Wreck-It Ralph was released back in 2012 and it was so successful, it warranted the first WDAS sequel since The Rescuers Down Under. I loved the film, like many others, for the amazing world building and the super cool and unique story.
The one place it was lacking, for me, was its soundtrack. It was a mish-mash of “Huh?” that still confuses me to this day. The score was great, but the songs with lyrics were all over the place. The K-Pop Sugar Rush theme, a 2007 Rihanna song, and an Owl City tune that three years later became the theme song to a Disneyland nighttime parade with no mention of the film in it whatsoever. BIZARRE.
With this and the new setting in mind (Wreck-It Ralph 2 takes place in the internet! Fun!), I have some suggestions to take a completely lackluster soundtrack and turn it into a must-buy.
- Carly Rae Jepsen: She is the current undisputed queen of critical pop. Her albums aren’t selling the best, but she was on every major “Best Of 2015” Album list of last year with her incredible Emotion. It is truly the best pop album of the new millennium and Disney needs to scoop her up and utilize her pop prowess. Her songs have a very 80s vibe, thanks some amazing synthesizers and horns. I think to have club/synthesizer sound for the soundtrack would fit the theme, make sense in the context of the film, and produce a good selling album. Here’s a taste!
- Todrick Hall: You may not know his name, but you must! He was once a semi-finalist on Idol way back in the day, but her turned it into a lucrative YouTube and touring career. He is a huge Disney fan, and it shows through his large repertoire of videos. He recently released a visual album a la Beyonce’s Lemonade called Straight Outta Oz that is actually stunning. “Expensive” and “Dumb” are some of my favorites, but “Lyin’ To Myself” gives you a good feel of what he could bring to the soundtrack and the film.
- S U R V I V E: As Daft Punk so brilliantly scored Tron: Legacy, these guys could really embrace the internet-based sequel with their synthesizer amazingness. The electronic duo is best known for composing the music for the Netflix mega-hit Stranger Things, which you must binge instantly if you haven’t already. The synthesizers would be a PERFECT companion to this film.
- RuPaul: Hear me out, her music is phenomenal. She has been a dance music icon for the past two decades, and her staying power makes sense when you jam to her tunes. One of her most recent singles, “The Realness,” has a fun beat and an instantly recognizable beat that could be replicated for the new film to become a dance hit around the world. Taking the album in a dance/EDM-heavy direction really showcases the environment well and gives the film a uniqueness that no animated film has every embraced.
- Pentatonix: This five-person acapella group won The Sing-Off a few years ago and is now a Grammy award-winning pop powerhouse. Their Christmas album has gone double platinum, while their album of all originals has gone Gold in under a year. They have incredible voices, incredible arrangements, and could bring a lot to the film. I see their additions becoming the radio hits off the CD.
Here’s hoping Wreck-It Ralph 2‘s soundtrack can have a distinct and enjoyable mood to it and not the hodge-podge of the first one. Make it happen, Disney!