Pocahontas (soundtrack)
Encyclopedia
Pocahontas: An Original Walt Disney Records Soundtrack is the soundtrack
to Disney's 1995, thirty-third animated feature Pocahontas
. It contains songs from the film written by Alan Menken
and Stephen Schwartz
, conducted
by David Friedman
, and performed by Judy Kuhn
, Mel Gibson
, Linda Hunt
, Jim Cummings
and David Ogden Stiers
among others, and singles by Jon Secada
and Shanice
, and Vanessa Williams
, along with the film's score composed by Alan Menken. It was released on May 30, 1995 on CD and audio cassette.
The film's soundtrack is probably best known for the track that serves as the film's anthem, "Colors of the Wind
", which went on to win an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award
, and a Grammy Award
. As a single, "Colors of the Wind" went on to reach #4 on the U.S. pop charts in 1995, and was one of Williams' biggest hits.
The soundtrack also won The Academy Award for Best Musical or Comedy Score
, sold 2.3 million copies in the remaining two months of 1995 alone, and went on to reach #1 on the Billboard 200
.
As well as a line shouted by Ratcliffe, toward the end of the first portion of the song, originally being:
And yet another line at the end of the first chorus:
Soundtrack
A soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...
to Disney's 1995, thirty-third animated feature Pocahontas
Pocahontas (1995 film)
Pocahontas is the 33rd animated feature in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series. It was produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and was originally released to selected theaters on June 16, 1995 by Walt Disney Pictures...
. It contains songs from the film written by Alan Menken
Alan Menken
Alan Menken is an American musical theatre and film composer and pianist.Menken is best known for his numerous scores for films produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios. His scores for The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and Pocahontas have each won him two Academy Awards...
and Stephen Schwartz
Stephen Schwartz (composer)
Stephen Lawrence Schwartz is an American musical theatre lyricist and composer. In a career spanning over four decades, Schwartz has written such hit musicals as Godspell , Pippin and Wicked...
, conducted
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
by David Friedman
David Friedman (composer)
David Alan Friedman is a film and theatre composer, songwriter, author, lyricist and conductor based in New York City.His songs include: Listen to My Heart, Help is on the Way, We Can Be Kind, We Live on Borrowed Time, I'll Be Here With You, Just in Time for Christmas and My Simple Christmas...
, and performed by Judy Kuhn
Judy Kuhn
-Life and career:Kuhn was born in New York City and grew up in Bethesda, Maryland. She attended Georgetown Day School in Washington, D.C.She entered Oberlin College in 1976. Although she was very interested in singing and theater, she began Oberlin in the College, not the Conservatory. After taking...
, Mel Gibson
Mel Gibson
Mel Colm-Cille Gerard Gibson, AO is an American actor, film director, producer and screenwriter. Born in Peekskill, New York, Gibson moved with his parents to Sydney, Australia when he was 12 years old and later studied acting at the Australian National Institute of Dramatic Art.After appearing in...
, Linda Hunt
Linda Hunt
Linda Hunt is an American film, stage and television actress. After making her film debut playing Mrs. Oxheart in Popeye , Hunt portrayed Billy Kwan, her breakthrough performance in The Year of Living Dangerously...
, Jim Cummings
Jim Cummings
James Jonah "Jim" Cummings is an American voice actor who has appeared in almost 100 roles. He has appeared in classic animated movies such as Aladdin and The Lion King, as well as taking on roles in more current films, such as Bee Movie, Princess and the Frog, and Winnie the Pooh.-Personal...
and David Ogden Stiers
David Ogden Stiers
David Ogden Stiers is an American actor, director, vocal actor, and musician, noted for his roles in Disney movies, as well as his performances in the television series M*A*S*H as Major Charles Emerson Winchester III and the science fiction drama The Dead Zone as Reverend Gene Purdy...
among others, and singles by Jon Secada
Jon Secada
Jon Secada is a Cuban-American singer and songwriter. Secada was born in Havana, Cuba, and raised in Hialeah, Florida. He has won two Grammy Awards and sold 20 million albums since his English-language debut album in 1992. His music fuses funk, soul, pop and Latin percussion...
and Shanice
Shanice
Shanice Lorraine Wilson-Knox , better known as Shanice, is a Grammy-nominated American R&B/soul singer-songwriter. She scored two Top 5 Billboard hit single's "I Love Your Smile" in 1991, and "Saving Forever for You" in 1993. In 1999, Shanice scored another top hit song, "When I Close My Eyes"...
, and Vanessa Williams
Vanessa L. Williams
Vanessa Lynn Williams is an American pop-R&B recording artist, producer, dancer, model, actress and showgirl. In 1983, she became the first woman of African-American descent to be crowned Miss America, but a scandal generated by her having posed for nude photographs published in Penthouse magazine...
, along with the film's score composed by Alan Menken. It was released on May 30, 1995 on CD and audio cassette.
The film's soundtrack is probably best known for the track that serves as the film's anthem, "Colors of the Wind
Colors of the Wind
"Colors of the Wind" by composer Alan Menken and lyricist Stephen Schwartz, was the 1995 Oscar-winner for Best Original Song from the Disney animated feature film, Pocahontas. It also won the Golden Globe in the same category as well as the Grammy Award for Best Song Written for a Movie...
", which went on to win an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award
Golden Globe Award
The Golden Globe Award is an accolade bestowed by the 93 members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association recognizing excellence in film and television, both domestic and foreign...
, and a Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
. As a single, "Colors of the Wind" went on to reach #4 on the U.S. pop charts in 1995, and was one of Williams' biggest hits.
The soundtrack also won The Academy Award for Best Musical or Comedy Score
Academy Award for Best Original Score
The Academy Award for Original Score is presented to the best substantial body of music in the form of dramatic underscoring written specifically for the film by the submitting composer.-Superlatives:...
, sold 2.3 million copies in the remaining two months of 1995 alone, and went on to reach #1 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
.
Side One
- "The Virginia Company" - Chorus
- "Ship at Sea" (Score)
- "The Virginia Company (Reprise)" - Mel GibsonMel GibsonMel Colm-Cille Gerard Gibson, AO is an American actor, film director, producer and screenwriter. Born in Peekskill, New York, Gibson moved with his parents to Sydney, Australia when he was 12 years old and later studied acting at the Australian National Institute of Dramatic Art.After appearing in...
& Chorus - "Steady as the Beating Drum (Main Title)" - Chorus
- "Steady as the Beating Drum (Reprise)" - Jim CummingsJim CummingsJames Jonah "Jim" Cummings is an American voice actor who has appeared in almost 100 roles. He has appeared in classic animated movies such as Aladdin and The Lion King, as well as taking on roles in more current films, such as Bee Movie, Princess and the Frog, and Winnie the Pooh.-Personal...
- "Just Around the Riverbend" - Judy KuhnJudy Kuhn-Life and career:Kuhn was born in New York City and grew up in Bethesda, Maryland. She attended Georgetown Day School in Washington, D.C.She entered Oberlin College in 1976. Although she was very interested in singing and theater, she began Oberlin in the College, not the Conservatory. After taking...
- "Grandmother Willow" (Score)
- "Listen with Your Heart I" - Linda HuntLinda HuntLinda Hunt is an American film, stage and television actress. After making her film debut playing Mrs. Oxheart in Popeye , Hunt portrayed Billy Kwan, her breakthrough performance in The Year of Living Dangerously...
& Bobbi Page - "Mine, Mine, Mine" - David Ogden StiersDavid Ogden StiersDavid Ogden Stiers is an American actor, director, vocal actor, and musician, noted for his roles in Disney movies, as well as his performances in the television series M*A*S*H as Major Charles Emerson Winchester III and the science fiction drama The Dead Zone as Reverend Gene Purdy...
, Mel Gibson & Chorus - "Listen with Your Heart II" - Linda Hunt & Bobbi Page
- "Colors of the WindColors of the Wind"Colors of the Wind" by composer Alan Menken and lyricist Stephen Schwartz, was the 1995 Oscar-winner for Best Original Song from the Disney animated feature film, Pocahontas. It also won the Golden Globe in the same category as well as the Grammy Award for Best Song Written for a Movie...
" - Judy Kuhn - "Savages (Part 1)" - David Ogden Stiers, Jim Cummings & Chorus
- "Savages (Part 2)" - Judy Kuhn, David Ogden Stiers, Jim Cummings & Chorus
- "I'll Never See Him Again" (Score)
Side Two
- "Pocahontas (Instrumental)"
- "Council Meeting" (Score)
- "Percy's Bath" (Score)
- "River's Edge" (Score)
- "Skirmish" (Score)
- "Getting Acquainted" (Score)
- "Ratcliffe's Plan" (Score)
- "Picking Corn" (Score)
- "The Warriors Arrive" (Score)
- "John Smith Sneaks Out" (Score)
- "Execution" (Score)
- "Farewell" (Score)
- "Colors of the WindColors of the Wind"Colors of the Wind" by composer Alan Menken and lyricist Stephen Schwartz, was the 1995 Oscar-winner for Best Original Song from the Disney animated feature film, Pocahontas. It also won the Golden Globe in the same category as well as the Grammy Award for Best Song Written for a Movie...
(End Title)" - Vanessa WilliamsVanessa L. WilliamsVanessa Lynn Williams is an American pop-R&B recording artist, producer, dancer, model, actress and showgirl. In 1983, she became the first woman of African-American descent to be crowned Miss America, but a scandal generated by her having posed for nude photographs published in Penthouse magazine... - "If I Never Knew YouIf I Never Knew You"If I Never Knew You" is the love theme and the second single from Disney's 1995 animated feature Pocahontas. It is the final track on the soundtrack....
(End Title)" - Jon SecadaJon SecadaJon Secada is a Cuban-American singer and songwriter. Secada was born in Havana, Cuba, and raised in Hialeah, Florida. He has won two Grammy Awards and sold 20 million albums since his English-language debut album in 1992. His music fuses funk, soul, pop and Latin percussion...
& ShaniceShaniceShanice Lorraine Wilson-Knox , better known as Shanice, is a Grammy-nominated American R&B/soul singer-songwriter. She scored two Top 5 Billboard hit single's "I Love Your Smile" in 1991, and "Saving Forever for You" in 1993. In 1999, Shanice scored another top hit song, "When I Close My Eyes"...
Changes Between the Soundtrack and the Film
- Lyrical changes were made to the song "Savages" in the film, causing it to differ from the version on the soundtrack. The original lyrics were:
What can you expect/ from filthy little heathens?/ Their whole disgusting race is like a curse!
After poor testing with the original highly inflammatory lyrics, they were changed to:
What can you expect/ from filthy little heathens?/ Here's what you get when races are diverse!
As well as a line shouted by Ratcliffe, toward the end of the first portion of the song, originally being:
Let's go kill a few, men!
Was replaced with Ben exclaiming:
Let's go get a few men!
And yet another line at the end of the first chorus:
Dirty redskin devils, now we sound the drums of war!
Was changed to:
Dirty shrieking devils, now we sound the drums of war!
- The Laserdisc release of the film revealed new songs as deleted scenes, including a reprise of "Just Around the Riverbend" before the song "Savages (Part 2)," alternate versions of "Steady as the Beating Drum (Reprise)" and "Virginia Company (reprise)," and songs called "In the Middle of the River" (sung by Pocahontas and John Smith) and "Dancing to the Wedding Drum" (sung by the Native Americans to Pocahontas). On the 10th Anniversary DVD, "If I Never Knew You" as sung by Pocahontas and John Smith within the film's narrative, as well as a reprise, was fully animated and included in the film.
- In the 10th Anniversary Edition DVDDVDA DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
release of the film, "If I Never Knew YouIf I Never Knew You"If I Never Knew You" is the love theme and the second single from Disney's 1995 animated feature Pocahontas. It is the final track on the soundtrack....
" is performed within the film's narrative by Judy Kuhn and Mel Gibson. Unlike Disney's re-releases of their soundtracks from Beauty and the BeastBeauty and the Beast (1991 film)Beauty and the Beast is a 1991 American animated fantasy film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Pictures. The thirtieth film in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series and the third film of the Disney Renaissance period...
and The Lion KingThe Lion KingThe Lion King is a 1994 American animated film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released by Walt Disney Pictures. It is the 32nd feature in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series...
to include newly added songs, Disney chose not to re-release the soundtrack to Pocahontas to include this song and its reprise at the end of the film.
Album
| Chart (1995) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Billboard 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
1 |
Singles
| Chart (1995) | Peak position | Single | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billboard Hot 100 | 4 | "Colors of the Wind" | Vanessa L. Williams |
| Hot R&B / Hip Hop Singles & Tracks | 53 | ||
| Australia Singles Chart | 16 | ||
| UK Singles Chart | 21 | ||
| UK Singles Chart | 51 | "If I Never Knew You" | Jon Secada and Shanice |
See also
- Pocahontas (1995 film)Pocahontas (1995 film)Pocahontas is the 33rd animated feature in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series. It was produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and was originally released to selected theaters on June 16, 1995 by Walt Disney Pictures...
- "Colors of the WindColors of the Wind"Colors of the Wind" by composer Alan Menken and lyricist Stephen Schwartz, was the 1995 Oscar-winner for Best Original Song from the Disney animated feature film, Pocahontas. It also won the Golden Globe in the same category as well as the Grammy Award for Best Song Written for a Movie...
" - "If I Never Knew YouIf I Never Knew You"If I Never Knew You" is the love theme and the second single from Disney's 1995 animated feature Pocahontas. It is the final track on the soundtrack....
"