The Influence of Black Women on Animated Movie Soundtracks

I have a confession to make. When I first saw the prompt for this challenge, I was quite intimidated and certain that I would not even come close to doing it justice. As a result, I was very tempted to just let it pass by and take a stab at the next one. But the beauty of writing lies in the act of always pushing oneself out of one’s comfort zone. And so, I decided that I was going to do my part (however small) to honor some of the most beautiful voices that have defined the 20th and 21st century.

My initial intimidation in tackling this subject stemmed from two areas of concern. The first, was the dilemma of which black female artist to focus on and write about. There are obviously so many to choose from, and they have all played a significant role in both contributing to the music industry as a whole, as well as furthering the progression of black representation in the media. The second area of concern was that I, a white woman who has never experienced racism, would fall woefully short attempting to write about the painful history of oppression that black women have faced and continue to face in this country. As a child growing up in wealthy Orange County, CA, I unintentionally took for granted that I had lots of representation in the film/music industry. I was not really aware of the fact that there were others that were not afforded that same luxury until I was much older.

So where did that leave me with regards to this challenge? I have found that most of my best writing comes from honesty and writing from experience so that is ultimately the route that I decided to go. Growing up, my life was undoubtedly shaped through animated films. And as a result, quite a lot of the music that shaped my formative years were the respective soundtracks from those films. And so, I decided to highlight my six favorite songs from animated movies that are sung by black women. It is worth noting that most of these songs also happen to be my favorites of all time just in general. When I was younger, I was often completely unaware of who I was actually listening to. I was only aware of the powerful emotions that were being invoked in the very depths of my soul, even as a child. As dramatic as that sounds, that is the only way to describe the magnitude of power that these songs possess for me. And it is a testament to the absolutely incredible talent behind the women who sing them.

#6: “Zero to Hero,” from Hercules (1997)

Sung by: Lillias White, Cheryl Freeman, LaChanze, Roz Ryan, and Vanéese Thomas.

This Disney film from 1997 definitely does not get as many accolades as others from the same period of time. The late 1980’s to the late 1990’s was known as the “Disney Renaissance Era,” and it featured well-known movies such as The Lion King, Pocahontas, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin and Mulan. Even though Hercules fell right in the same window, it has been a little bit the outcast of the Disney Renaissance Era. In fact, I was much older when I finally discovered the film, and this song. This song is sung by an amazing group of five black women (see above) who represent the five Muses from Greek Mythology. It is an infectious and upbeat song and will definitely get your foot tapping. It is worth mentioning that the other main song sung by the Muses, “The Gospel Truth,” is also definitely worth a listen.

#5: “Almost there,” from the Princess and the Frog (2009)

Sung by: Anika Noni Rose

It truly is a sobering fact that Disney did not get its first black princess until 2009, but nevertheless, when it finally happened, “The Princess and the Frog,” made history. Set in 1920’s New Orleans it tells the story of Tiana, a young black woman who is determined to save enough money to open her own restaurant which was a dream that she shared with her late father. What I like most about this song is its completely unapologetic nature. Tiana does not care one whit about friends, or a social life and she certainly doesn’t care that others may be judging her lifestyle choices. She is 100% focused on achieving her dream of opening a restaurant. While the rest of the movie goes on to teach Tiana that there are other important things in life, and of course she does find the obligatory romance eventually, it is quite refreshing to see a Disney Princess sing in such a carefree fashion about what she wants. She is completely confident in her own abilities to open her own restaurant and no one is going to dissuade her of this notion. Anika Noni Rose does a fantastic job of conveying the longing, yet utter determination and confidence of the Tiana character.

#4: “A Whole New World” from Aladdin (1992)

Sung by: Regina Belle and Peabo Bryson

Back to the Disney Renaissance Era. Aladdin was a notable movie for a number of reasons, but it set itself in Disney history with its amazing soundtrack. This version of “A Whole New World,” sung by Regina Belle and Peabo Bryson is played during the ending credits of the movie and is likely the most famous and well-known version of the song. While there have been other wonderful renditions, there is something about Regina Belle’s deep and vibrant voice that is timeless and cannot be replicated. Singing in duet with the always fantastic Peabo Bryson, this song never fails to invoke a lot of wonderful and nostalgic childhood memories for me.

#3- “When we hold on Together,” from the Land Before Time (1988)

Sung by: Diana Ross

When one hears Diana Ross, it is easy to immediately think of some of her most famous hits including: “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” “Where Did Our Love Go?” and “Can’t Hurry Love.” And while there is no doubt that Ross has a plethora of amazing songs, “When We Hold on Together,” has always stood out as my favorite. Played during the ending credits of the Land Before Time, this was one of my favorite songs growing up, and it still strikes an emotional chord even as an adult. The lyrics convey a message of perseverance in the face of adversity which I am sure everyone can relate to on some level given the last year we have had with the toxicity of the 2020 election and the Covid-19 pandemic. This is a song that I would usually turn to when I was feeling overwhelmed or discouraged about life. While the lyrics run a little bit on the simplistic side, there is a much deeper meaning that is conveyed through them. The words, “If we hold on together, I know our dreams will never die,” imparts the importance of community and standing by one another. They encourage selflessness and a lack of judgement for our fellow humans; even the ones we don’t know.

With her exceptional singing, Ross manages to intertwine despair, darkness, friendship and hope together. We are, all of us, human. We will face decisions and circumstances that will lead us down dark paths. We will make poor decisions and we will lose our way. But all of that becomes bearable when we have people who love and care for us, standing by our side. They build us up and make us strong, so we are then able to stand by them in their weak moments. And if we could all truly “Hold on Together,” what new opportunities could we open up for someone else. And what new opportunities could be opened up for us.

# 2: “The Circle of Life,” from The Lion King (1994) and the Lion King Broadway Musical (1997-Present)

Sung by: Carmen Twillie, Tsidii Le Loka, and Lebo M.

Easily the most influential animated film of my young life was “The Lion King.” The film left a lasting impression on me, both for its poignant message and moving soundtrack. I have always considered “The Lion King,” Disney’s greatest musical score, and have probably listened to the soundtrack hundreds of times. In my opinion, not only is “The Circle of Life,” one of the greatest songs ever written, but it also wins the distinction of being the single greatest opening of any musical.

Carmen Twillie and Lebo M. sing in the original, animated version, and that was the version that I listened to on repeat for a number of years. In 2001, I had the opportunity to see The Lion King Broadway Musical in London which has to be one of the most visually stunning shows to ever run on the stage. It is especially impactful because of its mostly all-black cast, and the breathtakingly beautiful representation of the African culture, including the use of phrases from six African languages. While there have been many amazing singers who have sung, “The Circle of Life,” on the stage, I decided to highlight the original singer from the musical, Tsidii Le Loka. It is difficult to describe the sheer majestic quality of her voice, but you certainly recognize its impact when you hear it.

Actor James Brown-Orleans who played the hyena Banzai on stage had this to say about the story: “I think that whether people know this or not — we're all Simbas. We're all destined for greatness, but we also have Scars in our lives. We have hyenas in our lives. And at some point, we've all been scared away from our dream, our destiny. We've wandered lost and confused. So, whether we're able to articulate it or not, instinctively we see the show and we know that somehow, someway this is our story, as well."

This description completely sums up why “The Lion King,” has touched my heart so deeply, both as a child and as an adult. And somehow, artists like Twillie and Le Loka have managed to capture all of that humanity into one magnificent song.

#1- “When you Believe,” from the Prince of Egypt (1998)

Sung by: Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey

The last song I want to highlight is “When you Believe,” from the Prince of Egypt. This movie is a stirring re-telling of the Exodus story from the Old Testament. The plot depicts the journey of Moses leading the Israelites to freedom out of their enslaved lives in Egypt. The entire soundtrack is beautiful, but the “piece de resistance” is this song. The song is sung as the Israelites have finally gained freedom after centuries of slavery and are packing up to leave Egypt for their new homeland. It is sung as a duet by two powerhouse voices, and quintessential black female singers from the 1990’s, Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston.

The song is bittersweet, poignant and hopeful for a number of reasons. Firstly, the lyrics illustrate a situation of despair and grief, before raising our spirits with the ultimate message of hope. It is a message that is as old as humanity itself; even when our lives seem at their most bleak, the sun will always rise again and we just have to trust in that promise.

Secondly, the song packs a particular emotional punch due to the voice behind it. Whitney Houston’s long-time battle with drugs and her tumultuous and abusive marriage to Bobby Brown has been well-documented. And yet, despite the tremendous amount of pain that she must have endured in her own life, she brought such beauty and hopefulness to the world through the power of her voice. There is something particularly gut-wrenching about listening to Houston sing the lyrics, “In our hearts a hopeful song, we barely understood.”

Lastly and most importantly, even though the song was written for a movie that is specifically depicting the enslavement of the Israelites in Egypt, the lyrics transcend the specificity of that plot and can be applied to the enslavement of any people. Listening to this song through the lens of our own American history is both a painful and yet uplifting experience. Painful, because it forces us to confront the truly horrific, and inhumane conditions that were inflicted on black people in this country. It is a wrong that can never be truly righted. And yet, the song is uplifting because even though we still have a long way to go towards true equality, we can rejoice in the progress that has been made and feel hope for the future. Even in the past year, with the BLM movement, I believe there has been a greater awareness all-around for what it means to stand against unjust racial inequality, and to celebrate blackness in America. Speaking for myself, I know that my perspective has forever been changed. And so, this song has taken on a new and deeper meaning for me.

I didn’t expect to be so emotional writing this tribute, but I admit that re-listening to these songs which have impacted me so much over the years, left me in tears. Perhaps as never before, I have had to look beyond simply what they have meant to me, and to really reflect on the women behind the music. As tragic as it is that the journey for black women in America has been fraught with both racism and sexism, it makes their many triumphs all the more joyful. As a white woman who has never had to endure the sting of racism, I can be all the more jubilant for their success, and all the more mindful of their history and my own privilege. And I am so, so grateful to them for providing me with music that touched my life so deeply. We have a long road ahead still in the search for both racial and gender equality. But the incredible impact from strong, black women on the world is undeniable. And that is something to celebrate.