations? If you’re an EPCOT Center purist, are you apprehensive that this will fit World Showcase? Expect it to be a culturally tasteful use of music and imagery from animated films, or do you think it’s inappropriate IP for World Showcase? Do you agree or disagree with our assessment? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
10 Responses to “Harmonious Soundtrack Preview & Song Info”
JasonSeptember 2, 2021
Unfortunately this has not stopped them in the past. In general I like a lot of the work Steve Davison has done at DL & WDW but he tends to always pull from the same song list for each. He just packages them differently. There have been times when many of the same songs are featured in spectaculars in Disneyland and at the same time right across the Esplanade in California Adventure. It gets pretty repetitive.
I’m a bit concerned because I ran into Steven Davison last night, and he told me he was leaving Disney because of “creative differences” over Harmonious. It seems odd that he is quitting WDC one month before the show opens
This is what I’m most excited about for our trip in December but it’ll be slightly bittersweet because the Holiday add-on of ‘Let There Be Peace On Earth’ to Illuminations was always a highlight of my Disney World vacation.
I agree with David – I’m was surprised to see the first 2 songs mentioned be from Moana and Hercules, since those are featured prominently in Happily Every After. Disney has such a huge catalog of great music that they don’t need to repeat.
Alright, the arrangements and vocals are more exciting than I was expecting.
That being said, a part of me wonders if they’re shutting down Happily Ever After because they don’t want two nighttime spectaculars that feature PRACTICALLY THE EXACT SAME SONG SET.
(With Coco and Saludos Amigos added. I’m really excited about Saludos Amigos.)
I can’t imagine it being anything but great from what I read. I love so many of those songs you mentioned but the video was a bit of too many snipets that it didn’t bring the joy that your words did. Maybe if the video concentrated on fewer pieces for a bit longer or was just longer to do justice to all those quickees. There were two spots where it went long enough to go “YEAH!” one was the violins and the other was one of the singers.
Really looking forward to this show.
Unfortunately this has not stopped them in the past. In general I like a lot of the work Steve Davison has done at DL & WDW but he tends to always pull from the same song list for each. He just packages them differently. There have been times when many of the same songs are featured in spectaculars in Disneyland and at the same time right across the Esplanade in California Adventure. It gets pretty repetitive.
I’m a bit concerned because I ran into Steven Davison last night, and he told me he was leaving Disney because of “creative differences” over Harmonious. It seems odd that he is quitting WDC one month before the show opens
This is what I’m most excited about for our trip in December but it’ll be slightly bittersweet because the Holiday add-on of ‘Let There Be Peace On Earth’ to Illuminations was always a highlight of my Disney World vacation.
I got chills just reading the description! Very excited to see this!
Is there any sign at all that figment or his song is in any part of this show!???? He’s the mascot of epcot!!
Hey Tom,
Did you see the dates are up for Disney’s after hours Christmas party? Looks like tickets go on sale 8/17 and 8/20
I agree with David – I’m was surprised to see the first 2 songs mentioned be from Moana and Hercules, since those are featured prominently in Happily Every After. Disney has such a huge catalog of great music that they don’t need to repeat.
Alright, the arrangements and vocals are more exciting than I was expecting.
That being said, a part of me wonders if they’re shutting down Happily Ever After because they don’t want two nighttime spectaculars that feature PRACTICALLY THE EXACT SAME SONG SET.
(With Coco and Saludos Amigos added. I’m really excited about Saludos Amigos.)
I am genuinely 100% into and excited for this show! The music sounds absolutely gorgeous!
I can’t imagine it being anything but great from what I read. I love so many of those songs you mentioned but the video was a bit of too many snipets that it didn’t bring the joy that your words did. Maybe if the video concentrated on fewer pieces for a bit longer or was just longer to do justice to all those quickees. There were two spots where it went long enough to go “YEAH!” one was the violins and the other was one of the singers.
Really looking forward to this show.